To Hang upon the flanks of an enemy, is to harass and perplex him in a more desultory manner than what is generally practised when you press upon his rear.
Hussars, light dragoons, mounted riflemen, and light infantry detachments are well calculated for this service. Light pieces of artillery are likewise extremely useful, but they should be cautiously resorted to, as ambuscades might be laid, and their removal would require too much time. A perfect knowlege of the country in which you fight, aided by intelligent guides and faithful scouts, will be one of the best safeguards in all operations of this kind.
HANGER, a short-curved sword.
HANGING-GUARD, a defensive position in the art of broad-sword; it is formed by raising the sword-hand high enough to view your antagonist under your wrist, and directing your point towards his ribs. See [Broadsword].
HANNIBAL, a celebrated general among the Carthagenians, who crossed the Alps, and threatened Rome. This able man lost all the fruits of his uncommon exertions and military talents by relaxing from that active conduct, by which he had thrown the Roman legions into confusion. He is a striking example of the propriety of marshal Saxe’s observations on the necessity of vigorous and unremitting operations against a retreating enemy. See [General].
HANOVERIANS, troops belonging to Hanover, formerly subject to the king of Great Britain, and of which a considerable body were employed to subjugate America, for which forty pounds sterling a head were paid out of the British treasury to the elector of Hanover; they are now subjects of France.
HANSE, or HANS, (Hans Teutonique, Fr.) a body or company of merchants united together for the promotion of trade.
Hans towns, (villes Hanseatiques, Fr.) Certain towns and places in Germany and the north of Europe in which a commercial compact, or agreement, for the benefit of commerce was entered into by merchants of respectability. The four towns that first united for this purpose were Lubec, Brunswick, Dantzic, and Cologne, and on that account they bore the distinguishing title of mother-towns. After the original establishment of this company had taken place, several towns became anxious to belong to so respectable and useful a company. They were accordingly adopted, and obtained the denomination of god-daughters. The number of these associated places amounted to 81, and they were generally called the Hanseatic or Anseatic towns. In the year 1372, a treaty of alliance was entered into between Denmark and the Hans towns. Amsterdam and other Dutch cities were included, as may be seen in a copy of that treaty which has been preserved by Boxhoorn.
HAQUET, Fr. a dray; a species of waggon formerly used in the artillery; they differed in their sizes and dimensions according to the nature of the service.
Military HARANGUES, (harangues militaires, Fr.) It was usual among the ancients for generals, &c. to harangue their soldiers previous to an engagement. This custom, however, is too old to be traced to its origin. Short harangues, if any are adopted, will always prove the best; for that natural impulse by which the aggregate of mankind are driven into acts of peril and possible destruction, is of too subtile and too volatile a nature to bear suspence.