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.=—See PREFACE. =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.=—See PREFACE. =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.=—See PREFACE. =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.