WAR. 191 



Mili'tia. — A body of soldiers in a state enrolled for discipline, 

 but not engaged in actual service, except in emergencies. 



Mobiliza'tion. — The calling into active service troops not pre- 

 viously on the war establishment. 



Ordnance. — A general name for artillery of every description. 



Out'post. — A post or station without the limits of the camp, at 

 a distance from the army ; troops placed at such a station. 



Parley. — A conference with an enemy on particular subjects. 



Parole'. — The promise on honor to reappear when call(id for, 

 given by a prisoner of war allowed to go at large. 



Pass-Parole'. — A command given at the head of an army, and 

 passed from mouth to mouth to the rear. 



Pick'et. — A certain number of men, horse or foot, who do duty 

 as an outguard to prevent surprises. 



Pioneer'. — A military laborer, or one whose business it is to 

 attend an army in its march in order to clear the way, by 

 cutting down trees and levelling roads, etc. 



Post. — Any spot of ground occupied by troops. 



Pouch. — A case of strong leather, lined with tin divisions, for 

 the purpose of carrying a soldier's ammunition. It is 

 covered by a flap to preserve the cartridges from wet. 



Praeliog'raphy (Lat. prselium, a battle, and Gr. graplco^ I 

 describe). — A description of battles. 



Guar'ter. — The sparing of men's lives, and giving good treat- 

 ment to a vanquished enemy. Hence, to give quarter. 



ftuar'ters. — Stations or lodgings assigned to soldiers ; also, the 

 apartments occupied by an officer in barracks. 



Recon'noissance. — The reconnoitring or examination of any 

 tract of country preparatory to the march of an army, in 

 order either to take up quarters for the season or com- 

 mence operations against an opposing enemy. 



Reg'iment. — A body of men, either cavalry, infantry, or ar- 

 tillery, commanded by a colonel, a lieutenant-colonel, and 

 a major, and consisting of a number of companies, usually 

 from eight to ten. 



Reserve' Corps. — The third or last line of an army drawn up 

 for battle ; so called because they are reserved to sustain 

 the rest, as occasion requires, and not to engage except 

 in case of necessity. 



Reveille. — The beat of drum about break of day, to give 

 notice that it is time for the soldiers to- rise, and for the 

 sentinels to forbear challenuin";. 



