SUSTAIN. To sustain is to aid, succour, or support, any body of men in action, or defence.
SUTLER and Victualler maybe considered as synonimous terms as far as they relate to military matters; most especially when an army lies encamped, or rather takes the field. A sutler may be considered as one who follows the camp, and sells all sorts of provisions to the soldiers. There are also sutlers in garrison towns, who serve the soldiery, and are subject to military regulations.
Among the French, according to the present establishment of their army, a sutler is a soldier or inferior officer, who is authorised to follow head quarters, and to be constantly with the corps to which he is attached. He is permitted to sell the necessaries of life to the soldiers, and under certain restrictions, to deal in wines and spirituous liquors.
The sutlers are usually chosen from the regiments to which they belong, and are subordinate to the quarter-masters, after they have been appointed by the regimental committee or council of administration. They receive a licence enabling them to sell and buy, which licence must be approved of by the chief of the etat major, or staff of the division, in which the corps is stationed, or under which it acts.
The sutlers attending head-quarters are licensed by the quarter-master general. In order to distinguish them from adventitious travellers or pedlars, &c. it is wisely recommended by Paul Thiebault, author of a treatise upon the duties of an etat major, or staff in general, that they should have a particular number, which is to be engraved upon a tin plate, and constantly worn by them, as a mark of their being licensed by the quarter-master general.
When an army moves, the sutlers accompany the baggage. As many irregularities must naturally grow out of this necessary evil, the conduct of sutlers ought, at all times, to be narrowly watched, and severe penalties to be announced in general orders for every instance of unlawful depredation among the inhabitants, or of disorder in their booths. It is the duty of the piquet, at night, to be particularly watchful on this ground.
SUTURE. A manner of sewing or stitching, particularly of stitching wounds.
SWALLOW’S-tail. In fortification, an out-work, differing from a single tenaille, as its sides are not parallel, like those of a tenaille; but if prolonged, would meet and form an angle on the middle of the curtain; and its head or front composed of faces, forming a reentering angle. This work is extraordinarily well flanked, and defended by the works of the place, which discover all the length of its long sides, &c.
SWAMMIES, Ind. Pagan gods or idols.
SWAMP. See [Marsh].