The MARSEILLOIS, or Marseilles hymn, a national march adopted by the French during the course of their revolution, and since regularly played in their armies when they go to battle. It is frequently accompanied, or rather succeeded by the Cá Ira, a quick lively tune; the former being calculated for slow or ordinary time, and the latter for quick movements.
| MARSHAL, | - | |
| Field-Marshal, |
in its primitive signification means an officer who has the care and charge of horses; but it is now applied to officers who have very different employments.—In a military sense, it means the commander in chief of all the forces. It is likewise given as an honorary rank to general officers who have no immediate command. See [General].
Marshal of France, was an officer of the greatest dignity in the French army. It was first established by Philip-August, in the year 1185.
The French military institutions under the empire, has an establishment of marshals, which is a title of military honor given to generals of pre-eminent merit.
PROVOST-MARSHAL, an executive officer, whose duty is to see punishments put in force, when soldiers are condemned to death, or are to be otherwise chastised. Every army is provided with a provost-marshal general, who has several deputies under him. By the last general regulations it has been ordained, that in case the army should take the field in Great Britain, a deputy provost-marshal will be appointed to each district. The provost, under those circumstances, will frequently make the tour of the camp, and its environs, and will have orders to seize such persons as are committing disorders.
The provost-marshal will be particularly directed, in making his rounds, to execute the awful punishment which the military law awards against plundering and marauding.
And in order to assist him in the discovery of such persons as may be guilty of those offences, the regiments encamped nearest villages, will send frequent patroles into them, to apprehend such persons, as may be there without passes, or who having passes, may behave improperly.
If any soldier is base enough to attempt to desert to the enemy, he will suffer immediate death.
Any person forcing a safeguard will suffer death.