to be drawn letting no body in unless the Major or Aide-Major bring orders for it from the Governour When it is time to shut the gates the Alarm-bell is Rung to call in those that are abroad in the fields and the Aide Majors or Captains of the gates attended by some Musketteers of the Court of Guard of the place of Arms come â—o the Governours house for the â—eyes and so soon as they come to â—he gates the Officers command the â—ouldiers to light their Matches and â—aving Ranked them in two Files orâ—er them to present their Arms and â—end the Pikes to help to draw up â—he Bridges After that the gates â—re shut one half of the Guard is â—rawn off that they may pass the â—ight upon the Ramparts in the â—ourts of Guard of the Courtines or Bastions the Corporals send some of the Souldiers of their Escouades for Wood and Candle and the Serjeants go to the place of Arms to receive the Word which is no sooner given but that the Drums beat thâ— retreat and the Serjeants of Guarâ— carry the Word to their Officers anâ— give it about amongst the Corporalâ— who command the Sentinels to suffeâ— no body any more to pass upon thâ— Ramparts without commanding theâ— to stand and giving notice of it tâ— the Court of Guard When the Major goes the Round the Officers of the Guard go and receive him by two Musketteers anâ— give him the Word onceonly thâ—â— is at his Round-major When the Governour or King Lieutenant go the Round the Officeâ— having Ranked their Souldiers â—â— File out of the Court of Guard anâ— without Arms send four Musketteeâ—â— to receive them ten paces off anâ— give them the Word as often as theâ— please to demand it All other Rounâ— without exception ought to give thâ— word to the Corporals or Lanspâ—sades of the Courts of Guard whâ— receive it with the point of their â—â—â—ked Sword at the heart of him thâ—â— gives it In Garrisons that are well guarded the Rounds go every quarter of an hour to the end the Rampart may never be unfurnished The Rounds are alwayes made with light and so soon as a Sentinel perceives any it is his duty to cry Who comes there so loud that he may be heard by the next Courts of Guard He that goes the Round should answer the Round or the Round-major or the Governours Round The Sentinels by whom he passes shall alwayes present their Arms and never permit any whomsoever to approach them When he draws near a Court of Guard the Sentinel before the Arms shall ask him very loud who comes there so soon as he answers the Round he is to bid him Stand. Corporal come forth Thereupon the Corporal comes immediately out of the Court of Guard draws his Sword and asks Who comes there when he is answered the Round He saies let him that hath the Word advance The Round advances and gives the Word into the Corporals ear so low that he can be heard of no body but of him alone but if perchance one should give another word than what was the true he ought to stop him that goes the Round and acquaint his Officer who orders him to be kept in the Courts of Guard all the night long The out Courts of Guard make Rounds about the covered wayes in French les chemins couverts but they give no word they are only made to hearken and every Souldieâ— goes the Round by turn The Patrouilles are made in the streets of the Town by a Serjeant and six Musketteers of the Guard of the place of Arms to make the Souldiers retire to their Quarters the publick houses shut their doors and to hinder the disorders that may be committed by night stopping and carrying to the Court of Guard all that are found in the streets without light and order At what hour so ever the Alarm is Rung all the Companies ought with diligence to gather together before the Captains Quarters who leads them to the Posts that have been appointed them by the Major At the break of day the Drums beat the Reveillie which the French call the Dienne the Alarm-bell is rung the Aide-majors and Captains of the gates come to the Governours house for the Keyes and the Officers of the Guard bring off the Souldiers who passed the night on the Ramparts Rank them in two Files and make them present their Arms whilest the Gates are opening the Majors send a Serjeant with some Musketteers to scoute in the Suburbs and in the hollow wayes about the Town and draw a Bridge upon them until they come back when they bring account that there is no danger the rest of the Bridges are let down the Corporals place the out Sentinels whom they inform of what they have to do the Majors and Captains of the Gates carry back the Keys to the Governours house and the Officers make the Souldiers lay down their Arms. In Towns where are many horse the Governour places daily fifty Troopers in Guard and sends every morning an Officer with some Horsemen to beat the Rode half a League round the place Every Officer of Guard must answer for his Post and no man not so much as his Colonel can command him in any thing except the Governour of the place or he that commands in his absence All Governours or Commanders ought to have a Sentinel at their door and as often as they pass by any Court of Guard the Officers are obliged to draw out their Souldiers put them in Haye without Arms and stand at their head If the Commander of a place be a Lieutenant General he is to have a Guard