Poles

in castrametation, long round pieces of wood, by which a marquee or tent is supported. There are three sorts, viz. Ridge Pole , a long round piece of wood, which runs along the top of an officer’s tent or marquee, and is supported by two other poles, viz. Front Pole , a strong pole, which is fixed in the front part of an officer’s tent or marquee, and is kept in a perpendicular position by means of two strong cords, called weather cords, that run obliquely from each other, acro two other cords from the rear pole, and are kept fast to the earth by wooden pegs. Rear Pole , a strong pole, which is fixed in the back part of an officer’s marquee or tent, and is kept in the same relative position as has been described above. Fire POLES , or Rods , artificial fireworks. They are generally of the length of ten or twelve feet, and of the thickne of two inches at most. One of the ends of the fire pole is hollowed out with three or four flutes to the length of two or three feet. Into one of these flutes are fixed rockets or squibs. Paper crackers are fixed in the others. After holes have been bored through the body of the pole, in order that the rockets may have communication with the crackers, they must be neatly wrapped in paper, the more effectually to deceive the spectators.