A Military Dictionary and Gazetteer / Comprising ancient and modern military technical terms, historical accounts of all North American Indians, as well as ancient warlike tribes; also notices of battles from the earliest period to the present time, with a concise explanation of terms used in heraldry and the offices thereof. The work also gives valuable geographical information. Compiled from the best authorities of all nations. With an appendix containing the Articles of war, etc.

by Thomas Wilhelm

Vambraced (Fr. avant-bras, “fore-arm”). A term applied to an arm clothed in armor, as in the subjoined crest; a dexter embowed arm vambraced proper, the gauntlet holding a sword below the hilt in bend sinister, point downwards, argent, hilt and pommel or.

Vamplate. A round piece of iron on a tilting-spear, used to protect the hand.

Van. The front of an army, the first line, or leading column.

Vancouver’s Island. Now, jointly with British Columbia, one of the colonies of Great Britain, forms a part of British North America. Settlements were made here by the English in 1781, which were seized by the Spaniards in 1789, but restored. By a treaty between the British government and that of the United States in 1846, this island was secured to the former.

Vandals (Vandalii, or Vindalii). A confederacy of German nations, probably of the great Suevic race, to which the Burgundiones, Gothones, Gepidæ, and Rugii belonged. They dwelt originally on the northern coast of Germany, but were afterward settled north of the Marcomanni, in the Riesengebirge, which are hence called Vandalici Montes. They subsequently appear for a short time in Dacia and Pannonia; but at the beginning of the 5th century (409) they traversed Germany and Gaul, and invaded Spain. In this country they subjugated the Alani, and founded a powerful kingdom, the name of which is still preserved in Andalusia (Vandalusia). In 429 they crossed over into Africa, under their king Genseric, and conquered all the Roman dominions in that country. Genseric subsequently invaded Italy, and took and plundered Rome in 455. The Vandals continued masters of Africa till 535, when their kingdom was destroyed by Belisarius, and annexed to the Byzantine empire.

Van-foss. In fortification, a ditch dug without the counterscarp, and running all along the glacis, usually full of water.

Vanguard. That part of the army which marches in front.

Vanquish. To conquer; to overcome; to subdue in battle, as an enemy.

Vant-bras. Armor for the arm.

Variation of the Needle. Is the angle included between the true and magnetic meridians of a place; the deviation of a magnetic needle from the true north or south points of the horizon;—called also declination of the needle.