This book is included in the US Armed Forces Organizations section.
Prefatory Notice The design of this work is that of a Library of Military Knowledge for the People—not a mere collection of elaborate treatises in alphabetical order, but a work to be readily consulted as a Dictionary on every military subject on which people generally require some distinct information—no article being longer than is absolutely necessary. The several topics are not handled with a view to the technical instruction of those who have to make a special study of particular branches of military knowledge or art. The information given may be characterized in many instances as non- professional, embracing those points of the several subjects which every intelligent man or woman may have occasion to speak or think about. At the same time every effort is made that the statements, so far as they go, shall be precise and scientifically accurate. Although about 30,000 subjects have been compiled from the various publications and records of the War Department, Foreign War Offices, and Military Works of reference, more than 5000 original articles have been prepared by specialists in America and abroad. While the Tactics, Ordnance, Gun Machinery, Implements, and Equipments of all ages and of all military powers have been fully described and illustrated under appropriate headings, a complete system of cross-references enables the military student to quickly locate several hundred articles pertaining to the general subject under investigation. Thus, under the article Magazine Gun will be found the following references: Boch, Buffington, Bullard, Burgess, Burton, Chaffee-Reece, Clemmons, Colt, Dean, Elliott, Franklin, Hunt, Lee, Lewis-Rice, Miller, Remington, Russell, Spencer-Lee, Springfield-Jones, Tiesing, Trabue, Whitney, and Winchester Magazine Guns. Under each of these articles are references to articles describing and illustrating all other arms of the respective classes. The Compiler has made special effort to set forth in detail the numerous decisions, rendered by the War Department and Tactical Department at West Point, on the tactical points raised and submitted from time to time by the Officers of the Army and National Guard. The descriptions and illustrations of more than 500 varieties of Gun Machinery, Steam Hammers, Cranes, etc., constitute a novel feature of the work to be appreciated by those wishing to investigate the subjects of construction, testing, etc. The original plan has been strictly adhered to throughout; and if, as the work proceeded, there has been any change in the method or quality of the execution, it may at least be affirmed that the change has not been for the worse. After some experience, it became easier to find the person specially qualified to write a particular kind of article, and thus the circle of contributors became widened, and the distribution of the work more specialized. It was also seen to be desirable, in regard to certain classes of subjects, to admit a rather ampler selection of heads. This has been effected without increasing the scale of the work, not so much by less full treatment of the subjects, as by increased care in condensing the statements and omitting everything superfluous. A great quantity of matter pertaining to Foreign Armies has been introduced in this work, so as to enable the military student to compare the organization, arms, etc., of all armies with those of his own service. The Encyclopedia contains also descriptions of ancient armor, and of arms, lately in use, which have become obsolete, as it may be of some interest to follow the changes which have taken place in the mode and means of fighting from the earliest period down to the present time. The insertion of veterinary terms and of remedies for the common complaints of horses will be found useful under conditions where a Veterinary Surgeon is not available, as is often the case in detached parties of Cavalry. A description of all tools and machines found commonly in workshops may prove acceptable to Departmental Officers on their first joining Government Manufacturing Establishments. Of the Sciences, the least adapted to encyclopedic treatment is Mathematics. All terms of common occurrence in Gunnery, Reconnaissance, etc., however, have been introduced, and a brief exposition of the subjects given, as far as could be done in an elementary way. Natural Philosophy has received ample attention, and all the leading doctrines and facts of general interest will be found" under their appropriate heads, treated in a popular way, and divested as far as possible of the technicalities of mathematics. Chemistry, some knowledge of which is becoming daily more indispensable in all departments of military life, receives a comparatively large space. Prominence has been given to those points of the subject that have either a direct practical military bearing or a special scientific interest. During the progress of the work, several changes in the nomenclature and notation of the Science have come into general use; these have been duly noted under the appropriate headings. The new and far-reaching doctrines of the Correlation of Forces and the Conservation of Energy have produced vast changes in the nomenclature and classification of the various sections of Military Physics; while the more complete investigations into the phenomena and laws of light, heat, motion, and electricity have created virtually -new sections, which must find a place in any adequate survey of scientific progress. Mechanical invention has, indeed, so kept pace with the progress of Military Science and the Art of War, that in almost every department of Physics improved machines and processes have to be described, as well as new discoveries and altered points of view. The manufacture of gunpowder and high explosives is a signal instance of the extent to which in our day scientific discovery is indebted to appropriate machinery and instruments of observation and analysis. These extensive changes in Physics involve corresponding changes in the method of their exposition. The scientific department of the work is consequently treated in all its branches in the most effulgent manner, and over 1000 very fine engravings are used for the purpose of illustration. True to its projected plan as a Library of Military Knowledge fob the People, this Encyclopedia will be found to be especially rich in notices of miscellaneous military matters. Some of the subjects introduced might perhaps be considered beneath the dignity of a book aspiring to a more severely scientific character; but all of them are, if not instructive, at least curious or entertaining, and likely to occur in the course of reading or conversation. During the progress of the work, the Compiler has received numerous assurances from parents as to how highly it was prized, even though only partly issued, by their sons at Military Schools, as a repertory of the kind of things they are constantly in search of and often puzzling their elders about. This use of the Encyclopedia has been steadily kept in view; and it is gratifying to learn that it is found efficiently to serve the purpose intended. In conclusion, the Compiler asks the indulgence of Military Critics wherever errors or discrepancies have crept into this work, and begs to acknowledge the valuable help obtained from the works of many authors, both military and scientific, through the courtesy of Messrs. John Wiley & Sons and Mr. D. Van Nostrand, publishers, and the assistance he has received from various friends. To General Stephen Y. Benet, Chief of Ordnance, United States Army, he is especially indebted for courteous assistance in the preparation of the work. To economize in space and to avoid crowding up the text, the name of the author from whom information has been derived has not been inserted after each quotation; but a list of all works which have been consulted, and from which extractions have been made, will be found at the commencement of each volume. It is intended, with the view of meeting the changes which are constantly taking place in the materiel of armies, new processes, military inventions, etc., to issue a Supplement at suitable intervals, containing all alterations and additions. United States Military Academy West Point, New York, 1885
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