Francis Glass, Washingtonii Vita
J.N. Reynolds, Ed.

1 On the eighth day before the Kalends of March, according to the Roman mode of expressing dates; or, according to the modern system of computation, the 22d of February.

2 Tribunum (scil. militum) answers in some degree to our modern term “ Colonel, ” and is therefore used for it both here and in other parts of this work. — Legatus, “ a lieutenant-colonel. ” Its ordinary signification in Latin authors is “ lieutenant-general. ”

3 Temere, “ at random, ” “ in a hurry. ”

4 Prata ingentia. “ The great meadows, ” called sometimes, by the French name, Prairies; at others, by the Spanish term, Savannas.

5 Agger. “ A fort, ” “ rampart, ” &c.

6 Opera. “ Works, ” that is, fortifications, or fort.

7 Hora decima. “ Ten of the clock in the morning. ” The time, and the division of the day, throughout this work, will be considered agreeably to the modern division of the day.

8 Disceptionem longam, “ a long debate, ” or discussion.

9 Impedimenta. By this substantive in the plural number, will be understood, baggage of an army, throughout the whole work.

10 Gregariis militibus. By these words is understood, a common or private soldier: gregarius, the adjective, being derived from grex, a flock.

11 Tempore agendi peracto. “ The time of action being over,” the season of action being past; the gerund agendi being put in an absolute sense, governing res, or a similar noun implied.

12 Legio. By this word will be understood, a regiment, battalion, or brigade: as the Roman legion, consisted of different complements of men at different periods.

13 Solverunt (naves) “ set sail; " literally, “ loosed their ships.”

14 Appulerunt, (scil. naves,) “ landed. ” Verbatim, “ drove their ships to.”

15 Minoraque ad prata. “ The little meadows,” to discriminate them from the great meadows, mentioned before.

16 Prior acies. By these words we understand, the “ advanced guard, ” or “ van of the army:” the substantive acies, amongst other significations, means, “ an army in battle array,” a “ line of battle.”

17 Valetudo. By this noun is here meant, an infirm or bad state of health; the word being used for either good or bad bealth: and often implies sickness, as here.

18 Pro virili, (scil. parte,) according to his utmost strength or ability.

19 Accinctus est, set about, prepared himself, a metaphor taken from the Roman dress; those who set about any business, girded thier flowing robes, with a view to despatch. Hence, discinclus, “ ungirded,” means, “ idle,” “ dissolute.”

20 Glandibus plumbeis. By these are meant “ bullets, ” in which sense the words will be uniformly taken throughout the work.

21 Nudi. By this adjective we understand, “ unguarded, ” or “ exposed. ”

22 Periculum. Grammarians assure us that those verbs which, in the active voice, govern two cases, retain the latter case in the passive. But, as no verb can govern two accusatives at the same time, we must supply a preposition to the accusative of the thing. Such constructions are mere Hellenisms, or imitations of the Greek: thus, in the sentence before us, præmonitus (secundum, or quoad) periculum, “ forewarned as respects the danger. ”