GLOSSARY OF MILITARY TERMS.
Abatis.—Felled trees, with sharpened branches, pointing outward toward an approaching enemy.
Bastion.—A work of two faces and two flanks, with salient angles.
Batteau.—An old-style flatboat of large capacity, in form of the modern scow.
Billet.—An old term for a brief letter; or, an assignment of troops to certain quarters.
Boom.—A chain cable or line of spars bound together to prevent the passage of vessels at a harbor entrance, or across a river.
Cabal.—A plot, or secret intrigue.
Cantonment.—A lodgment for troops.
Cheveau-de-Frise.—A cylinder, of iron when practicable, with sharp, projecting spears on all sides; to oppose an invading force, or to close a gap in the defences.
Command.—A body of troops, or a separate command.
Corduroy.—(“Cord of the King.”) An extemporized road, a uniting cord, by a series of parallel logs across a swamp or soft ground.
Countersign.—A confidential word of recognition, changed daily or more frequently, emanating from the officer in chief command.
Curtain.—A wall connecting two bastions.
Detachment.—A fraction of a command, or troops assigned to some special duty.
Detail.—An assignment for special duty.
Engineering.—SeePreface.
Fascines.—Bundles or faggots of brushwood, or small poles, tied together, for defence or for crossing swamps.
Fusee.—A small musket of early times.
Gabions.—Cylindrical wicker baskets open at both ends, filled for defensive purposes, making a temporary parapet.
Galleys.—Small vessels of light draft.
Grand Tactics.—SeePreface.
Hurdles.—Pickets about three feet high, united by twigs, to give a solid footing for a battery, or for crossing soft ground and swamps.
Itinerary.—Record of daily marches; including notes of country traversed, streams crossed, and whatever may be valuable for record or subsequent guidance.
Line-of-battle ship.—A full-rigged ship, with two or more gun-decks.
Log-book.—The itinerary of a ship.
Logistics.—SeePreface.
Magazine.—A depot of powder or of other supplies.
Muster.—A detailed record of troops, periodical or otherwise, for exact information of the force under command.
Orderly Book.—A record of current orders, whether of commissioned or non-commissioned officers.
Parapet.—A work, breast-high or more, for defence.
Patrol.—A small scouting-party beyond the usual line of sentries; or a detail of search as to the movements of the enemy.
Picket.—An outside sentry, to guard against surprise.
Quota.—A fixed apportionment upon the basis of numbers.
Reconnoissance.—A personal examination of country within the range of military movements.
Redoubt.—An inclosed defence.
Rendezvous.—A designated place for assembling troops or supplies.
Roster.—A list of officers, or of officers and men; on any duty, or subject to duty.
Salient.—An angle projecting outward, toward hostile approach.
Strategy.—SeePreface.
Surveillance.—On the constant watch, with critical observation of existing or contingent conditions.
Taking Post.—Occupying a designated position, whether under orders, or in the contingencies of a march or an advance.
Zone.—A belt or stretch of country, indicating the sphere of action of the various parts of an army, which secures concert of action in combined movements.