Part 71

A chaplain was appointed to every cadet-company, whose duty it was to instruct the cadets in reading and writing. They had likewise a master in mathematics, a drawing master, a fencing master and dancing master.

CADET, Fr. likewise means any officer that is junior to another.

CÆMENT, CEMENT, among engineers, a strong sort of mortar, used to bind bricks or stones together for some kind of moulding; or in cementing a block of bricks for the carving of capitals, scrolls, or the like. There are two sorts, i. e. hot cement, which is the most common, made of resin, beeswax, brick dust, and chalk, boiled together. The bricks to be cemented with this mixture, must be made hot in the fire, and rubbed to and fro after the cement is spread, in the same manner as joiners do when they glue two boards together. Cold cement, made of Cheshire cheese, milk, quick lime, and whites of eggs. This cement is less used than the former, and is accounted a secret known but to very few bricklayers.

CÆSTUS, in military antiquity, was a large gauntlet, composed of raw hides, used by pugilists at the public games.

CAGE de la Bascule, Fr. a space into which one part of the draw-bridge falls, whilst the other rises and conceals the gate.

CAIC, Fr. a skiff or boat belonging to a French galley.

CAIMACAN, in military history, an officer among the Turks, nearly answering to our lieutenant.

CAISSE, Fr. Battre la caisse is used in the French service to express the beating of a drum instead of battre le Tambour.

CAISSON, in military affairs, is a wooden frame or chest, made square, the side planks about 2 inches thick: it may be made to contain from 4 to 20 loaded shells, according to the execution they are to do, or as the ground is firmer or looser. The sides must be high enough, that when the cover is nailed on, the fuzes may not be damaged. Caissons are buried under ground at the depth of 5 or 6 feet, under some work the enemy intends to possess himself of; and when he becomes master of it, fire is put to the train conveyed through a pipe, which inflames the shells, and blows up the assailants. Sometimes a quantity of loose powder is put into the chest, on which the shells are placed, sufficient to put them in motion, and raise them above ground: at the same time that the blast of powder sets fire to the fuze in the shells, which must be calculated to burn from 1 to 2¹⁄₂ seconds. When no powder is put under the shells, a small quantity of mealed powder must be strewed over them, having a communication with the saucisson, in order to convey the fire to the fuzes.

CAISSON, is a covered waggon, to carry bread or ammunition.

CAISSON, Fr. is variously used in the French service.

CAISSON des bombes, is a tub which is filled with loaded shells and buried even with the ground. It is inclined a little on one side, and by means of a quantity of powder which is scattered on the top and connected with the bottom by a saucisson, an explosion may be effected so as to throw the shells into the open air towards any given point. Caissons which are buried in the glacis produce great effect.

CAISSON pour les vivres, Fr. a large chest whose lid rises in the centre somewhat like the capital of a pillar, in order that the rain may run off. The following dimensions were adopted to contain eight hundred rations at least.

The caisson or chest must be 8 French feet 4 inches long at least, 3 feet 4 inches high from the bottom to the extreme point of the lid, or chapiter, 2 feet 6 inches from its square sides to the bottom, 2 feet 5 inches broad at the bottom, outside, 2 feet 9 inches broad at top, and the cover or lid must be 5 feet 4 inches long. Poplar trees afford the best wood for the construction of caissons, because that species has a close grain, and is calculated to keep out rain.

CALATRAVA, a Spanish military order so called from a Fort of that name. The knights of Calatrava bear a cross; gules, fleur-de-lissed with green, &c.

CALCULATION, in military affairs, is the art of computing the amplitudes of shells, time of flight, projectile curve, velocity of shots, charges of mines, &c. together with the necessary tables for practice.

CALIBER, in gunnery, signifies the same as the bore or opening: and the diameter of the bore is called the diameter of its caliber. This expression regards all pieces of artillery.

CALIBER-Compasses, CALLIPER-Compasses, the name of a particular instrument used by gunners, for measuring the diameters of shot, shells, &c. as also the cylinder of cannon, mortars, and howitzers. They resemble other compasses, except in their legs, which are arched, in order that the points may touch the extremities of the arch. To find the true diameter of a circle, they have a quadrant fastened to one leg, and passing through the other, marked with inches and parts, to express the diameter required: the length of each ruler or plate is usually between the limits of 6 inches and a foot. On these rulers are a variety of scales, tables, proportions, &c. such as are esteemed useful to be known by gunners. The following articles are on the completest gunners-callipers, viz. 1. The measure of convex diameters in inches. 2. Of concave ditto. 3. The weight of iron shot from given diameters. 4. The weight of iron shot from given gun bores. 5. The degrees of a semicircle. 6. The proportion of troy and avoirdupois weight. 7. The proportion of English and French feet and pounds. 8. Factors used in circular and spherical figures. 9. Tables of the specific gravity and weights of bodies. 10. Tables of the quantity of powder necessary for proof and service of brass and iron guns. 11. Rules for computing the number of shot or shells, in a finished pile. 12. Rule concerning the fall of heavy bodies. 13. Rules for raising of water. 14. Rules for firing artillery and mortars. 15. A line of inches. 16. Logarithmetic scales of numbers, sines, versed sines and tangents. 17. A sectoral line of equal parts, or the line of lines. 18. A sectoral line of plans, and superficies. 19. A sectoral line of solids.

CALIBRE, Fr. See CALIBER.

CALIBRE, Fr. signifies, in a figurative sense, cast or character; as un homme de ce calibre, a man of this cast.

CALIBRER, Fr. to take the measurement of the calibre of a gun. A particular instrument has been invented for this purpose. It resembles a compass with curved branches, which serve to grasp and measure a ball.

CALIVER, an old term for an arquebuse or musket.

CALOTE, Fr. a species of scull cap which officers and soldiers wear under their hats in the French cavalry, and which are proof against a sabre or sword. Calotes are usually made of iron, wick, or dressed leather, and every officer chuses the sort he likes best. Those delivered out to the troops are made of iron.

CALQUING, CALKING, the art of tracing any kind of a military drawing, &c. upon some plate, paper, &c. It is performed by covering the backside of the drawing with a black or red colour, and fixing the side so covered upon a piece of paper, waxed plate, &c. This done, every line in the drawing is to be traced over with a point, by which means all the outlines of the drawing will be transferred to the paper or plate, &c.

CALTROPS, in military affairs, is a piece of iron having 4 points, all disposed in a triangular form: so that 3 of them always rest upon the ground, and the 4th stands upwards in a perpendicular direction. Each point is 3 or 4 inches long. They are scattered over the ground and passages where the enemy is expected to march, especially the cavalry, in order to embarrass their progress.

CAMARADE. See COMRADE.

CAMION, Fr. a species of cart or dray which is drawn by two men, and serves to convey cannon-balls. These carts are very useful in fortified towns.

CAMISADE or CAMISADO, in military transactions, implies an attack by surprise, either during the night, or at break of day, when the enemy is supposed to be in their shirts asleep, or off his guard. The attack on Cremona was a camisade; the Irish regiment of Macguire, fought in their shirts, and frustrated the attack.