2. _Of troops._--All transports taken into the public service, are under the direction of the naval agents, and of their agents at the different ports at home and abroad. No troops or other persons can be put on board them, or victualled, but by an order from the navy department, or one of its agents. Troops embarked on board transports or ships of war (except as marines) are only allowed two thirds of a seaman’s allowance of provisions. (See the word RATION.) It is therefore necessary to divide the men into messes of 6 each. Six women to 100 men embarked on foreign service, are allowed rations; and 10 women to 100 men on home service. The births on board transports, are usually made 6 feet square, and each admits 4 men at a time; but one third of the men should always be on deck; there fore 6 men (or one mess) are told off to each birth, one third of whom are always on watch. The commanding officer of the troops on board a transport, has a right to peruse the charter party of the ship, which points out every different article, as firing, candles, boats, utensils, &c. which the ship is engaged to find for the use of the troops on board. It likewise expresses the part of the ship allotted to the officers, to the master, the mate, and the agent, should there be one on board. EMBARGO, a prohibition for any ships to leave a port: generally enforced on the rupture of any two or more nations, or by law. EMBARK. See EMBARKATION. EMBARRASS, _Fr._ a cheval de frise. EMBATTLE. See BATTLE ARRAY. EMBEZZLING, EMBEZZLEMENT, of military stores, is punishable by the articles of war, but not at the discretion of a general court martial, as the offender must be sentenced to be cashiered. EMBLEE, _Fr._ a prompt, sudden, and vigorous attack, which is made against the covert way and out works of a fortified place. This military operation is executed by means of a rapid march, and an unexpected appearance before a town, followed by an instantaneous assault upon the out posts of the enemy, who is thrown into so much confusion, that the assailants force their way at the same time, and endeavor to get possession of the town. EMBOUCHURE _du canon_, _Fr._ the muzzle of a cannon. EMBRASSEUR, _Fr._ from embrasser, to embrace or close round. A piece of iron, which grasps the trunnions of a piece of ordnance, when it is raised upon the boring machine, to widen its calibre. EMBRASURE, in _fortification_, is an opening, hole, or aperture in a parapet, through which cannon is pointed to fire at the enemy. Embrasures are generally made from 10 to 12 feet distant from one another, every one of them being from 6 to 9 feet wide without, and 2 or 2¹⁄₂ within: their height above the platform is 2¹⁄₂ er 3 feet towards the town, and 1¹⁄₂ foot on the other side towards the field, so that the muzzle of the piece may be sunk on occasion, and brought to fire low. See BATTERY and FORTIFICATION. EMBUSCADE, _Fr._ See AMBUSCADE.