BRI

low-water mark, and then they are called will make the whole as one solid stone. stilts. Those to form borders of defence, Their faces or ends, from the base up to high-water-mark, should project sharp are rows driven in close by the frame of a out with a salient angle, to divide the foundation, to keep it firm, or else they are to form a case or jettée about the stream: or, perhaps the bottom of the stilts, to keep the stones within it, that pier should be built flat or square up to about half the height of low-water-mark, are thrown in to fill it up: in this case, to allow a lodgement against it for the the piles are grooved, driven at a little sand and mud, to go over the foundation; distance from each other, and plank-piles lest, by being kept bare, the water should let into the grooves between them, and in time undermine, and so ruin or injure driven down also, till the whole space is it. The best form of the projection for surrounded. Besides using this for stilts, t is sometimes necessary to surround a dividing the stream, is the triangle; and stone pier with a sterling, or jettée, and the longer it is, or the more acute the salient angle, the better it will divide it, fill it up with stones to secure an injured and the less will the force of the wat rpier from being still more damaged, and he whole bridge ruined. The piles to be against the pier; but it may be sufficient to make that angle a right one, as support the centres may also serve as a it will make the work stronger; and i.border of piling to secure the foundation, that case the perpendicular projection cutting them off low enough after the centre is removed. will be equal to half the breadth or thickness of the pier. In rivers, on which large heavy craft navigate and pass the arches, it may, perhaps, be better to make the ends semicircular: for, although it does not divide the water so well as the triangle, it will both better turn off and bear the shock of the craft.

Pile-driver, an engine for driving down the piles. It consists of a large ram or iron sliding perpendicularly down between two guide posts; which being lifted up to the top of them, and there let fall from a great height, comes down upon the top of the pile with a violent blow. It is worked either with men or horses, and ither with or without wheel-work The

master-piece of workmanship; and the new bridge at Trenton, over the Delaware, is equally bold and ingenious in its plan

The thickness of the piers should be such as will make them of weight of strength sufficient to support their in-bridge on Schuylkill, Philadelphia, is a terjacent arch independent of any other arches; and then, if the middle of the pier be run up to its full height, the centering may be struck to be used in another arch before the hanches are filled p.The whole theory of the piers may be seen in the third section of Professor Hutton's Principles of Bridges.

They should be made with a broad bottom on the foundation, and gradually diminishing in thickness by off-sets up to low-water-mark.

Piles, are timbers driven into the bed of the river for various purposes, and are either round, square, or flat like planks. They may be of any wood which will not rot under water; but oak and fir are mostly used, especially the latter, on ac count of its length, straightness, and cheapness. They are shod with a pointed iron at the bottom, the better to penetrate into the ground, and are bound with a strong iron band or ring at top, to prevent them from being split by the violent strokes of the ram by which they are driven down.

Piles are either used to build the foundations on, or they are driven about the pier as a border of defence, or to support the centres on; and in this case, when the centre ng is removed, they must either be drawn up, or sawed off very low under water; but it is better to saw them off and leave them sticking in the bottom, lest the drawing of them out should loosen the ground about the foundation of the pier. Those to build on, are either such as are cut off by the bottom of the water, or rather a few feet within the bed of the river; or else such as are cut off at

in the latter the floor is suspended from the voussoirs of the arches, by stirrups of

ron

Pitch, of an arch, the perpendicular height from the spring or impost to the key stone.

Plan, of any part, as of the foundations, or piers, or superstructure, is the orthographic projection of it on a plane parallel to the norizon.

Push, of an arch. Ste DRIFT.

Salient angle, of a pier, the projection of the end against the stream, to divide itself. The right-lined angle best divides the stream, and the more acute, the better for that purpose; but the right angle is generally used, as making the best maA semicircular end, though it sonry. does not divide the stream so well, is sometimes better in large navigable rivers, as it carries the craft the better off, or bears their shocks the better.

See DRIFT.

Shoot, of an arch. Springers, are the first or lowest stones of an arch, being those at its feet, and bearing immediately on the impost.

Sterlings, or Jettées, a kind of case made about a pier of stilts, &c to secure it, and is particularly described under the next word, Stilts.

