COMMANDEMENT _Fr._ in a military sense, means any spot which is higher than another. A commandement is called _simple_, when the difference between two heights is only 9 feet. It is called _double_, when the difference is 18 feet; triple when 27, and so progressively, taking 9 feet invariably, for the height of each commandement. A commandement may be considered in three lights. In _front_, in _enfilade_, and in _reverse_. The commandement in _front_, is when you see all the persons who are employed in protecting a work; in _enfilade_, when you only see them from a flank; and in _reverse_, when you see them obliquely from behind. COMMANDING-_ground_, implies in a military sense, a rising ground which overlooks any post, or strong place. There are, strictly speaking, three sorts of commanding grounds; namely, _Front_ COMMANDING-_ground_, Every height is called so, that lies opposite to the face of the post which plays upon its front. _Reverse_ COMMANDING-_ground_, an eminence which plays upon the rear of a post. _Enfilade_ COMMANDING-_ground_, or _Curtain_ COMMANDING-_ground_, a high place, which, with its shot, scours all the length of a line, &c. COMMANDERY, a certain benefice belonging to a military order. A body of the knights of Malta, were so called. They have now only a nominal existence. COMMIS, _Fr._ Clerk or inferior person, who is employed in any of the French war-departments. COMMISSAIRE, _Fr._ Commissary. This term was used in the old French service, to express a variety of military occupations. The following are the principal designations. COMMISSAIRE-_général des armées_. Commissary-general of the armies. His duties were correspondent to those of a quarter master, forage master, or agent for supplying an army with provisions and stores. COMMISSAIRE-_général de la cavalerie légère_. _Fr._ Commissary general of light cavalry. COMMISSAIRE _d’artillerie_. _Fr._ Commissary of artillery. One commissary general superintended in each department of the ordnance, and had one of the three keys which belonged to the general magazine. This officer had the power of giving directions respecting the cleanliness and the general government of the magazines. COMMISSAIRES _provinciaux d’artillerie_, _Fr._ Provincial commissaries attached to the ordnance. COMMISSAIRES _ordinaires d’artillerie_, _Fr._ Commissaries in ordinary attached to the ordnance. These were subordinate to the provincial commissaries, and were distributed among the navy, forts, and garrison towns. COMMISSAIRES _extraordinaires d’artillerie_, _Fr._ Extraordinary commissaries attached to the ordnance. These formed the third class of commissaries under the monarchial government in France. They likewise did duty on board the king’s ships, or in garrisoned towns.