War-scot. A contribution for the supply of arms and armor, in the time of the Saxons.
War-song. A song exciting to war; especially, among the American Indians, a song at the war-dance, full of incitements to military ardor.
War-traitor. A person who betrays to the enemy anything concerning the condition, safety, operation, or plans of the troops holding or occupying a place. The punishment is usually death.
War-whoop. The cry or shout uttered by Indians in war.
Warwickshire. A county occupying almost the very heart of England, and the centre and highest point of the great district of midland table-land. At the time of the Roman invasion the county was inhabited partly by the Cornavii, and partly by the Wigantes, or Wiccii. Under the Romans it formed part of the province of Flavia Cæsariensis. Under the Saxons, the county was included in the kingdom of Mercia, whose rulers occasionally resided at Warwick, Tamworth, and Kingsbury. After the Conquest, the powerful families, the Newburghs, Beauchamps, and Nevilles, who held the earldom of Warwick, involved the county in all the great civil wars recorded in English history. In the troubles in Henry III.’s reign, Kenilworth stood a long siege by the royal forces; in the wars of the Roses, the city of Coventry warmly embraced the Lancastrian, and the town of Warwick the Yorkist cause; and in the war between Charles I. and his Parliament, Warwickshire was torn by the contending factions, who made special head in the neighborhood of Birmingham. Charles slept at Aston Hall, near that town, on his march through Warwickshire in 1642, and two days afterwards the first great battle of the civil war was fought on the borders of the county at Edge Hill. Swords and other weapons, used in the battle, are still occasionally plowed up. Maxstoke Castle (inhabited) is externally a remarkably perfect specimen of the fortified residences of the period of the 14th century.
Warwolf. In ancient military history, an engine for throwing stones and other great masses.
War-worn. Worn with military service; as, a war-worn soldier.
Washington City. The seat of the government of the United States of America, is in the District of Columbia, on the left bank of the Potomac River, between Anacostia River and Rock Creek, which separates it from Georgetown, 39 miles southwest from Baltimore, and 120 miles northeast from Richmond. This city was commenced in 1793, but operations were subsequently suspended in consequence of the war, and much that had been done was destroyed by the British in 1814, so that the whole edifice was recommenced in 1815, and was not entirely finished till 1828. During the civil war (1861-65), from its exposed position, it was threatened with capture, and was surrounded with fortifications, and converted into an intrenched camp.
Washington Territory. A Territory of the United States; bounded north by British Columbia, east by the Territory of Idaho, south by the Columbia River, which separates it from Oregon, and west by the Pacific Ocean. This Territory was discovered by Juan de Fuca, a Greek, in 1592; visited by a Spanish navigator in 1775, and three years after by Capt. Cook. In 1787, Berkeley, an Englishman, re-discovered the Strait of Fuca, which had been missed by the others. Settlements were made in this Territory by the Hudson Bay Company in 1828; in 1845, American settlers entered the Territory, then a part of Oregon. Wars with the Indians, in 1855 and 1858, retarded immigration, but in the latter year, 15,000 persons were attracted by gold discoveries. This Territory was organized in 1853.
Wat Tyler’s Insurrection. See [Tyler’s Insurrection].