CAIMACAN, in military history, an officer among the Turks, nearly answering to our lieutenant.
CAISSE, Fr. Battre la caisse is used in the French service to express the beating of a drum instead of battre le Tambour.
CAISSON, in military affairs, is a wooden frame or chest, made square, the side planks about 2 inches thick: it may be made to contain from 4 to 20 loaded shells, according to the execution they are to do, or as the ground is firmer or looser. The sides must be high enough, that when the cover is nailed on, the fuzes may not be damaged. Caissons are buried under ground at the depth of 5 or 6 feet, under some work the enemy intends to possess himself of; and when he becomes master of it, fire is put to the train conveyed through a pipe, which inflames the shells, and blows up the assailants. Sometimes a quantity of loose powder is put into the chest, on which the shells are placed, sufficient to put them in motion, and raise them above ground: at the same time that the blast of powder sets fire to the fuze in the shells, which must be calculated to burn from 1 to 2¹⁄₂ seconds. When no powder is put under the shells, a small quantity of mealed powder must be strewed over them, having a communication with the saucisson, in order to convey the fire to the fuzes.
Caisson, is a covered waggon, to carry bread or ammunition.
Caisson, Fr. is variously used in the French service.
Caisson des bombes, is a tub which is filled with loaded shells and buried even with the ground. It is inclined a little on one side, and by means of a quantity of powder which is scattered on the top and connected with the bottom by a saucisson, an explosion may be effected so as to throw the shells into the open air towards any given point. Caissons which are buried in the glacis produce great effect.
Caisson pour les vivres, Fr. a large chest whose lid rises in the centre somewhat like the capital of a pillar, in order that the rain may run off. The following dimensions were adopted to contain eight hundred rations at least.
The caisson or chest must be 8 French feet 4 inches long at least, 3 feet 4 inches high from the bottom to the extreme point of the lid, or chapiter, 2 feet 6 inches from its square sides to the bottom, 2 feet 5 inches broad at the bottom, outside, 2 feet 9 inches broad at top, and the cover or lid must be 5 feet 4 inches long. Poplar trees afford the best wood for the construction of caissons, because that species has a close grain, and is calculated to keep out rain.
CALATRAVA, a Spanish military order so called from a Fort of that name. The knights of Calatrava bear a cross; gules, fleur-de-lissed with green, &c.
CALCULATION, in military affairs, is the art of computing the amplitudes of shells, time of flight, projectile curve, velocity of shots, charges of mines, &c. together with the necessary tables for practice.