LITTER, a sort of hurdle-bed, on which wounded officers or men are carried off the field.
Little fortification. The first division of the first system of M. de Vauban, and is so called when the exterior side of a fortification does not exceed 175 toises, or 350 yards. It is used in the construction of citadels, small forts, horn and crown-works.
LIVRE. An old French money of account, consisting of 20 sols, about 18d. English: each sol containing 12 deniers. The livre is of two kinds, Tournois and Parisis.
Livre Tournois contains 20 sols Tournois, and each sol 12 deniers Tournois.
Livre Parisis, is 12 sols Parisis, being worth 12 deniers Parisis, or 15 deniers Tournois; so that a livre Parisis is worth 25 sols Tournois. The word Parisis is used in opposition to Tournois, because of the rate of money, which was one-fourth higher at Paris than at Tours.
LIVRER bataille, Fr. To deliver, give or join battle.
Livrer assaut, Fr. To storm.
Livrer, une ville au pillage, Fr. to give a town up to plunder.
LOAD, a word of command given, when men are to charge their guns or musquets.
Load. Artillery carriages, or waggons, are frequently loaded with 14 cwt. for 3 horses, and 20 cwt. for 4 horses. This, however it may answer on an English road, is a great deal too much for general service. No doubt a carriage of one construction will travel easier than of another, with the same weight; and where the mechanical advantage thus gained is greatest, the heaviest weight may be put, with the same number of horses; but in the carriages usually made for the service of artillery, 4 cwt. per horse, beside the weight of the carriage, is the utmost they ought to be allowed to draw.