BRIGADE (Fr., Tt. brigata, company, from brigure. to strive, brigs, strife). A number of regiments, battalions, or corps of any arm of the service combined in one group and under one general command. The system of group ing battalions and regiments into brigades was first introduced by the great generals of France in the reign of Louis XIV. (1642 1715)—Turenne, Condi!, and others; and in England by Marlborough. The idea was soon imitated by every army in Europe, the rule generally being to group together regiments of infantry of two or three battalions. each battalion 500 or 000 strong, and regiments of cavalry of four squadrons, each having a strength of from 100 to 150. Artillery was not as yet prepared for this form of organization, as most of the guns were attached to the regi ments. The organization of the army as a whole is the factor which determines the char acter and strength of component parts in times of peace; alterations made in the field are usu ally to facilitate command, to insure greater mobility and better adaptation to the circum stances with which the army as a whole is con fronted. In the United States a brigade may
consist of either infantry, cavalry, or artillery, under the command of a brigadier-general. There are usually three regiments in a brigade, though the number may be greater or less. In England the strength of a brigade varies with the circumstances under which it is formed. It has no arbitrary strength or !dace in the organ ization of the army. En Continental European armies two regiments is the average strength in time of peace, varying according to circumstance in time of war. See ARMY OltGANIZATION.