Stilts, a set of piles driven into the space intended for the pier, whose tops being sawed level off, above low-water mark, the pier is then raised on them. This method was formerly used when the bottom of the river could not be laid I dry; and these stilts were surrounded, af

a few feet distance, by a row of piles || and planks, &c. close to them like a coffer-dam, and called a sterling, or jettée; after which loose stones, &c. are thrown or poured down into the space, till it is filled up to the top, by that means forming a kind of pier of rubble of loose work, and which is kept together by the sides or sterlings: this is then paved level at the top, and the arches turned upon it. This method was formerly much used, most of the large old bridges in England being erected that way, such as London bridge, Newcastle bridge, Rochester bridge, &c. But the inconveniences attending it are so great, that it is now quite disused; for, because of the loose composition of the piers, they must be made very large or broad, or else the arch must push them over, and rush down as soon as the centre was drawn; which great breadth of piers and sterlings so much contracts the passage of the water, as not only very much to incommode the navigation through the arch, from the fall and quick motion of the water; but likewise to put the bridge itself in much danger, especially in time of floods, when the water is too much for the passage. Add to this, that besides the danger there is of the pier bursting out the sterlings, they are also subject to much decay and damage by the velocity of the water and the craft passing through the arches.

Thrust. See DRIFT.

whether horse, foot, or artillery, under the command of a brigadier. There are, properly speaking, three sorts of brigades, viz. the brigade of an army, the brigade of a troop of horse, and the brigade of artillery. A brigade of the army is either foot or dragoons, whose exact number is not fixed, but generally consists of 3, 4, 5 or 6 regiments, or battalions: a brigade of horse may consist of 8, 10 or 12 squadrons; and that of artillery, of 6, 8 or 10 pieces of cannon, with all their appurtenances. The eldest brigade takes the right of the first line, the second of the second line, and the rest in order, the youngest always possessing the centre, unless the commander deems a different arrangement expedient; and in such case mere etiquette always bends to orders.The cavalry and artillery observe the same order.

The Horse Artillery in the British service are called the borse Brigade; and consist of 6 troops, with their guns and stores. Their head-quarters are at Woolwich, where handsome barracks, detached from those of the royal artillery, have been erected for their accommodation.

A BRIGADE, in the French ordination, is the same as our Regiment; but it consists of 3 battalions, each of which is equal to one of our regiments or 100o men; a demi brigade is half a regiment, or a French battalion.

BRIGADE-Major, an officer appointed by the brigadier, to assist him in the maVoussoirs, the stones which immedi-nagement of his brigade. The most exately form the arch, their undersides con-perienced captains are generally nominastituting the intrados. The middle one, ted to this post; who act in the brigade or key-stone, should be about 1-15th or as major-generals do in the armies, re1-16th of the span, as has been observed; ceiving their orders from their commanand the rest should increase in size all the ders. way down to the impost: the more they BRIGADE-Major-General. The mili .increase the better, as they will the bet-tary commands in Great Britain being diter bear the great weight which rests up- vided into districts, an office has been on them without being crushed; and also established for the sole transaction of briwill bind the firmer together. Their gade duties. Through this office all joints should also be cut perpendicular to orders from the commander-in-chief to the curve of the intrados. For more in- the generals of districts relative to corps formation, see Professor Hutton's Prin- of officers, &c. must pass. For further ciples of Bridges, in 8vo. information on this head, see James's Regimental Companion, 2d edition, vol. i. page 25.

BRIDGE, in gunnery, the two pieces of timber which go between the two transoms of a gun-carriage, on which the coins are placed, for elevating the piece. Sce CARRIAGE.

BRIDLE-Arm Protect, a guard used by the cavalry, which consists in having the sword- hilt above the helmet; the blade crossing the back of the head, the point of the left shoulder, and the bridle. arm; its edge directed to the left, and turned a little upwards, in order to bring the mounting in a proper direction to protect the hand.

BRIDON, or BRIDOON, the snaffle and rein of a military bridle, which acts independent of the bit and curb at the pleasure of the rider.

BRIGADE, in military affairs, implies a party or division of a body of soldiers,

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BRIGADE de Boulangers, Fr. It was usual in the old French service, to brigade the bakers belonging to the army. Each brigade consisted of one master baker and three boys; the system is continued in the modern French army.

BRIGADIER, a military officer, whose rank is next above that of a colonel; appointed to command a corps, consisting of several battalions or regiments, called a brigade. This title in England is suppressed in time of peace, but revived in actual service in the field. Every brigadier marches at the head of his brigade upon duty. On the United States establishment, there is only one brigadier-general, who is chief in actual command; provision has been lately

|| with the Broad Sword, &c. in which the spadroon or cut and thrust sword play is reduced into a regular system. BROND. See BRAND.

BROWNBILL, the ancient weapon of the English foot, resembling a battle

The medium guard, which is a position BUDGE-Barrels. See BARREL. between the inside and outside guard, BUFF-Leather, in military accoutreseldom used, as it affords very little pro-ments, is a sort of leather prepared from tection. the buffalo, which, dressed with oil, after the manner of shamoy, makes what is generally called buff-skin. Swordbelts were made of this leather.

