Drawbridge. A bridge of which the whole or part is made to be let down, or drawn or turned aside, to admit or hinder communication at pleasure, as before the gate of a town or castle. It is called [bascule], swivel, or rolling bridge according as it turns on a hinge vertically, on a pivot horizontally, or is pushed lengthwise on rollers.
Drawing. In a military sense, is the art of representing the appearances of all kinds of military objects by imitation or copying, both with and without the assistance of mathematical rules.
Drawn Battle. A fight from which the combatants withdraw without either side claiming the victory.
Draw off, To. In a military sense, means to retire; also to abstract or take away; as, to draw off your forces. To draw on is to advance; also to occasion; as, to draw on an enemy’s fire. To draw over is to persuade to revolt; to entice from a party. To draw out is to call the soldiers forth in array for action. To draw up is to form in battle array. To draw out a party is to assemble any particular number of armed men for military duty. The French say, faire un detachement.
Drayton-in-Hales, or Market Drayton. A town of England, in Shropshire. Here the partisans of the house of York defeated the Lancastrians in 1459.
Dresden. The capital of the kingdom of Saxony, and one of the best built towns of Europe. Taken by Frederick of Prussia in 1756; by the Austrians in 1759; bombarded in vain by Frederick, July, 1760. On August 26-27, 1813, the allies were defeated in a terrible battle by the French under the walls of this city; and about a mile from it is a granite block, surmounted by a helmet, marking the spot where Moreau fell in the conflict, while conversing with the emperor Alexander.
Dress. A word of command for alignment of troops; also of the alignment itself.
Dressers. See [Guides].
Dress, Full. Dress uniform. The French is grande tenue, or grande uniforme.
Dress Parade. Parade in full uniform; one of the ceremonies prescribed in tactics.