A Military Dictionary and Gazetteer / Comprising ancient and modern military technical terms, historical accounts of all North American Indians, as well as ancient warlike tribes; also notices of battles from the earliest period to the present time, with a concise explanation of terms used in heraldry and the offices thereof. The work also gives valuable geographical information. Compiled from the best authorities of all nations. With an appendix containing the Articles of war, etc.

by Thomas Wilhelm

Incidence, Angle of. In projectiles, the angle which the line of direction of the projectile makes with the surface of the obstacle on which it impinges.

Inclination. In gunnery, the inclination of a plane is the angle it makes with the horizon either above or below.

Inclination of the Grooves. In a rifle is the angle which the tangent to the groove at any point makes with the element of the bore passing through the point. The tangent of the angle, which may be taken as a measure of the inclination, is equal to the circumference of the bore divided by the length of bore corresponding to one revolution of the spiral. See [Twist].

Incline. To gain ground to the flank, as well as to the front. Inclining is of great use in the marching of the line in front, to correct any irregularities that may happen. It is equivalent to the quarter facing and to the oblique marching of the infantry. It enables you to gain the enemy’s flank without exposing your own, or without wheeling or altering the parallel front of the company.

Inclose. To surround; to shut in; to confine on all sides; to include; to shut up; to encompass; as, to inclose a fort or an army with troops; to inclose a town with walls.

Incommoder l’Ennemi (Fr.). To get possession of a fort, eminence, etc., from which the enemy may be harassed, or which is necessary to his security.

Incompetent. Incapable; unfit; unequal. No officer, be his situation what it may, can be said to be competent to command who is not only willing and able to follow orders himself, but will likewise see them strictly adhered to by others; whose mind is not superior to partialities, and whose judgment is not equal to discern real merit from ignorant assumption.

Incorporate, To. To add a smaller body of forces to a larger, and to mix them together. Independent companies are said to be incorporated, when they are distributed among different regiments; regiments among brigades, etc.

Incorporation. In the manufacture of gunpowder, is the thorough mixing of the three ingredients—nitre, sulphur, and charcoal,—a very important operation. The process should be so complete that the smallest particle of the gunpowder should contain each ingredient in proper proportion.

Increasing Twist. A term applied to rifle grooves, the inclination of which increases from the breech to the muzzle. In many guns the grooves begin at the front of the chamber, without inclination.