EASE _arms_, a word of command, given immediately after the order, to _handle arms_, by which the soldier is directed to drop his right hand to the full extent of the arm, from the top of the ramrod on the front of the sling, with his fingers spread along it. EAU, _Fr._ water, is a principal object to be considered, whenever an army advances, retreats, or encamps. It is the quarter master general’s business, through his subordinate deputies, to secure this indispensible necessary of life. Small running rivulets are preferable to large rivers, because the latter cannot be so easily turned for the convenience of the army; whereas the former may be always stopped, or diverted from their natural course. Wells are never resorted to, but in case of absolute necessity. Stagnant or pond water is in general unwholesome, and rarely limpid or clear. _Haute_ EAU. High water. _Basse_ EAU. Low water. EAUX _Meres_ ou AMERES, _Fr._ The water which remains after the first boiling of saltpetre. It has a bitter salt taste, and is used to fill the tubs a second time. _Petites_ EAUX, _Fr._ The water which remains after the saltpetre has been boiled to a certain degree. See SALTPETRE. ECHANTILLON, _Fr._ means literally a pattern or model. In a military sense, it signifies a plank, which is covered on one side with iron, and serves to finish the mouldings, &c. of a piece of ordnance. ESCHARPE, _Fr._ a scarf. In ancient times, a military mark to distinguish officers and soldiers from the rest of the people. Before a regular clothing was adopted among the nations in Europe, officers and soldiers appeared with two scarfs of different colors, which crossed each other before and behind, in order to point out the country and the corps to which the wearer of it belonged. The scarf was preserved among the French, as late down as the reign of Louis the XIVth. It consisted of a piece of white silk, which previous to the revolution, was the national color of France. Scarfs, however, were continued much later among other nations, particularly among the Germans, who wear them to this day across their uniforms. Cross belts succeed the scarf. _En_ ECHARPE, in the military art. To batter _en echarpe_, is to fire obliquely, or sideways. See BATTERY. ECHAUGETTE, in military history, signifies a watch-tower, or kind of centry-box. ECHELLE, _Fr._ scale. In a mathematical sense, is a straight line drawn double, which is divided into a certain number of parts, each part containing as many toises or yards, &c. as the size of the chart or paper will admit, which are again reduced into feet.