S I c

S I E

These balls are seldom less than lj oz. Iin weight. But little effect is to be ex-pected from firing case shot beyond 300yards, from the very great divergencyof the balls.

SHOULDER, the upper part of theblade of a sword is so called. Theshoulders of regimental sword-blades,for the infantry, are directed to be oneinch broad at least.

Suouldeb of a bastion, in fortifica-tion. SeeEpAULE.

Shoulder -belt, so called because itbangs over the shoulder, to carry thebayonet or sword: It is made of strongbuff leather.

To Shoulder, in a military sense,to lay on the shoulder, or to rest anything against it. Hence, to shoulder amusquet.

Shoulder arms, a word of com-mand which is used in the British ser-vice. See Manual.

Right Shoulders forward, ? TwoLeft SiiOULDERS/ora-ttrd, $ termsof command in the British service, whena column of march (in order to followthe windings of Its route) changes itsdirection in general, less than the quar-ter of the circle. See Sections 112 and39 of the Rules and Regulations.

SHROF, Ind. a banker, a money-changer, or one who keeps a shop forthe accommodation of the public in pe-cuniary matters, and who derives con-siderable advantage from the circu-lating medium of other people’s pro-perty.

SHROFFING, Ind. the act of ex-citing and sorting money.

SHUMSERTllEEPUT, Ind. avowal,wknovvledgment, confession.

To SHUT, to close, to make notopen.

■SHUT pans, a word of command»sed in the inspection of arms. Placethe inside of your fingers against theback part of the hammer, and bring ithnskly to in one motion. In openingI™ 8 ! you place the thumb against theinside of the hammer.

SHUTERNAUL, Ind. a sort of ar-Tjebuss, which is fixed upon the back« a camel.

SICK and Hurt, a board so called, toI . the agents, commissaries, &c. be-onging to the several military hospitals!'! Creat Britain, are responsible.

SID E-pieces, of gun-carriages. SeeCarriage-.

Side straps, in a field carriage, arefiat iron bands which go round the side-pieces, in those places where the woodis cut across the grain, to strengthenthem near the center and the trail.

SIEGE, (siege, Er.) the positionwhich an army takes, or its encamp-ment before a fortified town, or place,for the purpose of reducing it. Theterm comes from siege, which signifiesseat, chair, &c. Hence, to sit downbefore a place, signifies, in a militarysense, to chuse a position from whichyou may commence the necessary ope-rations to attack and get possession ofit. The French use the word generallyas we do.

To undertake the Siege of a town,(entroprendre le siege d’une ville, Fr.) toinvest it, to form lines of circumvalla-tion, to open trenches, &c.

To lay Siege to a town, (fuire lesiege d’une 'tilbfr.) to draw your forcesround a town, for tiie purpose of attack-ing it.

To carry on a Siege, (continuer unsiege, Fr.) to persevere by regular ap-proaches, &c. in gaining ground ujioijtiie garrison.

To lay close Siege, (presser le siege,Fr,) to approach close to the walls fortiie purpose of making a breach andstorming, or of starving out the garri-son. For a full and scientific explana-tion of the different methods, which areadopted in modern times, for tiie at-tack and defence of places, particularlyof sieges, see Essai General de Fortifi-cation, d'attaijue e.t defense de places,tom. 1. page 61, &c. &c.

Siege brusque, Fr. an expression usedamong tiie French to signify the promptand iipmedinte movement of a besiegingarmy, against a fortified town or place,without waiting for the regular forma-tion of lines, &c. In this case the troopsmake a vigorous attack upon all tiie out-works, and endeavour to make a lodge-ment upon the poanterscarpe. Whenthey have succeeded, they instantlythrow up temporary lines, &c. behindthem, in order to secure a retreat, shouldthe garrison force them to quit theirground.

Siege, in the art of war, is the actof surrounding a fortified place with5 N % an