St. Mary's beacon., 1861-08-30
MILITARY TERMS.

Az AAIAssAo.
The following definitions Of military
T. rms very commonly used BY writers, will
be of service to many persons in reading
descriptions If battles aud military opera
tions:
4Abbais are rows Of f.lled trees deprived
Of their smaller branches, the remained
in,eriaced aud employed for the defense
Of redoubts, isolated posts, or for blocking
up roads.
An .i.Jnant Gtnerm is the principal
ergan Of the commander Of al army la
publishing orders lie has the charge o'
the army correspondence, &c, and among
his active duties are the establishment oi
camps, inspections, control Of prisoners,
and making rcconnoissanccs.
A..,Lduxces arc flying h"spitals for the
conveyance f,he wounded with the march
of the army.
B.nber.-Guns are said to be in bar
bette when they are SO elevated that, in
stead of firing through embrasurcs, they
can be fired over the crest of the parapct.
The result is wiGer rangc.
EmLrasure--An embrasurc is an OPEN
ing out in the parapet, through which thc
cannon in fort is fired.
Base of Opcr"'iens.-A secure line Of
fiohticr or fortrcsscs, from which advances
are made and upon which troops may
retreat.
Brcta.-In the United States army
brcvet means a commission to hold rank
in the army at large, as distinguished iron.
rank in particular regiment or corps.
B<is.ac-Two regiments Of cavalry or
infantry constitute brigade.
E"ti'.-A cadet is a warrant officer,
and warrant officers rank below comn,is-
stoned. exercising authority by warrant
only
(Miber.-Caliber Of bullets is deter
n,iMed by the number required to weigh u
pound: Of guns, by the weight If the shot
used; of colum mbiads, mortars, and howit-
zcrs, by the inches Of their lian,etcrs.
f"rtel.-Au arrangement for exchange
Of prisoners.
CaM~.de.-Vauitei chamber with cm-
brasures for guns, anl used in war ae
quarters for the garrison.
Dcfh.ding consists in raising the para
pets of fortress, so AS to conceal its i'll
terror from the view OF an enemy on an
elevated position.
Dejaoyme~.-All tactical mancuvers
intended to pass from close column to the
order of battle, are deployments.
DiriMoa. A division generally consists
of two brigales, commanded by major
general.
Enf"de.--To sweep the whole length
If the face Of any work or line OF troops
BY the fire of a battery.
E.ca'u,h-A place is taken by escalade
when ls,lIers arc used to scale the walls.
EYla"mle.-Empty space for exercising
troops within forti6cations.
Fasci~s.-Long cylindrical fagots OF
brushwood. used for strengthening earth
works or to make firm io,ting vu mar-
shy ground
flhnk.-The right side of body OF
mcn Or place. Thus. when it is said that
the enemy, by flank march, outAanked
our right wing. it is meant that the enc
my. BY marching parallel to our line Of
battle, put himself in position upon our
extreme right.
E"roy;ng is often confused with n,araud-
ing, but is the systematic collection OF
supplies by authority.
Liyixg Pirhs.-A body Of men, in
campaign, held ready to march when CAL
led upon.
L"lgmem Tn siege, lcdgment signi-
6cs the occupation Of position aud the
formation Of an entrenchment to defend
it against recaPtuTe.
P;ck~t-I.iterally, sharp stakes. Gen.
orally used to specify detachment whose
principal duty is to guard an army from,
surprise against accommodating parties Of the
enemy.
Redouhs are works inclosed on all sides,
generally square or poliygonal.
Richochet --Guns fired with q small
charge aud low elevation throw richo-
chet shots. which bound along the ground
or ramparts.
.Suliem-The salient angle of forti6-
cation is an angle projecting toward the
country.
Sally Ports Openings to afford free
egress TO troops for sortie OF sudden
charge from fort.
&p.-The sap is method Of making
trenches, in which the workmen are pro-
tected from mu>ketry by sappers ruling a
large gation &c 1. a cylindrical basket
filled with earth) toward the enemy.
Shells.-A shell is hollow shot, with
hole to receive . fuze Or slow match,
and filled with powder to burst it ut the
end of its range
Sq"adron.-Two companies or troops
of cavalry.
.S"b,sttern.-A commissioned officer b.
low a captain.
Tacfics is the art Of handling or man
euvering troops. l, is frequently COZ