Part 521

UNDER-officer. An inferior officer; one in a subordinate situation.

UNDISCIPLINED. Not yet trained to regularity or order; not perfect in exercise or manœuvres.

To UNFIX. In a military sense, to take off, as Unfix Bayonet, on which the soldier disengages the bayonet from his piece, and returns it to the scabbard. The word return, as we have already observed, is sometimes used instead of unfix.--But it is improperly used, although it more immediately corresponds with the French term Remettre.

UNFORTIFIED. Not strengthened or secured by any walls, bulwarks, or fortifications.

UNFURLED. A standard or colors, when expanded and displayed, is said to be unfurled.

UNGENTLEMANLIKE, UNOFFICERLIKE, (Malhonnête, Grossier, Fr.) Not like a gentleman or officer. Conduct unbecoming the character of either is so called. This clause which will be always found to depend on the state of morals and manners, affords a vast latitude to a military court, which, after all, is not more free from prejudice or influence than any other tribunal, though they are both jurors and judges. Officers convicted thereof are to be discharged from the service. See ARTICLES OF WAR.

UNHARNESSED. Disarmed; divested of armor or weapons of offence.

UNHORSED. Thrown from the saddle; dismounted.

UNHOSTILE. Not inimical, or belonging to an enemy.

UNIFORM, (Uniforme, Fr.) This word, though in a military sense it signifies the same as regimental, which is used both as a substantive and an adjective, may nevertheless be considered in a more extensive light. Uniform is applied to the different sorts of clothing by which whole armies are distinguished from one another; whereas regimental means properly the dress of the component parts of some national force. Thus the national uniform of the American army is blue, as is that of the modern French, white of the Austrian, green of the Russian, and red of the British, &c. But in each of these armies there are particular corps which are clothed in other colors, and whose clothing is made in a shape peculiar to themselves. Though generally speaking each has an uniform within itself, yet this uniform, strictly considered, is a regimental.

With respect to the origin of military uniforms, we should make useless enquiries were we to direct our attention to those periods in which the Romans fought covered with metal armor, or with leather which was so dressed and fitted to the body, that the human shape appeared in all its natural formation; nor to those in which the French, almost naked, or at least very lightly clad in thin leather, conquered the ancient Gauls. Better information will be acquired by recurring to the Crusades which were made into Palestine and Constantinople by the Europeans. We shall there find, that the western nations, France, England, &c. first adopted the use of rich garments, which they wore over their armors, and adorned their dresses with furs from Tartary and Russia.

We may then fix the origin of colored dresses to distinguish military corps, &c. in the eleventh century. The Saracens generally wore tunics or close garments under their armor. These garments were made of plain or striped stuffs, and were adopted by the Crusaders under the denomination of coats of arms, Cottes d’armes. We refer our readers for further particulars to the author of a French work, entitled, Traité des marques rationales, and to page 533, tom. iii. du Dictionnaire Militaire; observing, that the uniforms of the French army were not completely settled under the reign of Louis the XIVth, and that the whole has undergone considerable alterations since the present revolution.

UNIFORME des charretiers des vivres, Fr. Uniform of the old French Waggon Corps. It consisted of white sackcloth edged round with blue worsted, with brass buttons, two in front and three upon each sleeve. They wore a dragoon watering cap, with W upon the front fold, and a tuft at the end. The W and the tuft were made of white worsted.

UNIFORMS.--Principal color of the military uniforms of the different powers.

---------------+--------+----------+----------+----------------------- NATIONS. |CAVALRY.| INFANTRY.|ARTILLERY.| REMARKS. ---------------+--------+----------+----------+----------------------- America |Blue |Blue |Blue |Black cockades. Ancient Poland |Blue |Blue |Blue | Anspach |Blue |Blue |Blue | Austria |White |White |Grey | Baden |-- |Blue |-- | Bavaria |-- |White |Grey | Berne |Red |Blue |Blue |Black and red cockades. Brunswick |-- |Blue |-- | Denmark |-- |Red |-- |Black cockades. England |Blue |Red |Blue | France |Blue |Blue |Blue |Blue, red, and white. Hanover |Blue |Red |Mixt Blue |Green cockades. Hesse |White |Blue |Blue | Holland |White |Blue |Blue | Mayence |-- |White |Mixt Blue | Mecklenburg |Blue |Blue |Blue | Nassau |-- |Blue |-- | Palatine |Crimson |Clear Blue|-- | Prussia |White |Blue |Blue |Orag. light blue. Russia |Blue |Green |Green |Black cockades. Sardinia |Blue |Blue |Blue | Saxe Cobourg |-- |Blue |-- | Saxe Gotha |Blue |Blue |Blue | Saxe Heidelberg|-- |Blue |-- | Saxe Memingen |-- |Blue |-- | Saxe Weimer |Blue |Blue |Green | Saxony |White |White |Green |Dragoons red; White | | | |cockades. Spain |Grey |White |Blue |Red and yellow. Sweden |-- |Blue |-- |Yellow cockades. Wurtemburg |-- |Blue |Blue | ---------------+--------+----------+----------+-----------------------

UNIFORMITY. Conformity to one pattern; resemblance of one thing to another.

UNION. The national colors are called the union. When there is a blue field with white stripes, quartered in the angle of the American colors, that is of the colors composed of red and white stripes; that blue field is called the Union; and a small colors of blue with white stars is called an Union JACK.

UNIVERSITY. In a general acceptation of the word, any nursery where youth is instructed in languages, arts, and sciences. It likewise means the whole in general, generality.

To UNSPRING. A word of command formerly used in the exercise of cavalry, now obsolete.

Unspring your carbine. Quit the reins of your bridle, and take hold of the swivel with the left hand, placing the thumb on the spring, and opening it; at the same time take it out of the ring.

UNTENABLE. Not to be held in possession; incapable of being defended.

UNTRAINED. Not disciplined to exercise or manœuvre.

UNVANQUISHED. Not conquered or defeated.

UNWALLED. Being without walls of defence.

UNWARLIKE. Not fit for or used to war.

UNWEAPONED. Not provided with arms of offence.

VOGUE, Fr. The course or way which a galley or ship makes when it is rowed forward.

VOGUER, Fr. To make way upon water either by means of sailing or by oars. It also signifies generally to row.