Foot-bank, in fortification. See [Banquette].
FORAGE, in the art of war, implies hay, straw, and oats, for the subsistence of the army horses. This forage is divided into rations, one of which is a day’s allowance for a horse, and contains 20 lb. of hay, 10 lb. of oats and 5 lb. of straw.
Dry Forage, oats, hay, &c. which are delivered out of magazines to a garrison, or to troops when they take the field, before the green forage is sufficiently grown to be cut or gathered.
Green Forage, oats, hay, &c. that have been recently cut. It likewise means meadow pasture, into which horses are turned.
When the British cavalry are stationed in barracks, the number of rations of forage to be issued to the horses of the officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers is not to exceed what follows, and is to be confined to those which are actually effective in the barracks.
| Rations. | |
|---|---|
| Field officers, having 4 effective horses | 4 |
| Captains, having 3 ditto | 3 |
| Subalterns and staff officers, having 2 ditto | 2 |
| Quarter masters, each | 1 |
| Non-commissioned officers and private men, each | 1 |
For each of which rations a stoppage is to be made of 8¹⁄₂d. per diem.
On foreign service this article is governed by circumstances.
FORCE, an armament or warlike preparation.
FORCE, in a military sense, any body of troops collected together for warlike enterprize.