Dismiss. To discard, or deprive an officer of his commission or warrant. See Appendix, [Articles or War].
Dismount. To dismount the cavalry is to use them as infantry. Guards, when relieved, are said to dismount. They are to be marched with the utmost regularity to the parade-ground where they were formed, and from thence to their regimental or company parades, previously to being dismissed to their quarters. To dismount cannon, is to break their carriages, wheels, etc., so as to render them unfit for service. It also implies dismounting by the gin, etc.
Disobedience of Orders. Any infraction, by neglect or willful omission, of orders. See Appendix, [Articles of War], [21].
Dispart. In gunnery, half the difference between the diameter of the base-ring at the breech of a gun and that of the swell of the muzzle. In guns which have no front sights, it is therefore the tangent of the natural angle of sight to a radius equal to the distance from the rear of the base-ring, or base-line, to the highest point of the swell of the muzzle, measured parallel to the axis. For convenience the muzzle sight is usually made equal in height to the dispart in modern guns,—giving a natural line of sight parallel to the axis of the piece.
Dispatches. Official messages. In war, important dispatches which have to pass through the enemy’s country, or in the vicinity of his forces, are only intrusted to officers to whom their contents can be confided. Dispatches are frequently in cipher, especially when telegraphed or signaled with a liability to interception. See [Despatch].
Disperse. To scatter any body of men, armed or unarmed, who may have assembled in an illegal or hostile manner. The cavalry are generally employed on these occasions.
Displaced. Officers in the British service are sometimes displaced from a particular regiment in consequence of misconduct, but they are at liberty to serve in any other corps.
Display, To. In a military sense, is to extend the front of a column, and thereby bring it into line.
Displayed. In heraldic usage, means expanded; as, an eagle displaced, or what is commonly known as a spread eagle.
Displume. To deprive of decoration or ornament; to degrade.