at his door consisting of a Lieutenant Serjeant and thirty men who are to be in Arms as well as the other Courts of Guard every time that he passes but the Drums are not to beat the March. When a Commander is Mareschal of France or Governour of a Province he is to have a Guard of fifty men commanded by a Captain Lieutenant a sub-Lieutenant and two Serjeants and all Courts of Guard are obliged to be in Arms when he passes by and the Drums to beat the March. When the Princes of blood the Mareschals of France and the Generals of an Army pass through any Town the Governours furnish them with a Foot-guard and at their entry and departure salute them with some Volleys of Cannon CAAP. XXIII Of Battels The way of Drawing an Army into Battalia page 76.1 st part The Left Wing First Line Second Line The Body of Reserve Another way of Drawing an Army into Battalia page 76.1 st part first Line second Line The Body of Reserve The General makes a body of reserve of some Brigads of Horse and Foot whom he Posts at the Reer of the lines and commands all his Dragoons to alight that they may first fall on with the Forlorn hope posting them for that end at the Front of his Army Afterward he visits his Regiments one after another and places General
THE ART OF WAR And the way that it is at present practised in FRANCE TWO PARTS Wherein the Duties and Functions of all the Officers of Horse and Foot Artillery and Provisions from the General of the Army to the Private Souldier are treated of With the Method of Conducting Armies Encamping Besieging and giving of Battel As also an account of all Offices and Charges and the Names of the Towns Places Citadels Castles and Forts where the most Christian King keeps Garison with the general and particular Terms of War Written in French by Louis de Gaya an expert Officer of the French Army and Dedicated to his most Christian Majesty Translated for publick Satisfaction and Advantage LONDON Printed for Robert Harford at the Sign of the Angel in Cornhil near the Royal Exchange 1678. THE Author's Preface TO THE READER IN all Ages there has been War and according to the manner of making it the Rules and Maxims thereof have heen changed those that are in use at present are different from what was in practice in former Ages and all the Authors that have treated of that subject are almost of no use at all You have here a short instruction of the manner how it is made at present according as I have seen it practised in these last Campagnes which I present to all the Nobility and Gentry who have alwayes reckoned it their honour to carry Arms for the King and the glory of their Country if they who begin that glorious profession can learn any thing thereby I shall think my time and pains very welâ— employed THE Translator's Advertisement TO THE READER THey who best understand the Art of War know that the way which the French take at present is in very many things different from the practice of other Nations and especially of England particularly in the Names and Offices of the Commanders of an Army and the way of Training and Exercising of Souldiers The designe of the Translator then being to give in English the Art of War as it is now practised in France which an expert and industrious Gentleman of that Country thought fit to observe and digest into a Book Dedicated to the King he hopes that those who understand the Military Art will not take it amiss if they meet with several Names and Words of Command which are not truly English his purpose being to Translate intelligibly what the French observe and not to instruct the English in their own Trade For that end that he might not step ulâ—ra crepidam he has taken care to inform himself both by Gentlemen who have served in the French Army and by skilful Souldiers of this Nation of several terms of Art which they thought fit should be turned as near to the French Idiom and Way as possibly could be done without rendring them obscure or insignificant to the intelligent Reader The more difficult terms of Fortification and War which are for the most part originally French are found explained at the end of the Book and if at this time the Gentlemen and others who may have occasion to serve their own or any other Prince in the illustrious Trade of War may by this small labour reap any advantage the Translator hath the same kindness for his Country that the Author has for his not to think his time and pains ill bestowed THE CONTENTS Of the First PART of this BOOK Chap. First OF an Army in general Page 1 Chap. II. Of the General of an Army p. 5 Chap. III. Of Lieutenant Generals p. 11 Chap. IV. Of Mareschals de Camp p. 13 Chap. V. Of Brigadeers p. 16 Chap. VI. Of Aides de Camp p. 17 Chap. VII Of the Major General p. 18 Chap. VIII Of the Majors of Brigads p. 19 Chap. IX Of the Quarter-master General of an Army p. 25 Chap. X. Of Ingeneers p. 27 Chap XI Of the Captain of the Guides p. 29. Chap. XII Of the Intendants Commissaries and Treasurers p. 31 Chap. XIII Of the Safeguards p. 33 Chap. XIV Of the Provost Marshal of an Army and of his way of Justice p. 34 Chap. XV. Of the Hospital p. 36 Chap. XVI Of Provisions p. 37 Chap. XVII Of the Artillery and it's Officers p. 40 Chap. XVIII Of the March of an Army p. 47 Chap. XIX Of Encamping p. 