Havock. A cry originally used in hunting, but afterward in war as the signal for indiscriminate slaughter.
Havre Le, or Havre de Grace. An important and strongly fortified commercial town of France, in the department of the Lower Seine, at the entrance of the Seine into the English Channel. Havre was taken by the British in 1562, and bombarded by them in 1759, 1794, and 1795.
Hawaii. See [Owyhee].
Haxo-casemate. A vault of masonry thrown over a gun, but not over its embrasure. It is open at the rear, and acts as a traverse.
Hayti, Haiti, St. Domingo, or Hispaniola. The largest island in the West Indies, with the exception of Cuba. It was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1495. Until 1665 Spain kept possession of the island; but in that year the French obtained a footing, and retained their position for upwards of a century and a quarter. In 1800 the independence of Hayti was proclaimed by the negro population, and the French finally quitted the island in 1803. Since that time various revolutions have occurred, and a kind of military elective government has prevailed under different leaders. In 1849 the former French portion of the island was proclaimed an empire under its president, Solouque, who took the title of Faustin I. The sable emperor was, however, deposed in 1858, and a republic was again proclaimed.
Hazaree. An Indian term signifying the commander of gun-men. It is derived from hazar, which, in its literal interpretation, signifies a thousand.
Haze, To. To punish a man by making him do unnecessary work.
Head. In gunnery, the fore part of the cheeks of a gun or howitzer carriage. To head, is to lead on, or be the leader of a party. Head of a work, in fortification, is the front next to the enemy, and farthest from the place; as the front of a horn-work is the distance between the flanked angles of the demi-bastions. The head of a double tenaille is the salient angle in the centre and the two other sides which form the re-entering angles. Head of an army, or body of men, is the front, whether drawn up in lines or on a march, in column, etc. Head of a camp, is the ground before which an army is drawn up.
Head, Bridge. Is the end of a bridge,—also the work defending it.
Header. In a revetment, is a brick, stone, or sod laid with its end outwards.