INFIRMARY. See [Hospital].
INFLUENCE of example. In a military sense the influence of example is of the greatest consequence. We have already spoken generally on the necessity of good example (see [Example]); we think it proper further to observe, that the influence which every action of a commanding officer bears, is of so much importance to the service, as to render it incumbent upon every superior person to consider its effects upon the mind and conduct of an inferior. A circumstance once occurred, which is frequently quoted. It was briefly this: an officer happening to appear upon the parade without being strictly uniform as to dress, was ordered to fall out. Some little time after the commanding officer (by whom the subaltern had been noticed) was himself irregularly dressed; the latter availed himself of an opportunity to mention the circumstance in a familiar and good-humored manner; upon which the former very shrewdly replied—It is true, sir, that I am not strictly in uniform to-day, but you will be pleased to recollect, that I have the commanding officer’s leave. The repartee was not amiss, as it conveyed at the same time a sound piece of advice to every inferior officer; but it did not justify the deviation. An admiral, from motives, we conceive, of duty, as well as principles of economy, was so tenacious of regularity, that rather than appear not strictly correct, he has been known to have a second naval uniform, made of coarse flannel, which he constantly wore on board. Notwithstanding this laudable instance, it is well known, that both in the army and navy, the repartee of the commanding officer has been frequently used.
INFORMERS. Soldiers who give information of false musters, or of pay illegally detained, are entitled to their discharge. See [Mutiny Act], sections 27 and 69.
INGINEER. See [Engineer].
INGENIEUR, Fr. Ingineer. See [Engineer].
Ingenieur par rapport à l’architecture civile, Fr. An engineer who may be properly called an adept in civil architecture. A person of this description was always employed among the French. He was a skilful and intelligent man, perfectly master of mechanics; by which means he could invent machines for the purpose of increasing propellents, so as either to draw or to raise heavy loads with facility, or to elevate and direct the course of waters.
Ingenieur en architecture militaire, Fr. An engineer who is perfectly master of military architecture. The term itself points out, that the requisite qualifications are ingenuity, skill, and an apt talent at invention. The French, in former times, made use of the word ingeigneur instead of ingenieur; deriving the former from engin, which originally signified a machine amongst them, and has since been adopted by us. All warlike machines, such as cannons, &c. were, in fact, called engines, because they were, for the most part, invented by engineers. So that even the word engin, Fr. and engine comes from the Latin engenium, or invention. These machines were, indeed, frequently called in bad Latin ingenia. Hence the etymology of ingenieur. The situation of ingenieur, among the French, has always been deemed extremely honorable. They have always risen to the highest posts in the army, and their skill and judgment have always been thought indispensibly necessary in all the operations of war. We have already pointed out, under the article [Engineer], the outlines of this important character. We only regret, that the limits of our undertaking will not admit the very sensible observations which are to be found under the head Ingenieur in several French publications.
The French, and after them several other nations, have formed their engineers into select corps; the French call them corps de Genie.
Ingenieur Directure, Fr. A responsible person in the old French service, whose duty was to superintend and take charge of a certain number of fortified towns or places, and to transmit a regular account of the actual state of the works, and to represent whatever might appear defective, or stand in need of repair.
Ingenieur en Chef, Fr. chief engineer. It was the business of this officer to superintend the construction of all sorts of military works, having several subordinate engineers under him to assist and put his plans into execution. In order to make some distinction between the man of skill and genius, and the mere pretenders to knowlege in this great branch of military acquirements, it was usual, during the monarchy of France, to call all engineers that were acknowleged by government, ingenieurs ordinaires du roi, engineers in ordinary to the king.