Corporal. In the military service, is a non-commissioned officer next in rank below a sergeant. He is distinguished by two chevrons worn on the arm.
Corporal, Lance. A private soldier who acts as corporal. He wears one chevron, but has no increase of pay.
Corporal-Major. In the British service, a troop corporal-major is the non-commissioned officer of the highest rank in a troop of the Household Cavalry; his position and authority are the same as those of a color-sergeant of infantry. A regimental corporal-major is the non-commissioned officer of the highest rank in each of the three regiments of Household Cavalry, and corresponds to a sergeant-major of infantry.
Corporal’s Guard. Used to indicate a detachment of several men under arms. May be applied to a squad equal to that usually placed under the charge of a corporal for drill, police, guard duty, etc. Generally made use of in a derisive manner.
Corps. A body of men; especially a body of troops; an organized part or division of an army.
Corps d’Armée. In the military organization of large armies two or more divisions form a corps d’armée, or army corps, which is complete in itself as an army, with everything needed for service. In European states, where large standing armies are kept, this custom of dividing them into corps, each under an officer of very high rank, and quartering them in different provinces, is followed even in times of peace.
Correspondence, Official. Is correspondence carried on officially between military officers and various departments of the service, such as orders, reports, letters, indorsements, etc. All official correspondence between the heads of the different departments of the staff of any command and its commander must pass through the adjutant-general, assistant adjutant-general, or adjutant of the command, as the case may be. Communications to or from a commander and those under his command must pass through the adjutant-general, assistant adjutant-general, or adjutant on duty with it; excepting only such communications between a disbursing officer and the chief of his particular branch of the staff as relate exclusively to the ordinary routine of business in their own department. All communications, whether from an inferior to a superior, or vice versa, are, as a general rule, to be passed through the intermediate commanders. The same rule governs in verbal applications: for example, a lieutenant seeking an indulgence must apply through his captain, the captain through the adjutant, and so on. All correspondence relating to or involving the personnel of the army when forwarded to the Secretary of War for his orders, must be forwarded through the adjutant-general for the consideration of the general of the army.
Corridor. The covered way lying round the whole compass of the fortifications of a place.
Corselet. A little cuirass, or piece of armor to cover the front of the body, worn formerly by pikemen.
Corsica. An island in the Mediterranean, held by the French. This island has been successively occupied by the Carthaginians, Romans, Goths, Saracens, Franks, the popes, and Genoese; and lastly by the French, in whose possession it now remains, and to whom it was ceded by the Genoese in 1768. This island was held by the British from June, 1794, to Oct. 22, 1796.
Cortege. The official staff, civil or military.
Corus, Corupedion, or Cyropedium. A plain in Phrygia, Asia Minor, where the aged Lysimachus was defeated by Seleucus, and slain, 281 B.C. These two were the only survivors of Alexander the Great’s generals.
Corygaum. An insignificant village in the presidency of Bombay; historically interesting in connection with the final subjugation of the Peishwa of the Mahrattas. On Jan. 1, 1818, it was defended for nine hours by a mere handful of men under Capt. Staunton, against a native force numbering at least 3000 infantry and about 20,000 cavalry, the struggle terminating in the repulse of the assailants after terrible slaughter.
Cossacks (Russ., Kasacks). A military organization of irregulars in the Russian service. They contribute much to the military strength of Russia; but several insurrections, of which the most alarming was that of 1773, have taken place since they became subjects to the Russian government.
Cossova. A plain in Servia. Here Amurath I. totally defeated the Christian army (Servians, Hungarians, etc.), September, 1389; but was himself killed by an expiring soldier. At this place, in 1448, John Huniades was defeated by a Turkish army four times larger than his own.
Costa Rica. The most southern state of Central America; bounded north by Nicaragua, northeast by the Caribbean Sea, south by New Granada, and south and west by the Pacific. The government of Costa Rica was established in 1832, and is accounted as the best and most liberal in Central America.
Coston’s Lights. Colored pyrotechnical compositions used for night signaling. Sometimes used in the form of a pistol cartridge.
Cotice, or Cost. In heraldry, one of the diminutives of the bend. It is a fourth part of the bend, and is usually borne in couples, with a head between.
Couchant. In heraldry, a beast lying down, with his head up, is couchant. If the head is down, he is dormant.
Coulmiers. A village 10 miles west of Orleans, Central France. Here the Bavarians under Gen. Von der Tann were defeated by the French army of the Loire under Gen. d’Aurelle de Paladines, who took about 2000 prisoners, Nov. 9, 1870, and regained Orleans.
Council of War. A conference of officers in military or naval warfare, on some matter in which the commander wishes to fortify his judgment by an appeal to that of others. The commandant of a garrison generally solicits the opinion of a council of war before surrendering to besiegers.
Counter-approach. A trench by which the besieged proceeds to meet the approaches of the besiegers. It is generally zigzag.
Counter-arch. A vertical arch connecting the top of the counter-forts.
Counter-battery. A battery which returns the fire of an opposing battery.
Counter-changed. In heraldry, when several metals and colors are intermixed, one being set against the other, they are said to be counter-changed.
Counter-forts. Interior buttresses constructed for the purpose of strengthening masonry revetments.
Counter-guards. Sometimes called couvre-faces, are works constructed in permanent fortifications to cover a bastion or demi-lune. They consist of two faces forming a salient angle.
Counterhurters. In gunnery, are pieces of iron bolted to the rails on which the gun-carriage moves to check it in front and rear. See Ordnance, Carriages for, Sea-coast Carriages.
Countermand. To revoke, as a former command; to direct or order in opposition to an order previously given, thereby annulling it, or prohibiting its execution.
Countermarch. A change of direction of a company or battalion in column from front to rear, by a flank movement, retaining the same ground.
Countermine. A gallery underground so constructed as to facilitate the formation of mines, by means of which those of the enemy may be reached and destroyed.
Countermine. To oppose by means of a countermine; to frustrate the designs of, by sinking a well and gallery in the earth, in search of an enemy’s mine.
Counter-parole. A word given in any time of alarm, as a signal.
Counterpoise Carriage. A gun-carriage which, applied to a gun mounted in barbette,