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

Line of March. Arrangement for marching. Course or direction taken by an army.

Line of Metal. Or natural line of sight, is a line drawn from the highest point of the base-ring or base-line to the highest point of the swell of the muzzle, or to the top of the sight, if there be one. The line of sight nearest to the axis of the piece is the natural line of sight, the others are artificial lines of sight. See [Artificial Line of Sight].

Line of Sight. See [Line of Metal] and [Pointing].

Line of the Bastion, Capital. Is a line which bisects the salient angle of a bastion. See [Capital].

Line, Retiring. A line of troops in orderly retreat.

Line, Tangent. A straight line, which meets a curve at one point and touches without cutting it.

Line, Vertical. A line which is perpendicular to the horizon. Of this description are all lines that express height or depth.

Lineal, or Linear. Pertaining to length; pertaining to the line of an army.

Lineal Rank. Is the rank of a line-officer in his arm of the service.

Linear Promotion. Is promotion of line-officers according to seniority in the arm of service, as opposed to promotion in the regiment.