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

Lid, or Roof. See [Ordnance, Carriages for].

Lide (Fr.). A warlike machine which was formerly used to throw large stones against a fortified place, or upon an enemy.

Lie. To be situated; to occupy a fixed place; as, the troops lie encamped at Washington. To lie in ambush, to be posted in such a manner as to be able to surprise your enemy, should he presume to advance without having previously cleared the woods, hedges, etc. To lie in wait, to take a position unobserved by the enemy, and to remain under arms, in the expectation of suddenly falling upon his flanks or rear. To lie under cover, to be under the protection of a battery, or to be sheltered by a wood, etc. To lie under arms, to remain in a state ready for action.

Liebenau. A town of Bohemia. Here was fought the first action of the Seven Weeks’ War, June 26, 1866, when the Austrians were compelled to retreat by the Prussians under Gen. von Horne.

Liegnitz. A town of Prussian Silesia, at the conflux of the Katzbach, the Schwarzwasser, and the Neisse, 35 miles northwest from Breslau. The Austrian army was totally defeated before Liegnitz in 1760 by the Prussians under the command of Frederick the Great.

Lieutenancy. The office or commission of a lieutenant.

Lieutenant. From the French, lieu tenant, “holding the place,” in a general sense is an officer performing the duties of his superior. The rank was abolished by Charles IX. in the French army, and re-established by Henry IV. In company organizations the lieutenant comes next after the captain, and supplies his place during temporary absence. There are two grades of lieutenants, first and second. A lieutenant in the navy is an officer ranking with a captain in the army, holding rank above a master and below a lieutenant-commander.

Lieutenant de la Colonelle (Fr.). The second officer, or what was formerly styled the captain-lieutenant of the colonel’s company of every infantry regiment in France.

Lieutenant du Roi (Fr.). During the monarchy of France there was a deputy governor in every fortified place, or strong town, who commanded in the absence of the governor, and was a check upon his conduct when present. This person was called lieutenant du roi. Lieutenants des Gardes Françoises et Suisses; lieutenants belonging to the French and Swiss guards. During the existence of the monarchy in France they bore the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and took precedence of all captains. Lieutenants Provinciaux d’Artillerie were certain officers belonging to the old French service, and immediately attached to the artillery, who bore the title or name of the particular province in which they were stationed. Several of these lieutenants, who had military employment under the board of ordnance, received the rank of lieutenant-general in the army from the king, and could rise to the most exalted stations in common with other officers.

Lieutenant-Colonel. His rank corresponds with that of commanders in the navy. See [Colonel, Lieutenant-].