In most other armies both officers and soldiers belonging to the companies of bombardiers, have an extraordinary pay, as it requires more mathematical learning to throw shells with some degree of exactness, than is requisite for the rest of the artillery. In the British service a specific number is attached to each company of artillery, and do not form a separate corps as in other countries.
BONAVOGLIE, Fr. a man that for a certain consideration voluntarily engages to row.
BONNET, in fortification, implies a small but useful work, that greatly annoys the enemy in their lodgments. This work consists of two faces, which make a salient angle in the nature of a ravelin, without any ditch, having only a parapet 3 feet high, and 10 or 12 feet broad. They are made at the salient angles of the glacis, outworks, and body of the place, beyond the counterscarp, and in the faussebray. See [Fortification].
Bonnet à Prêtre, or Priest’s Cap, in fortification, is an outwork, having three salient and two inward angles, and differs from the double tenaille only in having its sides incline inwards towards the gorge, and those of a double tenaille are parallel to each other. See [Fortification].
BORDER, in military drawings, implies single or double lines, or any other ornament, round a drawing, &c.
BOOKS. There are different books made use of in the army, for the specific purposes of general and regimental economy.
The general orderly Book is kept by the brigade major, from which the leading orders of regiments, conveying the parole and countersign, are always taken.
The regimental orderly Book contains the peculiar instructions of corps which are given by a colonel or commanding officer to the adjutant—hence adjutant’s orderly Book—and from him to the serjeant-major, who delivers the same to the different serjeants of companies assembled in the orderly room for that purpose—hence the company’s orderly Book.
The regimental Book is kept by the clerk of the regiment, and contains all the records, &c. belonging to the corps.
The Company Book, is kept by the commanding officer of every company; and contains returns of all incidents and payments.