Troops, whether halted, or encamped, or on the march, should be always in favorable position, possessing the essentials required for a field of battle. Some men are so physically and morally constituted as to see everything through a highly-colored medium. They raise up a picture in the mind on every slight occasion, and give to every trivial occurrence a dramatic interest. But whatever knowledge, or talent, or courage, or other good qualities such men may possess, nature has not formed them for the command of armies or the direction of great military operations.--_Napoleon’s “Maxims of War.”_ MILITARY DICTIONARY. A. =Aachen.= See AIX-LA-CHAPELLE. =Aar.= A river in Switzerland, flows into the Rhine opposite and near Waldshut, in Aargau. Prince Charles, while crossing the river, August 17, 1799, was repulsed by the French generals Ney and Heudelet. =Aarau.= A city in Switzerland. Peace was here declared, July 18, 1712, ending the war between the cantons Zurich and Berne on one side, and Luzerne, Uri, Schuyz, Unterwalden, and Zug on the other. =Abad= (_Abadides_). A line of Moorish kings who reigned in Seville from 1026 to 1090. =Abaisse.= In heraldry, when the fesse or any other armorial figure is depressed, or situated below the centre of the shield, it is said to be _abaisse_ (“lowered”). =Abandon.= In a military sense, used in the relinquishment of a military post, district, or station, or the breaking up of a military establishment. To abandon any fort, post, guard, arms, ammunition, or colors without good cause is punishable. =Abase, To.= An old word signifying to lower a flag. _Abaisser_ is in use in the French marine, and both may be derived from the still older _abeigh_, to cast down, to humble. =Abatement.= In heraldry, is a mark placed over a portion of the paternal coat of arms, indicating some base or ungentlemanly act on the part of the bearer. =Abatis=, or =Abattis=. A means of defense formed by cutting off the smaller branches of trees felled in the direction from which the enemy may be expected. The ends of the larger branches are sharpened and the butts of the limbs or trees fastened by crochet picket, or by imbedding in the earth, so that they cannot be easily removed. Abatis is generally used in parts of a ditch or intrenchment to delay the enemy under fire. =Abblast.= See ARBALEST. =Abblaster.= See ARBALIST. =Abdivtes.= A piratical people descended from the Saracens, who lived south of Mount Ida (Psilorati), in the island of Crete (Candia), where they established themselves in 825. =Abduction= (_Fr._). Diminution; diminishing the front of a line or column by breaking off a division, subdivision, or files, in order to avoid some obstacle.