Dacia. The land of the Daci or GetÆ. It comprised the various countries now known as Eastern Hungary, Transylvania, Wallachia, and Moldavia. The GetÆ came originally from Thrace, and were divided into various tribes, and seem to have been the most valiant of the Thracian barbarians. Curio, the first Roman general who ever penetrated as far north as the Danube, did not venture to assail them. Julius CÆsar, however, is said to have intended their subjugation. In 10 B.C., Augustus sent an army up the valley of the Maros. From this time a continual war was waged by the Dacians against the Romans, who actually compelled the latter, in the reign of Domitian, to pay a tribute. In 101 A.D. the Emperor Trajan crossed the Theiss, and marched into Transylvania, where he fought a great battle near Thorda. The Daci, who were commanded by their famous chief Decebalus, were defeated. A second expedition of the emperor’s (104 A.D.) resulted in the destruction of their capital, the death of Decebalus, and the loss of their freedom. In 270 and 275 A.D. the Romans abandoned the country to the Goths, and the colonists were transferred to Moesia. After a series of vicissitudes, Dacia fell into the possession of the Magyars in the 9th century.

Dacota. See Dakota.

Dadur. A town of Beloochistan, 5 miles to the east of the Bolan Pass. It is said to be one of the hottest places in the world, and is celebrated as the place where, in November, 1840, the British troops routed a Kelat force.

Dag. A thick, clumsy pistol, used in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Dagen. A peculiar kind of poniard.

Dagger. A weapon resembling a sword, but considerably smaller, being used for stabbing at close quarters. Daggers are generally two-edged, and very sharp towards the point.

Daghestan. A province of Russia, on the west coast of the Caspian Sea. It was conquered by the czar Peter in 1723; restored to Persia, 1735; but re-annexed to Russia by Alexander I. in 1813.

Dague (Fr.). Dagger, a short thick poniard which was formerly used when individuals engaged in single combat.

Dahlgren Gun. So named from Admiral Dahlgren, its inventor. An improved form of ordnance used for howitzers, heavy artillery, and especially in naval gunnery. It having been demonstrated that in ordinary cast guns the weight of the metal forward is greater than is needed, and that by far the greatest strain in firing is at the breech, Dahlgren greatly increased the relative size and weight of the breech, with the best results. These guns are chiefly used by the U.S. forces. See Ordnance, Construction of.

Dahme. A town of Prussia, on the river of the same name. It is defended by a strong citadel, and inclosed by walls. Here, in 1713, the French were defeated by the Prussians.

Dahomey. An independent state of Guinea, Western Africa, extending along the coast from Fort Badagry on the east, to the river Volta, which separates it from Ashantee on the west. The Dahomans, who came into possession of this tract of country about the beginning of the 18th century, are for the most part tall, well formed, and intelligent, and, for an African race, singularly honest and far advanced in agriculture. With the exception of a few Mohammedans, whose religious belief is in no way interfered with, they are all pagans, and practice fetish-worship. The king is the most absolute of despots, having entire control over the lives and property of his subjects. Wholesale murder is one of the chief features in religious and state ceremonies, and the most valued ornaments of the royal residence are human skulls. As many as 2000 human victims are sometimes sacrificed at one “grand custom.” Of the regular army of 12,000, about one-half are Amazons (devoted to celibacy), who are described as much more effective soldiers than their male companions in arms; but at the same time as blood-thirsty and ferocious as tigresses.

Dahra. In Algeria; on June 18, 1845, above 500 Kabyles at war with the French, were suffocated in a cave by smoke, the fire having been kindled by order of Gen. Pelissier, afterwards Duke of Malakoff. They had fired on a messenger bearing an offer of truce. The massacre was condemned by Soult, the minister of war, but justified by Marshal Bugeaud.

Dakota. A Territory in the north central part of the United States. It was organized under a territorial form of government March 2, 1861, but very extensive alterations have since been made in its boundaries. The Territory has been greatly disturbed by marauding bands of Sioux Indians, or Dakotas, who were in 1862 and 1863 especially daring and aggressive, and though they have frequently been defeated by U.S. troops, notably under Gens. Sully and Sibley in 1863, they are still very troublesome, necessitating the frequent intervention of troops for the protection of the settlers.

Dakota Indians. A numerous and powerful tribe or collection of tribes of Indians of common stock, often called Sioux, who formerly roamed over the territory between the Missouri and Mississippi, but have moved farther west since 1851, and are settled on agencies in Dakota, Montana, Nebraska, etc. A great proportion of them still preserve their nomadic habits and are still frequently troublesome. See Indians and their Agencies.

Dalecarlians. Natives of Dalecarlia, Sweden, who revolted against Christian of Denmark, 1521, and placed Gustavus Vasa on the throne of Sweden.

Dalmatia. A narrow strip of territory extending along the Adriatic Sea; bounded north by Istria and Croatia, and east by Bosnia and Herzegovina. In ancient times Dalmatia was a considerable kingdom, and, after many unsuccessful attempts, was first subjugated by the Romans in the time of Augustus. After the fall of the Western empire, Dalmatia, which had formed the most southern part of the province of Illyricum, was captured by the Goths, from whom it was taken by the Avari (490), who in their turn yielded it to the Slavonians about 620. It continued under the rule of the Slavonians until the beginning of the 11th century, when King Ladislaus of Hungary incorporated a part of it with Croatia, while the other part, with the title of duchy, placed itself under the protection of the Venetian republic. The Turks afterwards made themselves masters of a small portion, and by the peace of Campo-Formio (1797), the Venetian part, with Venice itself, became subject to Austrian rule, and when Austria, in 1805, had ceded this part to Napoleon, it was annexed to the kingdom of Italy; afterwards (1810) to Illyria. Since 1814, excepting the Turkish portion, it has been reunited with Austria.

Damages, Barrack. In the British service, is the term applied to the injuries done to barracks, barrack furniture, etc., by soldiers, when the actual perpetrator cannot be discovered. The term is also applied to the sum levied from the company or regiment generally, to make good the injury. Damages to arms, clothing, etc. See Appendix, Articles of War, 17.

Damascus. A city of Syria, in Asiatic Turkey. During the time of the Hebrew monarchy, it was the capital of Syria, but afterwards passed successively under the rule of the Assyrians, Persians, Macedonians, Romans, and Saracens; and finally, in 1516, it was captured by the Turks (under Sultan Selim I.), in whose hands it has remained ever since. Damascus was at one time celebrated for the manufacture of sword-blades of the finest temper and most exquisite workmanship, but the process by which such unequaled specimens of art were perfected appears no longer to exist.

Damaskin. A certain kind of sabre; so called from the manufacture of Damascus.

Dame (Fr.). Among miners any portion of earth which may remain after the explosion of a mine has taken place. It likewise means a piece of wood with two handles used to press down turf or dirt in a mortar.

Damietta. A city of Lower Egypt, on the east branch of the Nile. It was taken by the Crusaders, 1219; lost, 1229; retaken by Louis IX., June 5, 1249; surrendered as his ransom when a prisoner, May 6, 1250.

Damnonii, Dumnonii, or Dumnunii. A powerful people who inhabited the southwest of Britain, comprising Cornwall, Devonshire, and the western part of Somersetshire, from whom was called the promontory Damnonium (now Cape Lizard), in Cornwall.

Danai. An ancient name of the Greeks, derived from Danaus, king of Argos, 1474 B.C.

Danala. A city in the territory of the Trocmi, in the northeast of Galatia, notable in the history of the Mithridatic war as the place where Lucullus resigned the command to Pompey.

DancettÉ. One of the lines of partition in heraldry, differing from indented only in the greater size of the notches. See Indented.

Danes, or Northmen. Natives of Denmark; during their attacks upon Britain and Ireland they made a descent on France, where, in 895, under Rollo, they received presents under the walls of Paris. They returned and ravaged the French territories as far as Ostend in 896. They attacked Italy in 903. Neustria was granted by the king of France to Rollo and his Normans (Northmen), hence Normandy, in 911. The Danes invaded England, Scotland, and Ireland with varying successes from 783 to 1084.

Dangerous Space. That zone, partly before and partly beyond the object fired at (the sights having been correctly elevated), which is covered by the trajectory; the object may be displaced to the front or rear of its correct range-point, a distance equal, in the aggregate, to the depth of this zone, and still be struck by the projectile. “Dangerous space” is calculated under the assumption that the gun when fired is 56 inches from the ground, that it is aimed at a point 34 inches from the ground, and that the stature of a man is 68 inches; and that the head of a man on horseback is 8 feet above the ground. The “dangerous space” will, of course, be increased by the firer lying down and aiming at his adversary’s feet. A part of the “dangerous space” is near the muzzle of the gun in the rising branch of the trajectory; the rest of it is in the falling branch; these two parts being continuous up to and including the “battle-range” (which see). The “dangerous space” varies with the weapon used and the object fired at; and for the same arm diminishes as the range increases beyond “battle-range”; up to this point it increases with the range. A perfect understanding of this subject is essential to effective infantry fire upon the field of battle. Valuable tables will be found upon it in Laidley’s “Rifle Firing.”

Dannebrog. The ancient battle-standard of Denmark, bearing the figures of a cross and crown. It was fabled to have fallen from heaven at the battle of Volmar, in Esthonia (1219), during a crusade against the heathens. It was twice taken in battle and twice recaptured. In 1500 a mere fragment remained.

Dannebrog, Order of the. Is the second of the Danish orders of knighthood. It is said to have been founded in 1219, but fell into decay, and was restored in 1671.

Dannevirke, or Dannewerke. A series of earthworks considered almost impregnable, stretching across the long narrow peninsula of Sleswick, Holstein, and Jutland,—said to have been built during the “stone age.” It was rebuilt in 937 by Thyra, queen of Gormo the Old, for which she was named Dannabod, “the pride of the Danes.” It was again repaired between 995 and 1000. Near here the Prussians, aiding the duchies, defeated the Danes, April 23, 1848.

