Part 532

WATCHMAN. A centinel, one set to keep guard.

WATCHTOWER. A tower on which a centinel was posted to keep guard against an enemy.

WATERING-Call. A trumpet sounding, on which the cavalry assemble to water their horses.

WATER-Rocket. A kind of firework made to burn in the water.

WATERING-Cap. A cap, made of leather or cloth, which dragoons wear when they water their horses or do stable-duty.

WATERING-Jacket. A waistcoat with sleeves, which dragoons wear on the above occasions.

WATREGANS, Fr. This word is pronounced outregans, there being no W in the French alphabet. It is a Flemish term which is generally used in France, and signifies a ditch full of water, that has been made for the purpose of separating lands and inheritances. These ditches are sometimes large enough to receive small boats or barges, and run through a whole village.

WATTLE. A hurdle made by entwining twigs together.

WAY. A military road among the Romans and Saxons.

WAY of the rounds, in fortification, is a space left for the passage of the rounds, between the rampart and the wall of a fortified town. This is not much in use at present. See BERME.

To WAYLAY. To beset by ambush.

WAYWODE, Ind. A prince; a chieftain.

WEAPON. An instrument of offence.

WEAPONED. Armed; furnished with arms of offence.

WEAPONLESS. Unarmed; having no weapon.

WEAR. A sluice-gate, or dam to shut up the water.

WEDGE. See COINS, MECHANIC POWERS, &c.

WEDGE. In a work translated from the French, and which is entitled, Observations on the Military Art, we find the following description of this instrument. It is composed of five surfaces, two of which are triangular, two long squared, and the fifth arbitrary. The two oblong surfaces, by their inclination to each other, form the point that insinuates itself into the wood, &c. that is to be split, as well as the sides or triangular surfaces, if the triangle, as it is driven, lengthens the slit or opening. They are the square surfaces that first insinuate themselves into the body to be cleft; and what are called triangular surfaces, are only what fill the space that separates the two quadrangular sides. After this reflection it appears, that the column has, at least, as just a claim as the triangle, to the term or word wedge. We may even say, with confidence, it has a much better; for a triangle of men ranged according to the same proportion as the triangle of the mechanic wedge, would be of very little force; and a mechanic wedge, of which the incisive angle was as great as that of a triangle of men, would be too large to enter those bodies we should want to cleave or split.

The double phalanx amphistome, of which Epaminondas formed the wedge, contained 3000 men, who were ranged, in Bouchaud’s opinion, one hundred in front, and 30 deep. This opinion, according to some is erroneous. Among the different evolutions of the ancients, the wedge was frequently resorted to, and was in some degree connected with the lozenge, which is a figure in geometry composed of four sides and four angles: of the four angles two are always obtuse, and two acute. The angles, that are alike, are always opposed one to the other, and always in the same number of degrees. According to Ælian, there are many ways of ranging squadrons in a lozenge: in the first, they have ranks and files; in the second, neither; in the third, they have files, but no ranks; lastly, in the fourth, they have ranks alone without files. With regard to the wedge, it was a formation which the ancients adopted both in cavalry and infantry evolutions, and was variously used, viz:--

The WEDGE of Cavalry. This figure was formed on the same principles and movements as the lozenge, as far as the greatest rank of the latter, which served as a base to the triangular wedge. It was therefore as the half of a lozenge, cut and divided at its obtuse angles.

The Triangular WEDGE of Infantry.--Some people pretend, that there were two sorts of triangular wedges in use among the ancients. The first was full, and formed after the same manner as the lozenge, and the wedge of the cavalry. The second was open at the base, and ranged differently from that of the first.

Triangular WEDGE with a full centre. The Greek soldier occupied, at all times, a square space greater or less in proportion to the requisite order, either at a review, advancing towards the enemy, or standing in a position to receive him. This wedge was formed according to the arithmetical progression ÷ 1, 3, 5, 7, &c.

The open WEDGE. This species of wedge was formed two different ways, with the Greeks and Romans. Bouchaud de Bussy, who takes them, one from Ælian, whom he translates, and the other from Vegetius, gives us a third, which appears to be of his own invention, and is very much superior to the other two. According to Ælian, Epaminondas the Theban general employed the open wedge at the battle of Leuctra, and overthrew the Lacedemonians, whose army was much superior to the one he commanded. To form this wedge, the two divisions of a double phalanx amphistome, are to unite together at the head, being separate or open at the tail or rear; which gives them a near resemblance of the Greek letter Λ. Bouchaud de Bussy formed the wedge in the following manner:

“The same body of troops being in array, may likewise, says he, form the wedge in marching forward, and this manœuvre requires no preliminary movement. The three divisions being marked, as well as the three files of the centre which compose the head of the wedge, the following words of command are given. Marked divisions, prepare to form the wedge in advancing: march. At the first notice, the files and ranks close suddenly; at the second, the three files of the centre, which will be the two first left files of the division on the right, and the first right file in the division on the left, march straight forward; at their second pace, the first file, that is contiguous to them on the right, and that which is equally contiguous on the left, move in their turn, so as to have their chiefs or leaders on a line, and in a rank, as it were, with the second soldiers of the three files of the centre; at the second pace of the files, who have made the second motion, the files that touch them march immediately likewise, and the same manœuvre is to continue successively; each head of a file taking notice not to move, until the moment he finds himself on a line with the second man of the file contiguous, &c.”

This method is beyond dispute the most simple, short, and secure that can be devised. The men occupy necessary and proper spaces, and if the enemy’s resistance should stop their head, the rest of the files, continuing their movements, would all arrive on the same front to engage together, that is, they would be in their primitive order of the phalanx. This author, to whose observations we refer from page 170 to page 203, thus concludes: we shall only remark, that all terms, metaphorically applied, sooner or later produce doubts and uncertainty. Neither a column or triangle of men should have ever been denominated a wedge; for a line of troops is not formed to be split like a piece of timber; it may be opened, broken through, or divided into as many parts as possible.

WEIGHTS, in military matters, are those in general use, except in artillery, where hundreds are made use of, each of 112lb. quarters, each of 28lb, and pounds, each of 16 ounces.

Every officer should know the weight of the ordinary musquet, rifle, carbine, and musquetoon; the weight of ball carried by each, for proof and service; the weight of powder according to quality required for each gun, and for practice and service, as well as the range of each weapon.

Artillery officers should know the weight of metal in iron and brass guns of every calibre: they should know the difference between the weight of metal in guns formerly and at present, and the reasons for the reduction of the weight of metal; they should know the length as well as weight of guns, and the weight of cannon ball, and the windage allowed for cannon shot; they should know the weight allowed for case, cannister, and grape shot; and the weight of powder in every case. They should know the weight of mortars of every dimension, and of the shells which they throw, and the powder necessary for every elevation and use.