Civil War Terms and Definitions, 0-9
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Civil War Terms and Definitions, A
AbatisA network of formidable obstacles consisting to trees and large limbs carefully arranged with the branches pointed outward to hinder enemy attacks. AbolitionismA movement … Read more
Civil War Terms and Definitions, B
BattalionA military unit larger than a company and smaller than a regiment. BatteryThe basic unit of artillery in the Federal and Confederate armies. Each … Read more
Civil War Terms and Definitions, C
CaissonA two-wheeled vehicle with large chests used for carrying artillery ammunition. CanisterA can-shaped casement containing grapeshot. When fired from cannon, canisters exploded, scattering grape-sized … Read more
Civil War Terms and Definitions, D
DDesertionThe act of leaving one’s military post with no intention to return. The North and South were each plagued by desertion throughout the Civil … Read more
Civil War Terms and Definitions, E
EchelonA formation of troops in which each unit is positioned successively to the left or right of the rear unit to form an oblique … Read more
Civil War Terms and Definitions, F
FlankThe right or left end of a military formation Flanking MovementThe act of going around the right or left end of an enemy’s military … Read more
Civil War Terms and Definitions, G
GrapeshotArtillery rounds made of iron balls bound together like a cluster of grapes, which scattered after being fired from a cannon. GreenbacksPaper money issued … Read more
Civil War Terms and Definitions, H
HHabeus CorpusA writ, or legal action, that prevents governments from improperly imprisoning their citizens. In the United States, this means that citizens accused of … Read more
Civil War Terms and Definitions, I
IInfantryThe branch of an army made up of units trained to fight on foot. InvestTo place a fort or city under siege. (See “siege” … Read more