Part 520

As the Ulans consider themselves in the light of free and independent gentlemen, every individual amongst them has one servant, if not two, called pocztowy or pacholeks, whose sole business is to attend to their baggage and horses. When the Ulans take the field, these servants or batmen form a second or detached line, and fight separately from their masters. They are armed with a carbine, which weapon is looked upon with contempt by their masters, and they clothe themselves in the best manner they can.

The Ulans generally engage the enemy in small platoons or squads, after the manner of the hussars; occasionally breaking into the most desultory order. They rally with the greatest skill, and frequently affect to run away for the purpose of inducing their opponents to pursue them loosely: a circumstance which seldom fails to be fatal to the latter, as the instant the pursuers have quitted their main body, the Ulan wheels to the right about, gets the start of him through the activity of his horse, and obtains that advantage, hand to hand, which the other possessed whilst he acted in close order.

The instant the Ulans charge an enemy, their servants or batmen form and stand in squadrons or platoons, in order to afford them, under circumstances of repulse, a temporary shelter behind, and to check the enemy. The batmen belonging to the Ulans are extremely clever in laying ambushes.

The pay of the Ulans in time of peace is very moderate. Poland, before its infamous dismemberment and partition by Russia, Prussia, and Austria, kept a regular establishment of four squadrons and ten companies on foot. These troops were annually supplied with a thousand rations of bread and forage, which quantity was paid them at the rate of 272 florins, Polish money, per ration. The grand duchy of Lithuania subsisted, in the same manner, fifteen other companies of Ulans. The other pulks were paid by the king. The annual pay of the captains was five rations, and that of the subalterns two; that is 1360 florins to the former, and 544 florins to the latter.

In 1743 marshal Saxe, with the approbation and concurrence of the French court, raised a regiment of Ulans, which was attached to the military establishment of that country. This corps consisted of one thousand men, divided into six squadrons, each squadron composed of one hundred and sixty men, eighty of whom were Ulans, and eighty dragoons. So that the regiment consisted of five hundred Ulans, properly so called, armed and accoutred like those in Poland, and the other five hundred were dragoons, without being considered as the servants or batmen of the Ulans; in which instance they differed from the pacholeks of the Polish Ulans. These dragoons were paid by the king; whereas in Poland each Ulan paid his own servant or batman, who looked to him only for clothing, arms, and subsistence. On the death of marshal Saxe, the Ulans in France were reduced; and the dragoons only kept upon the establishment. They were considered as a regiment; being at first given to count de Frise, who was a major-general in the service, and became their colonel, and they remained on that footing until the revolution.

The uniform of the French Ulans consisted of a green coat or cloak, with green breeches, Hungarian half-boots, pinchbeck helmet with a turban twisted round it of Russian leather; the tail or mane of the helmet consisted of horse-hair, which was colored according to the facings of the brigade; their arms were a lance nine feet long, with a floating streamer at the top, a sabre, and a pistol in the waistbelt.

The dragoons were clothed like other regular troops. Their coat was green, with cream-colored facings and scarlet linings; plain brass buttons, and aiguillette or tagged point, made of red worsted; a fawn colored waistcoat, edged round with scarlet; leather breeches; half-boots that were laced up to the calf of the leg; pinchbeck helmet, with a seal skin turban round it, and two rosettes made of pinchbeck; the top was adorned with horse-hair, which hung behind. Their arms consisted of a fusil with a bayonet, which was always fixed; two pistols and a sabre; the horse was covered with a wolf’s skin. The Ulans rode horses which were somewhat lower than those of the dragoons, and were more active.

At the commencement of the French revolution, particularly in 1792 and 1793, the Ulans belonging to the Imperial army that endeavored to penetrate into France, were the terror of the inhabitants all along the frontiers. The excesses which they committed, and the desolation they occasioned, rendered their very name a signal of alarm. They seldom gave quarter, and they never received it.

ULTIMATUM. A term used in negociations to signify the last condition or conditions upon which propositions, that have been mutually exchanged, can be finally ratified.

ULTRAMARINE. From beyond the sea--foreign. It is also the name of a very delicate sky blue powder made from lapis lazuli, and used in the drawing of plans, &c.

ULTRAMONTANE. Derived from the Latin Ultra, beyond, and Mons, mountain. This term is principally used in relation to Italy and France, which are separated by the Alps. According to Bayley, Ultramontanus is a name given by the Italians to all people who live beyond the Alps.

UMBO. The pointed boss or prominent part in the centre of a shield or buckler

UMBRIERE. The visor of a helmet.

UMPIRE. An arbitrator, or a power which interferes for the adjustment of a dispute or contest.

UNARMED. The state of being without armor or weapons.

To UNCASE. In a military sense to display, to exhibit--As to uncase the colors. It is opposed to the word, To Case, which signifies to put up--to enclose.

To UNCOVER. When troops deploy, the different leading companies or divisions, &c. successively uncover those in their rear, by marching out from the light or left of the column.

UNCONDITIONAL. At discretion; not limited by any terms or stipulations.

UNCONQUERED. Not subdued or defeated; in opposition to conquered or defeated.

UNDAUNTED. Not appalled by fear; valiant.

UNDECAGON. A regular polygon of eleven sides or angles.

UNDER. This preposition is variously used in military matters, viz.

UNDER Command, (Sous Ordre, Fr.) In subjection to; liable to be ordered to do any particular duty.

UNDER Cover, (à couvert, à l’abri, Fr.) Shielded, protected, &c. See COVER.

UNDER Arms, (Sous Armes, Fr.) A battalion, troop, or company is said to be under arms when the men are drawn up regularly armed and accoutred, &c.

To UNDERMINE. To dig cavities under any thing, so that it may fall, or be blown up; to excavate.

To UNDERMINE. In a figurative sense, to injure by clandestine means. The discipline of the army may be undermined by secret practices and cabals; the want of a fit capacity at the head of the war office, will operate like the want of brains in the human head; and the most enterprizing officer may be undermined by the insinuations of a cowardly parasite and reporter.

UNDERMINER. A sapper, one who digs a mine.