What does 'element' mean in the military context?
I came across this usage when reading New York's Bloodiest Week from AMERICAN HERITAGE, an article on the 1863 draft riot in NY city,
The mob was to make its last stand on the East Side. Five thousand desperate men attacked elements of the Seventh Regiment on Second Avenue in what the Times labeled “the most sanguinary fight of the whole riot.” Bullets and bricks from the rooftops killed fifteen soldiers before another 700 troops arrived to clear the avenue with artillery and bayonet.
According to Dictionary.com, 'element' means 'a component or constituent of a whole or one of the parts into which a whole may be resolved by analysis'. So does it here refer to the 'individual soldiers' making up the 'regiment' or it bears other connotations?
meaning
asked Jul 16 '17 at 8:17
ShunShun
403315
add a comment |
I came across this usage when reading New York's Bloodiest Week from AMERICAN HERITAGE, an article on the 1863 draft riot in NY city,
The mob was to make its last stand on the East Side. Five thousand desperate men attacked elements of the Seventh Regiment on Second Avenue in what the Times labeled “the most sanguinary fight of the whole riot.” Bullets and bricks from the rooftops killed fifteen soldiers before another 700 troops arrived to clear the avenue with artillery and bayonet.
According to Dictionary.com, 'element' means 'a component or constituent of a whole or one of the parts into which a whole may be resolved by analysis'. So does it here refer to the 'individual soldiers' making up the 'regiment' or it bears other connotations?
meaning
asked Jul 16 '17 at 8:17
ShunShun
403315
It could mean the military soldiers or military equipment.
– Javed Ahmed
Jul 16 '17 at 8:24
@JavedAhmed I agree. It sounds more likely that it is soldiers, due to the following clause about 'bullets and bricks killed fifteen soldiers'
– marcellothearcane
Jul 16 '17 at 8:27
add a comment |
I came across this usage when reading New York's Bloodiest Week from AMERICAN HERITAGE, an article on the 1863 draft riot in NY city,
The mob was to make its last stand on the East Side. Five thousand desperate men attacked elements of the Seventh Regiment on Second Avenue in what the Times labeled “the most sanguinary fight of the whole riot.” Bullets and bricks from the rooftops killed fifteen soldiers before another 700 troops arrived to clear the avenue with artillery and bayonet.
According to Dictionary.com, 'element' means 'a component or constituent of a whole or one of the parts into which a whole may be resolved by analysis'. So does it here refer to the 'individual soldiers' making up the 'regiment' or it bears other connotations?
meaning
asked Jul 16 '17 at 8:17
ShunShun
403315
I came across this usage when reading New York's Bloodiest Week from AMERICAN HERITAGE, an article on the 1863 draft riot in NY city,
The mob was to make its last stand on the East Side. Five thousand desperate men attacked elements of the Seventh Regiment on Second Avenue in what the Times labeled “the most sanguinary fight of the whole riot.” Bullets and bricks from the rooftops killed fifteen soldiers before another 700 troops arrived to clear the avenue with artillery and bayonet.
According to Dictionary.com, 'element' means 'a component or constituent of a whole or one of the parts into which a whole may be resolved by analysis'. So does it here refer to the 'individual soldiers' making up the 'regiment' or it bears other connotations?
meaning
meaning
asked Jul 16 '17 at 8:17
ShunShun
403315
asked Jul 16 '17 at 8:17
ShunShun
403315
asked Jul 16 '17 at 8:17
ShunShun
403315
asked Jul 16 '17 at 8:17
ShunShun
403315
asked Jul 16 '17 at 8:17
ShunShun
403315
403315
It could mean the military soldiers or military equipment.
– Javed Ahmed
Jul 16 '17 at 8:24
@JavedAhmed I agree. It sounds more likely that it is soldiers, due to the following clause about 'bullets and bricks killed fifteen soldiers'
– marcellothearcane
Jul 16 '17 at 8:27
add a comment |
It could mean the military soldiers or military equipment.
– Javed Ahmed
Jul 16 '17 at 8:24
@JavedAhmed I agree. It sounds more likely that it is soldiers, due to the following clause about 'bullets and bricks killed fifteen soldiers'
– marcellothearcane
Jul 16 '17 at 8:27
It could mean the military soldiers or military equipment.
– Javed Ahmed
Jul 16 '17 at 8:24
It could mean the military soldiers or military equipment.
– Javed Ahmed
Jul 16 '17 at 8:24
@JavedAhmed I agree. It sounds more likely that it is soldiers, due to the following clause about 'bullets and bricks killed fifteen soldiers'
– marcellothearcane
Jul 16 '17 at 8:27
@JavedAhmed I agree. It sounds more likely that it is soldiers, due to the following clause about 'bullets and bricks killed fifteen soldiers'
– marcellothearcane
Jul 16 '17 at 8:27
add a comment |
2 Answers
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It refers to certain groups of soldiers composing the Seventh Regiment, hence not all the soldiers in that formation.
1.3 (often elements) [usually with modifier] A group of people of a particular kind within a larger group.
