A Military Dictionary and Gazetteer / Comprising ancient and modern military technical terms, historical accounts of all North American Indians, as well as ancient warlike tribes; also notices of battles from the earliest period to the present time, with a concise explanation of terms used in heraldry and the offices thereof. The work also gives valuable geographical information. Compiled from the best authorities of all nations. With an appendix containing the Articles of war, etc.

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

59563

Title

A Military Dictionary and Gazetteer / Comprising ancient and modern military technical terms, historical accounts of all North American Indians, as well as ancient warlike tribes; also notices of battles from the earliest period to the present time, with a concise explanation of terms used in heraldry and the offices thereof. The work also gives valuable geographical information. Compiled from the best authorities of all nations. With an appendix containing the Articles of war, etc.

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A comprehensive military reference compiling technical terms, historical accounts of North American Indians, ancient warlike tribes, and battle notices from earliest times to the present. It includes heraldic explanations, geographical data, and an appendix on Articles of War, compiled from authoritative sources of all nations.

Summary up to 500 words

Compiled by Captain Thomas Wilhelm of the Eighth Infantry, *A Military Dictionary and Gazetteer* stands as a definitive reference work for the science and art of war, published in Philadelphia in 1881. This extensive volume, spanning 1,386 pages and containing over 17,000 distinct articles, systematically defines ancient and modern military technical terms, ranging from basic maneuvers to complex ordnance construction. The text provides detailed historical narratives of North American Indian tribes and ancient warlike groups, alongside notices of battles spanning centuries from the earliest periods to the present time. The work dedicates significant space to the science of war, offering rigorous explanations of artillery principles and the evolution of military tactics. It details the construction of cast metal and built-up guns, including specific analyses of Rodman, Dahlgren, and Armstrong types. Wilhelm explains the principles of hollow casting developed by General Rodman to reverse cooling strains, as well as the mechanics of built-up guns utilizing initial tension and varying elasticity. The volume incorporates valuable geographical information and provides a concise explanation of terms used in heraldry and the offices thereof. Heavily indebted to contributions from various U.S. Army officers and standard foreign authorities, the book aims to serve as a compact, ready-reference resource for students of the art of war, military libraries, and the daily press. In the revised edition, Wilhelm eliminated naval references to maintain a purely military focus. The compilation is dedicated to Brevet Major-General August V. Kautz, whose suggestions and aid were instrumental in its completion. The work is grounded in the belief that discipline, fortitude, and a love of country are essential virtues for soldiers, drawing upon the maxims of Jomini and Napoleon to underscore the importance of morale and strategic organization in warfare.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Biography
• Dictionaries
• Military History
• Naval History