Ammunition.—A term applied to charges of powder for ordnance and small arms; also to all kinds of projectiles, and to various appliances for igniting the charges, &c. During a campaign the reserve ammunition for small arms is carried in carts, each containing 9600 rounds, under the charge of the officers commanding battalions; three carts to each battalion. The remainder of the reserve ammunition, gun and small arm, is with the ammunition column.
Ambush or Ambuscade.—Troops, in small or large bodies, placed in concealment in order to surprise and attack an enemy.
Approaches.—All works are generally so called that are carried on towards a besieged place, such as trenches, saps, galleries, redoubts, lodgments, and places of arms.
Armistice.—A truce or suspension of hostilities between two armies, a stated time being given for its duration, at the expiration of which, if the contending nations do not come to an agreement, hostilities begin again.
Armoured-Train.—A train, the carriages of which are externally plated with metal, and loop-holed to admit of soldiers firing, while they themselves are protected.
Arms.—Weapons of different forms for attack and defence in the various branches of the army.
Army Corps.—A small army, under the command of a general, composed of all arms of the service, and furnished with every requisite for active service. Its war strength in the British army is about 40,000 officers and men, 12,846 horses, 122 guns, 25 machine-guns, and 1573 carts and waggons.
Army Ordnance Corps.—Its duties consist in issuing stores and munitions of war, and are most onerous.
Army Reserve.—A force composed of men who have enlisted for twelve years, a portion of which service, viz. seven or eight and not less than three years, must be passed with the colours, the residue being spent in the reserve. These are known as “short service men.” Other soldiers eligible to enter the reserve force are those who have exceeded their first term of service, men of say thirteen or fourteen years’ service, and are yet under thirty-four years of age.
Artillery.—Horse artillery consists of men mounted on horses or on the limbers of the guns. They are armed with 12-pounders, and manœuvre with cavalry. Field artillery moves more slowly, the men being carried on guns and waggons. Garrison or siege artillery furnishes gunners and heavy guns of position drawn by horses, bullocks, and in India, elephants. There are now 28 Horse batteries, 151 Field batteries, and 10 of the Mountain division of garrison artillery.