RET 



R E T 



will form flanks as foon as there is nothing in their front to 

 cover them ; but the other divifions will not have any flanks 

 except to the outward battalion of each. The battalions 

 always pafs by their proper intervals, and it is a rule in re- 

 tiring, that the left of each (hall always pafs the right of the 

 neighbouring one. Whatever advantages the ground offers, 

 thofe advantages mult be feized, without too critical an ob- 

 fervance of intervals, or minute adherence to the determined 

 diftance of each retreat. The divifion next the enemy mult 

 pafs in front, through the intervals of the divifion imme- 

 diately behind, and any battalion, that finds it neceffary, 

 mufl incline for that purpofe. The retiring divifion muft 

 ftep out, and take up no more time than what is abfolutely 

 required to avoid confufion. The divifion neareft the enemy 

 fires by platoons Handing ; the flanks of its battalions only 

 fire when the enemy attempts to pufh through the intervals. 

 When that divifion retires, it fires on, fkirmifhes by men de- 

 tached from its light company, if prefent, or from platoons 

 formed of rear rank men of one or two of the companies, 

 and placed behind the flanks of the battalions. But fhould 

 any of its battalions be obliged to halt and to fire, a fhorter 

 ltep muft then be taken by the line ; and fliould the enemy 

 threaten to enter at any of its intervals, befides the fire of its 

 flanks, fuch platoons of the line behind it, as can with 

 fafety, muft give it fupport. 



Retreat is a beat of the drum in the evening, at the 

 firing of a piece called the evening-gun, at which the drum- 

 major, with all the drums of the battalion, except fuch as 

 are upon duty, beat round the regiment ; the drums of the 

 quarter-guards, of the general-guards, and all other fmall- 

 guards, do likewife beat ; the trumpets at the fame time 

 founding at the head of their refpeftive troops. This is to 

 warn the foldiers to forbear firing, and the fentinels to chal- 

 lenge, till break of day, that the reveille is beat. 

 The retreat is likewife called fitting the witch. 

 In fortified places, this is a iignal for the inhabitants to 

 come in before the gates are (hut. See Drum. 



Retreat, or Relay, in Mafonty, denotes a little recefs 

 or diminution of the thicknefs of a wall, rampart, &c. in 

 proportion as it is raifed. 



The retreat is properly the diminution of a wall, without- 

 fide, or the contraftion of its upper courfes more than the 

 foundation. Where the foundation is very large, they 

 ufually make two or three retreats. Parapets are always 

 built with retreats. 



RETRENCHMENT, in a general fenfe, literally fig- 

 nifies the cutting off or taking from a thing : in which fenfe 

 it coincides with fubtraftion, diminution, &c. 



The word is French, retrenchment, formed of re, and 

 trencher, to cut. 



Retrenchment, in Architetlure, Carpentry, &c. is ufed 

 not only for what is cut off from a piece when too large, in 

 order to a better proportioning it, or fome other conveni- 

 ence, but alfo for the projeftures taken out of ftreets, public 

 ways, &c. to render them more even, and in a line. 



Retrenchment, in War, denotes any kind of work caft 

 up to ftrengthen or defend a poll againft the enemy. 



Such are ditches with parapets, gabions, iafcines, &c. 

 for a covering, &c. 



The enemy came with defign to oblige them to raife the 

 fiege ; but could not force the retrenchments. 

 Retrenchments are either general or particular. 

 General retrenchments are a kind of new defence made in 

 a place befieged, to cover the defendants, when the enemy 

 becomes mafttr of a lodgement on the fortification, that 

 they may be in a condition of difputing the ground inch by 

 inch, and of putting a flop to the enemy's progrefs, in ex- 



pectation of relief ; as, if the bellegcrs attack a lenttille of 

 the place, which they judge the weakeil, either by its being 

 ill flanked, or commanded by fome neighbouring ground ; 

 then the befieged make a great retrenchment, inclofing all 

 that part which they judge in moft danger. Thefe fhould 

 be fortified with ba'.lions and demi-baftions, furrounded by 

 a good ditch countermined, and higher than the works o) 

 the place, that they may command the old works, and put 

 the befiegers to infinite trouble in covering themfelves. 



Particular retrenchments, or retrenchments within a baf- 

 tion, (retranchemens daiis un bajlion, Fr. ) muft reach from 

 one flank to another, or from one cafemate to another. It 

 is only in full baftions that retrenchments can be thrown up 

 to advantage. In empty baftions you can only have recourfe 

 to retirades, or temporary barricadoes above the ramparts. 

 The aflailants may eafily carry them by means of hand gre- 

 nades, for thefe retrenchments never flank each other. It is 

 neceflary to raife a parapet, about five or fix feet thick, be- 

 fore every retrenchment. It muft be five feet high, and the 

 ditches as broad and as deep as they can be made. There 

 muft alfo be fmall mines run out in various directions, for 

 the purpole of blowing up the affailants, fhould they at- 

 tempt to force the retrenchments. 



Retrenchment is more particularly ufed for a fimple 

 retirade made on a horn-work or baftion, when it is intended 

 to difpute the ground inch by inch. See Retirade. 



It is ufually a re-entering angle, whofe faces flank each 

 other ; and is fortified with ditches, parapets, gabions, &c. 



RETRIBUTION, Retributio, a handfome prefent, 

 gratuity, or acknowledgment, given in lieu. of a formal 

 falary or hire, to perfons employed in affairs that do not lo 

 immediately fall under eftimation, nor within the ordinary 

 commerce in money. 



Thofe who minillered at the altar anciently lived on retri- 

 butions, which they received for the fervices they did the 

 church. But thefe retributions were afterwards judged 

 proper to be fixed to precife fums. 



RETRIEVE, Retrolver, to recover, get again, or 

 repair a thing loft or damaged. 



To retrieve, in Falconry, fignifies to bring or find par- 

 tridges again, which have been once fprung before. 



RETROACTIVE, compounded of retro, back-wards, 

 and ago, I ad, in Law, that whicli has an influence or effeft 

 an time paft. 



New laws and ftatutes, we fay, have no retroaftive effeft ; 

 that is, thev have no force or effeft as to what is already 

 palled ; nor can be alleged as rules for any thing done before 

 their promulgation. Their authority is wholly as to what 

 is to come. 



Indeed we have fome inftances of laws that have a retro- 

 fpeft to retroaft ion, i. e. are made with exprefs defign to 

 extend to things already paft. Thefe we ufually call laws 

 ex pojl faElo. 



RETROCESSION, Retrocessio, the aft of going 

 backwards, more ufually exprefled by retrogrejjlon, or retro- 

 gradation. 



Retrocession of the Equinox. See Precession. 

 Retrocession of Curves, &c. See Retrograda*- 

 tion. 



RETROGRADATION, or Retrogression, the aft 

 or effeft of a thing moving backwards. 



Retrogradation, in AJlronomy, is an apparent motion 

 of the planets, in which they feem to go backward = in the 

 ecliptic, and to move contrary to the order or fucceffion of 

 the figns. 



When a planet moves in confequentia, i. e. towards the fol- 

 lowing figns, or according to the order of the figns, as from 

 3 Aries 



