FLANK (the side), a word used in many senses in military matters. Flanks of an army are the wings, or bodies of men on the right and left extremities, prepared to close in upon an enemy who shall attack the center. Flank files are the soldiers marching on the extreme right and left of a company or any other body of troops. Flank company is the company on the right or left when a battalion is in line; the grenadier and light infantry companies usually occupy these positions, and arc known as flank companies, whether with the remainder of the regiment or not. A flanking party is a body of horse or foot employed in hanging upon and harassing the flank of an enemy's force —Flank, as applied in fortification, will be best described under that article (q The flanks (f a frontier are certain salient points in a national boundary, strong by nature and art, and ordinarily projecting somewhat beyond the general line. The effect of these flanks is to protect the whole frontier against an enemy, as he dare not penetrate between them, with the risk of their garrisons, reinforced from their own territories, attacking his rear, and cutting off communication between him and his base. Silistria and Widin were
flanks of the Turkish frontier during Omar Pasha's campaign in 1853 and 1854. Simi larly, in the event of an invasion of England from the coast of Sussex or Kent, Ports mouth and Chatham would be formidable flanking garrisons, which would almost neces sarily have to be subdued before the invader could march on London.
In evolutions, "to flank" is to take such a position with troops as either to aid one's own army in an attack on the enemy, by leading the latter to suppose that his flanks are in danger in his present position, or to prevent him from advancing on one's comrades by threatening his flanks if he should do so. To outflank is to succeed by maneuvers in commanding the flank of an enemy who has been, on his part, endeavoring, to flank one's own force.