A military dictionary : $b or, Explanation of the several systems of discipline of different kinds of troops, infantry, artillery, and cavalry: the principles of fortification, and all the modern improvements in the science of tactics: comprising the pocket gunner, or little bombardier, the military regulations of the United States: the weights, measures, and monies of all nations: the technical terms and phrases of the art of war in the French language: particularly adapted to the use of the Duane, William
History
A military dictionary : $b or, Explanation of the several systems of discipline of different kinds of troops, infantry, artillery, and cavalry: the principles of fortification, and all the modern improvements in the science of tactics: comprising the pocket gunner, or little bombardier, the military regulations of the United States: the weights, measures, and monies of all nations: the technical terms and phrases of the art of war in the French language: particularly adapted to the use of the
Duane, William
English language -- Terms and phrases; Military art and science -- Dictionaries
CAMP, in military affairs, is the whole extent of ground, in general,
occupied by an army pitching its tents when in the field, and upon
which all its baggage and apparatus are lodged. It is marked out by
the quarter-master-general, who allots every regiment its ground. The
extent of the front of a regiment of infantry is 200 yards, including
the two battalion guns, and depth 520, when the regiment, contains 9
companies, each of 100 private men, and the companies tents in two
rows; but when the companies tents stand in one row, and but 70 private
men to each row, the front is then but 155 yards. A squadron of horse
has 120 yards in front, and 100 for an interval between each regiment.
The nature of the ground must also be consulted, both for defence
against the enemy, and for supplies to the army. It should have a
communication with that army’s garrisons, and have plenty of water,
forage, fuel, and either rivers, marshes, hills, or woods to cover
it. An army always encamps fronting the enemy, and generally in two
parallel lines, besides a corps de reserve, about 500 yards distant
from each other; the horse and dragoons on the wings, and the foot in
the centre. Where, and how the train of artillery is encamped, see
_Park of artillery_, and _Encampment of a regiment of artillery_, under
the word ARTILLERY. Each regiment posts a subaltern’s guard at 80 yards
from the colors to the officers tent, called the _quarter guard_,
besides a corporal’s guard in the rear: and each regiment of horse or
dragoons, a small guard on foot, called the _standard-guard_, at the
same distance. The grand guard of the army consists of horse, and is
posted about a mile distant towards the enemy.
In a siege, the _camp_ is placed all along the line of circumvallation,
or rather in the rear of the approaches, out of cannon-shot: the army
faces the circumvallation, if there be any; that is, the soldiers have
the town in their rear.
One thing very essential in the establishing a _camp_, and which should
be particularly attended to, if the enemy is near; is, that there
should not only be a commodious spot of ground at the head of the camp,
where the army, in case of surprise, may in a moment be under arms,
and in condition to repulse the enemy: but also a convenient field of
battle at a small distance, and of a sufficient extent for them to form
advantageously, and to move with facility.
The arrangement of the tents in _camp_, is nearly the same all over
Europe, which is, to dispose them in such a manner, that the troops may
form with safety and expedition.
To answer this end, the troops are encamped in the same order as that
in which they are to engage, which is by battalions and squadrons;
hence, the post of each battalion and squadron in the line of battle,
must necessarily be at the head of its own encampment. Gustavus
Adolphus, king of Sweden, was the first who formed encampments
according to the order of battle.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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