Dantzic, or Danzig. A city of Prussia; is surrounded with ramparts, mounted with cannon, and the town may be considered as being one of the strongest fortresses in Prussia. In the 10th century it was known as the capital of Pomerali; it passed with that province, in 1295, under the authority of Poland; but in 1308, Ladislaus IV. ceded the whole to the Teutonic knights, who held it till 1454. In that year it was again seized by the Poles; and in 1575, having refused to acknowledge Stephen Bathory, it had to sustain a siege by that monarch, and was taken in 1577. From 1360 to 1641 it was one of the principal towns in the Hanseatic League. When this league was dissolved, Dantzic joined Lubeck, Hamburg, and Bremen; and these four cities, down to a very late period, retained their name of Hanse Towns. In 1734 it was forced to surrender to the Russians and Saxons, who were then besieging Stanislaus of Poland. In 1793 it was occupied by the Prussians. It was taken by the French in May, 1807, after a long siege, by Marshal Lefevre, who thence acquired his title of duke of Dantzic. After Bonaparte’s disastrous campaign in Russia, it was blockaded and obliged to surrender, after a long and able defense by Gen. Rapp. At the peace of Paris, in 1814, it reverted to Prussia.

Dardanelles, or Hellespont (anc. Hellespontus). A narrow strait between Europe and Asiatic Turkey, connecting the Sea of Marmora and the Ægean Sea. As it is the key to Constantinople, there are on both shores of this narrow channel numerous forts and batteries, there being 8 on the European and 7 on the Asiatic side. It was here the invading armies of Xerxes crossed on a bridge of boats to enter Europe. The passage of the strait was achieved by the British under Sir John Duckworth, February 9, 1807; but he repassed with great loss, March 2, two castles occupying the sites of the ancient Sestos and Abydos, hurling down stones of many tons weight upon the British. The allied English and French passed the Dardanelles at the sultan’s request, October, 1853.

Dart. A pointed, missile weapon, intended to be thrown by the hand; a short lance; a javelin; hence, any missile weapon.

Dartmouth. A seaport town of England, in Devonshire; it was burnt by the French in the reigns of Richard I. and Henry IV. In a third attempt (1404) the invaders were defeated by the inhabitants, assisted by the valor of the women. In the war of the Parliament, Dartmouth was taken, after a siege of four weeks, by Prince Maurice, who garrisoned the place for the king (1643); but it was retaken by Gen. Fairfax by storm in 1646.

Dauphin (Dolphin), Fr. An ornamental handle on brass guns over the trunnions, so called from its resemblance to that fish.

DauphinÉ. An old province of Southeast France, successively held by the Allobroges, Burgundians, and Lombards; was, about 723-24, delivered from the invading Saracens by Charles Martel. Its counts were called dauphins; and when it was ceded to Philip of Valois, in 1349, the title of dauphin was given to the eldest son of the king of France, to whom it continued to be applied till the revolution of 1830.

David’s Day, St. The 1st day of March is annually commemorated by the Welsh, in honor of St. David. Tradition states that on St. David’s birthday, 540, a great victory was obtained by the Welsh over their Saxon invaders, and that the Welsh soldiers were distinguished by order of St. David by a leek in their caps.

Dax. A well-built town of France, department of Landes. It is surrounded by an old wall, flanked with towers, and is also protected by a castle. Dax was taken by the English in the 12th century, and remained in their possession till the middle of the 15th century.

Day-book. In the British service, is a sort of private memorandum-book, in which the pay-sergeant enters all details of expenditure other than pay under each man’s head. These entries are made at the moment, and afterwards transferred to the ledger.

Day’s March. See March.

Dead Angle. In fortification, is any angle or piece of ground which cannot be seen, and which therefore cannot be defended from behind the parapet of the fortification.

Dead-head. In casting a cannon, is the surplus metal in the top of the mold; called also the sprue.

Dead March. A piece of solemn music intended to be played as an accompaniment to a funeral procession.

Dead Pay. Was the pay formerly drawn for soldiers really dead, whose names were kept on the rolls; and whose pay was appropriated by dishonest officers.

Dead-shot. An unerring marksman.

Debark. To leave a ship or boat and pass to the land; to go on shore; as, the troops debarked at 4 o’clock; disembark.

Deblai. The hollow space or excavation formed by removing earth for the construction of parapets in fortification. Thus the ditch or fosse whence the earth has been taken represents the deblai, while the earth itself, so removed, constitutes the remblai.

Deblayer un Camp (Fr.). To evacuate a camp for the purpose of cleaning and purifying the ground.

Debouch. A military term, signifying to march out from a wood, defile, or other confined place into open ground; also an outlet or available issue by which an army can march out.

DÉbris (Fr.). Remains, ruins of a building or town which has been sacked; broken remains of an army after defeat.

Debruised. A term in English heraldry used to indicate the restrained position of an animal in a coat of arms, by having any of the ordinaries laid over it.

Decagon. In fortification, is a polygon figure, having 10 sides, and as many angles; and if all the sides and angles be equal, it is called a regular decagon, and may be inscribed in a circle. The sides of a regular decagon are in power and length equal to the greatest segment of a hexagon, inscribed in the same circle and cut in extreme and mean proportion.

Decamp, To. To march an army or body of men from the ground where it before lay encamped. It also signifies to quit any place or position in an unexpected manner.

Decanus. In Roman military history, a petty officer who presided over the 10 soldiers of his contubernium, or those living in the same ten.

Deccan. An extensive region of India; invaded by the Mohammedans in 1294. About 1686-90, Aurungzebe I. recovered the Deccan, but soon lost great part of it to the Mahrattas. A large part of the Deccan was ceded to the English in 1818.

Deceased Officers and Soldiers. See Appendix, Articles of War, 125, 126.

Dechargeurs (Fr.). Are men appointed to attend the park of artillery, and to assist the non-commissioned officers, etc., who are employed on that service. It is the duty of the former to keep a specific account of articles received and consumed, in order to enable the latter to furnish their officers with accurate statements.

Decimation. A military punishment inflicted among the Romans on cowardly or mutinous troops. It consisted in selecting by lot one-tenth of the whole body of troops who misbehaved, and putting them to death. There have been a few instances of this species of punishment in modern times. In 1642 the Archduke Leopold employed it against a regiment of cavalry; Marshal CrÉqui also had recourse to it against the mutinous garrison of TrÈves, and before the battle of Waterloo BlÜcher is said to have punished in this manner a body of mutinous troops.

Decisions. In courts-martial, the majority of votes decides all questions as to the admission or rejection of evidence, and on other points involving law or custom. If equally divided, the doubt is in favor of the prisoner.

Declaration of Independence. This celebrated document by which the thirteen United Colonies of America announced their intention of taking their affairs into their own hands, renouncing their allegiance to Great Britain, and asserting their freedom, was drawn up by Thomas Jefferson, and received the unanimous approval of the delegates in the Congress of the Colonies, July 4, 1776.

Declaration of War. The formal announcement by a government of its intention to wage war against another, is a proceeding which is observed among all civilized nations. In the United States the declaration of war is a power exercised by Congress alone. During the age of chivalry, a herald made declaration of war at the enemy’s court, his tabard on his arm.

Decompte (Fr.). Signifies a liquidation or balance, which from time to time was made in the old French service, between the captain of a company and each private soldier for money advanced or in hand.

Decoration Day. The anniversary, in the United States, on which flowers are placed on soldiers’ graves, and which is observed on May 30. This day was set apart for the purpose mentioned soon after the war of the Rebellion, 1861-65.

Decoration, Military. A medal, cross of honor, etc., bestowed for distinguished services.

Decorations. In pyrotechny, are the compositions which are placed in the heads of rockets, in paper shells, etc., to make a brilliant display when the receptacle is burst.

DecouplÉ. In heraldry, signifies severed or disjoined, so that the ends stand at a distance from one another, as a chevron decouplÉ.

Decoy. To lead or to entice into a snare; to lead into danger by artifice; to entrap. An enemy is said to be decoyed when a small body of troops draws them in to action, whilst the main body lies in ambush ready to act with the greatest effect.

Decrement. Is a heraldic term by which the wane of the moon is indicated. Decrescent and decours are also used in the same sense. A moon decrescent is a half-moon with her horns turned to the sinister.

Decurion. An officer in the Roman cavalry, who commanded a decuria, which was a body consisting of 10 men.

Deeg. A strong fortress of Hindostan, in the province of Agra, which was captured by the British arms under Gen. Lake in 1804.

Deep. A term used in the disposition or arrangements of soldiers placed in ranks before each other; hence, two deep, three deep, etc. Deep line of operations, a long line.

Default. A military offense, in the British service, is so called.

Defaulter. A soldier who has been guilty of a military offense. It is generally applied to men sentenced to confinement to barracks, and attaches to them until the completion of their punishment.

Defaulter Book. The book in which the defaulter sheets are contained. The regimental defaulter book containing regimental, and the company defaulter book company, defaults.

Defaulters’ Sheet. For every soldier there are two sheets of foolscap paper, in one of which, called his company defaulter sheet, are entered all offenses and the punishments awarded. The other, called the regimental defaulter sheet, contains only offenses for which a man has been punished by more than seven days confined to barracks, or other awards considered of equal gravity.

Defeat. This word expresses the complete want of success of an army; a repulse signifying less, and a rout more, than defeat.

Defeat. To resist with success; as, to defeat an assault.

Defection. The act of abandoning a person or cause to which one is bound by allegiance or duty, or to which one has attached himself.

Defend. To secure against attack; to maintain; as, to defend a town; to defend a cause.

Defender. One who defends; one who maintains, supports, protects, etc.

Defense. In military law, is the defendant’s answer to the plea; an opposing or denial of the truth or validity of the plaintiff’s case; the method of proceeding adopted by the defendant to protect himself against the plaintiff’s action.

