ALCANTARA, knights of a Spanish military order, who gained a great name during the wars with the Moors.
ALERT, originally derived from the French word alerte, which is formed of a and airte. The French formerly said airte for air; so that alerte means something continually in the air, and always ready to be put in action. A general is said to be alert when he is particularly vigilant.
To be kept upon the alert, is to be in continual apprehension of being surprised. Alerte, among the French, is an expression which is used to put soldiers upon their guard. It is likewise used by a post that may be attacked in the night, to give notice to the one that is destined to support it; and by a sentry to give warning when any part of the enemy is approaching. We have had an alert, is a military phrase.
ALGEBRA, a peculiar kind of arithmetic, in which every military man ought to be versed, but which is indispensibly necessary for officers in the ordnance department.
ALIEN, in law, implies a person born in a foreign country, in contradistinction to a natural born or naturalized person.
ALIGNEMENT, implies any thing strait—For instance, the alignement of a battalion means the situation of a body of men when drawn up in line. The alignement of a camp signifies the relative position of the tents, &c. so as to form a strait line, from given points.
ALLAY. See [Alloy].
ALLÆ, in the ancient military art, the two wings or extremes of an army ranged in order of battle.
ALLEGIANCE, in law, implies the obedience which is due to the laws.
Oath of Allegiance, is that taken by an alien, by which he adopts America and renounces the authority of a foreign government. It is also applied to the oath taken by officers and soldiers in pledge of their fidelity to the state.