Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett
Tennessee State Library and Archives
Civil War Resources
Civil War Source Book
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| A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
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| Salient: | Part of a work that projects outward from the main work. |
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| Salient Angle: | A projection of a work that forms an angle. |
| Sally Port: | An opening in a work that allowed access into the work and was used by troops to make a sally or sortie out of the work. |
| Sandbag: | A canvas bag (sometimes tarred) measuring roughly 14 inches by 30 inches an d filled three-fourths full with earth to form a quick defensive structure or a revetment. |
| Sap: | Armies advanced on enemy works by the construction of approach trenches, referred to as saps, the work being carried out by sappers (the term sap derives from the French word sappe, meaning spade or shovel). A large sap roller was placed at the head of the sap (or trench) and advanced foot by foot as gabions were placed on the side towards the besieged work and filled with dirt. These protected the workmen from enemy fire. When enemy fire was slack many gabions could be placed and filled at the same time, this procedure being known as a flying sap. If two gabion parapets were placed one on each side of the trench, this was called a double sap. |
| Sappers: | During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries a system of siegecraft was developed by French Field Marshal Vauban that provided a systematic approach for attackers and their artillery to enemy fortifications by means of entrenchments. Under the cover of artillery fire, the attacking troops dug "saps," or approach trenches, toward the enemy (thus the origins of the word "sapper" for certain kinds of engineers). During the American Civil War, detachments of sappers, miners, and pontoniers were used in advance of the infantry to open and repair roads, establish pontoon bridges, and occasionally to lay siege to fortified positions. |
| Sapping: | This is a general term applied to the operation of forming trenches, along which troops may approach an enemy work without being exposed to enemy fire. Construction of the trench could be carried out night and day without cessation. |
| Sap-Roller: | A device that was placed at the head of the trench being dug by a squad of sappers and pushed ahead of them (using specialized tools) to provide cover from enemy fire. It consisted of two large concentric gabions, 6 feet in length, the outer one having a diameter of 4 feet, the inner one a diameter of 2 feet 8 inches. It was made shot proof by filling the space between the gabions with small pieces of hardwood, cotton, straw, or some similar type material. |
| Saucisson: | The largest type of fascine measuring 10 inches in diameter and 18 feet long, used in constructing batteries and magazines. |
| Scantling: | A small-sized timber for construction, similar to a stud or rafter. |
| Scarp: | The inner slope of the ditch under the berm. |
| Side Wheeler: | A vessel propelled by steam-powered paddle wheels on either side of the hull. |
| Signal Station: | Usually located on prominent hilltops, signal stations were set up to form an interlocking grid throughout the theater of war. Their primary function was to pass messages by semaphore (or "wig wag"), but their localities also offered ideal views of enemy movements. Most of the signal stations had signal towers of wood or used large trees to support observation platforms. In a few cases strategically located buildings, such as the Tennessee State Capital building in Nashville, were occupied as signal stations. |
| Simple sap: | A trench constructed on ordinary soil beyond the range of the enemy's artillery grape shot was called a simple sap or ordinary trench. The earth was thrown up on the side towards the enemy, so as to form a kind of parapet to cover the men in the trench. The work was done by working parties detached from various military units, supervised by engineer troops. |
| Skirmisher: | Skirmishers were used in advance of the main body of advancing troops. They fought on open ground, taking advantage of the terrain. When formed into line of battle, a regiment might fight with all its companies abreast, forming one long double line of men, or one or more companies might be held back as reserves. One or more companies were usually sent forward as a skirmish line. In a divisional attack, whole regiments might be assigned as skirmishers. As the war progressed skirmish lines grew heavier, in some cases consisting of half the regimental strength, the remainder being held in line of battle as reserves. Skirmish lines might be 400 to 500 yards in advance of the main formation. |
| Small Pickets: | An obstacle made of pickets or sharpened branches two and a half feet long and driven into the ground one foot apart in quincunx order. |
| Sod revetment: | Sod or turfs used for the formation of the interior slopes of parapets and the cheeks of embrasures. The sod was to be cut from good grass, with thickly matted roots, and was to be mowed and watered before it was cut. Sod was cut in two sizes with the typical pattern consisting of headers that were 12 inches square by 4 1/2 inches thick and stretchers that were 18 inches long by 12 inches broad and 4 1/2 inches thick. For the first layer the sod was laid horizontal, grass side down, with two stretchers and one header alternating and packed firmly with a mallet. When this was completed a second layer with the grass side up was laid on the first, positioned so as to cover the joints. In hot weather the revetment was to be watered frequently. |
| Sole: | The bottom or floor of an embrasure. |
| Splay: | The widening effect of an embrasure. |
| Sortie: | A secret movement of troops made by a strong detachment of troops in a besieged position, to destroy or retard the enemy's approaches. |
| Star Fort: | An enclosed work composed of salients and re-entering angles. It was an ineffective design for defenses as the flanks did not receive sufficient flank protection. |
| Strategy: | The art of creating a plan of campaign, combining a system of military operations to attain certain goals, such as the character of the enemy, the nature and resources of the country, and the means of attack and defense. |
| Stern-Wheeler: | A flat-bottomed steamer propelled by a single paddle wheel located in the stern of the vessel. |
| Stockade: | Stockade, or picket, was an early frontier term that described a relatively simple enclosure designed in a German cross or square shape, often with bastioned corners. Vertical log walls usually contained loopholes for firing. Troops often dug outer ditches and heaped the earth against the exterior walls to add strength to the stockade. Before blockhouses became common in Tennessee in 1864, Federal troops relied primarily on stockades to protect railroad trestles. |
| Superior Slope: | The top of the parapet extending from the interior slope to the exterior slope. |
| Swallow Tail: | A priest-cap or mitre type of earthwork. |