BUGLE-HORN, the old Saxon horn; it is now used by the light infantry, and The St. George's guard, which protects particularly by riflemen. By its soundthe head, and differs from the last-de-ings, their manoeuvres are directed, either scribed only in raising the hand somewhat in advancing, skirmishing, or retreating. higher, and bringing the point nearer to It is also used by the horse artillery, and yourself, some regiments of light cavalry.

Engaged BUILDING, one surrounded with other buildings, having no front to any street or public place, nor any com-.2228756 of 1.6706 subtract continually munication without, but by a common passage.

BUR

municated to the combustibles within, and an explosion takes place, similar to that occasioned by the blowing up of a

mine.

Chain BULLETS, are two balls which are joined together by a chain, at any given distance from each other.

Branch BULLETS, two balls joined to. gether by an iron bar.

Two-headed BULLETS, Sometimes called anges, are two halves of a bullet which are kept together by means of a bar or chain.

BULWARK, the ancient name for bastion or rampart, which words see.

BURDEN, in a general sense, imBURTHEN, plies a load or weight, supposed to be as much as a man, horse, A sound healthful &c. can well carry. man can raise a weight equal to his own, can also draw and carry 50lb. a moderate distance. An able horse can draw 350lb. though in length of time 300 is sufficient. Hence all artillery calculations are made. One horse will draw as much as 7 men, and 7 oxen will draw as much as 11 or 12 horses. Burthen likewise in a figurative sense means impost, tax, &c.

BURGANET, or BURGONET, Fr. a kind of helmet used by the French.

BURIALS, as practised by the military, are as follows, in the British service, viz. The funeral of a field. marshal shall be saluted with 3 rounds of 15 pieces of cannon, attended by 6 battalions, and 8 squadrons.

That of a general, with 3 rounds of 11 pieces of cannon, 4 battalions, and 6 squadrons.

That of a lieutenant-general, with 3 rounds of 9 pieces of cannon, 3 battalions, and 4 squadrons.

That of a major-general, with 3 rounds of 7 pieces of cannon, 2 battalions, and 3 squadrons.

That of a brigadier-general, 3 rounds of 5 pieces of cannon, I battalion, and 2 squadrons.

That of a colonel, by his own battalion, or an equal number by detachment, with 3 rounds of small arms.

That of a lieutenant-colonel, by 300 men and officers, with 3 rounds of small

arms.

That of a major, by 200 men and officers, with 3 rounds of small arms.

That of a captain, by his own company, or 70 rank and file, with 3 rounds of small arms.

That of a lieutenant, by 1 lieutenant, I serjeant, I drummer, 1 fifer, and 36 rank and file, with 3 rounds.

That of an ensign, by an ensign, a serjeant, and drummer, and 27 rank and file, with 3 rounds.

That of an adjutant surgeon, and quarter-master, the same party as an ensign.

That of a serjeant, by a serjeant, and 19 rank and file, with 3 rounds of small

arms.

That of a corporal, musician, private man, drummer, and fifer, by i serjeant and 13 rank and file, with 3 rounds of

small arms.

All officers, attending the funerals of even their nearest relations," notwithstanding wear their regimentals, and a black crape round the left arm.

The pall to be supported by officers of the same rank with that of the deceased: if the number cannot be had, officers next in seniority are to supply their place.

The order of march to be observed in military funerals is reversed with respect to rank. For instance, if an officer is buried in a garrison town or from a camp, it is customary for the officers belonging to other corps to pay his remains the compliment of attendance. In which case the youngest ensign marches at the head immediately after the pall, and the general, if there be one, in the rear of the commissioned officers, who take their posts in reversed order according to seniority. The battalion, troop or company follow the same rule.

The expence for a regimental burial is to be charged against the captains of the respective troops or companies.

For further particulars, see Reid's Military Discipline.

BURR, in gunnery, a round iron ring, which serves to rivet the end of the bolt, so as to form a round head.

BURREL-shot, small bullets, nails, and stones discharged from any piece of ordnance.

BUSKINS, a kind of shoe, or half boot, adapted to either foot; formerly a part of the Roman dress, particularly tor tragic actors on the stage. They are now much worn by the army.

BUTIN, Fr. booty or pillage. At the beginning of the French monarchy, and for a long time after its establishment, a particular spot was marked out by the prince or general, to which all persons belonging to the victorious army were directed to bring every species of booty that might have fallen into their hands. This booty was not divided, or appropriated according to the will and pleasure of the prince or general, but was thrown into different lots, and drawn for in com

mon.

BUTMENTS. See BRIDGES.

BUTT, in gunnery, is a solid earthen parapet, to fire against in the proving of guns, or in practice.

BUTTON, in gunnery, a part of the cascable, in either a gun or howitzer, and is the hind part of the piece, made round See COUNTERFORT, BUTTRESS. in the form of a ball. See CANNON. BUZE, a wooden, or leaden pipe, to convey the air out of mines.