B.
[Band, Military].[1] Consists of a body of musicians attached to each army regiment or battalion. The law provides for a band at the Military Academy at West Point. And for each artillery, cavalry, and infantry regiment a chief musician, who shall be instructor of music; and for each artillery and infantry regiment two principal musicians; each cavalry regiment to have one chief trumpeter. Musicians for regimental bands are enlisted as soldiers, and formed under the direction of the adjutant, but are not permanently detached from their companies, and are instructed in all the duties of a soldier.
[1] Incorrectly printed in the body of the work.
Bander (Fr.). To unite; to intrigue together for the purpose of insurrection.
Barry. In heraldry, the term applied to a shield which is divided transversely into four, six, or more equal parts, and consisting of two or more tinctures interchangeably disposed. Barry-bendy is where the shield is divided into four, six, or more equal parts, by diagonal lines, the tincture of which it consists being varied interchangeably. Barry-pily is where the shield is divided by diagonal lines, the different colors being interchanged.
Bassinet (Fr.). The pan of a musket.
Bautzen. A town in Saxony, near which desperate battles were fought May 20-22, 1813, between the French, commanded by Napoleon, and the allies under the emperor of Russia and the king of Prussia. The struggle commenced on the 19th, with a contest on the outposts, which cost each army a loss of above 2000 men. On the 20th (at Bautzen), the French were more successful; and on the 21st (at Murschen), the allies were compelled to retire; but Napoleon obtained no permanent advantages from these sanguinary engagements. Duroc was killed at Rachenbach by a cannon-ball on May 22, to the great sorrow of the emperor and the French army.
Beaver, or Bever. That part of a helmet covering the lower part of the face, which shifted on pivots to allow the wearer to drink. The word is derived from the Latin word bevere, to drink.
Bethune. A town of France, in the department Pas-de-Calais; it is strongly fortified, part of the works and the citadel having been constructed by Vauban; taken by the French in 1645; retaken by the allies in 1710, but was restored to France by the treaty of Utrecht, 1714.
Biset (Fr.). Was a member of the national guard who performed his duty in civilian’s dress, before the wearing of uniform on duty was made obligatory.
Blackstock’s Hill. A hill situated in South Carolina, United States, memorable for the victory the Americans gained over the English in 1780.
Blakemere. A village of England, near where a memorable battle was fought between the Scots and the troops of Edward II. of England, in which the latter were defeated.
Blumenau. In Lower Austria; on July 22, 1866, the Austrians in possession of this place were attacked by the Prussians on their march towards Vienna, a severe conflict was interrupted by the news of the armistice agreed to at Nikolsburg; and the same evening Austrians and Prussians bivouacked together.
Brabant. Part of Holland and Belgium, an ancient duchy, part of Charlemagne’s empire, fell to the share of his son Charles. In the 17th century it was held by Holland and Austria, as Dutch Brabrant and the Walloon provinces, and underwent many changes through the wars in Europe. The Austrian division was taken by the French in 1746 and 1794. It was united to the Netherlands in 1814, but South Brabant was given to the kingdom of Belgium, under Leopold, 1830. The heir of the throne of Belgium is styled Duke of Brabant.
Braquemart, or Jacquemart (Fr.). In antiquity, a two-edged broadsword.
Breda. A strongly fortified town of Holland; taken by Prince Maurice of Nassau in 1590; by the Spaniards under Spinola in 1625, and by the Dutch in 1637; taken by the French in 1793. The French garrison was expelled by the burgesses in 1813.
Briche (Fr.). A machine of war formerly used to throw stones.
Broad Arrow. A mark for goods belonging to the royal dock-yards or navy, England; is said to have been ordered to be used in 1698, in consequence of robberies.
Brussels. Once capital of Austrian Brabant, now of Belgium (since 1831), was founded by St. Gery, of Cambray, in the 7th century. It was bombarded and captured by Marshal Villeroi in 1695; taken by the French in 1701 at the beginning of the War of Succession; captured by the Duke of Marlborough in 1706; by the French under Marshal Saxe in 1747, and by Gen. Dumouriez in 1794; the revolution commenced in 1830.