Defense. In fortification, consists of all sorts of works that cover and defend the opposite posts; as flanks, parapets, casements, etc.

Defense, Active. Comprehends every species of offensive operation which is resorted to by the besieged to annoy the besiegers.

Defense, Distant. Consists in being able to interrupt the enemy’s movements by circuitous inundations; to inundate, for instance, a bridge, when a convoy is passing, or to insulate batteries, the heads of saps or lodgments which have been made in the covert way. By this species of defense an enemy’s communications may be perpetually intercepted, and his approaches so obstructed as to force him to leave dangerous intervals.

Defense, Line of. Represents the flight of a rifle-ball from the place where the soldiers stand, to scour the face of the bastion. The line of defense should never exceed the range of a rifle. It is either fichant or rayant. The first is when it is drawn from the angle; the last, when it is drawn from a point in the curtain, ranging the face of the bastion in fortification.

Defense, Lines of. Are the distances between the salient angle of the bastion and the opposite flank; that is, the faces produced to the flanks.

Defense, Passing. Is chiefly confined to inundations, and is effected by letting out water in such a manner that the level ground which lies round a fortified town or place may be entirely overflowed, and become an inert stagnant pool.

Defensive. A force is said to be on the defensive, or to assume a defensive attitude, when it takes up a position to receive an attack.

Defensive War. See War, Defensive.

Defilading, or Defilement. The art of arranging the plan and profile of works, so that their lines shall not be liable to enfilade, nor their interior to plunging or reverse fire.

Defile. A narrow passage, or road, through which troops cannot march otherwise than by making a small front and filing off.

Defile, To. To reduce a body of troops into a small front, in order to march through a defile; also, to defilade.

Deformer (Fr.). In a military sense, signifies to break; as, deformer une colonne, to break a column.

DÉgat (Fr.). The laying waste an enemy’s country, particularly in the neighborhood of a town which an army attempts to reduce by famine, or which refuses to pay military exactions.

Degorgeoir (Fr.). A sort of steel pricker used in examining the vent of a cannon; a priming wire.

Degradation. In military life, the act of depriving an officer forever of his commission, rank, dignity, or degree of honor, and taking away at the same time every title, badge, or privilege he may possess.

Degraded. In heraldry, means placed upon steps or degrees.

Degsestan, Battle of. See Scotland.

Dehors. In the military art, all sorts of outworks in general, placed at some distance from the walls of a fortification, the better to secure the main places, and to protect the siege, etc.

Delaware. One of the Middle States of the United States, and one of the original thirteen. It derives its name (as do the Delaware River and Bay and Delaware Indians) from Thomas West, lord de la Warr, who visited the bay in 1610, and died on his vessel at its mouth. It was first settled by the Swedes and Dutch, but came into possession of the English in 1664, and formed part of the grant to William Penn in 1682. In 1701 it was separated from Pennsylvania, though subject to the same governor down to the period of the Revolution, to the success of which it contributed its full share, and for the maintenance of the results of which it has ever been a zealous advocate.

Delaware Indians. A tribe of aborigines, called by themselves Lenni-Lenape, who formerly lived on the Delaware River, but are now settled in Indian Territory, on the Wichita Agency, with the Caddos. See Indians and their Agencies.

Delf. A heraldic charge representing a square sod or turf, the term being probably derived from the word delve, to dig. A delf tennÉ is the appropriate abatement for him who revokes his challenge, or otherwise goes from his word.

Delhi. A celebrated city of Northern India, situated on an offset of the river Jumna. The city was taken by a British army under Lord Lake, September 8, 1803, and has ever since continued under British rule. In 1857 it was held by the Sepoys, who murdered several English subjects, but was retaken, after a successful assault, September, 1857.

Deliver Battle. A term taken from the French livrer bataille, meaning to enter practically upon a contest; the opposing armies being in sight of each other.

Dellamcotta. A fortress of Northern Hindostan, in the province of Bootan, commanding the principal pass into that province. It was stormed by the British troops in 1773, which so alarmed the Booteans that they petitioned for peace. The fortress was then restored to them.

Dellis. Were Bosnian and Albanian horsemen, who served without pay in the Turkish armies.

Delphi (now Castri). An ancient town of Phocis, Greece, celebrated on account of its oracle of Apollo. Its temple was burnt by the PisistratidÆ, 548 B.C. A new temple was raised by the AlcmÆonidÆ. The Persians (480 B.C.) and the Gauls (279 B.C.) were deterred from plundering the temple by awful portents. It was, however, robbed and seized by the Phocians, 357 B.C., which led to the Sacred War, and Nero carried from it 300 costly statues in 67 A.D.

DemembrÉ, or Dismembered. A heraldic term signifying that the members of an animal are cut from its body.

Demerara and Essequibo. Colonies in Guiana, South America, founded by the Dutch in 1580, were taken by the British, under Maj.-Gen. Whyte, April 22, 1796, but were restored at the peace of Amiens, 1802. They again surrendered to the British under Gen. Grinfield and Commodore Hood, September, 1803, and became English colonies in 1814.

Demi, or Demy. In heraldry, an animal is said to be demi when only the upper or fore half of it is represented.

Demi-bastion. A piece in fortification, which generally terminates the branches of crown-works or horn-works towards their head.

Demi-brigade. A half brigade.

Demi-cannon. A kind of ordnance, anciently used, carrying a ball of from 30 to 36 pounds in weight.

Demi-culverin. A kind of ordnance anciently used, carrying a ball of 9 or 10 pounds in weight.

Demi-distances (Fr.). Half distances; as, serrez la colonne À demi-distances, close to the column at half distances.

Demi-file (Fr.). Is that rank in a French battalion which immediately succeeds to the serre-demi-file, and is at the head of the remaining half of its depth.

Demi-gorge. In fortification, is half the gorge or entrance into the bastion, not taken directly from angle to angle, where the bastion joins the curtain, but from the angle of the flank to the centre of the bastion, or the angle which the two curtains would make by their prolongation.

Demihag. A long pistol, much used in the 16th century.

Demi-lance. A light lance; half-pike. Also a light horseman who carried a lance.

Demi-lune. In fortification, is a work constructed beyond the main ditch of a fortress, and in front of the curtain between two bastions, intended to defend the curtain; a ravelin.

Demi-parallel. In fortification, is a place of arms formed between the second and third parallels to protect the head of the sap.

Demi-pike. A kind of spontoon, 7 feet long, used by infantry or for boarding.

Demi-place d’Armes. In fortification, a circular trench constructed upon the prolongation of the lines of the covered way, to the right and left of the zigzags, to cover the troops employed in their defense.

Demi-revetment. A revetment of the scarf only to the height protected by the glacis.

Demmin. A town of Prussia, on the river Peene, on the borders of Pomerania and Mecklenburg. It is a town of considerable antiquity, having been a place of importance in the time of Charlemagne, and is noted for the number of sieges it has sustained. Its fortifications were destroyed in 1759. In 1807 several engagements took place here between the French and Russians.

Demonstration. In military operations, is an apparent movement, the chief object of which is to deceive the enemy, and induce him to divide his force, as if to meet dangers from various quarters. When thus divided and weakened, he may be attacked with greater chance of success.

Denain. A village of France, department of the North. It is celebrated in history as the scene of the decisive victory gained in 1712 by Marshal Villars over the allies commanded by Prince EugÈne.

Denbigh. The capital town of the county of the same name, North Wales. In ancient times it was a place of great military importance. The castle was gallantly held by Col. William Salisbury for the king during the civil wars of the revolution, but finally surrendered to the Parliamentary forces under Gen. Mytton.

Dendermonde. A town of Belgium, in the province of East Flanders. It is fortified, and has a citadel dating from 1584, and possessing the means of laying the surrounding country under water in case of an attack. Louis XIV. besieged it in vain in 1667, but Marlborough, aided by a long drought, succeeded in taking it in 1706.

Denmark. A kingdom of Northern Europe, which, with Sweden and Norway, was originally called Scandinavia. In ancient times it was occupied by a fierce and warlike people, whose principal occupation was piracy. In 832 the Danes landed in England, and there established two kingdoms, and two centuries afterwards the conquest of England was completed by Canute, king of Denmark. In the 15th century Christian I. connected Norway, Sleswick, and Holstein with the crown of Denmark, but in consequence of siding with Napoleon, Denmark was obliged to cede Norway to Sweden in 1814. In 1848 Sleswick and Holstein revolted, the duchies being aided by Prussia and other powers of the Germanic Confederation, who, however, concluded a peace on their own account, July 2, 1850. The duchies continued the war, were defeated at Idstet, July 25, 1850, and peace was restored by the intervention of the powers in January, 1851. Hostilities again commenced in 1863, and were terminated by the peace of Vienna in 1864, Denmark renouncing all claim on Sleswick-Holstein.

Dennewitz. A small village in the province of Brandenburg, Prussia. Here was fought, on the 6th of September, 1813, a battle between 70,000 French, Saxons, and Poles, commanded by Marshal Ney, and 45,000 Prussians, under Gen. Tauentzien. Both armies more than once drove each other from their positions, but the Prussians finally prevailed, and Ney gave orders to retreat. At this moment Bernadotte, crown-prince of Sweden, appeared at the head of a large army, and turned the retreat of the French army into a complete rout.

Denonciateur (Fr.). In a general sense, may not improperly be called a military informer. So rigid indeed were the regulations (even in the most corrupt state of the French government) against every species of misapplication and embezzlement, that if a private dragoon gave information to the commissary of musters of a troop horse that had passed muster, having been used in the private service of an officer, he was not only entitled to his discharge, but received, moreover, 100 livres in cash, and became master of the horse and equipage, with which he retired unmolested. The officer was summarily dealt with.

