Part 517

VEXATIOUS and groundless. Charges of accusation, and appeals for redress of wrongs are so called, when the persons who make them cannot substantiate their subject matter. Officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers are liable to be punished at the discretion of a general court martial for vexatious conduct. Charges are sometimes peremptorily dismissed, without permitting them to stand the investigation of a court martial, when they appear vexatious and frivolous.

UGHUN, or Aughun, Ind. A month which partly corresponds with November; it follows Katik.

VIANDE, Fr. Meat; animal food. In the old regime every French soldier was allowed half a pound of meat per day.

M. de Louvois, who was minister of war under the old government of France, formed a plan, recommending, that a quantity of dried meat, reduced to powder, should be distributed to troops on service. He took the idea from a custom which is prevalent in the East. He did not, however, live to fulfil his intentions, although he had already constructed copper ovens that were large enough to contain eight bullocks. Very excellent broth can be made of this powder; one ounce of which boiled in water, will supply a sufficient quantity for four men; and one pound of fresh meat gives one ounce of powder; so that, according to the inventor’s assertion, there is a saving of one pound. The portable soup-balls which are sold for sea use, are of the same nature.

VIBRATION. See PENDULUM.

VICE-ADMIRAL, (vice-amiral, Fr.) A naval officer of the second rank; who takes rank with generals of horse. Louis XIV. who endeavored to establish a French navy in 1669, created two vice-admirals of the fleet, whom he called vice-admiral of the east, and vice-admiral of the west.

VICTOR. A conqueror; generally applied to the chief officer of a successful army.

VICTORY, (victoire, Fr.) The overthrow or defeat of an enemy in war, combat, duel, or the like.

VICTUAILLES, Fr. The provisions which are embarked on board ships of war are so called by the French.

VICTUAILLEUR, Fr. Victualler.

VICTUALS. Food or sustenance allowed to the troops, under certain regulations, whether on shore or embarked in transports.

VICTUALLERS. See SUTLERS.

VIEUX corps, Fr. A term used among the French before the revolution, to distinguish certain old regiments. There were six of this description, viz. Picardy, Piedmont, Navarre, Champagne, Normandy, and the marine corps. The three first were formed in 1562, and that of Champagne in 1575. They were then called Les vieilles bandes; the ancient or old bands; and before that period, each was known by the name of its colonel.

Les petits VIEUX corps, Fr. La Tour du Pin, Bourbonnois, Auvergne, Belsunce, Meilly, and the regiment du Roi, or the king’s own, were so called during the French monarchy. All the other regiments ranked according to the several dates of their creation, and the officers took precedence in consequence of it.

VIEW of a place. The view of a place is said to be taken when the general, accompanied by an engineer, reconnoitres it, that is, rides round the place, observing its situation, with the nature of the country about it; as hills, valleys, rivers, marshes, woods, hedges, &c.; thence to judge of the most convenient place for opening the trenches and carrying on the approaches; to find out proper places for encamping the army, and for the park of artillery.

To VIEW. See To RECONNOITRE. See Am. Mil. Lib.

VIF, Fr. This word is frequently used among the French to signify the core, or inside of any thing--viz:

VIF d’un arbre, Fr. The inside of a tree.

VIF d’une pierre, Fr. The inside of a stone.

VIF de l’eau, Fr. High water.

VIGIER, Fr. To keep watch.

VIGIER une flotte de vaisseaux marchands, Fr. To convoy a fleet of merchantmen.

VIGIES, Fr. A term given to certain rocks under water near the Azores. Vigie likewise signifies a watch, or centinel on board a ship; but it is chiefly used among the Spaniards in South America.

VIGILANT, (vigilant, Fr.) Watchful, attentive.

VIGOROUS, (vigoreux, Fr.) Strong, brisk, active, resolute.

VIGOTE, Fr. A model by which the calibres of pieces of ordnance are ascertained, in order to pick out appropriate bullets. This model consists of a plate of sheet iron in which there are holes of different sizes, according to the several calibres of cannon.

VILBREQUIN, Fr. A wimble.

VILLE, Fr. See TOWN.