A Military Dictionary and Gazetteer. Thomas Wilhelm
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which was levied in ancient times upon the inhabitants of conquered countries.
Appeal. See Appendix, Articles of War, 29, 30.
Appel (Fr.). A smart stroke with the blade by a fencer on the sword of his antagonist on the opposite side to that which he engaged, generally accompanied with a stamp of the foot, and used for the purpose of procuring an opening.
Appian Way. A Roman road, made by Appius Claudius Cæcus, while censor, 312 B.C.
Appointe (Fr.). This word was applicable to French soldiers only, during the old monarchy of France, and meant a man who for his service and extraordinary bravery received more than common pay. There were likewise instances in which officers were distinguished by being styled officers appointes.
Appointing Power. It has been contended by advocates of executive discretion, that army appointments are embraced in the power granted to the President in the 2d section of the Constitution, to nominate, and, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoint “all other officers of the United States, whose appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which may be established by law. But the Congress may, by law, vest the appointment of such inferior officers as they think proper in the President alone, in the courts of law, or in the heads of departments.” If due regard, however, be paid to the words “whose appointments are not herein otherwise provided for,” the pretension set up in favor of executive power will receive no support from the terms of the Constitution. The powers granted to Congress to raise and support armies, and to make all rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces, are necessarily so comprehensive in character, as to embrace all means which Congress, according to circumstances, may deem proper and necessary in order to raise armies, or govern them when raised. Rules of appointment to office, rules of promotion—another form of appointment—and all rules whatever in relation to the land and naval forces, save the appointment of the commander-in-chief of those united forces, who is designated by the Constitution, are hence within the competency of Congress.
Appointment. Office, rank, or employment.
Appointment. The equipment, ordnance, furniture, and necessaries of an army.
Appointments, Military. The accoutrements of an officer.
Appointon (Fr.). A sort of poniard which was used in ancient times.
Apprehend. In a military sense, implies the seizing or confining of any person; as, to apprehend a deserter, etc.
Apprenti (Fr.). Apprentice. Formerly in the French service they had apprentices or soldiers among the artillery, who served for less pay than the regular artillerymen, until they became perfect in their profession, when they were admitted to such vacancies as occurred in their respective branches.
Approach. The route by which a fortified place or military position can be approached by an attacking force.
Approaches. The trenches or covered roads by which the besiegers convey ordnance, ammunition, and stores, and march troops to and from the parallels; also the trenches by means of which the successive parallels are established.
Appropriations. For the support of the U. S. army are made annually; the bill for the same must originate in the lower house of Congress. The English army is raised by the queen, and maintained by annual appropriations by Parliament; the system for the support of armies is much the same throughout Europe. In the United States, the term is also used by post and regimental councils of administration in the expenditure of funds.
Appui. See Point d’Appui.
Apri, or Apros. A small town in Thrace, on the river Melas, where the daring leader of the Catalonians, Berengar de Rocafort, defeated the Greeks under the Emperor Michael, 1307.
Apron. A piece of sheet-lead used to cover the vent of a cannon.
Apulia. A province in Southeast Italy, conquered by the Normans, whose leader, Guiscard, received the title of Duke of Apulia from Pope Nicholas II. in 1059. After many changes of masters, it was absorbed into the kingdom of Naples in 1265.
Aqueduct. A channel to convey water from one place to another. Aqueducts in military architecture are generally made to bring water from a spring or river to a fortress, etc.; they are likewise used to carry canals over low ground, and over brooks or small rivers; they are built with arches like a bridge, only not so wide, and are covered by an arch, to prevent dust or dirt from being thrown into the water—there are also subterranean aqueducts, such as pipes of wood, lead, or iron.
Aquila (Southern Italy). Near here the Aragonese, under the condottiere Braccio Fortebraccio, were defeated by the allied Papal, Neapolitan, and Milanese army under Jacob Caldora, June 2, 1424. Braccio, a wounded prisoner, refused to take food, and died, June 5.
Aquila. The principal standard of a Roman legion. The standard of Romulus is said to have consisted of a handful of hay, straw, or fern, affixed to a pole or spear; whence the company of soldiers who served under it was called Manipulus. This primitive standard was soon superseded by the figures of animals. In 104 B.C. the eagle was permanently adopted; it was made of silver or bronze, and was represented with expanded wings.
Aquilifer. A name given by the Romans to the officers who carried the eagles of the legions.
Aquitaine. A province in the southwest of France; conquered by the Romans in 28 B.C.; by the Visigoths, 418; taken from them by Clovis in 507. Henry II. of England obtained it with his wife Eleanor, 1152. It was erected into a principality for Edward the Black Prince in 1362; but was annexed to France in 1370. The title of duke of Aquitaine was taken by the crown of England on the conquest of this duchy by Henry V. in 1418. The province was lost in the reign of Henry VI.
Arabia. A tract of land in Western Asia; the terms Petræa (stony), Felix (happy), and Deserta are said to have been applied to its divisions by Ptolemy, about 140. Arabia was unsuccessfully invaded by Gallus, the Roman governor of Egypt, 24 B.C. In 622, the Arabians under the name of Saracens (which see), followers of Mohammed, their general and prophet, commenced their course of conquest. The Arabs greatly favored literature and the sciences, especially mathematics, astronomy, and chemistry. To them we owe our ordinary (Arabic) numerals and arithmetical notation.
Aracillum. A city in Spain. The Cantabrians being besieged in this city by the Romans, killed each other rather than surrender.
Aradus (now Ruad). A city of Phœnicia; captured by the Roman general Ventidius, 38 B.C.
Aragon. Part of the Roman Tarraconensis, a kingdom, Northeast Spain, was conquered by the Carthaginians, who were expelled by the Romans about 200 B.C. It became an independent monarchy in 1035.
Aranjuez (Central Spain). Contains a fine royal palace, at which several important treaties were concluded. On March 17, 1808, an insurrection broke out here against Charles IV. and his favorite, Godoy, the Prince of Peace. The former was compelled to abdicate in favor of his son, Ferdinand VII., March 19.
Aransas. A small river of Texas, which empties into a bay of the same name, immediately north of Corpus Christi Bay. The Confederate works near this place were captured by the Federal troops November 20, 1864.
Arapahoe Indians. A tribe of Indians associated with the Cheyennes, who inhabit the country between the South Fork of the Platte River and the head-waters of the Arkansas. See Indians and their Agencies.
Arapiles. A village of Spain, 4 miles southeast of Salamanca. It was the scene of the sanguinary engagement called the battle of Salamanca, in which the allies under Wellington