C.
Cabacle (Fr.). Military coat of the modern Grecians.
Cabas (Fr.). A large shield or buckler, which served to protect the archers who attacked in intrenchments.
Cage de la Bascule (Fr.). A space into which one part of a draw-bridge falls, whilst the other rises and conceals the gate.
Calosiers. Soldiers of ancient Egypt, who with the Hermotybes composed the particular guard of the king.
Calotte (Fr.). The back plate of a sword-handle; the cap of a pistol; species of skull-cap worn by French cavalry, sabre-proof, made of iron or dressed leather.
Candjiar, or Canjar. A kind of crooked Turkish sabre.
Carcas (Fr.). The name given to a quiver during the Middle Ages.
Chadd’s Ford. A village in Delaware Co., Pa., on the Brandywine Creek. Near here was fought the battle of Brandywine, September 11, 1777.
Charlestown. A former city and seaport of Middlesex Co., Mass.; is now a northern suburb of Boston. Was burnt by the British forces under Gen. Gage, June 17, 1775. On Bunker’s Hill a monument is erected commemorating the battle of that name, which was fought June 17, 1775.
Charlestown. A village of Jefferson Co., West Va. In this place John Brown was tried and executed, December, 1859. On October 18, 1863, a Confederate force of 1200 or 1400 men, under Gen. Imboden, surrounded the place at daylight, and attacked the Union troops stationed there. Being surprised, they were panic-stricken, and, flying in confusion, were nearly all captured. The place was recaptured within an hour by a force of U. S. troops under Col. George D. Wells, and the Confederates driven from the town.
Chateau Cambresis. A fortified town of French Flanders, on the Selle, where the French republican army was defeated by the Duke of York in April, 1794.
Cherry Valley. A village of Otsego Co., N. Y. It was the scene of a dreadful massacre by the Tories and Indians in the British service, October 11, 1778. Thirty-two inhabitants, nearly all women and children, were murdered, besides sixteen soldiers of the Continental army. The rest of the citizens were made prisoners and taken away, and all the buildings were burned.
Chickasaw Bluffs, Battle of. Before Vicksburg, Miss. The U. S. forces under Gen. W. T. Sherman assaulted this strongly fortified position, December 29, 1862, but, though the head of the assaulting column reached the works, the severe fire from the rifle-pits and batteries caused them to fall back to the point of starting, leaving many dead, wounded, and prisoners on the field. The Confederate loss was but light.
Clipeadus. So were called, in ancient times, the soldiers who were armed with the Grecian buckler, which was large and round. By clipeadus chlamyde was understood combatants, who, in place of the shield, wound their coats (chlamyde) around their left arms.
Clunaculum. A poniard carried by certain Roman troops in ancient times. It was so called because it was carried on the back of the soldier.
Cnemidas. A kind of leggings, made of bronze, which were worn by Grecian soldiers.
Cnidos (now Crio). A town of Anatolia, in Asia Minor; in its neighborhood a battle was fought between the Lacedæmonian and Persian fleets in 394 B.C.; the latter gained the victory.
Colismarde (Fr.). A long, slender sword.
Colletin (Fr.). So was called, in ancient times, that part of an armor which protected the neck and upper part of the breast.
Custozza. Near Verona, Northern Italy. Here the Italians were defeated by Marshal Radetzky, July 23, 1848; and here they were again defeated, June 24, 1866, after a series of desperate attacks on the Austrian army. The Italians were commanded by their king, Victor Emmanuel, and the Austrians by the Archduke Albrecht.