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Dark Woods
Colonial Settler
USA
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 Posted - May 26 2005 : 2:55:52 PM
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During Magua's meeting with General Montcalm, Magua shows a great deal of interest in what looks to be a survey instrument. Can anyone elaborate on what the instrument is, and what would have been its use? I wonder if it was used for general mapping, or if it was used for aiming artillery?
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Monadnock Guide
Council of Elders
USA
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Posted - May 26 2005 : 3:48:12 PM
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| While I can't say for sure, it appears to be a navigational insutrument, possibly related to a compass below and unseen. In other words a way to take "bearings" from a min. of two "known points". Using say hills as "known points", you would determine/draw the angle on a map, and the "intersection" of your lines is your present location. It used to be used in "coastal navigation" before so many electronic devices were developed. You might use a lighthouse, and a radio tower as your "known points" (they're on your chart) and take a bearing on each, - draw your intersecting lines, and bingo, you have your location. Fairly easy, and if done properly, very accurate. It would have been a common of navigation in earlier times. |
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CT•Ranger
Colonial Militia
USA
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Posted - May 26 2005 : 4:06:54 PM
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It is either a plain or Vernier surveying compass. The Vernier Compass invented in the 18th century had an adjustable scale that allowed a land surveyor to take both magnetic and true north readings. It probably would have been used by a French Engineer to plot out saps to be dug for the seige.
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YMHS,
Connecticut•Ranger
Thomas Thacher
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Redbird
Pioneer
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Posted - May 26 2005 : 6:50:13 PM
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"Saps" meaning artillery placements? Can't remember what it's short for...
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CT•Ranger
Colonial Militia
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Posted - May 26 2005 : 7:07:19 PM
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In seige warfare, a "sap" is a trench dug by (generally) 4 "sappers" toward the enemy fortification. Generally a sap would be advanced in an indirect line or zig-zag toward the enemy fort. As the sappers are digging they protect themselves with gabions (large open-ended baskets woven of saplings and filled with earth), pronounced "gabeens," and fascines (bundles of sticks), pronounced fasheens. So in short, a "sap" is a protected trench. The artillery batteries could be advanced closer to the enemy fort, and grenadiers could use the cover of the sap to get close to the fort to storm a breach in the wall.
In LOTM you can see the French advancing a sap in the sequence where Hawkeye, Uncas, Chingachgook, Alice and Cora are crossing the lake to come into the fort. There's a British officer who directs the forts guns to fire at the French sap, and the sappers take cover as they're fired upon. |
YMHS,
Connecticut•Ranger
Thomas Thacher
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Dark Woods
Colonial Settler
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Posted - May 26 2005 : 8:29:45 PM
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| Thanks the the informative replies! |
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Monadnock Guide
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Diana
Pioneer
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Posted - May 27 2005 : 4:49:40 PM
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Wow, learn something new every day. Reminds of the discussion that occurred after the airing of THE WRONG WAR episode of HORNBLOWER in 1999. Particularly, there was some type of wind clock hanging in the Admiralty House during the scene of the meeting of Gen Charette, Captain Pellew and Lord Admiral Hood.
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Montcalm's survey instrument