50 Chap. XX. Of Sieges and Attaques p. 53 Chap. XXI Of the Officers of a Place p. 61. Chap. XXII Of the Guard of places p. 64 Chap. XXIII Of Battels p. 76 THE CONTENTS Of the Second PART Chap. First OF the Officers General of the Light Horsemen Page 1 Chap. II. Of the Masters de Camp and Majors of Horse p. 4 Chap. III. Of the Captains of the Light Horsemen p. 6. Chap. IV. Of Lieutenants and Cornets p. 8. Chap. V. Of the Quarter-masters and Brigadeers of the Troops of Light Horsemen p. 10 Chap. VI. Of the Colonels of Foot p. 14. Chap. VII Of the Lieutenant Colonel p. 19 Chap. VIII Of the Majors and Aide-Majors of Foot p. 21 Chap. IX Of the Captain of Foot p. 27 Chap. X. Of the Lieutenant and sub-Lieutenant p. 34 Chap. XI Of the Ensigne p. 35 Chap. XII Of the Quarter-master of a Foot Regiment p. 39 Chap. XIII Of the Provost Mareschal of a Regiment p. 40 Chap. XIV Of the Serjeants p. 41 Chap. XV. Of the Corporals Lanspassades and other inferiour Officers of a Company p. 45 Chap. XVI Of the way of forming a Battallion p. 49 Chap. XVII Of the way of Exerciseing p. 53 Chap. XVIII Of Detachments p. 72 Chap. XIX Of the March of a Regiment p. 75 Chap. XX. Of a Council of War p. 79 The Charges of the Troops of the Kings Household p. 83 The Charges of the Light Horsemen p. 87 The charges of the Dragoons p. 88 The Charges of Foot p. 89 The Towns Citadels Castles and Forts where the King keeps Garison p. 93. The explication of the terms of War p. 106 The explication of the terms of Fortification p. 111 The end of the Contents MOdern Fortification or Elements of Military Architecture Practised or Designed by the latest and most Experienceâ— Ingeneers of this last Age Italian French Dutch and English and the manner of Defending and Besieging Forts and Places With the use of a Joint Ruler or Sector foâ— the speedy description of any Fortification By Sr Jonas More Master Surveyor of his Majesties Ordnance Printed for Robert Harford at the Sign of the Angel in Cornhil near the Royal Exchange ERRATA First Part. Page 21. line 19. for Serjenats read Serjeants Page 26. line 15. for Pack read Park THE ART OF WAR The First Part. Wherein the principal charges of an Army and their several Functions and Duties are discoursed of CHAP. I. Of an Army in general AN Army is made up of Horse Foot Dragoons Artillery and Provisions The Horse are commonly the third part in number to the Foot An Army is divided into Brigads commanded by Officers named Brigadeers The Brigads of Horse contain
the Camps the lines of circumvallation and contravallation he is to view the place and cause it to be attacked where he hath observed it to be weakest he is to visit the works hinder any relief to enter and provide that the Convoys may arrive with all imaginable security In a word the Office of General is of a large extent and requires a most strict care because on him does a Soveraign repose the care of all his Army The King allows the General a certain number of Aids de Camp oâ— Adjutants whose Office is only to carry about his orders wheresoever there is occasion with a Troop of Horse Guards and the first Regiment of Foot in the Army furnishes him every day with a Guard consisting of a Captain a Lieutenant two under-Lieutenants or an Ensign two Serjeants and fifty Souldiers CHAP. III. Of Lieutenant Generals AS the General is the soul to the body of an Army so the Lieutenant Generals are its noble parts and these being Offices of greatest importance require persons whose courage capacity and fidelity have been rendred conspicuous by signal services They ought not only be capable of their own charges but likewise of that of the General because it happens often that they are entrusted with the command of some Camps volans or Flying Armies yea and with some bodies of the Army which they command with an equal Authority to his The number of Lieutenant Generals is not limited they are more or less according as the Armies are great or small When there are several in one and the same Army they have every one of them their day of command For example in a siege there is one Lieutenant General who commands the Attacque of the place and who continues in the Trenches twenty four hours he is called the Lieutenant General for the day the twenty four hours being over he that is to come next takes his place and so do the rest successively The duty of their charge is to do all that is commanded them by the General who assigns to every one of them Quarters to Command in and employs them as occasion requires some to lead a body of Horse others to march at the head of Foot sometimes for a Convoy sometimes for the Van or Reere guards and sometimes for Camps Volans They ought not to fail of being every day with the General that they may receive his Orders and afterward give them out in the Quarters and Posts that are entrusted to them being very careful to give him incessantly notice of all that passes there For that as well as for other occasions the King allows them Aides de Camp or Adjutants and Horse Guards Every Lieutenant General has daily at his door a Foot Guard consisting of a Lieutenant a Serjeant and thirty Souldiers CHAP. IV. Of the Mareschals de Camp THE charge of Mareschal de Camp being of no small consequence nor the least painful