Densimeter. An apparatus for obtaining the specific gravity of gunpowder by immersing it in mercury. It consists of an open vessel containing mercury, a frame supporting a glass globe communicating by a tube with the mercury in the open vessel, and joined at top to a graduated glass tube, which communicates by a flexible tube with an ordinary air-pump. Stop-cocks are inserted in the tubes above and below the glass globe, and a diaphragm of chamois-skin is placed over the bottom orifice and one of wire cloth over the top orifice of the globe. The arrangement allows the globe to be filled with mercury to any mark on the graduated tube, or with gunpowder and mercury. The globe can be taken off and weighed in both cases. The specific gravity is obtained from the relation between the weights in the two cases.

Density. The density or specific gravity of gunpowder is one of its most important properties. In the form of dust, the velocity of combustion increases rapidly with the density up to about 1.60, when it decreases. In grained powder the velocity of combustion decreases as the density increases. For English or American powder this velocity is about four-tenths of an inch per second. For French and most of the continental powders, which are less dense than the English, it is about forty-eight-hundredths of an inch. The excellent preservative qualities of English and American powders are largely due to their high densities,—the standard being about 1.75. A certain degree of density is absolutely essential to grain powder to prevent the inflamed gases from penetrating the pores of the powder and flashing off the whole mass to the destruction of the gun. In the manufacture of powder the density depends, first, upon the amount of trituration to which the ingredients are subjected in the incorporating mill; second, upon the pressure employed to form the cake; and, third, upon the degree of moisture it contains when subjected to these operations, particularly the last. The pressure-gauge is not a reliable measure of the density given to a powder, though a good indication of the hardness, with which density must not be confounded. Dry powder meal offers a great resistance to compression, but becomes very hard,—the work being consumed in consolidating the surface particles. To obtain uniform density a certain amount of moisture is necessary to assist the particles in their movement. As much as 6 per cent. of moisture is used in making prismatic powder.

Department Commander. See Geographical Department, Commander of.

Department, Military. A military subdivision of a country. The whole territory of the United States is divided into military departments, each under a general officer. See Geographical Department, Commander of.

Department of War. That department of a government which takes charge of all matters relating to war. See Secretary of War.

Depenses (Fr.). In a military sense, implies secret service money.

Deploy. Signifies a military movement, in which a body of troops is spread out in such a way that they shall display a wider front and a smaller depth than before deploying. To ploy is to execute the reverse of this movement.

Deployment. The act of unfolding or expanding any given body of men, in order to extend their front.

Deposits, Soldiers’. Soldiers in the U.S. service may deposit with the paymaster any portion of their savings, in sums not less than $5, the same to remain so deposited until final payment on discharge. Interest on deposits at the rate of 4 per cent. per annum will be paid on final settlement upon each deposit from the date thereof to date of discharge. No interest is payable, however, upon any deposit of less than $50, or upon any sum, whatever its amount, which has been on deposit for a less period than six months prior to date of discharge. Deposits are forfeited by desertion.

Depot. Any place at which military stores are deposited for the use of an army. It also signifies a fort or other suitable place appropriated for the reception of recruits, or detached parties belonging to different regiments. In fortification, the term is likewise used to denote a particular place at the trail of the trenches out of the reach of the cannon of a besieged place. It is here that besiegers generally assemble when ordered to attack the outworks, or support the troops in the trenches when there is reason to imagine the besieged intend making a sally.

Depredate. To take plunder or prey; to commit waste; as, the troops depredated on the country; also, in an active sense, to plunder or pillage; to spoil; to lay waste.

Depressed Gun. Any piece of ordnance having its mouth depressed below the horizontal line.

Depression. The pointing of any piece of ordnance so that its shot may be projected short of the point-blank.

Depth. A technical word, peculiarly applicable to bodies of men drawn up in line or column. The depth of a battalion or squadron is the number of men in rank and file from front to rear.

Deputy-Marshal. In the British service, is the senior sergeant-major of each regiment of Foot Guards, who sees after and makes out the routes of deserters, and receives an allowance for so doing.

Deraser (Fr.). To cut off the superfluous clay from a gun-mold previous to its being placed in the pit.

Derayeh, El. A town of Arabia, nearly in the centre of the district called El Nedjed. It is tolerably well fortified, but after a siege of seven months, in 1819, it was nearly destroyed by the troops of Ibrahim Pasha.

Derbend, or Derbent. A town of Russia, the capital of the province of Daghestan. It is surrounded by strong walls and flanked and strengthened by massive bastions. It was taken from Persia by Russia in 1722, restored to the former power in 1735, and retaken by the Muscovites in 1795.

Derivation (Fr.). Drift of rifle projectiles. See Projectiles.

Descend. In a military sense, means to make an attack or incursion as if from a vantage-ground.

Descents. In fortification, are the holes, vaults, and hollow places made by undermining the ground.

Descents into the Ditch. Cuts and excavations made by means of saps in the counterscarp, beneath the covert way. They are covered with thick boards and hurdles; and a certain quantity of earth is thrown upon the top in order to obviate the bad effects which might arise from shells, etc.

Descriptive Book. A book in which descriptive lists of the soldiers belonging to a company are kept.

Descriptive List of Soldier. A paper giving a short history of the soldier, a description of his person, and the statement of his account. It accompanies him wherever he goes, being intrusted to his detachment or company commander.

Descriptive Memoir. This memoir, which should always accompany a sketch of a topographical reconnoissance, is intended to convey that information relating to the natural features of the ground not expressed upon the sketch; to express that information for which there are no conventional signs, and to present those facts relative to the ground which become important by being considered in connection with the probable military operations to be undertaken.

Desenzano. A town of Lombardy, in the province of Brescia. Garibaldi, in command of the Italian volunteers, defeated an Austrian force near this place in 1859.

Desert. To quit a service without permission; to run away; as, to desert from the army; to forsake in violation of duty; as, to desert one’s colors.

Deserter. A soldier who absconds, during the period for which he is enlisted, from the service of the army or navy. In England this crime was by certain old statutes made punishable with death, but now the punishment is left to the discretion of a court-martial. In the United States, deserters in the time of war may be sentenced to death, but in time of peace the penalty for this offense is lighter.

Desertion. The act of absence from duty without intention to return. See Appendix, Articles of War, 47.

Despatch, or Dispatch. An official military letter sent by the commander of an army in the field to the authorities at home. The term is also applied to the military letters giving an account of military operations sent by subordinate officers holding detached commands to the general of an army in the field. See Dispatches.

Detach. To separate for a special object or use; as, to send out a body of men on some particular service, separate from that of the main body.

Detached Bastion. In fortification, is that basis which is separated from the enceinte by a ditch.

Detached Works. In fortification, are such outworks as are detached, or at a distance from the body of the place; such as half-moons, ravelins, bastions, etc.

Detachment. In military affairs, an uncertain number of men drawn out from several regiments or camps equally, to march or be employed as the general may think proper, whether on an attack, at a siege, or in parties to scour the country. A detachment of 2000 or 3000 men is a command for a general officer, 800 for a colonel, 500 for lieutenant-colonel, 200 or 300 for a major, 80 or 100 for a captain, 40 for a lieutenant, 12 for a sergeant, and 6 for a corporal.

Detachment, Gun. The men required for the service of a piece of artillery.

Detachment, Manoeuvring. The men required for mechanical manoeuvres of a siege or sea-coast gun.

Detail for Duty. Is a roster, or table, for the regular performance of duty either in camp or garrison. The general detail is regulated by the adjutant-general, according to the strength of the several corps. The adjutant of each regiment superintends the detail of officers and non-commissioned officers for duty, and orderly sergeants detail the privates.

Detmold. A town of Northwestern Germany, capital of the principality of Lippe-Detmold, on the Werra. In the vicinity is the battle-field on which the army of Varus was destroyed by the Germans under Arminius, in 9 A.D.

Detonating Powder. A term applied in chemistry to fulminating mercury and silver, and to other compounds which suddenly explode when struck or heated. Some of these compounds have been much used for the ignition of gunpowder in percussion locks.

Detonation. The instantaneous conversion of an explosive into gas; a term applied to the phenomena attending the explosion of certain substances, such as nitro-glycerine, chloride of nitrogen, iodide of nitrogen, gun-cotton, the picrates, etc. Detonation, or explosion of the first order, is distinguished from ordinary explosion, or explosion of the second order, by the different way in which the explosion is propagated. Ordinary explosion proceeds by inflammation, being nothing more than a rapid combustion. Detonation is propagated by vibration. A detonating agent is a substance used to produce the initial vibration, or “impulse of explosion.” The exploder, or cap, used for this purpose is usually primed with fulminate of mercury, a substance having a wide range in bringing about detonation in the high explosives.

Dettingen. A village of Bavaria, on the Maine. It is noted for a victory gained by the English, under George II., over the French, commanded by Marshal Noailles, in 1743.

Devastation. In warfare, is the act of destroying, laying waste, demolishing, or unpeopling towns, etc.

Deviation of Projectiles. See Projectiles.

Device. The emblem on a shield or standard.

Devicotta. A fort and seaport town in the south of India, and district of Tanjore. It was taken in 1749 from the rajah of Tanjore.

Devonshire. A maritime county in the southwest peninsula of England, between the Bristol and English Channels. The Saxons failed to conquer Devonshire till the 9th century. It was ravaged by the Danes in the 9th and 10th centuries, and by the Irish in the 11th century. In 1688 the Prince of Orange landed at Tor Bay, in this county.

Deyrah, or Dehra. A town of Northern Hindostan, and the principal place of the British province designated the Deyrah Doon. During the Nepaul war in 1815, the Deyrah Doon became the scene of military operations, and acquired a mournful celebrity by the obstinate defense made by the Goorkhas at Kalunga, or Nalapani, in the siege of which the British lost a considerable number of men, including their gallant commander, Gen. Gillespie.

