BATARDEAU, in fortification, is a massive perpendicular pile of masonry, whose length is equal to the breadth of the ditch, inundation, or any part of a fortification where the water cannot be kept in without the raising of these sorts of works, which are described either on the capitals prolonged of the bastions or half-moons, or upon their faces. In thickness it is from 15 to 18 feet, that it may be able to withstand the violence of the enemy’s batteries. Its height depends upon the depth of the ditch, and upon the height of the water that is necessary to be kept up for an inundation; but the top of the building must always be under the cover of the parapet of the covert way, so as not to be exposed to the enemy’s view. In the middle of its length is raised a massive cylindrical turret, whose height exceeds the batardeau 6 feet. BATESME _du Tropique_, _Fr._ a christening under the line. This is a ridiculous ceremony which every person is obliged to go through the first time he crosses the Line on his passage to the East-Indies. Different methods of performing it are observed by different nations. Englishmen frequently buy themselves off. Among the French, the individual who was to be baptized or christened, swore that he would individually assist in forcing every person hereafter, who should be similarly situated, to go through the same ceremony. A barbarous usage. BAT-_Horses_, BAW-_Horses_, are baggage horses belonging to the officers when on actual duty. BAT-_Men_, BAW-_Men_, were originally servants hired in war time, to take care of the horses belonging to the train of artillery, bakery, baggage, &c. Men who are excused regimental duty, for the specific purpose of attending to the horses belonging to their officers, are called bat-men. _Knights of the_ BATH, an English military order of uncertain original. After long decay, this order was revived under George I. by a creation of a considerable number of knights. They wear a red riband, and their motto is, _Tria juncta in uno_, alluding to the three cardinal virtues which every knight _ought to possess_! BATON, _Fr._ a staff. See STAFF. BATON _a deux bouts_, _Fr._ a quarter-staff. BATON _de commandement_, _Fr._ an instrument of particular distinction which was formerly given to generals in the French army. Henry III. before his accession to the throne was made generalissimo of all the armies belonging to his brother Charles the IX. and publicly received the Baton, as a mark of high command. BATON _ferrat et non ferrat_, _Fr._ all sorts of weapons. _Obténir son object par le tour du_ BATON, _Fr._ to accomplish one’s ends by equivocal means. _Etre bien assuré de son_ BATON, _Fr._ to be morally certain of a thing. _Etre reduit au_ BATON _blanc_, to be reduced to your last stake. A BATONS _rompus_, _Fr._ to do any thing by fits and starts, to be undecided in your plans of attack, &c. BATOON, a truncheon, or marshal’s staff. BATTAILOUS, a warlike or military appearance.