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ticular post for a commanding officer,lie ought to range on the front, flank,and rear of his regiment. His eye shouldhe everywhere; and all straggling shouldhe prevented by the activity of the offi-cers. See Narrative of General Moore'sCampaign in Spain , page 204, publishedby James Moore, in 1809.
Posts of exercise in the rear , the re-lative stations which officers take in therear, when the ranks of a battalion areopen for the purpose of going throughthe manual and platoon exercises. Itis likewise a cautionary word of com-mand, viz. The officers will take post inthe rear.
To Post. In the disposition of troops,to place the officers, music, drummers,fifers, and pioneers, according to theirseveral ranks and appointments, eitherfor inspection, or exercise in the field.
To Post, to station ; to place as asentry, &c.
To Post up, (affieher , Fr.) to hold upto public censure, or ridicule. See Pla-card.
To be Posted, in military tactics, tohe formed ready for action. Thus whentroops are brought up in column, and or-dered to deploy, it frequently happens,that some part of the line is refused, inorder to flank an enemy, or to cover aweak position; in which case, the partthat is aligned is said to lie posted.
To be Posted, in a familiar sense,signifies to be publicly announced as aninfamous or degraded character. Henceto post a man as a coward, is to stick hisname up in a coffee-house or elsewhere,and to accuse him of a want of spirit,&c. The French use the phrase affieherin the same sense. They likewise say,figuratively, affieher sa honte ; to publishor post up one's own disgrace; meaningthereby, that some persons are so totallyregardless of decency and decorum, asto express sentiments which are unbe-coming the character of an officer, or agentleman.
POSTAGE of Letters. Non-com-missioned officers and private soldiersare privileged to send or receive letters,from any part of the kingdom, on pay-ment of one penny only for the postage.
POSTE, Fr. a word generally used inthe plural number to signify small shot,viz. .SW fusil etait charge de douze ouquinze -pontes; his gun or musket wasloaded with twelve or fifteen shot.
Poste, Fr. This word is always used
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in the masculine gender when it relatesto war, or to any specific situation ; aspaste avance, an advanced post.— Posteavantageux , an advantageous post.—Mauvais paste, an unfavourable post.
Poste avantageux , Fr. See Advan-tageous Post.
Poste jaloux, Fr. A military post is socalled when it is likely to be surprized,from its situation.
Poste d'alarme , Fr. alarm-post. SeeAlarm.
Poste des invulntrables, Fr. SeeMont pagnote.
Poste, Fr. station; place. Eire dson paste, to be at his post or station.This word is always of the masculinegender.
Poste, Fr. > In the feminine gen-
La Poste, Fr. $ der, post; post-office ;post-boy.
Poste d/un, deux, ou trois sows, Fr. the’penny, two-penny, or three-penny post.It is also generally called, La petiteposte.
A sa Poste, Fr. at a prescribed time.
Vendre d Poste, Fr. to sell on condi-tion, that the articles delivered be paidfor at a time agreed upon ; as is thecase with public stores.
POSTER, Fr. to place or post, asposter des gardes, to place or post sen-tries, or out-guards.
POSTES, Fr. machines which aremade of osier brandies, standing six feetin length upon three in breadth; aboutsix inches thick, and covered on eachside by two pieces of thick strong paste-board. Each machine is made fast to alarge stake, which is fenced with iron,and driven deep into the earth. Thereare two openings or loop-holes in eachpost, through which sentries may fireupon the enemy, when he approachestowards a post which has been establish-ed on the high road, for the purpose ofattempting a surprize or coup de main.This machine was invented by GeneralSernepont, then Governor of Boulognesur tner, and it was used by the Duke deGuise, with great success, when he be-sieged and took Calais, in 1558.
Postes de eawpagne, Fr. field-works.Every construction or group of buildingsthat will admit of being defended, and isconsequently tenable, is called a poste decampagne , or field-work. Of this de-scription are churches, houses, country-houses, farm-houses, villages, redoubts,&c. in which a sufficient number of mea
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