Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-09-13
y 7l.7f7
Military Definitions.

Military Definitions.
Our newspapers have of late been
filed with military phrases, and these,
like all technical terms, arc unintelli-
g,ble TO many. Civilians who wish to
learn something of the military profess
sion before hurrying on to Richmond,
will find many of their misconceptions
removed by reference to the military
dictionary of Col. H. L. Scott, book
on which the following observations arc
based:
MARTIAL LAW is one of those vague
terms used by every one and under.
stood by few. But as wherever our
armies 60 martial law must at least be
partially enforced, its powers and linn
ltations should be known to all. In
time Of war the military commander
must have certain extraordinary pow
ers, which in time Of peace would just
ly be called tyrannical. These powers
ale limited by the Constitution of the
United States, 50 that the effect of
martial law is not to subject citizens to
trial by courts martial. but merely to
deprive the writ Of hdteas corpus Of
its force. In Baltimore, for instance,
en-. Banks has the right simply &c
imprison or otherwise dctain citizens
considered DANCE: Gus, but no further
punt hment can be inflicted upon sus-
pccted person until he is found guilty
By the ordinary civi; courts. Martial
law has further powers, beyond the
United States, or in an enemy's coun
try. The municipal laws have no au-
thouty, and, in the absence of laws
made by Congress, the commander
com nands, prohibits and Furnishes as
his will dictates. Martial law is, there
fore, as General Scott declared in Mex
leo, can unwrittvn code as an addition
to the written military code prescribed
by Congress IN the rules and articles
of war, and which unwritten co lie all
armies, il hostile countries, are forced
to adopt, not only for their own safety,
but for the protectlcn of the unofend-
ing inhabitants and their property.
Military Law, so frequently con.
fused with martial, in popular parlance,
IS total y different. 1t is con- prised of
all those laws passed by Congress for
the creation, government, regulation
and support of armies.
Strategy and Tactics are two un.
fortunate words used popularity as sy-
nonyms. The distinction is obvious,
and should be generally known. STRAIT
egy is the art Of concerning a plan of
campaign-a s. stem of operations de-
termlned b. the objects of war, the
character Of the enemy, the nature of
the country, and the means of attack
or defense. Tactics is the art of Land
ling troops it provides for army or
ganlzatiou; fixes the proportion Of in
fantry, cavalry, artillery ; governs the
method of attack and defence, and ex-
amines the NATURE Of weapons. The
close connection Of the two arts makes
it too easv to confuse their natures
and rue determinations is mere eces-
sary. In report of the ba' tie of
Carthage it is said that "the officers Of
the rebel troops showed great ability in
their maneuvres and much stragetic
skill" 1t is plain that the writer
should have said tactical skill.
.Abdtis are rows of felled trees de-
prived of their smaller branches, the
rem inder interlaced and employ ed for
the defense Of redoubts, isolated posts,
or for blocking up roads
i'm .Aajutdnt General is the prin-
cipal organ of the commander of an
army in publishing orders, He has
the charge of the army correspondence,
etc. and among his active duties are
the establishment of camps, inspection,
control of prisoners, and making re.
connoisanccs.
.d,n5ulances are flying hospitals for
the conveyance of the wounded with
the march of the army.
B0rbette.-Guns are said to be in
bsrbette when they are SO elevated
that, instead of firing through enbra-
sures, they can be fired over the crest
of the parapet. The result is a wider
range.
Embr0sure.-An embrasure is an
opening N the parapet, through which
the cannon IN fort is fired
Base OF operations. "A secure lire
Of fl ontler or fo!tresses. from which
advances arc made, AID upon which
troops may retreat
BreUet. In the United States army,
bievet means commission to hold
rank in the army at largc, as distin.
guished FROM rank il u particular reg
iment or corps.
Brigade Two regiments of Cav
ally or lnfa' t'y constitute a brigade.
C0det.---A cadc. is warrant officer.
AM ranks below missioncd, exer-
cisins authority by warrant OILY.
Cailbre. --Callure Of bullets is de.
term:ned by the Auu,b !. required to
weigh pound If guns, by the weight
Of shot used Vi coIulabiads, mortais
"a howitz;rs # their dameters
CarfsL-An agreement for exchange
Of prisoners.
Casemote. go Vaulted chamber with
embrazures for guns, and used in war
as quarters for the garrison.
DefIadlng consists in raising the
parapets of fortress so as tc conceal
its interior form the view of an enemy
on an elevated position.
DeplCyment. ALL tactical maneu-
vres INTENDED to pass from close col
umn to the order Of battle, are deploy-