Diable (Devil-carriage), Fr. A truck-carriage on four trucks, for carrying mortars, etc., to short distances; it is provided with draught-hooks at each end, so as to be drawn to front or rear.

Diameter. In both a military and geometrical sense, implies a right line passing through the centre of a circle, and terminated at each end by the circumference thereof.

Diaphragm Shell. An obsolete spherical shell formerly used in the English service, so named from the arrangement of the interior.

DiaprÉ. A term applied in heraldry to fields and charges relieved by arabesque and geometrical patterns. This ornamentation, not affecting the heraldic value of the objects to which it was applied, was generally left to the fancy of the painter.

Diarbekir. A city of Asiatic Turkey, and capital of the pashalic of Diarbekir. This place was successively taken, retaken, and destroyed, in the ancient wars between the Persians and Romans. It was pillaged by Tamerlane in the year 1393; and was successively taken and retaken by the Persian kings, until it was conquered by Selim, the first sultan of the Osmanli Turks, in the year 1515. In 1605 it again fell into the power of Persia; but it was afterwards retaken by the Turks, under whose dominion it has since continued.

Dictator. In the earliest times, was the name of the highest magistrate of the Latin Confederation, and in some of the Latin towns the title was continued long after these towns were subjected to the dominion of Rome. In the Roman republic the dictator was an extraordinary magistrate, irresponsible and endowed with absolute authority. The dictatorship could not lawfully be held longer than six months. Dictators were only appointed so long as the Romans had to carry on wars in and out of Italy, or when any vigorous measure had to be acted upon. The limits of his power were as follows: he could not touch the treasury; he could not leave Italy; and he could not ride through Rome on horseback without previously obtaining the permission of the people.

Dideon’s Formulas. Certain equations relating to the trajectory of a projectile in the air, obtained by Capt. Dideon of Metz by integrating the differential equations of the trajectory under certain assumptions as to the law of the resistance, etc. See Projectiles, Trajectory, in Air.

Diego. A very strong and heavy sword.

Diest. A town of Belgium, in Southern Brabant, on the Demer. This town was taken by the Duke of Marlborough in 1705, but retaken by the French, and dismantled, in the same year. Since 1830 it has been surrounded with fortifications and made a place of great strength.

Dietary, Military. See Subsistence of Armies and Food.

Dieu et Mon Droit (Fr.). “God and my Right.” The motto of the royal arms of England, first assumed by Richard I., to intimate that he did not hold his empire in vassalage of any mortal. It was afterwards assumed by Edward III., and was continued without interruption to the time of William, who used the motto Je maintiendray, though the former was still retained upon the great seal. After him Anne used the motto Semper eadem; but ever since her time Dieu et mon droit has continued to be the royal motto.

Differences. In heraldry, are marks introduced into a coat of arms to distinguish brothers and their descendants from the father or head of the house, while he is alive; marks of cadency being used for a similar purpose after his death.

Differential Pulley. A hoisting apparatus consisting of an endless chain and two pulleys of slightly different diameters. The chain winds upon one while unwinding from the other. It is attached to a crane, and used to hoist heavy shot to the muzzle of large cannon.

Dijon. An ancient walled city of France, chief town of the department of CÔte-d’Or. It has been several times captured in war. It was attacked by the Germans under Gen. Beyer, October 30, 1870. The heights and suburbs were taken by Prince William of Baden, and the town surrendered October 31.

Dike, or Dyke. A channel to receive water; also a dam or mound, to prevent inundation. Dikes differ from sluices; the former being intended only to oppose the flowing of other water into a river, or to confine the stream by means of strong walls, pieces of timber, or a double row of hurdles, the intervals of which are filled with earth, stones, or pebbles.

DimachÆ. In ancient military affairs, were a kind of horsemen, answering to the dragoons of the moderns.

Dimidiation. In heraldry, a mode of marshaling arms, adopted chiefly before quartering and impaling according to the modern practice came into use, and subsequently retained to some extent in continental, though not in English heraldry. It consists in cutting two coats of arms in halves by a vertical line, and uniting the dexter half of one to the sinister half of the other. Coats of husband and wife were often so marshaled in England in the 13th and 14th centuries.

Diminish. In a military sense, means to decrease the front of a battalion; to adopt the columns of march, or manoeuvre according to the obstructions and difficulties which it meets in advancing.

Diminished Angle. Is that formed by the exterior side and line of defense in fortification.

Diminutions. A word sometimes used in heraldry for differences, marks of cadency, and brisures, indifferently.

Dinan. A town of France, in the department of CÔtes-du-Nord, situated on the Rance. This place was often besieged during the Middle Ages; in 1373 was taken by Du Guesclin, and in 1379 by De Clisson.

Dinant. A town of Belgium, on the Meuse, 14 miles south from Namur. It was taken by Philip the Good, duke of Burgundy, in 1466, when 800 of its inhabitants were taken by twos, tied back to back, and thrown into the Meuse. The town was also razed to the ground; but in 1493 it was rebuilt. In 1554 and 1675 it was again taken by the French.

Dinapore, or Dinapoor. A town of British India, in the presidency of Bengal, on the Ganges. It is an important military station, containing extensive barracks and cantonments for English and native troops.

Dindigul. Capital of a district in the south of India, in the presidency of Madras. It was captured by the British troops, under Col. Stuart, in 1790.

Dipping of the Muzzle. A piece of artillery when fired has been explained by the action of the vent in bringing increased pressure on the elevating screw or quoin, the reaction from which throws down the muzzle.

Direct Fire. See Fire, Direct.

Directing Sergeant. When a company is being drilled in marching, a sergeant distinguished for precision in marching is selected, who is called a directing sergeant, and placed in front of the guide on the line established. This sergeant is charged with the direction and step, and marches on points selected by himself directly in front of him. The right guide of the company marches straight in the trace of the directing sergeant.

Direction. In military mechanics, signifies the line or path of a body in motion, along which it endeavors to force its way, according to the propelling power that is given to it.

Direction. In gunnery, is that element of pointing which relates to the movement of the piece around an imaginary vertical axis. The direction is given when the plane of sight passes through the object. Elevation is a movement about a horizontal axis.

Directory. In the history of France, the name given by the constitution of 1795, to an executive body composed of five members of the French republic. They assumed authority in a moment of immense peril. France was environed with gigantic adversaries, while distrust, discontent, and the malice of rival factions made her internal administration almost hopeless. The frantic heroism of her soldiers saved her from spoliation by the foreigner; but, on the contrary, the home policy of the Directory was deplorable. In 1799 the Directory was overthrown by the coup d’État of the 18th Brumaire, November 9, 1799, and was succeeded by the Consulate.

Dirk. Is a short dagger which at various times and in various countries has been much used as a weapon of defense. It is still worn by Highland regiments in the British service.

Dirk-knife. A clasp-knife, having a large, dirk-like blade.

Disability. State of being disabled; want of competent physical or intellectual power. When a soldier becomes disabled from exposure, accidents, or other causes, he is discharged from the service on a surgeon’s certificate of disability, which enables him to draw a pension.

Disarm. To deprive of arms; to take away the weapons of; to deprive of the means of attack or defense.

Disarmament. The act of disarming.

Disarmed. Soldiers divested of their arms, either by conquest, or in consequence of some defection.

Disarmer. One who disarms.

Disarray. To throw into disorder; to break the array of.

Disarray. Want of array or regular order; disorder.

Disbanding. Is the breaking up of a military organization and the discharge of soldiers from military duty.

Disbursing Officer. An officer whose special function is to make disbursements of money.

Discharge. From military service, is obtained by non-commissioned officers and privates by expiration of term of service, which varies in different countries; on surgeon’s certificate of disability, and by special authority for various reasons, when recommended by the commanding officer. Soldiers are also discharged with ignominy for great offenses, being in some cases stripped of their decorations and drummed out of the service.

Disciplinarian. An officer who pays particular regard to the discipline or the soldiers under his command.

Discipline. In military and naval affairs, is a general name for the rules and regulations prescribed and enforced for the proper conduct and subordination of the soldiers, etc. This is the technical meaning. In a higher sense discipline is the habit of obedience. The soldier acquires the habit of subordinating his own will, pleasure, and inclinations to those of his superior. When the habit has become so strong that it is second nature, the soldier is disciplined.

Discomfit. Defeat, rout, overthrow.

Discretion. Se rendre À discrÉtion, surrendering unconditionally to a victorious enemy.

Disembarkation. The act of landing troops from a boat or ship. The term has lately been applied to the act of quitting a railway train.

Disembody. To disarm a military body, and to dispense with its services.

Disengage. To separate the wings of a battalion or regiment, which is necessary when the battalion countermarches from its centre and on its centre by files. It likewise means to clear a column or line which may have lost its proper front by the overlapping of any particular division. It also signifies to extricate oneself and the troops commanded from a critical situation. It likewise means to break suddenly from any particular order in line or column, and to repair to some rallying-point.

Disengage. In fencing, means to quit that side of an adversary’s blade on which one is opposed by his guard, in order to effect a cut or thrust where an opportunity may present.

Disgarnish. To take guns from a fortress.

Disgarrison. To deprive of a garrison.

Dishelm. To deprive of the helmet; to take the helmet from.

Dish of a Wheel. Is the inclination outward of the spokes when fastened in the nave.

Dislodge. To drive an enemy from a position.

Dismantle. To render fortifications incapable of defense, or cannon unserviceable.

Dismiss. To discard, or deprive an officer of his commission or warrant. See Appendix, Articles or War.

Dismount. To dismount the cavalry is to use them as infantry. Guards, when relieved, are said to dismount. They are to be marched with the utmost regularity to the parade-ground where they were formed, and from thence to their regimental or company parades, previously to being dismissed to their quarters. To dismount cannon, is to break their carriages, wheels, etc., so as to render them unfit for service. It also implies dismounting by the gin, etc.

