Auditor, Third. To him is assigned the duty of examining all accounts relative to the subsistence of the army, the quartermaster’s department, and generally all accounts of the War Department other than those provided for; also all accounts relating to pensions, claims for compensation for loss of horses and equipments of officers and enlisted men in the military service of the United States, etc.
Auditor, Fourth. Examines all accounts accruing in the Navy Department, or relative thereto, and all accounts relating to navy pensions.
Auerstadt (Prussia). Here and at Jena, on October 4, 1806, the French signally defeated the Prussians. See Jena.
Auget. A kind of small trough used in mining, in which the saucisson or train-hose is laid in straw, to prevent the powder from contracting any dampness.
Aughrim. Near Athlone, in Ireland, where, on July 12, 1691, a battle was fought between the Irish, headed by the French general St. Ruth, and the English, under Gen. Ginkel. The former were defeated and lost 7000 men; the latter lost only 600 killed and 960 wounded. St. Ruth was slain. This engagement proved decisively fatal to the interests of James II., and Ginkel was created earl of Athlone.
Augusta. A city and capital of Richmond Co., Ga., on the Savannah River. It was an important place at the time of the Revolution, and was captured by the English and Tories in 1779, but surrendered to Col. Henry Lee, of the Revolutionary army, June 5, 1781.
Augusta, or Agosta. A well-built and fortified city in the intendancy of Catania, in Sicily; near here, on April 21, 1676, a naval battle was fought between the French under Duquesne, and the Dutch and Spanish fleet under Ruyter, the advantage remaining with the French. Ruyter was wounded at this battle, and died a few days after at Syracuse.
Augusticum. A bounty that was given by the Roman emperors to their soldiers upon the latter taking the oath of allegiance for the first time, or upon a renewal of the oath.
Aulic Council. A term applied to a council of the War Department of the Austrian empire, and the members of different provincial chanceries of that empire are called aulic councillors.
Aumacor. A title similar to general-in-chief, which was given to the chief of the Saracens during the Crusades.
Ausen. A name given by the Goths to their victorious generals. This word in their language signifies “more than mortal,” i.e., demi-gods.
Aussig. A village in Prussia, where, in 1426, the army of the margrave Frederick von Meissen was defeated by the Hussites and Poles under Jakubko von Wrezezowecez and Prince Sigismund Koribut. The city was plundered and burned the same night by the Hussites.
Austerlitz (Moravia). Here a battle was fought between the French and the allied Austrian and Russian armies, December 2, 1805. Three emperors commanded: Alexander of Russia, Francis of Austria, and Napoleon of France. The killed and wounded exceeded 30,000 on the side of the allies, who lost 40 standards, 150 pieces of cannon, and thousands of prisoners; the French loss amounted to about 12,000 men. The decisive victory of the French led to the treaty of Presburg, signed December 26, 1805.
Austria, Empire of (Ger. Oesterreich, “eastern kingdom”). One of the most extensive and most populous of European kingdoms, comprising the southeast part of Central Europe and more than half the territory of the Danube. It is composed of a union of different states, some of them at one time forming independent kingdoms, inhabited by races of people differing from each other in descent, language, customs, laws, and religion, held together as one empire by being united under one sovereign and one central government. This territory, which was comprised in Noricum and part of Pannonia, was annexed to the Roman empire in 33, was overrun by Huns, Avars, etc., in the 5th and 6th centuries, and taken from them by Charlemagne, who united it to Germany as the “eastern kingdom,” 791–96. In 1156 the country was made a hereditary duchy by the emperor Frederick I., and in 1453 was raised to an archduchy. Rodolph, count of Hapsburg, elected emperor of Germany in 1273, acquired Austria in 1278, and from 1493 to 1804 his descendants were emperors of Germany. On August 11, 1804, Francis II. became hereditary emperor of Austria. Vienna, the capital, was entered by a French army November 14, 1805, and evacuated January 12, 1806, Austria losing Venice and the Tyrol by the treaty of Presburg. Francis renounced the title of emperor of Germany August 6, 1806. Vienna was again taken by the French May 13, 1809, but was restored at the peace, October 14 following. In 1848 Lombardy revolted, and Milan and other disaffected towns formed an alliance with Charles Albert, king of Sardinia, who then invaded the Austrian territory at the head of a large army, victory seeming for a time to favor the Italians. In the following year, however, both the insurgents and their Sardinian ally were repeatedly defeated by the Austrian forces under Marshal Radetzky, and Lombardy was again brought under the Austrian sway, but was ceded to Sardinia in 1859. Prussia and Italy declared war against Austria in 1866; but, through the intervention of Napoleon, peace was concluded the same year, Austria losing Venice and the Quadrilateral.
Authority. In a general acceptation of the term, signifies a right to command and a consequent right to be obeyed. For the appointment of officers of the U. S. army, see Appointing Power. It appears that the sovereigns of Great Britain and other nations have the power to appoint and dismiss officers at pleasure.
Autocrat. A person vested with an absolute independent power, by which he is rendered unaccountable to any other for his actions. The power of the Athenian generals or commanders was usually limited, so that, at the expiration of their office, they were liable to render an account of their administration. But, on some extraordinary occasions, they were exempted from this restraint, and sent with a full and uncontrollable authority; in which sense they were styled autocrats. Somewhat similar was the Roman dictator. This term is sometimes applied to the czar of Russia.
Automatic Fire. A mixture of combustibles used by the Greeks. It was exploded by the rays of the sun.
Autonomy. The power or right of self-government. This was a privilege jealously preserved in all the important cities of ancient Greece, nearly every one of which was an independent state. The right to make their own laws and elect their own magistrates was also granted by the Romans to some of their cities, and was regarded as a mark of honor.
Autun (anc. Bibracte, Augustodunum). A town in France, department of the Saöne-et-Loire. Here, in the year 21, two Roman legions under Silius gained a victory over Sacrovir, chief of the Ædui, who had assembled a considerable force to oppose Silius. The Germans besieged it in 355; captured by the Burgundians in 414; devastated by the Saracens in 731; burned by the Normans in 888 and 895. This city was besieged without success by Marshal d’Aumont in 1591. It was also the scene of hostile operations between Garibaldi and the Germans in the winter of 1870–71.
Auxerre. Chief town of the department of Yonne, France. It is supposed to be on the site of the ancient Autissiodorum, which was a flourishing town before the Roman invasion of Gaul. It successfully resisted the Huns under Attila, was taken from the Romans by Clovis, and after his death became a part of the kingdom of Burgundy. The English took it in 1359, but it was retaken by Du Guesclin. It was finally united to the kingdom of France by Louis XI. John, “Sans Peur,” duke of Burgundy (reigned from 1404–19), caused the assassination of Louis, duke of Orleans, in 1407, which gave rise to a civil war between the Burgundians and the dukes of Orleans and their allies, which was ended by the treaty of Auxerre, August 10, 1412.
Auxiliary. Foreign or subsidiary troops which are furnished to a belligerent power in consequence of a treaty of alliance, or for pecuniary considerations. Of the latter description may be considered the Hessians that were employed by Great Britain to enslave America.
Auxiliary