War-cry

A cry or signal used in war. For mutual recognition and encouragement in battle, war-cries have always been common, each rude nation or tribe having its own. The ancient war-cry of the English was Saint George! that of the Spaniards, San Jago! and that of the French, Montjoie Saint-Denis! that of the dukes of Burgundy, Montjoie Saint-André! and that of the dukes of Bourbon, Montjoie Notre-Dame! . In the feuds of the Middle Ages, each party, or the retainers of each noble family, had a distinctive war-cry. Sometimes the war-cry was the name of the family. Thus, in Scotland, the retainers of the noble houses of Douglas and of Home rushed into battle with the cry of A Douglas! a Douglas! or A Home! a Home! The French armies under Napoleon were accustomed to charge with shouts of Vive l’Empereur!