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half the corps was just as capable totake the command as those who hadgiven them jaws. There were but twomeans of advancement: seniority (whichwas sometimes superseded) and merit.Birth, quality, and court friends availednothing; so that the world can hardivexpect to see such another army; atleast but very seldom; an army formedby a monarch equally brave, moral, andreligious; and mused by him for 20years, with all the care that a parenteducates a single child. The same planwas observed, more or less, by his gene*rais, till the conclusion of the peace ofWestphalia ; and this body of troops,from the year 1012 to 1628, had hardlyever tasted a single month’s repose. Theregulations, order, and discipline, ofJulius Caesar , can bear no comparisonwi (h the correct emendations, harmo-nious adjustment, and religious decency,of Gustavus.” It is not difficult to con-clude, that the ground-work of thisexcellent military superstructure, wassuperiority in talents, and not mere se-niority, or rank in life; and this con-clusion is a tacit condemnation of thoserigid rules, without exception, by whichthe promotion of able officers, in ourservice, is constantly impeded.
SU PERN U M E R A RY,f surnumcraire ,Tr.) beyond a fixed, or stated number.In a strict military sense, it means theofficers and non-commissioned officersthat are attached to a regiment, or bat-talion, for the purpose of supplying theplaces of such as fall in action, and forthe better management of the rearranks when the front is advancing, orengaged.
Supernumerary officers and non-com-missioned officers must always dividetheir ground equally in the rear of thedivision they belong to, and pay thestrictest attention to the orders whichare issued for its exercise or movement.
It an officer is killed, or wounded, inaction, the supernumerary officer of thedivision takes the command, and so on tothe quarter-master and serjeants, &c.
To SUPERSEDE, (remplacer, Fr.)See to Respite.
To be SUPERSEDED, (etre r em-place, Fr.) Both these terms are used,by the French , in the same militarysense that we adopt them, viz. to bedeprived of rank and pay for some of-fence, and to have another put in one’sstead.
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SUPERSEDING signal , a signalhoisted by order of a superior officer onhoard a ship, giving notice that someindividual has been deprived of his au-thority. Officers of the army, when intransports, have the power of hoistingup the superseding signal on proof ofmisconduct, or mismanagement in thecaptain of the transport. But this rarelyhappens, as the responsibility which de-volves upon the land officer is great andhazardous.
SUPPLANT, (supphinter , Fr.) lite-rally, to trip up the heels; in a figurativesense, to displace by stratagems ; toturn out. It is generally said in a badsense, as the means are seldom honour-able.
To SUPPLE, from the French , souple ,to render pliant, flexible; as is the casewhen young countrymen are first sentto drill, in order to fit their bodies tomilitary action.
SUPPLEANT, Fr. a substitute; anyperson named to do the functions ofanother.
Le Suppliant, Fr. officer in waiting.
SUPPLEMENT , addition; augmen-tation, in case of deficiency.
Supplement of an arch, in geometry,or trigonometry, the number of degreeswhich it wants of being an entire semi-circle; as complement signifies what anarch wants of being a quadrant.
Supplement of an angle , (supple-ment Tun angle, Fr.) the number ofdegrees which are wanting in an angleto constitute, or make up two angles.
SUPPLEMENT , Fr. supplement ;addition to any thing hy which its de-fects are supplied. In the staff of theFrench army, there are officers attach-ed to generals as supernumerary aides-de-camp. These are called aides-de-camp de supplement .
Supplement, Fr. additional allow-ance, or gratification money, given by asovereign to his officers, over and abovetheir regular subsistence.
SUPPLEMENTAL, } (svpplemen-
SUPPLEMENTARY, $ taire, Fr. )additional; such as fills up what iswanting.
Supplementary militia . See Mi-litia.
SUPPLY, relief of want; making updeficiencies; as a fresh supply of troops,ammunition, 6c c.
To Supply, to make up deficiencies ;to aid ; to assist; to relieve with some"*5T