Disobedience of Orders. Any infraction, by neglect or willful omission, of orders. See Appendix, Articles of War, 21.

Dispart. In gunnery, half the difference between the diameter of the base-ring at the breech of a gun and that of the swell of the muzzle. In guns which have no front sights, it is therefore the tangent of the natural angle of sight to a radius equal to the distance from the rear of the base-ring, or base-line, to the highest point of the swell of the muzzle, measured parallel to the axis. For convenience the muzzle sight is usually made equal in height to the dispart in modern guns,—giving a natural line of sight parallel to the axis of the piece.

Dispatches. Official messages. In war, important dispatches which have to pass through the enemy’s country, or in the vicinity of his forces, are only intrusted to officers to whom their contents can be confided. Dispatches are frequently in cipher, especially when telegraphed or signaled with a liability to interception. See Despatch.

Disperse. To scatter any body of men, armed or unarmed, who may have assembled in an illegal or hostile manner. The cavalry are generally employed on these occasions.

Displaced. Officers in the British service are sometimes displaced from a particular regiment in consequence of misconduct, but they are at liberty to serve in any other corps.

Display, To. In a military sense, is to extend the front of a column, and thereby bring it into line.

Displayed. In heraldic usage, means expanded; as, an eagle displaced, or what is commonly known as a spread eagle.

Displume. To deprive of decoration or ornament; to degrade.

Dispose. To dispose cannon, is to place it in such a manner that its discharge may do the greatest mischief.

Disposition. In a general sense, is the just placing of an army or body of men upon the most advantageous ground, and in the strongest situation, for a vigorous attack or defense.

Disposition de Guerre (Fr.). Warlike arrangement or disposition. Under this head may be considered the mode of establishing, combining, conducting, and finally terminating a war, so as to produce success and victory.

Disrespect to a Commanding Officer. See Appendix, Articles of War, 20.

Disrespectful Words. See Appendix, Articles of War, 19.

Distance. In military formation, signifies the relative space which is left between men standing under arms in rank, or the interval which appears between those ranks.

Distance of the Bastion. In fortification, is the term applied to the exterior polygon.

Distances of Objects. See Pointing.

Distribution. Means, generally, any division or allotment made for the purposes of war; also minor arrangements made for the supply of corps.

District, Military. One of those portions into which a country is divided, for the convenience of command, and to insure a co-operation between distant bodies of troops.

Disvelloped, or Developed. Are heraldic terms applied to the colors of a regiment, or army, when they are flying.

Ditch. In fortification, is an excavation made round the works, from which the earth required for the construction of the rampart and parapet is obtained. Ditches are of two kinds, wet and dry; but in modern fortification the dry ditch is considered preferable to the wet one. When the excavation is on the side farthest from the enemy it is called a trench.

Diu. A once celebrated island and fortress of Hindostan, in the peninsula of Kattywar. In 1515 the Portuguese gained possession of it; they fortified it, and in ten years rendered it impregnable against all the powers of India. With the decline of Portuguese power it fell into decay, and was plundered by the Arabs of Muscat in 1670.

Diversion. An attack upon an enemy in a place where he is weak and unprovided, in order to draw off his forces from making an irruption elsewhere; or a manoeuvre, where an enemy is strong, which obliges him to detach part of his forces to resist any feint or menacing attempt of his opponent.

Divest. To strip of clothes, arms, or equipage.

Divine Service. See Appendix, Articles of War, 52.

Division. In military matters, is one section of an army, comprising 2 or more brigades, commanded by a general officer. In regimental formation, 2 companies of a regiment or battalion constitute a division, when in column.

Dizier, St. A town of France, on the Marne. The emperor Charles V. besieged and took this place in 1544; and in its neighborhood Napoleon defeated the allies in two battles fought January 27 and March 26, 1814.

Djokjokarta. A Dutch residency of Java, near the middle of the south coast of that island. The town of the same name is the seat of a Dutch resident and a native sultan, who has a body-guard of young females, completely armed and equipped, some of whom do duty on horseback. It was taken by the British in 1812.

Dobrudscha (anc. Scythia Minor). A name used to denote the northeastern portion of Bulgaria. The Dobrudscha has long been a famous battle-ground. Some of the earliest incidents of the Russian war of 1854-56 took place here.

Dolabra. A rude ancient hatchet. They are represented on the columns of Trajan and Antoninus, and abound in all museums. When made of flint, which was their earliest and rudest form, they are usually called celts.

DÔle. A town of France, in the department of Jura, on the right bank of the Doubs. In 1479 it was taken by Louis XI., when the greater part of the town was destroyed, and many of its inhabitants were put to the sword. It subsequently came into the hands of the Spaniards, and was fortified by Charles V. in 1530. In 1636 it was ineffectually besieged by the Prince of CondÉ. In 1668 it was taken by the French; and again in 1674, when its fortifications were destroyed.

Dolphins. Two handles placed upon a piece of ordnance with their centres over the centre of gravity, by which it was mounted or dismounted. They are no longer in use in the U.S. service.

Domingo, San. The capital of the Spanish part of the island of Hayti, in the West Indies. About the year 1586 the city was sacked by Sir Francis Drake.

Dominica. An island in the West Indies, belonging to the Leeward group, lying about 20 miles to the north of Martinique. This island was discovered by Columbus in 1498, and was claimed alternately by England, France, and Spain: it was finally ceded to Great Britain in 1763.

Dommage (Fr.). In a general acceptation of the term, signified in the old French service, the compensation which every captain of a troop, or company, was obliged to make in consequence of any damage that their men might have done in a town, or on a march.

Donabue. A town in India, in the British province of Pegu. In 1825, during the Burmese war, it maintained a successful resistance against the assault of a British force under the command of Brigadier Cotton; and here in 1853, during the last war with the same nation, the British troops suffered a repulse in an encounter with a Burmese force, losing several officers.

DonauwÖrth. A town of Bavaria, situated at the confluence of the Wernitz and the Danube. Here Marlborough stormed and carried the intrenched camp of the Bavarians in 1704, and on October 6, 1805, the French under Soult obtained a victory over the Austrians under Mack.

Donelson, Fort. A position on a slight bend of the Cumberland River, in Tennessee, which was strongly fortified by the Confederates during the civil war. On the afternoon of February 14, 1862, Commodore Foote commenced with his gunboats an attack on this place, but met with a decided reverse. Meantime, Gen. Grant’s army, advancing from the capture of Fort Henry, gradually approached, and surrounded the fort, with occasional skirmishing on the line. Next day the Confederates attacked them, but were repulsed with loss, and finding all hope of reinforcements unavailing, they surrendered the fort on the 16th. About 10,000 prisoners, 40 pieces of artillery, and a large quantity of stores of all kinds fell into Gen. Grant’s hands.

Dongola, New, or Maraka. A town on the Nile, and capital of a province of the same name, in Nubia. Ibrahim Pasha took it from the Mamelukes in 1820.

Donjon, or Dungeon. The principal tower or keep of a castle or fortress. It was so called either from being placed on a dun or elevation, natural or artificial, or because, from its position, it dominated or commanded the other parts of the fortress. From the circumstance that the lower or under-ground story of the donjon was used as a prison, has come the modern meaning of the word dungeon.

Doolee. A palanquin litter, used in Indian armies, to carry sick and wounded men.

Dormans. In Northeast France. The Huguenots and their allies under Montmorency were here defeated by the Duke of Guise, October 10, 1575.

Dormant. (Fr.). Sleeping. In heraldic representation, an animal dormant has its head resting on its fore-paws, whereas an animal couchant has its head erect.

Dornach. A village of Switzerland, 20 miles northeast from Soleure, remarkable for the victory obtained by the Swiss over the Austrians, July 22, 1499, and which gave Switzerland her independence.

Dorogoboozh, Dorogobush, or Dorogobouge. A town of Russia, in the government of Smolensk. At this place the French were defeated by the Russians, October 12, 1812.

Dosser. In military matters, is a sort of basket, carried on the shoulders of men, used in carrying the earth from one part of a fortification to another, where it is required.

DossiÈre (Fr.). Back-piece of a cuirass.

Douai, or Douay. A fortified town of France, on the small river Scarpe, 18 miles south from Lille. This place was taken from the Flemings by Philip the Fair in 1297; restored by Charles V. in 1368. It reverted to Spain, from whom it was taken by Louis XIV. in 1667. It was captured by the allies, under the Duke of Marlborough and Prince EugÈne, in 1710, but was retaken by the French, September 8, 1712.

Double. To unite, as ranks or files, so as to form one. To double upon, to inclose between two fires.

Double-quick. Performed in the time called double-quick; as, a double-quick step or march.

Double-quick. To move, or cause to move, in double-quick time.

Double-rank. A line formed of double files.

Double-shell. A shell used in the 7-inch English rifles. It is 27 inches long, and has a large cavity. To strengthen it against outside pressure it has three internal longitudinal ribs projecting about an inch into the cavity.

Double-shotting. Is an increase of the destructive power of ordnance by doubling the shot fired off at one time from a gun. Sometimes three shots are fired at once, in which case the piece is said to be treble-shotted.

Double-time. The fastest time or step in marching, next to the run, requiring 165 steps, each 33 inches in length, to be taken in one minute. The degree of swiftness may vary in urgent cases, and the number of steps be thus increased up to 180 per minute.

Doubling. The putting of two ranks of soldiers into one.

Doublings. The heraldic term for the linings of robes or mantles, or of the mantlings of achievements.

Doullens. A town of France, 15 miles northeast of Amiens. This place was taken by the allies in 1814.

Doune. A village of Perthshire, Scotland. The ruins of Doune Castle, a large and massive fortress built about the 14th century, are situated on the point of a steep and narrow elevation. Doune was held for Prince Charles in 1745, and here he confined his prisoners taken at Falkirk, among the rest the author of the tragedy of “Douglas.”

