Bamberg. A town in Bavaria, said to have been founded by the Saxons in 804; taken and pillaged by the Prussians in 1759.
Bampton. A town in Devonshire, England. A great battle was fought here, 614, between the West Saxons and Britons, in which the former were defeated.
Ban (Fr.). A sort of proclamation made at the head of a body of troops, or in the several quarters or cantonments of an army, by sound of trumpet or beat of drum, either for observing martial discipline, or for declaring a new officer, or punishing a soldier, or the like. At present such kind of proclamations are given out in the written orders of the day.
Ban. In the former days of France, when the feudal barons, who held their estates and honors from the king, were summoned to attend him in time of war, they were called the ban, or the levy first called out; while the tenants, subordinate to these barons, formed the Arrière ban, or secondary levy.
Banbury. A town in Oxfordshire, England. The castle erected by Alexander de Blois, 1125, has been frequently besieged; in 1646 it was taken by the Parliamentarians and demolished. At Edgecote, or Danesmore, near Banbury, Edward IV. defeated the Lancastrians under the Earl of Pembroke, July 26, 1469, and their leader and his brother were soon after taken prisoners and executed.
Bancal (Fr.). A curved sabre, which was used in France during the Republic and the Empire.
[Band, Military]. Consists of a body of musicians attached to each army regiment or battalion. The law provides for a band at the Military Academy at West Point, and for each artillery, cavalry, and infantry regiment. A chief musician, who shall be instructor of music, and for each artillery and infantry regiment two principal musicians; each cavalry regiment to have one chief trumpeter. Musicians for regimental bands are enlisted as soldiers, and formed under the direction of the adjutant, but are not permanently detached from their companies, and are instructed in all the duties of a soldier.
Banda Isles. Eastern Archipelago, visited by the Portuguese (1511), who settled on them 1521, but were expelled by the Dutch about 1600. Rohun Island was ceded to the English in 1616. The Bandas were taken by the latter in 1796; restored in 1801; retaken, 1811, and restored in 1816.
Banded-mail. A kind of armor, which consisted of alternate rows of leather or cotton and single chain-mail.
Banderet. In military history, implies the commander-in-chief of the troops of the canton of Berne, in Switzerland.