‘extreme right-wing elements in the army’
answered Jul 16 '17 at 10:05
ΥΣΕΡ26328ΥΣΕΡ26328
1,361518
Correct. In the given context, elements would be sub-units of the regiment, not just random groups of its soldiers.
– michael.hor257k
Jul 16 '17 at 10:16
add a comment |
Element - 1 soldier,
Fire team - 2 - 4,
Squad - 8 - 14,
Platoon - 30,
Company - 160,
Battalion - 800,
Brigade - 4000,
Division - 12,000,
Corps - 30,000,
Army - 50,000+
answered 11 mins ago
AlexAlex
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2 Answers
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active
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
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votes
It refers to certain groups of soldiers composing the Seventh Regiment, hence not all the soldiers in that formation.
1.3 (often elements) [usually with modifier] A group of people of a particular kind within a larger group.
‘extreme right-wing elements in the army’
answered Jul 16 '17 at 10:05
ΥΣΕΡ26328ΥΣΕΡ26328
1,361518
Correct. In the given context, elements would be sub-units of the regiment, not just random groups of its soldiers.
– michael.hor257k
Jul 16 '17 at 10:16
add a comment |
It refers to certain groups of soldiers composing the Seventh Regiment, hence not all the soldiers in that formation.
1.3 (often elements) [usually with modifier] A group of people of a particular kind within a larger group.
‘extreme right-wing elements in the army’
answered Jul 16 '17 at 10:05
ΥΣΕΡ26328ΥΣΕΡ26328
1,361518
Correct. In the given context, elements would be sub-units of the regiment, not just random groups of its soldiers.
– michael.hor257k
Jul 16 '17 at 10:16
add a comment |
It refers to certain groups of soldiers composing the Seventh Regiment, hence not all the soldiers in that formation.
1.3 (often elements) [usually with modifier] A group of people of a particular kind within a larger group.
‘extreme right-wing elements in the army’
answered Jul 16 '17 at 10:05
ΥΣΕΡ26328ΥΣΕΡ26328
1,361518
It refers to certain groups of soldiers composing the Seventh Regiment, hence not all the soldiers in that formation.
1.3 (often elements) [usually with modifier] A group of people of a particular kind within a larger group.
‘extreme right-wing elements in the army’
answered Jul 16 '17 at 10:05
ΥΣΕΡ26328ΥΣΕΡ26328
1,361518
edited Jul 16 '17 at 10:18
answered Jul 16 '17 at 10:05
ΥΣΕΡ26328ΥΣΕΡ26328
1,361518
answered Jul 16 '17 at 10:05
ΥΣΕΡ26328ΥΣΕΡ26328
1,361518
answered Jul 16 '17 at 10:05
ΥΣΕΡ26328ΥΣΕΡ26328
1,361518
1,361518
Correct. In the given context, elements would be sub-units of the regiment, not just random groups of its soldiers.
– michael.hor257k
Jul 16 '17 at 10:16
add a comment |
Correct. In the given context, elements would be sub-units of the regiment, not just random groups of its soldiers.
– michael.hor257k
Jul 16 '17 at 10:16
Correct. In the given context, elements would be sub-units of the regiment, not just random groups of its soldiers.
– michael.hor257k
Jul 16 '17 at 10:16
Correct. In the given context, elements would be sub-units of the regiment, not just random groups of its soldiers.
– michael.hor257k
Jul 16 '17 at 10:16
add a comment |
Element - 1 soldier,
Fire team - 2 - 4,
Squad - 8 - 14,
Platoon - 30,
Company - 160,
Battalion - 800,
Brigade - 4000,
Division - 12,000,
Corps - 30,000,
Army - 50,000+
answered 11 mins ago
AlexAlex
1
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Alex is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
Element - 1 soldier,
Fire team - 2 - 4,
Squad - 8 - 14,
Platoon - 30,
Company - 160,
Battalion - 800,
Brigade - 4000,
Division - 12,000,
Corps - 30,000,
Army - 50,000+
answered 11 mins ago
AlexAlex
1
New contributor
Alex is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
Element - 1 soldier,
Fire team - 2 - 4,
Squad - 8 - 14,
Platoon - 30,
Company - 160,
Battalion - 800,
Brigade - 4000,
Division - 12,000,
Corps - 30,000,
Army - 50,000+
answered 11 mins ago
AlexAlex
1
New contributor
Alex is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Element - 1 soldier,
Fire team - 2 - 4,
Squad - 8 - 14,
Platoon - 30,
Company - 160,
Battalion - 800,
Brigade - 4000,
Division - 12,000,
Corps - 30,000,
Army - 50,000+
answered 11 mins ago
AlexAlex
1
New contributor
Alex is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 11 mins ago
AlexAlex
1
New contributor
Alex is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 11 mins ago
AlexAlex
1
answered 11 mins ago
AlexAlex
1
1
New contributor
Alex is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Alex is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Alex is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
add a comment |
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It could mean the military soldiers or military equipment.
– Javed Ahmed
Jul 16 '17 at 8:24
@JavedAhmed I agree. It sounds more likely that it is soldiers, due to the following clause about 'bullets and bricks killed fifteen soldiers'
– marcellothearcane
Jul 16 '17 at 8:27