MAJOR, in the art of war, the name of several officers of very different ranks and functions.
MAJOR of a regiment of Foot, the next officer to the lieutenant-colonel, generally promoted from the eldest captain: he is to take care that the regiment be well exercised, to see it march in good order, and to rally it in case of being broke in action: he is the only officer among the infantry that is allowed to be on horseback in time of action, that he may the more readily execute the colonel's orders.
MAJOR of a regiment of Horse, as well as foot, ought to be a man of honour, integrity, understanding, courage, activity, experience, and address: he should be master of arithmetic, and keep a detail of the regiment in every particular: he should be skilled in horsemanship, and ever attentive to his business: one of his principal functions is, to keep an exact roster of the officers for duty: he should have a perfect knowledge in all the military evolutions, as he is obliged by his post to instruct others, &c.