Ballon. A town in the department of the Sarthe, France, formerly fortified; captured by the English in 1417; retaken by Charles VII. of France.
Balloon. A bag or hollow vessel, made of silk or other light material, and filled with hydrogen gas or heated air, so as to rise and float in the atmosphere; called for distinction an air-balloon. Balloons were used extensively as a means of observation during the American civil war, 1861–65, and in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870.
Balloting. A bounding movement of a spherical projectile in the bore of a cannon. See Injuries to Cannon.
Ball-proof. Incapable of being penetrated by balls from fire-arms.
Ball’s Bluff. In Virginia, on the banks of the Potomac. On October 21, 1861, by direction of the Federal general C. P. Stone, the heroic Col. Baker crossed the river to reconnoitre. He attacked the Confederate camp at Leesburg, and was defeated with great loss. The disaster was attributed to mismanagement, and in February, 1862, Gen. Stone was arrested on suspicion of treason, but was afterwards discharged, and at a later period again given a command. The Federal loss in killed, wounded, and drowned was probably 1000 men.
Ballynahinch. A town in Ireland where a sanguinary engagement took place between a large body of the insurgent Irish and the British troops, under Gen. Nugent, June 13, 1798. A large part of the town was destroyed, and the royal army suffered very severely.
Balots (Fr.). Sacks or bales of wool, made use of in cases of great emergency, to form parapets or places of arms. They are likewise adapted for the defense of trenches, to cover the workmen in saps, and in all instances where promptitude is required.
Baltic Sea (Ger. Ostsee, or “Eastern Sea”). Separates Sweden and the Danish Isles from Russia, Prussia, and Germany. Declared neutral for commerce by treaty between Russia and Sweden, 1759, and Denmark, 1760. It is often partially frozen. Charles X. of Sweden with an army crossed the Belts in 1658. Several Baltic expeditions were undertaken by the British and French against Denmark and Russia.
Baltimore. The chief city in Maryland, situated at the head of navigation on the Patapsco River; it was founded in 1729. On September 12, 1814, the British army under Col. Ross advanced against this place. He was killed in a skirmish, and the command was assumed by Col. Brooke, who attacked and routed the American army, which lost 600 killed and wounded, and 300 prisoners. The projected attack on the town was, however, abandoned.
Baltimore (Ireland). A decayed town; early in the 17th century, the Algerine pirates plundered the town, carrying away 200 prisoners.
Baltinglass. A town in the county of Wicklow, Ireland. Here an action took place in 1798 between the royalists and the insurgents, in which the latter were defeated.
Bamberg. A town in Bavaria, said to have been founded by the Saxons in 804; taken and pillaged by the Prussians in 1759.
Bampton. A town in Devonshire, England. A great battle was fought here, 614, between the West Saxons and Britons, in which the former were defeated.
Ban (Fr.). A sort of proclamation made at the head of a body of troops, or in the several quarters or cantonments of an army, by sound of trumpet or beat of drum, either for observing martial discipline, or for declaring a new officer, or punishing a soldier, or the like. At present such kind of proclamations are given out in the written orders of the day.
Ban. In the former days of France, when the feudal barons, who held their estates and honors from the king, were summoned to attend him in time of war, they were called the ban, or the levy first called out; while the tenants, subordinate to these barons, formed the Arrière ban, or secondary levy.
Banbury. A town in Oxfordshire, England. The castle erected by Alexander de Blois, 1125, has been frequently besieged; in 1646 it was taken by the Parliamentarians and demolished. At Edgecote, or Danesmore, near Banbury, Edward IV. defeated the Lancastrians under the Earl of Pembroke, July 26, 1469, and their leader and his brother were soon after taken prisoners and executed.
Bancal (Fr.). A curved sabre, which was used in France during the Republic and the Empire.
Band, Military. Consists of a body of musicians attached to each army regiment or battalion. The law provides for a band at the Military Academy at West Point, and for each artillery, cavalry, and infantry regiment. A chief musician, who shall be instructor of music, and for each artillery and infantry regiment two principal musicians; each cavalry regiment to have one chief trumpeter. Musicians for regimental bands are enlisted as soldiers, and formed under the direction of the adjutant, but are not permanently detached from their companies, and are instructed in all the duties of a soldier.
Banda Isles. Eastern Archipelago, visited by the Portuguese (1511), who settled on them 1521, but were expelled by the Dutch about 1600. Rohun Island was ceded to the English in 1616. The Bandas were taken by the latter in 1796; restored in 1801; retaken, 1811, and restored in 1816.
Banded-mail. A kind of armor, which consisted of alternate rows of leather or cotton and single chain-mail.
Banderet. In military history, implies the commander-in-chief of the troops of the canton of Berne, in Switzerland.
Banderol. A small flag used in marking out a camp, etc.; a camp color.
Bandes (Fr.). Bands, bodies of infantry. Bandes Françaises; the French infantry was anciently so called; the term, however, became less general, and was confined to the Prevôt des Bandes, or the judge or provost-marshal that tried the men belonging to the French guards.
Banditti. Bands of robbers who infest the mountainous parts of Italy and Greece. Formerly they frequently attacked travelers, hurried them off into their mountain fastnesses, and held them captive until ransomed.
Bandoleer. In ancient military history, a large leathern belt worn over the right shoulder, and hanging under the left arm, to carry some kind of warlike weapons.
Bandoleer. A little wooden case covered with leather; every musketeer used to wear 12 of them hanging on a shoulder-belt; each case contained the charge of powder for a musket. Bandoleers are now superseded by the cartridge-box.
Banffshire. A maritime county in the northeast of Scotland; it was the scene of many bloody conflicts between the Scots and their Danish invaders, and was the theatre of almost incessant struggles from 1624 to 1645.
Bangalore. A fortified town of Hindostan, in Mysore, which was taken from Tippoo Saib by Lord Cornwallis in 1791.
Baniwas. A tribe of South American Indians living on the Amazon and the Rio Negro.
Banner. Originally a small square flag borne before a banneret, whose arms were embroidered on it; hence, a military ensign; the principal standard of a prince or state; a pennon; a streamer.
Bannered. Furnished with or bearing banners.
Banneret. Was originally a military rank conferred only on such as were able to bring a certain number of vassals into the field; hence, a rank corresponding to this; also, a small banner.
Bannockburn. In Stirlingshire, Scotland; the site of two battles: 1. Between Robert Bruce of Scotland and Edward II. of England, June 24, 1314. The army of Bruce consisted of 30,000; that of Edward of 100,000 men, of whom 52,000 were archers. The English crossed the rivulet to the attack, and Bruce having dug and covered pits, they fell into them and were thrown into confusion. The rout was complete; the