AMM ( is ) A M O
The last and former wars with France have furnished us with several instancesof females who have undergone the fa-tigue of a campaign with alacrity, andrun the hazards of a battle with thegreatest intrepidity.
AMBIT, the compass or circuit ofany work or place, as of a fortificationor encampment,&c.
AMBITION, in a military sense, sig-nifies a desire of greater posts, or pre-ferment. Every gentleman in the armyor navy ought to have a spirit of ambi-tion to arrive at the very summit of theprofession.
AMBLEE ou emblee, Fr. main force,or assault.
AMBLING, a motion in a horsebetween the gallop and trot.
AMBULANT, Fr. changing situa-tion according to circumstances; henceHbpital ambulant, an hospital which fol-lows the army; Chirmgicn ambulant, asurgeon who follows the line of action.
AMBUSCADE , a snare set for theenemy, either to surprize him wheninarching without precaution; or byposting yourself advantageously, anddrawing him on by different stratagems,to attack him with superior force.
AMBUSH , a place of concealmentfor soldiers to surprize an enemy, byfalling suddenly upon him.
AME, a French term, similar in itsimport to the word chamber, as appliedto cannon, &c.
AMENDE Honorable, among theFrench , signifies an apology for someinjury done to another, or satisfactiongiven for an offence committed againstthe rules of honour or military etiquette;and was also applied to an infamouskind of punishment inflicted upon trai-tors, parricides, or sacrilegious persons,in the following manner: the offenderbeing delivered into the hands of thehangman, his shirt is stripped oft) a ropeput about bis neck, and a taper in bishand; then he is led into court, wherehe must beg pardon of God , the king,the court, and his country. Sometimesthe punishment ends here; but at othertimes it is only a prelude to death, orbanishment to the gallies.
AMMUNITION implies all sorts ofpowder and ball, shells, bullets, car-tridges, grape-shot, tin and case-shot,carcasses, grenades, &c.
Ammunition, fixed and unfixed .—The fixed comprises loaded shells, car-
casses, and cartridges, filled with pow-der; also shot, fixed to powder, for theconvenience of loading quick, and pre-venting mistakes in using the charges ofpowder for firing the different natures ofround and case-shot, fur field service;but this latter practice has of late yearsbeen discontinued, owing to the greatdanger there is in mixing the powderwith the shot, when-travelling, and fromthe ammunition fixed in this manner notbeing proper to deposit in magazines.Ball and blank cartridges for tbe troops,of different descriptions, to suit tbe na-tures of arms, are also termed fixed am-munition.
Unfixed ammunition means round,case, and grape-shot, or shells, not filledwith powder.
Ammunition for the navy is all unrfixed, at the time it is sent on boardship, except it may be the Imudgrenades;and when on board, the gunner receivesdirections to keep a certain number ofcartridges, filled with powder, for im-mediate service.
Ammunition, or gun-powder, mayhe prohibited to be exported, at theking’s pleasure, by Car. II. cap. 4. sect.13.
Arms, utensils of war, or gun-powder,imported without licence from his ma-jesty, are to be forfeited with treble thevalue. Such licence obtained, exceptfor tbe furnishing bis majesty’s publicstores, is to be void, and tbe offender toincur a premunire, and be disabled tobold any office from the crown.
Ammunition bread, such as is con-tracted for by government, and servedin camp, garrison, and barracks.
Ammunition shoes, stockings, shirts,stocks, &c. such of those articles as areserved out to the private soldiers by gorvermnent. See Half Mountings.
AMMUNiTioN-airtgon is generally afour-wheel carriage with shafts; the sidesare railed in with staves and raves, andlined with wicker work, so as to carrybread and ail sorts of tools. It is drawnby four horses, and loaded with 1200pounds weight, See Wagon.
Ammunition-om-I, a two-wheel car-riage with shafts; the sides of which, aswell as the fore and hind parts, are in-closed.
AMNESTY , ( amnistie, Fr.) an act ofoblivion; a general pardon.
AMOISE, Fr. in carpentry, a pieceof wood which is laid between two half-