Douro. A large river in Spain and Portugal, which was crossed in 1809 by the British army under the Duke of Wellington, when he surprised the French under Marshal Soult, and won the battle of Oporto.

Dover (anc. Dubris). A city and seaport of England, in the county of Kent, on Dover Strait. The city is defended by Dover Castle, which is built on chalk-cliffs 320 feet high, and is a fortress of great strength and extent. The castle is said to have been founded by the ancient Romans. Near here Julius CÆsar is said to have first landed in England, August 26, 55 B.C., and here King John resigned his kingdom to Pandolf, the pope’s legate, May 13, 1213.

Dowletabad. A celebrated city and fortress of Hindostan, province of Hyderabad, deemed impregnable by the natives; but notwithstanding its strength, it has been frequently taken.

Drabants. A company of 200 picked men, of which Charles IX. of Sweden was captain.

Draft. A selecting or detaching of soldiers from an army, or any part of it, or from a military post; also from any company or collection of persons, or from the people at large for military service.

Draft. See Draught.

Draft, To. To draw from a military band or post, or from any company, collection, society, or from the people at large; to detach; to select. Written also draught.

Dragon. An old name for a musketoon.

Dragon et Dragon Volant (Fr.). Some old pieces of artillery were anciently so called. The Dragon was a 40-pounder; the Dragon Volant a 32-pounder. But neither the name nor the size of the caliber of either piece is now in use.

Dragonner (Fr.). According to the French acceptation of the term, is to attack any person in a rude and violent manner; to take anything by force; to adopt prompt and vigorous means; and to bring those people to reason by hard blows, who could not be persuaded by fair words.

Dragoon. From the old fable that the dragon spouts fire, the head of the monster was worked upon the muzzle of a peculiar kind of short muskets which were first carried by the horsemen raised by Marshal Brissac in 1600. This circumstance led to their being called dragoons; and from the general adoption of the same weapon, though without the emblem in question, the term gradually extended itself till it became almost synonymous with horse-soldier. Dragoons were at one time a kind of mounted infantry, drilled to perform the services both of horse and foot. At present, dragoon is simply one among many designations for cavalry, not very precise in its application. This term is not now used in the U.S. service.

Dragoon, To. Is to persecute by abandoning a place to the rage of the soldiers.

Dragoon Guards. In the British service, seven regiments of heavy cavalry bear this title.

Drag-rope. This is a 4-inch hemp rope, 28 feet long, with a thimble worked into each end, one of the thimbles carrying a hook. Six handles, made of oak or ash, are put in between the strands of the rope, and lashed with a marline. It is used to assist in extricating carriages from different positions by the men, for dragging pieces, etc.

Drag-rope Men. The men attached to light or heavy ordnance, for the purpose of expediting movements in action. The French servans À la prolonge are of this description.

Drain, or Drein. In the military art, is a trench made to draw water out of a ditch, which is afterwards filled with hurdles and earth, or with fascines or bundles of rushes, and planks, to facilitate the passage over the mud.

Drake. A small piece of artillery, no longer used.

Draught. The act of drawing men from a military band, army, or post, or from any company or society; draft; detachment; also, formerly, a sudden attack or drawing upon an enemy.

Draughted. The soldiers of any regiment allotted to complete other regiments are said to be draughted, or drafted.

Draught-hook. Either of two large hooks of iron fixed on the cheeks of a gun-carriage, two on each side, used in drawing the gun backward and forward.

Drawbridge. A bridge of which the whole or part is made to be let down, or drawn or turned aside, to admit or hinder communication at pleasure, as before the gate of a town or castle. It is called bascule, swivel, or rolling bridge according as it turns on a hinge vertically, on a pivot horizontally, or is pushed lengthwise on rollers.

Drawing. In a military sense, is the art of representing the appearances of all kinds of military objects by imitation or copying, both with and without the assistance of mathematical rules.

Drawn Battle. A fight from which the combatants withdraw without either side claiming the victory.

Draw off, To. In a military sense, means to retire; also to abstract or take away; as, to draw off your forces. To draw on is to advance; also to occasion; as, to draw on an enemy’s fire. To draw over is to persuade to revolt; to entice from a party. To draw out is to call the soldiers forth in array for action. To draw up is to form in battle array. To draw out a party is to assemble any particular number of armed men for military duty. The French say, faire un detachement.

Drayton-in-Hales, or Market Drayton. A town of England, in Shropshire. Here the partisans of the house of York defeated the Lancastrians in 1459.

Dresden. The capital of the kingdom of Saxony, and one of the best built towns of Europe. Taken by Frederick of Prussia in 1756; by the Austrians in 1759; bombarded in vain by Frederick, July, 1760. On August 26-27, 1813, the allies were defeated in a terrible battle by the French under the walls of this city; and about a mile from it is a granite block, surmounted by a helmet, marking the spot where Moreau fell in the conflict, while conversing with the emperor Alexander.

Dress. A word of command for alignment of troops; also of the alignment itself.

Dressers. See Guides.

Dress, Full. Dress uniform. The French is grande tenue, or grande uniforme.

Dress Parade. Parade in full uniform; one of the ceremonies prescribed in tactics.

Dress, To. To cause a company or battalion to take such a position or order as will preserve an exact continuity of line in the whole front, or in whatever shape the command is to be formed. Soldiers dress by one another in ranks, and the body collectively by some given object. To dress the line is to arrange any given number of soldiers, so as to stand perfectly correct with regard to the several points of an alignment that have been taken up.

Dress Uniform. The dress prescribed for occasions of ceremony.

Dreux. An old town of France, in the department of the Eure and Loire, on the Blaise. In 1188 this town was burned by the English; and in 1562 the Prince of CondÉ was taken prisoner in a severe action fought between the Huguenots and Roman Catholics in its neighborhood.

Drift. A tool used in driving down compactly the composition contained in a rocket, or like firework.

Drift. A deviation peculiar to oblong rifle projectiles. See Projectiles.

Drill. Is a general name for the exercises through which soldiers and sailors are passed, to qualify them for their duties. There are many varieties of drill,—that of the cavalry, infantry, and artillery,—all have different drills conformable to their different organizations.

Drill-Sergeant. A non-commissioned officer, whose office it is to instruct soldiers as to their duties, and to train them to military evolutions.

Drogheda. A seaport town of Ireland, in the counties of Meath and Louth, built on both sides of the Boyne. From the 14th to the 17th century, Drogheda was the chief military station in Ulster. In 1641 the town was besieged by O’Neal and the northern Irish forces, but was gallantly defended by Sir Henry Tichbourne, and after a long blockade relieved by the Marquis of Ormond, who also relieved it a second time when invested by the Parliamentary army under Col. Jones. In 1649, Cromwell was twice repulsed in besieging this town; but in the third attempt he was successful, when most of the garrison were slaughtered. This place surrendered to William III. the day after the battle of the Boyne, which was fought in 1690 at Oldbridge, 4 miles west of Drogheda.

Drum. A musical instrument of percussion, formed by stretching a piece of parchment over each end of a cylinder formed of thin wood, or over the top of a caldron-shaped vessel of brass; the latter is hence called a kettle-drum. The large drums which are beaten at each end are called double drums, or bass drums, and are used chiefly in military bands. Kettle-drums are always used in pairs; one of which is tuned to the key-note, the other to the fifth of the key. The drum is principally used for military purposes, especially for inspiring the soldiers under the fatigue of march or in battle. It is supposed to be an Eastern invention, and to have been brought into Europe by the Arabians, or perhaps the Moors. In the French army the drum is now, to some extent, abolished.

Drum. To execute on a drum, as a tune;—with out, to expel with beat of drum; as, to drum out a deserter, etc.; with up, to assemble by beat of drum; to gather; to collect; as, to drum up recruits, etc.

Drumclog. In Western Scotland; here the Covenanters defeated Graham of Claverhouse, June 1, 1679. An account of the conflict is given by Walter Scott, in “Old Mortality.”

Drum-head. The head or upper part of a drum.

Drum-head Court-martial. A court-martial called suddenly by the commanding officer to try offenses committed on the line of march, and which demand an immediate example. This method is not resorted to in time of peace.

Drum-Major. Is that person in a regiment of infantry who has command of the drummers and teaches them their duty. He also directs the movements of the regimental band, while on parade.

Drummer. The soldier who plays a drum. The majority of drummers are boys, generally the sons of soldiers. In former times it was the part of a drummer’s duty to flog men sentenced to corporal punishment.

Drumming Out. The ceremony of ignominiously discharging a soldier from the service. The culprit is marched out of the garrison at the point of the bayonet, the drummers or musicians playing the “Rogue’s March.”

Drum-stick. A stick with which a drum is beaten, or shaped for the purpose of beating a drum.

Drunk on Duty. See Appendix, Articles of War, 38.

Druses. A warlike people dwelling among the mountains of Lebanon, derive their origin from a fanatical Mohammedan sect which arose in Egypt about 996, and fled to Palestine to avoid persecution. They now retain hardly any of the religion of their ancestors. In 1860, in consequence of disputes, the Druses attacked their neighbors, the Maronites, whom they massacred, it was said, without regard to age or sex. This led to a general massacre of Christians soon after. But the Turkish troops, with French auxiliaries, interfering on behalf of the Christians, invaded Lebanon in August and September, when the Druses surrendered, giving up their chiefs, January, 1861.

Dry Camp, To Make a. Troops on the march are said to make a dry camp when they are compelled by exhaustion, or other causes, to camp at a place where there is no water. For such camps water is usually transported with the troops.

Dualin. See Explosives.

Dubicza, or Dubitza. A town and fort of European Turkey, in Bosnia, on the Unna. The Austrians took this town in 1738.

Dublin. The capital city of Ireland, on the Liffey, close to its entrance into Dublin Bay. It is alleged that this city has been in existence since the time of Ptolemy. In the earlier part of the 9th century, Dublin was taken by the Danes, who infested it for several centuries thereafter. In 1169 it was taken by storm by the English under Strongbow. From about this period the history of Dublin is that of Ireland.

