SER ( 805 ) S E R
garnished or loaded with a stick orspit, that is a third of the length of thecartridge.
SERPENTIN, TV. the cock of amusket or firelock.
Serrentin, Fr. an old piece of ord-nance which resembled a cannon, but isno longer in use.
SERPENTINE line, the same asSpiral.
Langue Serpentine, Fr. ill tongue.See Langue; also Insinuative Abuse.
SEIU'lLIEiU'., Fr. packing cloth.
SERRFV/tVc, Fr. the last rank of abattalion, by which its depth is ascer-tained, and which always forms its rear.When ranks are doubled, the battalionresumes its natural formation by meansof the serre-files. Serre-file literally sig-nifies a closer up. Perhaps the termserre-file would be more appropriate thansupernumerary, as both officer and Ser-jeant are posted in the rear to keep therear-ranks up.
Serre -demi-fite, TV. that rank in abattalion which determines the half ofits depth, and which marches before thedemi-file. Thus a battalion standing sixdeep has its serre-ilemijile in the thirdrank, which determines its depth.
Cupitaine de Sf.rri ■■-files, Fr. an offi-cer who commands a rear-guard, when aregiment is on its march.
Serre -papiers, l’r. a place of securitywhere papers may be deposited.
SERRE R, TV. to close up.
■Serrer la bride, FT. to pull in thebridle.
Serrer la botte, Fr. a term used incavalry movements, when dragoons areordered to close in, knee to knee.
Serker Veperon, FT. to push the spurhome, when the horse is required to gofull gallop.
Serrer les canons, Fr. to house theguns.
SERREZ la masse! Fr. a word of com-mand in the F’rencb service, signifying—F'orin close column!
Serrez vosrangs! Fr. Take closeorder!
SERitUFLE, Fr. a lock.
SEllRURES renardes, FT. locks whichmay be opened inside and out.
SERRURERIE, Fr. This word notonly signifies the lock-smith’s work, butalso the art of working iron.
SERRURIER, Fr. a locksmith.
SER VAN S d'armes, or Chevaliers Ser-vans, FT. persons belonging to the third(gfoss of the Order of Malta are so called.
They are not noblemen, although theywear the sword and the cross.
SERVANTS, in a military sense, aresoldiers taken from the ranks, for thepurpose of waiting upon officers, andof accompanying them when they arewith their respective corps. Among thestanding orders for Prince William ofGloucester’s regiment,namely, the Lloth,which were printed during the last war,we find the following particulars respect-ing this class of men.
The officers’ servants to be taken fromthe rear and center ranks.
No soldier to be permitted to act asan officer’s servant, that is not perfect,in his exercise, and whose conduct isnot good.
Recruits on no account whatever tobe 9uti’ercd to attend officers as ser-vants.
No soldier to be taken as a servant,without the consent of the commandingofficer of his company; and if he is of adifferent company from that to which theofficer belongs, he is to have the consentof both captains, or commanding offi-cers. When a soldier is to be employedas a servant, by an officer who does notbelong to the same company, his com-manding officer will chuse out of thecompany to which such servant is trans-ferred, another mail in exchange, fromthe same rank, as that in which the ser-vant has been accustomed to serve.
It is recommended, that every soldierwho shall attend an officer in the capa-city of a servant, may be allowed nomore wages than one shilling British perweek-
Servants to constitute, invariably,part of the detail with their masters onduty.
They are to be punctual in their at-tendance, at the time the non-commis-sioned officers and men are ordered forinspection.
No officer is, on any pretence what-ever, to neglect reporting to the com-manding officer instantly, when he dis-covers an act of dishonesty, either in hisown servant, or in the servant of anyother officer of the regiment. Any sol-dier, employed by an officer in the cha-racter of a servant, wdio either himselfrobs, or knowingly suffers others to doso, from his master, or from any bodyelse, let the articles be ever so trifling,shah, he brought to a court-martial, andif found guilty, be punished for a byeach