The Trinity times., 1855-03-24
Explanation of War Terms and
Phrases.

The editor Of the "t'nitcd Service Ga
zette,n in n lecture delivered recen1y2al
Manchester, explained that a "fortrcss' was
like "A star. a bastion had three faces, and
was connected with another, and another.
each at throe hundred aud ify yards dis
tancc, Until pcntagon was formed Of five:
aud IL was called the system Of 'reeiprooal
defence" as one baston in the peniagon de-
Tended the other. They were surrounded
by ditch and wall, and then in front Of the
walls were "lunettesp filed with men. and
having guns outside. Parallels were lines
Of earth, or baskets Of earth, thrown up op-
posite the enomyg works zig zag, and 80 as
moi to be exposed 10 the direct lire Of the en-
omy, thus protecting the advance Of The be-
seigers. The hrst WORK Is usually 10 dio n
ditch, with the earth rom which we make
our parallel; and il the earth is not of the
proper sort, we use gabions (baskets Of
earth) 90 a depth Of twenty feet, and ten
feet high, thus making tho earth work
strong; aud the soldier runs up banquette
10 tho top Of the earth work 90 fire nt the en-
omy, and lhcn runs down again, and IS pro-
tcctcd. The oncmv's fifc on such earth works
Ouly strengthens them
An article upon war matters ia Household
Words contains the following utclul explain
atons; Popularity, a regiment is said to
consist Of 1000 men, but at present the ne
tual strength Of an infantry regiment is
"ssiilion If 1897 men of all ranks. One
th'rd ~ this number, or four companies
l'ach coIlpa'p bciug composed Of a CAPTAIN.
y subaltern, . ttI1voula z corpnrals - nri
yatcs,) for the depot ,n p.s,ry. m L,,ro.
while the other eight amounuu...to eu- ,,,.,
are the service companies ON duty aSroaJ -
A regiment ol cavalry numbers 2I ho...s
al yil horses In the leagoons, and as many aS
sO3 ia the East Indies " hat is called a
division of au army is force of from 5000 to
10000 men. in command of general. and
made up of two or three br gados Of three or
four regiments each Of infantry, two or
three gun batteries Of of SIX pieces each
and proportion of cavalry. la reckoning
th,ir number, il Is customary 10 deduct 10
per cent sick or disabled; so that Eve reqi-
ments, Of say eight hundred each, would
represent three thousand six hundred fpht.
ing men actually in the field A division in
she line of battle is posted in two lines. one
Ia rear of the other, with the cavalry be-.
hind, and a reserve Of two guns aud one or
Two regiments behind these, 10 be kent
flesh in ease of need. Some idea of the ex
tent of a line may be gathered from these
numbers-a regiment Of SO0 stretches 250
yards; division oflhree brgadcs, 735 yards.
allowing for spaces between; and regiment
ol cavalry 100 yards. The guns are posted
in front, or at the danks at each end of the
line; the right faul, and wing being al our
right hand as you face the enemy, the lcn at
your len hapd. Generaly the artillery have
the honor 20 begin the encounter, supported
by thc Gre Of the infantry When The for
mcr have done sufficient execution, the latter
advance with the bayone, TO complete the
business; and when the enemy IS disorpan-
iged, or in flight, cavalry follow up the
blow and dart oil in pursuit. Artillery are
usually employed opposite artillery, cavalry
against cavalry, and SO on according To cir.
eumstanees Ii is only 'doyls dressed in
red and white who go up as the gallant
light division Of Infantry at the Nina did
and, contrary to an the rules Of strategy.
take battery q artillery in the taee OF an
astouishVd toen