CART, in a military sense, is a vehicle mounted on two wheels, and drawn by one or more horses; of which there are several sorts, viz.
Powder-Carts, for carrying powder with the army; they are divided into 4 parts, by boards of an inch thick, which enter about an inch into the shafts. Each of these carts can only stow 4 barrels of powder. The roof is covered with an oil-cloth, to prevent dampness from coming to the powder.
Sling-Carts, used to carry mortars or heavy guns from one place to another at a small distance, but chiefly to transport guns from the water side to the proof-place, and from thence back again; as also to convey artillery to the batteries in a fortification; they have wheels of a very considerable diameter, and the guns or other heavy articles which they carry are slung in chains from the axle.
CARTE, is a thrust with a sword at the inside of the upper part of the body, with the nails of your sword hand upwards. Low carte, is a thrust at the inside of the lower half of the body; the position of the hand being the same as in the former.
Carte-blanche Fr. a full and absolute power which is lodged in the hands of a general of an army, to act according to the best of his judgment, without waiting for superior instructions or orders. It likewise strictly means a blank paper; a paper to be filled up with such conditions as the person to whom it is sent thinks proper.
CARTEL, in military transactions, an agreement between two states at war for the exchange of their prisoners of war.
CARTOUCH, in military affairs, is a case of wood about 3 inches thick at bottom, bound about with marline, holding about 400 musquet balls, besides 8 or 10 iron balls of a pound each, to be fired out of a howitzer, for the defence of a pass, &c. See [Grape Shot].
CARTOUCHES in artillery, are made of leather, to sling over the shoulder of the matross, who therein carries the ammunition from the magazine or waggon, for the service of the artillery, when at exercise or on real service.
Cartouches ou formules, Fr. military passes which were given to soldiers going on furlough.
CARTRIDGE, a case of paper, parchment, or flannel, fitted to the bore of a piece, and holding exactly its proper charge. Musket and pistol cartridges are always made of strong paper, between 30 and 40 of which are made from 1 pound of powder, including their priming. Ball cartridges should be made of a different coloured paper to what is used for blank. The French musquet ball-cartridges are all capped with flannel. Cannon and howitzer cartridges are sometimes made of parchment, though more generally of flannel: the charges they contain are adapted to the service they are intended for.