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
In 1628, and probably long before, the artillery had sundry privileges,
from which the rest of the army were excluded, viz. of having the
first rank and the best quarters; neither could any carriage or waggon
presume to march before theirs, except that belonging to the treasurer.
In 1705, we find the first mention made of English _royal_ artillery,
before that time it was only called the _train of artillery_. It
then consisted only of 4 companies, under the command of general
Borgard. From that period it gradually increased to 6 battalions, each
battalion consisting of 10 companies, beside 1 invalid battalion equal
in its establishment to the others, but confined in duty to the home
garrisons, or to Jersey, Guernsey and Bermuda, commanded by a colonel
commandant, 1 colonel en second, 2 lieutenant-colonels, 1 major, who
have no companies. Each company in time of war generally consisted of
120 men, commanded by 1 captain, 1 captain lieutenant, 2 first, and 1
second lieutenant. In time of peace the companies were reduced to 50
men each.
Frederick the second of Prussia, found his army in a very good
condition, excepting the corps of artillery and engineers, little
esteemed by the rest of the army, and the officers without commissions.
Knowing how necessary it was to have a good corps of artillery
and engineers, and how impossible it was to secure that important
object without having officers learned in every branch of military
mathematics; immediately draughted all the illiterate officers into
the garrison regiments, supplying their places with persons of
capacity; and giving them all commissions, with rank equal to that of
the officers of the guards, and an extraordinary pay. This method of
proceeding established the use and reputation of that corps; induced
the nobility and men of rank (provided they had capacity) to engage
in it sooner than elsewhere; which brought it to that summit of high
renown, it since enjoyed.
The Prussian army consisted of 12 battalions, 8 for the field, and
4 for garrison. Each battalion had 12 companies, namely, 1 company
of bombardiers, 1 of miners, 1 of artificers, and 9 of artillerists.
The first, or bombardier companies, were composed of 1 captain,
2 lieutenants, 3 upper and 6 under fire-workers, 2 serjeants, 4
corporals, 2 drummers, and 60 bombardiers. The miners had the same
commissioned officers, with 3 serjeants, 6 corporals, 2 drummers,
33 miners, and 33 sappers. The artificers had the same officers
and non-commissioned officers as the miners, with 30 artificers,
and 36 pontoneers. All the artillery companies had 3 commissioned
and 6 non-commissioned officers, 2 drummers, and 60 artillerists.
The colonel, lieutenant-colonel, and major’s companies, had each
a captain-lieutenant; and each battalion had further, 1 chaplain,
1 auditor, 1 adjutant, 1 quarter-master, 1 doctor, 3 surgeons, 1
serjeant-major, 1 drum-major, 6 musicians, and 1 provost.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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