A Military Dictionary and Gazetteer. Thomas Wilhelm

surface of a shield; hence, any blank space or ground on which figures are drawn or projected.

      Field Allowance. In the British service, is an allowance granted to officers in camp at home, or on a campaign, to enable them to repay themselves the expense of purchasing camp equipage, bat-horses, etc. It is divided into ordinary and extraordinary field allowance, the former being granted in time of peace, the latter in that of war.

Field Artillery. That portion of the artillery which is used in the field. In the U. S. army the 3-and 3¹⁄₂-inch rifle guns, Gatling, and 12-pounder smooth-bore, constitute the field artillery. See Artillery.

Field-battery. Is a certain number of pieces of artillery so equipped as to be available for attack or defense, and capable of accompanying cavalry or infantry in all their movements in the field. There are allotted to a field-battery 4 pieces in time of peace and 6 in time of war, and it is divided into mounted artillery, which usually serves with infantry, and horse artillery, which ordinarily serves with cavalry. The main difference between the two consists in the cannoneers of the latter being mounted; in rapid evolutions of the former they are conveyed on the gun-carriages. See Artillery.

      Field-bed. A folding bed used by officers while on campaigns or in the field.

Field-carriage. Field-gun carriages consist of two short cheeks of wood, bolted upon a stock and wooden axle-body, in a recess which fits the iron axle on which the wheels are placed. The stock terminates in a trail and trail-plate which rests on the ground, and has on the end a strong ring called the lunette, which is placed on the pintle-hook when the piece is limbered. In the stock is placed an elevating screw-box of bronze in which the elevating screw fits. They have also limbers (which see).

      Field-colors. Small flags of about a foot and a half square, carried along with troops for marking out the ground for the squadrons and battalions; camp-colors.

      Field-day. A term used when a regiment is taken out to the field, for the purpose of being instructed in the field exercise and evolutions.

      Fielded. Being in the field of battle; encamped. This term is now obsolete.

      Field-equipage. Military apparatus for field service.

      Field Forge. See Forge.