_The reliever_, is an iron flat ring, with a wooden handle, at right angles to it. When a gun is to be searched after it has been fired, this searcher is introduced; and turned every way, from end to end, and if there is any hole, the point of one or other of the springs gets into it, and remains till the reliever, passing round the handle of the searcher, and pressing the springs together, relieves it. When there is any hole or roughness in the gun, the distance from the mouth is marked on the outside with chalk. The other searcher has also a wooden handle, and a point at the fore end, of about an inch long, at right angles to the length: about this point is put some wax, mixed with tallow, which, when introduced into the hole or cavity, is pressed in, when the impression upon the wax gives the depth, and the length is known by the motion of the searcher backwards and forward: if the fissure be one ninth of an inch deep, the gun is rejected. See INSTRUMENTS. N. B. The strength of gunpowder having been considerably increased by Col. Congreve, of the British Artillery, the quantity for service has been somewhat reduced. That for proof remaining as heretofore. CANNON _Ball._ See BALLS. CANNON _Shot._ See SHOT. CANNONIER, a person who manages a gun. See GUNNER. CANNON-_Baskets_. See GABIONS. _To nail_ CANNON. See NAIL. CANNONADE, in artillery, may be defined the application of artillery to the purposes of a land war, or the direction of its efforts against some distant object intended to be seized or destroyed, as the troops in battle, battery, fortress, or outwork. _Cannonading_ is therefore used from a battery, to take, destroy, burn, or drive the enemy from the defences, &c. and to batter and ruin the works or fortified towns. CANON-BIT, that part of the bit which is let into the horse’s mouth. CANTEENS, in military articles, are tin vessels used by the soldiers on a march, &c. to carry water or other liquor in, each holds about 2 quarts. CANTONMENTS are distinct situations, where the different parts of an army lie as near to each other as possible, and in the same manner as they encamp in the field. The chief reasons for cantoning an army are, first, when the campaign begins early; on which occasion, in cantoning your troops, two objects demand attention, viz. the military object, and that of subsistence: the second is, when an army has finished a siege early, the troops are allowed to repose till the fields produce forage for their subsistence: the third reason is, when the autumn proves rainy, and forage scarce, the troops are cantoned to protect them from the bad weather. CANVAS-BAGS. See BAGS, _Sand_-BAGS, &c. CAPARISON, under this term is included the bridle, saddle, and housing, of a military horse. CAPITAINE _en pied_, _Fr._ an officer who is in actual pay and does duty. CAPITAINE _reformé_, _Fr._ a reduced officer.