of the Army he that discharges it ought to be brave judicious and expert that he may remedy many accidental things There are more or fewer of them created according to the greatness of the Army and they succeed to one another as the Lieutenant Generals do when two Attacques are to be made in the siege of a place the Lieutenant General for the day commands that on the right hand and the Mareschal de Camp the other on the left The chief duty of that charge is to go daily and receive orders from the General Upon the march of an Army he that is for the day goes the evening before they move with the Quarter-master to receive orders for the way and Encamping He ought to know the Passes that he may be assured what way is best for the Troops to march for that effect he is to give notice the evening to the Squadron that is to mount the Guard for the night following to be in readiness against next morning before break of day with whom he is to march and the Quarter masters of all the Regiments of the Artillery and Provisions are to wait upon him that they may go and mark out the Camp in the place appointed In his march he is to send some Scouts before and on each side to beat the rode and if there happen an Alarm he is to inform himself of the nature of it and send intelligence to the General that he may receive assistance and that the Army may have time to draw up Being come to the place of Encamping and having chosen the most proâ—er and convenient ground he is himself to place the great Guard half a League or more beyond the ground which he hath marked out in general to the general Quarter-master of the Army who divides and assigns the several portions of it to the Regiment Quarter-masters that being done he acquaints the General with the state of the Camp from whom he receives orders for the Guards Convoys Escortes and Parties which he distributes amongst the Majors of the Brigads In a word the Mareschals de Camp should lodge the whole Army and be alwayes present at their movings being the first on Horse-back and the last to alight They have Aides de Camp and Horse Guards as well as the Lieurenant Generals with a Court de Guard of Foot at their door consisting of a Serjeant and fifteen men CHAP. V. Of Brigadiers IT is not long since the Brigads oâ— the Army were commanded by the eldest Masters de Camp anâ— Colonels and there was no talk oâ— Brigadiers but since the King hath made them places with the title of aâ— Office he chuses commonly for thesâ— charges those Colonels Masters dâ— Camp and Lieutenant Colonelâ— whom he knows to be most experienced in the matter of War Theiâ— duty is to march at the head of the Brigade whereof they have the command and to lead them whithersoever the General has ordered having a special care that no Souldier leave his Rank and giving most expresâ— orders to the Commanders of Regiments to see that obeyed They command amongst themselves according to Seniority the Brigadiers of Foot mount the Trenches by turn and relieve one another at the end of four and twenty hours And the Guard that is appointed for them consists of a Serjeant and ten Souldiers CHAP. VI. Of Aides de Camp or Adjutants THE charge of Aide de Camp is a most gentile employment for a young person of Quality fit to make him appear and wherein he may easily learn and improve himself â—t is requisite that he who undertakes â—t be prudent vigilant and strong The duty of the Aides de Camp is to be alwaies near the General persons that they may carry their orders where there is need CHAP. VII Of the Major General THE charge of Major General oâ— the Army is late in Francâ— and invented by the King who hatâ— found the advantage of it and whâ— will have him that enjoyes it endoâ—ed with as much conduct and vigouâ— as experience He has access to thâ—
at a Siege is quite different from that of a March Here the Army ought to Environ the place in such a manner that nothing can enter it endeavouring as much as may be to keep the Camps without Cannon-shot If the place stand upon a River there is a Detachment made of one part of the Army which takes its Quarters on the other side with Bridges of communication where Redoubts are made wherein are placed strong Foot-guards If it be encompassed with hills the heights are to be possessed from which the Enemies might extreamly incommode the Besiegers if they are once become Masters of them In a Siege the Army Encamps with their back to the place the Battallions lined with Squadrons The Ingeneers mark out the lines of Circumvallation and Contravallation with Redoubts and Angles in fit distances and every Regiment works at them in the place of its Quarter The line of Circumvallation is that which is beyond the Camps designed only to hinder any relief to enter The line of Contrevallation is betwen the Camps and the place which cures the Besiegers from Sallies When the General hath ordered his Camps placed his Guards as well on the side of the place as of the Country about and that he hath appointed Lieutenant Generals to Command in each Quarter with orders what to do he goes with his Ingeneers to view the place and orders the Attaque to be made at the part which he thinks to be weakest for that end he commands the first Regiments of Foot to be in readiness in