The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1918-01-24
SOME ARMY TERMS
Light For the Layman Not Post
ed on Military Matters.
HOW ARMY UNITS ARE NAMED.


Corps to a squad-In Speaking of q
Company, Troop or Battery the Let
ter Should Always Be Named First.
To the ordinary civilian, who Is not
particularly well posted on military
matters, an Interpretation of the army
terms in general use may prove OF In
terest. The following are among those
that are most constantly employed:
A corps is two or more divisions
and is commanded by a major general.
A division is composed OF two or
more brigades and is also commanded
by major general.
A brigade, commanded by briga-
der general, is composed of two or
more regiments and independent COM
panies or battaliOns.
A regiment Of infantry consists OF
twelve line companies and three add
tional companies. 1t Is commanded by
a colonel, with the following additional
officers: One lieutenant colonel, three
majors, fifteen captains as company
commanders, three of them also being
members Of the colOnePs staff as ad1u-
tant. quartermaster and commissary;
two lieutenants to each company, one
lieutenant acting on each OF the three
majors stats.
A battalion is made up of four com
panies and is commanded by a major
A company of infantry consists OF
about $50 men, divided into two pla-
ICONS; piatoons are divided into squads.
A platoon is commanded by lieuten-
ant-a commissioned officer; two or
more squads are commanded by q ser
geant; a squad is commanded by cor
poral and comprises seven men besides
the corporal.
A company of cavalry is called q
called a squadron.
A company Of artillery Is called
battery. 1t is divided into sections,
and there may be different numbers OF
guns, according to the kind Of artillery.
Three batteries Of artillery make
battalion.
The word company" troop" or
battery" should not be used before the
letter, as Company b." 1t would be
the same as to say "Street Jackson"
The letter comes first, just as the nu-
neral comes before the word regiment
Second regiment" not Regiment
Second"
Troops are either "federals" (regular)
or national guard Every male citizen
Of the United States between the ages
Of eighteen and forty-five is a member
Of the militia. Never use the word
when referring to organized bodies OF
troops.
There are no such things as militia
officials" or "army officials" In military
parlance. They are national guard and
army officers.
A skirmish, engagement, brush, fight
or encounter Is not battle.
A battle is an engagement for the
possession of certain point and Is
general in its character. Large bodies
OF troops are engaged-mOre than q
brigade; otherwise the fight is an en-
gagement, skirmish or an encounter.
Never say Captain Jones and his
soldiers of Company A" Say "A COM
pany commanded by Captain Jones did
so and So"
Any irregular body of troops less
than company or troops is called a
detachment unless it Is a platoon or
squad or a section of artillery. Never
say Lieutenant Jones and a number
nf ON al
ganization. Say "a detachment from
A company, commanded by Lieutenant
Jones'"
Ammunition Is spoken of In terms Of
rounds. Fifty rounds" means fifty
cartridges-fifty shots.
Never say muskets. There are not
any. Artillery carry pistols and not
revolvers.
Troops generally move in columns.
The usual column is four men abreast,
two ranks comprising a squad, with
the corporal as the man on the left In
the rear rank. They go into the firing
line in extended ORDER" sometimes
referred to as a skirmish line. Troops
are sent into battle or engagement as
the firing line, the support and the re-
serve. The tactical unit In line Of bat
tie or engagement is the battalion.
A picket consists Of several men. gen.
orally squad. One of a picket is .
sentinel or sentry. In front and on the
tanks Of all troops in camp are out
posts-pickets. All troops doing guard
duty, picket duty, outpost duty, etc.,
are commanded by 'the officers Of the
day." so designated for a period Of