ASTRAGAL. See [Cannon].
ATTACH. Officers and non-commissioned officers are said to be attached to the respective army, regiment, battalion, troop, or company with which they are appointed to act.
ATTACHE, Fr. the seal and signature of the colonel-general in the old French service, which were affixed to the commissions of officers after they had been duly examined.
ATTACK, any general assault, or onset, that is given to gain a post, or break a body of troops.
Attack of a siege, is a furious assault made by the besiegers by means of trenches, galleries, saps, breaches, or mines, &c. by storming any part of the front attack. Sometimes two attacks are carried on at the same time, between which a communication must be made. See [Siege].
False Attacks are never carried on with that vigor and briskness that the others are; the design of them being to favor the true attack, by amusing the enemy and by obliging the garrison to severer duty in dividing their forces, that the true attack may be more successful.
Regular Attack, is that which is carried on in form, according to the rules of art. See [Siege], [Approaches], &c.
To Attack in front or flank, in fortification, means to attack the saliant angle, or both sides of the bastion.
This phrase is familiarly used with respect to bodies of men which attack each other in a military way.
Attack and Defence. A part of the drill for recruits learning the sword exercise, which is commenced with the recruit stationary on horseback, the teacher riding round him, striking at different parts as openings appear, and instructing the recruit how to ward his several attacks; it is next executed in a walk, and, as the learner becomes more perfect, in speed; in the latter under the idea of a pursuit. The attack and defence in line and in speed form the concluding part of the sword exercise when practised at a review of cavalry. It is to be observed, that although denominated in speed, yet when practising, or at a review, the pace of the horse ought not to exceed three quarters speed.