Babylon. One of the oldest and most celebrated cities in the world, the ancient capital of the Babylonio-Chaldean empire, was situated in an extensive plain on the Euphrates, about 60 miles south of Bagdad. The modern town of Hillah is supposed to occupy a portion of its site. About 588 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, captured Jerusalem, burned the great temple of Solomon, and carried away the Jews as captives to Babylon. Cyrus besieged Babylon, took it by stratagem in 538, and put to death the king Belshazzar, after which the kingdom of Babylon ceased to exist. The city was occupied by Darius in 518, and taken by Alexander the Great in 331. Alexander having selected it as the capital of his empire, died there in 323 B.C.
Bacchi. Two ancient warlike machines; the one resembled a battering-ram, the other cast out fire.
Bachelier (Fr.). A young squire, or knight, who has passed through his first campaign, and received the belt of the order.
Bachevaleureux. A term which, in the old French language, signified warrior, brave, valiant, etc.
Backing. The heavy plating of wood, or of wood and iron, used to support and strengthen iron plates.
Back-plate. A piece of armor for covering the back.
Back-sight. See [Sight, Rear].
Back-step. The retrograde movement of a man, or a body of men, without changing front.
Backsword. A sword with one sharp edge. In England, a stick with a basket handle, used in rustic amusements; the game in which it is used; called also “single stick.”
Backwards. A technical word made use of in the British service to express the retrograde movement of troops from line into column, and vice versa. Also a word of command in the U. S. service, to cause a man, or body of men, to march to the rear without changing front.