WORD LIST
Ab o li′tion party: a political party, founded by Garrison about 1833, the object of which was to free all slaves in the United States.
ad vănçe′: forward movement of a military force.
advance guard: troops which march in front, in order to secure a military force against surprise.
āid′-dē-cămp: an officer who assists a general by sending orders, collecting information, etc.
āide: a military or naval officer who assists a superior officer.
A pä′che: a warlike Indian tribe originally located in New Mexico and Arizona.
är′se nal: a place for the storage or manufacture of arms and military equipment.
ar tĭl′ler y: cannon, large or small; that branch of the service which handles the cannon.
as sa̤ult′: attack of a military force on the works or position of an enemy, in the effort to carry it by a single charge.
bāse: a place from which the operations of an army proceed, forward movements are made, supplies are furnished, etc.
bat tăl′ion: See [page 210].
bat′ter y: See [page 210].
bĭv′ouac (-wăk): a temporary encampment of soldiers, usually without tents.
bri gāde′: See [page 210].
brŭnt: the shock of an attack or onset.
bṳoy′ant: cheerful, light-hearted.
cāis′ son: a strong four-wheeled wagon, consisting of two parts, the body and the limber, that carries ammunition chests or boxes.
căn′is ter: cannon shot consisting of a metal cylinder which bursts when fired, discharging the bullets with which it is filled.
cär′bine: a short, light rifle used chiefly by cavalry.
căs′ca bel: a knob or projection in the rear of the breech of a muzzle-loading cannon.
căv′al ry: that part of the army consisting of mounted soldiers.
Çheȳ ĕnne′: an Indian tribe formerly inhabiting South Dakota, Wyoming, and Nevada.
com man dänt′: the commanding officer of a place or of a body of men.
cóm′pa ny: See [page 210].
corps (cōr): See [page 210].
coun′ter movement: a movement by which a body of troops marches back over ground it has recently occupied or marched over.
cŭl′mi nat ed: reached a final result.
di vĭ′sion: See [page 210].
en cămped: formed a camp.
en trĕnch′: fortify with defensive works as with a trench or ditch and a wall.
en trĕnch′ments: fortifications consisting of a parapet of earth and the ditch or trench from which the earth was taken.
flănk: the side of an army, either in column or in line.
grāpe′shot: a cluster of iron balls arranged in an iron framework to be discharged from a cannon. Formerly grapeshot was inclosed in a canvas bag so quilted as to look like a bunch of grapes.
guī′dons: small flags carried by cavalry and field artillery.
hăv′er sack: a bag or case in which a soldier carries provisions on a march.
Ho rā′tius: a hero of ancient Rome who with two others defended the bridge across the Tiber against an advancing army. Read Lord Macaulay’s poem “Horatius.”
how′itz er: a cannon for throwing shells.
ĭm′ mi nent: threatening; dangerous and close at hand.
in dŏm′i ta ble: unyielding; unconquerable.
ĭn′fan try: foot soldiers armed with rifles and bayonets; one of the three chief divisions of an army, the other two being cavalry and artillery.
in vĕst′ing: surrounding with troops; laying siege to.
ir rĕp′a ra ble: not capable of being repaired or remedied.
lăr′i at: a long, small rope used for catching or for picketing cattle or horses.
lĭm′ber: the fore part of a gun carriage, consisting of a chest mounted on two wheels and having a pole for the horses. See caisson.
ma neū′vers: movements or changes of position of troops or war-vessels for tactical purposes or for display.
ma rïnes′: naval troops; soldiers serving on war-vessels.
mär′tial law: the military administration which when proclaimed takes the place of civil law in time of war or disorder.
mĭl′i ta ry law: the laws by which an army and its affairs are governed. Military law differs from martial law in that the former is a permanent code for the government of the army and the latter is the application of the laws of war to all the people in a certain district.
mīne: an explosive charge, sunken in the earth or under water, for the purpose of destroying an enemy passing over it,—formerly exploded by contact or by a fuse, but now usually exploded by electricity.
ôrd′nance: military supplies.
ŏr′i flămme: a standard or ensign in battle, especially the ancient royal banner of France.
out′post: a post or station outside the limits of a camp, for observation or to guard against surprise.
pa rōled′: set at liberty on parole, or word of honor not to bear arms against the captors.
pĕr′emp to ry: authoritative; not admitting of debate or question.
pĭck′ets: soldiers stationed on the outskirts of a camp to warn against the enemy’s approach.
pīkes: soldiers’ weapons, consisting of wooden staves with steel points. In recent warfare, pikes have been superceded by bayonets.
pla tōōn′: See [page 210].
pon tōōn′: a vessel, such as a flat-bottomed boat or a canvas-covered frame, used in the construction of a floating bridge.
pre dĭc′a ment: a difficult or trying condition or situation.
prō′vost (vō) guard: a body of soldiers detailed for police duties.
qua̤r′ter master: a staff officer of a regiment or other body of troops, whose duty it is to provide quarters, arrange transportation, and provide and issue food, clothing, and other supplies.
rănk: grade of official standing in the army or navy.
rēar guard: troops which march in the rear of a body of forces in order to protect it.
re᷵ cŏn′na᷵is sănçe: an examination of territory or of an enemy’s position for the purpose of gaining information,—sometimes involving an attack for the purpose of discovering the enemy’s position and strength.
rĕg′i ment: See [page 210].
re trēat′: the withdrawal, especially in an orderly manner, of troops from an exposed or dangerous position.
rī′fled: having the bore rifled, or grooved spirally, in order to give a rotary motion to the bullet.
shĕll: a hollow projectile for cannon, which contains an explosive charge.
sīde arms: weapons worn at the side or in the belt, as sword, pistol, bayonet, etc., especially sword.
Sĭd′ney, Sir Philip: a famous English soldier and author of the sixteenth century, the model of unselfish courage. He was mortally wounded in battle of Zulphen, in 1586.
sī mul tā′ne ous: happening at the same time.
spȳ: a soldier not in uniform who penetrates the enemy’s camp or zone of operations, for the purpose of gaining information.
tăl′ma: a style of long cape or cloak worn by men and women during the first half of the nineteenth century.
un lĭm′ber ed: removed from the limber. See limber and caisson.
Zoṳ äves̝′: infantry wearing a brilliant oriental uniform, consisting of leggins, baggy trousers, short jacket, and tasselled cap or turban.