To Cut off an enemy’s retreat, is to manœuvre in such a manner as to prevent an opposing army, or body of men, from retiring, when closely pressed, either to their entrenchments, or into a fortified town from which they had marched or sallied. Whole armies may be cut off either through the mismanagement of their own generals, by extending the line of operation too far, or through the superior talents of an individual, who in the midst of the hurry, noise, and desolation, which invariably attend a pitched battle, suddenly takes advantage of some opening in the wings or centre, and cuts off a material part of his enemy’s line. When one army is superior to another in numbers, and is commanded by a shrewd and intelligent officer, it may always cut off a part at least of the opposing forces that come into action.
To Cut short. To abridge: as the soldiers were cut short of their pay.
To Cut up. When the cavalry are sent in pursuit of a flying enemy, the latter are generally cut up.
To Cut through. A small body of brave men, headed by a good officer, will frequently extricate itself from apparent captivity, or destruction, by cutting its way through superior force.
CUTLER, a military artificer, whose business is to forge, temper, and mount all sorts of sword blades.
CUTTING-off. See [Retrenchment].
CUVETTE, in fortification, is a small ditch of 10 or 12 feet broad, made in the middle of a large dry ditch, about 4 or 4¹⁄₂ feet deep, serving as a retrenchment to defend the ditch, or else to let water in, (if it can be had during a siege,) and afford an obstacle, should the enemy endeavor to cross the fosse.
CYCLOPOEDIA. See Encyclopoedia.
CYCLOID, a curve in geometry.
CYLINDER, or concave cylinder of a gun, is all the hollow length of the piece, or bore. See [Cannon].