Part 536

Field Guns.--All one line of windage; about ¹⁄₅₀ in an 8 pounder.

Siege Guns.--All 1¹⁄₂ line; about ¹⁄₄₈ in a 24 Pr.

Mortars.--12 inch; 4 lines of windage. 10 inch; 1 line, 5 points do. 8 inch; 1 line, do. Howitzers.--All; 2 lines do.

WIND-GUN. See AIR-GUN.

WINDLASS, (Vindas, Fr.) Is a roller of wood, square at each end, through which are either cross holes for handspikes or staves across to turn it round: by this means it draws a cord, one end of which is fastened to some weight which it raises up. They are used in gins, and about Dutch mortars, to help to elevate them. The French say Vindas ou Cabestan horizontal, the latter being a sea term.

WINDSAILS, (Manches à vent, Fr.) Large pieces of canvas, which are used in ships at sea for the purposes of ventilation, &c. During voyages in hot climates, the most beneficial effects are derived from the use of windsails. The master of the vessel should be desired to have them made immediately as troops are embarked, if not already provided, and they should be constantly hung up.--These sails throw a stream of cold air between decks, and it is not an unusual practice among the men, at least among the unexperienced soldiers, to tie up the bottom of them, by which this salutary purpose is defeated. The serjeant of the watch must be responsible that this irregularity is never committed.

To WINDWARD, (Au Vent, Fr.) As St. Domingo is to the windward of Jamaica.

WINGS of an army. When drawn up in battle, are the right and left parts counting from the centre; when a battalion is drawn up, the divisions on the right and left of the centre are called the wings. The word wing is sometimes used to denote the large sides of horn-works, crown-works, tenailles, and other out-works, &c.

WINTER-Quarters. See QUARTERS.

WITHERBAND. A piece of iron laid under a saddle, about three inches above the withers of the horse, to keep tight the two pieces of wood.

WITNESSES. In fortification. See TEMOINS.

WITNESSES. In a military judicial sense, persons summoned by the judge-advocate, or any of his deputies, to attend at a general court-martial, there to speak to facts which they know of their own knowlege, and to which they can bona fide swear, from having been present at the transaction, &c. See Macomb on Court-Martials.

According to the articles of war, witnesses attending courts-martial are to be privileged from arrests, and not attending are liable to be attached.

WOHKEELE, Ind. An ambassador.

WOLF-Holes. In the defence of places, are round holes, generally about two or three feet in diameter at the top, one at bottom, and two and an half deep, dug in the front of any work. Sometimes a sharp-pointed stake or two are fixed at the bottom, and covered with very thin planks, and green sods; consequently the enemy, on advancing, fall in, and are put into confusion.

WOOD. Artillery carriages are generally made of elm, ash, and oak. The bed and house of a sea mortar are made of oak, and the bolster of elm. The bottoms of land mortar beds are of oak, and the upper parts of elm.

Carriages--Ship.--The cheeks, transoms, and trucks of elm; the axle trees of live oak.

---- Garrison.--The whole of oak; trucks, iron.

---- Field.--Heavy 24 and 12 Pr. the cheeks and transoms of elm; the axle trees of ash or hickory. In the wheel the nave and fellies are of elm; the spokes of ash; limber shafts, bars, and axle trees are of ash. Light guns, from 3 to 12 prs. the cheeks and transoms are of elm: the ammunition boxes are of sycamore. In the wheels, the nave is of elm, the spokes of oak, and the fellies of ash. In the limber the shafts and bars of ash.

WOOD Matches. See PORTFIRE.

WOODEN-Bottoms. In laboratory works, are cylindrical pieces of wood, of different lengths and diameters, agreeable to the size of the gun. They are hollowed at one end to receive the shot, and the flannel cartridge is fastened to the other end: the whole forming one cartridge, which is put into the piece at one motion. Iron bottoms are to be preferred.

WOOL-Packs. Bags of wool. They are frequently ranged in form of a breastwork, because they resist cannon-shot. See SIEGE.

WORD (Mot, Fr.) A single part of speech, consisting of one or more syllables, for the purpose of expressing ideas; In a military sense, it signifies signal, token, order; as watch-word, &c.

The WORD, Watch WORD, Is a peculiar word that serves for a token and mark of distinction, given out in the orders of the day in times of peace, but in war every evening in the field, by the general who commands, and in garrison by the governor, or other officer commanding in chief, to prevent surprise, and hinder an enemy, or any treacherous person, to pass backwards and forwards. This watchword is generally called the parole, and to which is added the countersign. The first is known to all officers and non-commissioned officers, the latter only to the centinels. The officers that go the rounds, or patroles, exchange the word with the officers on duty; nor must the centinels let any one pass who has not got the countersign.

WORDS of command, (Mots de commandement, Fr.) Certain terms which have been adopted for the exercise and movement of military bodies, according to the nature of each particular service. Words of command are classed under two principal heads, and consist of those which are given by the chief or commander of a brigade, battalion, or division, and of those which are uttered by the subordinate leaders of troops or companies, &c.

Cautionary WORDS, (Commandement d’advertissement, Fr.) Certain leading instructions which are given to designate any particular manœuvre. The cautionary words precede the words of command, and are issued by the chiefs of corps.

WORKMEN. Are persons that attend the ammunition, boatsmen, carpenters, smiths, millers, bakers, waggoners, miners, pioneers, &c.

When soldiers are employed upon fatigue, or working parties, the drums and fifes, &c., should invariably play to time and measure. According to marshal Saxe, they should be relieved at the expiration of two hours and an half; by which means the individuals are less harrassed, and all the troops share alike. With regard to accompanying them in their labor with music, the policy of it is warranted by antiquity. The Lacædemonians, with a detachment of only three thousand men, under the command of Lysander, destroyed the famous Pyræus of Athens in less than six hours. During the whole of the operation, the flutes were playing, to enliven and encourage the troops. This custom existed in France to a late period among the galley-slaves at Marseilles; who, whilst they were employed in removing enormous loads of rubbish, &c. were constantly accompanied by musical instruments and drums. Marsh. Saxe’s Reveries, pages 157 and 158.