more or less number according to the strength of the Besieged that he may open the Trenches and orders as many Squadrons as he thinks convenient to mount the Guard of them and to beat back the Sallies of the Enemies the Regiments which are to open the Trenches make their Detachments before they draw out of their Camps they furnish the number of Labourers that the Ingeneers have required with Officers to lead them and the time of marching out drawing near the Majors draw up the Battallions the Chaplains make the accustomed Prayers with a short exhortation at the end whereof they give a general Absolution and the Souldiers cry God save the King throwing their Hats in the Air. The Regiments draw off in good order Drums beating the Officers with Pikes in hand the party Detached at their front and come to the place of working where they receive Orders what to do from the Lieutenant General for the day or the Mareschal de Camp So soon as day ends all the Cavalry of the Army except those who have the Guard go and bring Faggots to the Reerward of the Trenches they who are appointed to defend the Labourers lay themselves on their Bellies some paces beyond the Counterscarpe and part of the Souldiers commanded to work begin to dig and cast up the earth according as it hath been marked out to them by the Ingeneers whilst the others bring them Faggots and Mattocks The Trenches ought to be six foot and a half high and four broad with Banquets for the convenience of the Musketeers and the Ingeneers should carry them on in such a manner that they be not open to the place when it cannot be otherwayes that part which is open is covered with great Faggots or Planks of wood called Madriers When two Attacks are made the first Regiment hath the right and the second the left The great Master or General of the Artillery carries on the works at the Batteries and brings thither the Cannon with a sufficient Provision of all that can be useful to the Trenches If there be no Rideaw Shelter nor Bottom or Depth at the Reer of the Trenches to cover the Horse-guard there are Earthen works called Espaulments cast up which must be Cannon proof behind which they place themselves So soon as day breaks the Lieutenant General causes all the men draw back within the lines of approaches called the Boyau where every one betakes himself to his Post that they may incessantly fire against the place whilest the Pieces of Battery do all they can to dismount the Enemies Guns and spoil their works All the Guards of the Trenches are relieved at the end of twenty four hours at the same hour that they were mounted and the Regiments that enter the Guard should continue the works as far as the Palissadoe They who come after Attack the Chemin couvert the Covered way they drive the Enemies from thence with Granadoes whilest others pluck up the Palissadoes and make there a lodging with Gabions Faggots and Sacks full of earth into which a Captain and Musketeers are placed for its preservation If the Ditches be full of water they are filled with Faggots stuffed with Stones When the half-moon which is to be carried is invested they blow it up with Mines and having driven the Enemies from thence they lodge themselves on it From thence they make a Gallery into the Ditch which joynes to the Bastion whereto the Miner is to be set whilest â—â— the mean time the Batteries are adâ—anced as far as the Covered way If â—he Gallery were in a dry Ditch the â—ieutenant General should not omit to â—ake Provision of several Hogsheads â—f water which is made use of to â—uench the Artificial fires that the Beâ—eged might throw from the Rampart â—pon the Gallery the Miner being â—odged at the foot of the Bastion he â—akes a Mine there and Charges it And when every thing is ready to give the Assault the General causes â—he Besieged to be summoned to renâ—er before the Mine play promising â—hem all good conditions if they had â—ather Surrender than abide the Asâ—ault Hostages are sent from either â—ide whilest the Capitulation is frameâ—ng which is no sooner Signed but â—hat the General Commands the two first Regiments of Foot with a Lieuâ—enant General to go take possession of the Place and establish Courts of Guard wheresoever there is need If the Capitulation bear that the Forces that were in Garrison should be Pâ—â—soners of War they are disarme and shut up in some convenient placâ— to which a strong Guard is put Bâ—â— if it be agreed upon by the Treatâ— that they shall march out with Bâ—â— and Baggage Drums beating Coloâ—â—â— flying lighted Matches and soâ—â— pieces of Cannon the General haâ—ing put his Men in Arms comes â—â— see the Enemies Garrison march oâ—â— the Officers at the head of their Coâ—panies who ought to salute him wiâ—â— their Arms and the Governour at tâ—â— Reer of all and sends with them Guard of Horse to Convoy them â—â— the place that hath been grantâ—â— them by the Capitulation It is the right of the first Foot-Râ—giments of the Army to take possessioâ— of all Conquered places to make tâ— themselves places of Armes to Guaâ—â— the Posts of them and there to coâ—tinue until there be a Commander anâ— Garrison established therein Anâ— the Army never decamps from before them till the breaches be firsâ— repaired the Works refitted the