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DEFINITION OF MILITARY WORDS.

OFFICERS.

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL.-The highest officer in the United States Army. He has command of the entire force. The President is, by his office, Commander-in-Chief; but the LieutenantGeneral is at the head of troops in actual service.

MAJOR-GENERAL.-The next in rank to the former. The commander of a division, or several regiments.

Brigadier-GeneRAL.—The commander of a brigade, which is an

indefinite number of regiments. It is the grade below that of the Major-General.

COLONEL.-The commander of a regiment, which comprises, when full, about a thousand men.

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL.-Next to the former, commanding the regi ment in his absence.

MAJOR.-The officer next in command.

CAPTAIN. The officer over a company, the number of which is usually one hundred men.

LIEUTENANT. The officer next to the captain, and who fills his place in his absence.

AIDE-DE-CAMP.-A general officer's assistant officer.

ADJUTANT.-An officer who aids a superior officer in receiving and

giving orders. He places guards, distributes ammunition, &c. ENSIGN. The standard bearer; the lowest commissioned officer in the infantry. CORNET is the same in cavalry.

SERGEANT.-A non-commissioned officer, whose duty it is to instruct the soldiers in the ranks, form the ranks, &c.

CORPORAL.-The lowest officer in the infantry, having charge of a few men, relieving sentinels, &c.

ADMIRAL.-The highest officer in the navy. The commander of a

fleet. Vice-Admiral commands the second squadron, and is next in rank. Rear-Admiral has command of the third squad. ron, or last division of the fleet.

COMMODORE.-The commander of a squadron, or portion of a fleet,

on some special service. A naval captain, who has two or three ships under his command, is sometimes honored with the title.

OTHER TERMS.

ABATIS.-Piles of trees, or branches sharpened, and laid with their points outward, in front of fortifications, to prevent the ap

proach of the enemy.

AMBULANCE.—A carriage for the sick and wounded.

ARTILLERY.-The soldiers who manage the heavy guns.

BATTALION.-A body of troops less than a regiment.

BATTERY.-Six cannon make a full battery. The term is applied to a smaller number.

BOMB.-A large cast-iron shell, charged with powder, and thrown from a mortar, which ignites a fuse, exploding the bomb where it falls.

DEFINITION OF MILITARY WORDS.

339

BOMBARDMENT.-An attack with bombs; throwing them into a fort,

town, or ship.

CAISSON. An artillery carriage containing ammunition.

CANISTER.-A tin cylinder filled with shot, made to explode when fired from the gun.

CASEMATE.-A vault or covered chamber, of masonry, to protect from shot and shell.

CAVALRY.-Horsemen in the army.

COLUMBIAD.-A large cannon; sometimes ten feet in length. COLUMN.-A body of troops drawn up in deep files with narrow front.

Countersign.—A word given by the highest officer to guards and sentinels, and all who have occasion to pass them; so that no improper person may get by them.

ENFILADE. To sweep the inside of a fortification, or line of troops, with shot.

FILE.-A row of soldiers one behind the other.

FLANK.-The side of a body of men, or place. To outflank right or left, is to get round on that side.

FUSE.-A tube filled with combustible material, or a cord of similar character, set on fire when the shell is fired; its length in proportion to the distance the shell is designed to go.

GRAPE. The proper term is grapeshot: several small balls in a canvas bag, fitted to the bore of a gun, bursting, and scattering the balls upon the discharge.

GUNBOAT.--A vessel fitted up with cannon. An ironclad, is one covered or plated with iron.

INFANTRY.-Soldiers on foot.

MORTAR.—A short, wide-mouthed gun, used for throwing shells. PICKETS. The soldiers in front of the army, to watch and report movements of the enemy.

PONTOON.-A boat bridge for crossing streams, which can be carried

in wagons.

REVEILLE. The first drumbeat in the morning.

RIFLE PITS.-Excavations in the ground to protect the riflemen.
STAFF. The group of officers which attend a general.

TATTOO. The drumbeat at night, giving notice of time for soldiers to retire.

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