Ducenarius. An officer in the Roman armies who commanded two centuries.

Dudgeon. A small dagger (rare).

Duel. Was the old form of a combat between two persons, at a time and place indicated in the challenge, cartel, or defiance borne by one party to the other. A duel generally takes place in the presence of witnesses, called seconds, who regulate the mode of fighting, place the weapons in the hands of the combatants, and enforce compliance with the rules which they have laid down. In the United States the practice of fighting duels, being declared illegal by statutes, is very seldom resorted to.

Dueling. See Appendix, Articles of War, 26, 27.

Duffadar. A rank in the East Indian Native Cavalry, corresponding with that of sergeant.

Duffadar, Kot. A non-commissioned officer in the East Indian Native Cavalry, corresponding with a troop sergeant-major.

Duffadar Major. A rank in the East Indian Native Cavalry, corresponding with that of regimental sergeant-major.

Duke. From the Latin dux, a “leader,” a title that first came into use when Constantine separated the civil and military commands in the provinces. This title was successively borrowed by the Goths and Franks, and since the time of the Black Prince, who was created first duke in England (Duke of Cornwall) in 1335, it has been a title of the nobility, ranking next below the blood royal.

Dukigi-Bachi. Second officer in the Turkish artillery, who commands the Topelas, or gunners and founders.

Duledge. A peg of wood which joins the ends of the felloes, forming the circle of the wheel of a gun-carriage; and the joint is strengthened on the outside of the wheel by a strong plate of iron, called the duledge plate.

Dumdum. The name of a town and of a valley in India, well known in the military history of the country; it is 8 miles to the northeast of Calcutta, having extensive accommodations for troops, and a cannon-foundry. The place is famous in connection with the mutiny of 1857, as the scene of the first open manifestation on the part of the Sepoys against the greased cartridges.

Dumfries. A royal burgh and parish of Scotland, the capital of Dumfriesshire, on the Nith. This town was exposed to repeated calamities from the invasions of the English during the border wars. In this town John Comyn, the competitor for the Scottish throne, was stabbed by Robert Bruce in 1305.

DÜnaburg. A strongly fortified town of Western Russia, on the DÜna. It is of great military importance, owing to the strength of its fortifications. It was founded by the Knights of the Sword in 1277.

Dunbar. A seaport town of Scotland, in Haddingtonshire, at the mouth of the Frith of Forth. On the high rocks at the entrance to the new harbor are a few fragments of the ruins of an old castle, which was once very strong, and an important security against English invasions. Edward I. took it, and Edward II. fled thither after the battle of Bannockburn; it was demolished in 1333, and rebuilt in 1336; it was successfully defended in a siege of six weeks against the Earl of Salisbury by Black Agnes, countess of Dunbar, in 1338; it sheltered Queen Mary and Bothwell in 1567; and in the same year it was destroyed by the regent Murray. In 1650, Cromwell, at the “Race of Dunbar,” defeated the Scottish army under Leslie.

Dunblane, or Dumblane. A town and parish of Scotland, in Perthshire, on the Allan. Not far from this place is Sheriffmuir, where, in 1715, a battle was fought between the royal troops and the followers of the Pretender.

Dungan Hill (Ireland). Here the English army, commanded by Col. Jones, signally defeated the Irish, of whom 6000 are said to have been slain, August 8, 1647.

Dungeon (originally Donjon, which see). A prison; a dark and subterraneous cell or place of confinement.

Dunkirk. A fortified seaport town in the extreme northern part of France, in the department of the North. In 1558 the English, who had for some time held possession of the town, were expelled from it by the French, who, in the ensuing year, surrendered it to the Spaniards. In the middle of the 17th century it once more passed into the hands of the French, who, after a few years’ occupation of it, again restored it to Spain. In 1658 it was retaken by the French and made over to the English. It was sold to the French king by Charles II. in 1662. In 1793 it was attacked by the English under the Duke of York, who, however, was compelled to retire from before its walls with severe loss.

Dunnottar. A parish of Scotland, in Kincardineshire. It contains the castle of Dunnottar, now in ruins. In the time of the civil wars, this was the fortress in which the Scottish regalia were deposited. After being besieged by Cromwell’s forces for six months, it capitulated; but, before this, the regalia were secretly conveyed from it.

Dunsinane. In Perthshire, Scotland. On the hill was fought the battle between Macbeth, the thane of Glammis, and Siward, earl of Northumberland, July 27, 1054. Macbeth was defeated, and it was said pursued to Lumphanan in Aberdeenshire, and there slain, 1056 or 1057.

Durazzo (anc. Epidamnus). A town of Albania, European Turkey. It is fortified, and is a place of considerable antiquity. Durazzo was founded about 627 B.C. by a conjoined band of CorcyrÆans and Corinthians under one Phaleus, a Heracleidan. It became a great and populous city, but was much harassed by the internal strifes of party, which ultimately led to the Peloponnesian war. Under the Romans it was called Dyrrachium (whence its modern name). Here Pompey was for some time beleaguered by CÆsar. In the 5th century it was besieged by Theodoric, the Ostro-Goth; in the 10th and 11th centuries by the Bulgarians; and in 1081 it was captured, after a severe battle, by the Norman, Robert Guiseard of Apulia.

DÜren. A town of Prussia, on the Roer. This was a Roman town, and is mentioned by Tacitus by the name of Marcodurum. Charlemagne held two diets here in 775 and 779, when on his way to attack the Saxons. It was taken by assault and burned by Charles V., after an obstinate resistance, in 1543. In 1794 it fell into the hands of the French, but was ceded to Prussia in 1814.

DÜrkeim. A town of Rhenish Bavaria, 20 miles north from Landau. The summit of a height near this town is crowned by a rampart of loose stones 6 to 10 feet high, 60 to 70 feet wide at the base, and inclosing a space of about two square miles called the Heidenmauer (“heathens’ wall”), which the Romans are said to have built to keep the barbarians in check, and where Attila is said to have passed a winter, after having wrested the fortress from the Romans, when passing on his way to Rome.

Durrenstein. A town of Austria, on the Danube. In the neighborhood, on a rock, are the ruins of the castle in which Richard Coeur de Lion was imprisoned in 1192. In 1805 the Russian and Austrian armies were defeated here by the French.

Duties. This word is used in military parlance to express the men paraded for any particular duty, such as guards, etc.

Duty. There is no word oftener used in military parlance than this. In the technical sense it refers to the various services necessary for the maintenance, discipline, and regulation of armies,—as signal duty, staff duty, the duties of a sentinel, etc. To be on duty is to be in the active exercise of military functions; to be off duty is to have these functions temporarily suspended; to be put on duty is to be assigned to duty by order of a superior. Military duties are variously classed as duties of detail, which are recurring and governed by a roster, such as guard, fatigue, etc.; special duties which are determined by appointment, selection, or order; extra duty, continuous special duty of enlisted men, entitling them to pay; daily duty, short terms of special service for enlisted men. In a higher and broader sense duty is that which is due one’s country. It covers all the soldier’s obligations, and forms his simplest and sublimest rule of action.

Dyer Projectile. See Projectile.

Dynamite, called in the United States “giant powder,” is formed by mixing nitro-glycerine with certain porous substances, and especially with certain varieties of silica or alumina, these substances absorbing the nitro-glycerine. It was invented in 1867 by the Swedish engineer Nobel, who proposed to prevent the frequent and unexpected explosions of nitro-glycerine, at the same time without sacrificing any of its power. This he effected by the use of certain silicious earths as a base for the absorption of the nitro-glycerine, the experiment resulting in the new compound which he called dynamite, its transportation and handling being no more dangerous than that of ordinary gunpowder. It is not liable to spontaneous explosion like pure nitro-glycerine, nor can it be exploded by moderate concussion; when unconfined, if set fire to, it will burn without explosion; it may be safely kept at any moderate temperature; is inexplosive when frozen, and acts effectively under water. Its effects are proportional to the quantity of nitro-glycerine held in absorption; but under circumstances where a sustained bursting pressure is required, not being as instantaneous in its action as nitro-glycerine, its effects are more powerful than those of an equal weight of the pure material. The best absorbent of nitro-glycerine for the formation of dynamite is a silicious earth found at Oberlohe, Hanover. During the siege of Paris, a scientific committee of investigation, engaged in experimenting on different substances as a substitute for this earth, selected as the best silica, alumina, and boghead cinders. Any of these, they declared, when combined with nitro-glycerine, formed a substance which possessed all the remarkable qualities attributed to the dynamite of Nobel. During the siege of Paris dynamite was used successfully by the French engineers to free a flotilla of gunboats caught in the ice on the Seine, below Charenton, by simply placing a quantity of it on the surface of the ice. The explosion dislodged the ice for a great distance, and the masses thus loosened, being directed into the current by the aid of a small steamer, floated down the stream, and left the river open. There are various other compounds of nitro-glycerine, such as dualin, glyoxiline, etc., all differing in the matter used as a base, they being generally some explosive substances; but none of them appears to have come into such general use or to be as reliable as dynamite. Many preparations of chlorate and picrate of potassium have also been used from time to time as explosive agents; but their great sensibility to friction or percussion renders them extremely dangerous; they are, therefore, not liable to come into general use. A preparation of potassium chlorate and sulphur, not liable to explode by concussion, but very sensitive to friction, is used with great effect as a charge for explosive bullets.

Dynamometer. An instrument for measuring the force of recoil in a small-arm, consisting usually of a spiral spring so arranged as to be compressed by the butt of the gun in firing. An index shows the number of pounds required to produce a similar compression. The instruments now used by the U.S. Ordnance Department are graduated to show the effect of the recoil in foot-pounds or units of work. This sensible change was made at the suggestion of Lieut. Henry Metcalfe of that department.