Detachment, in its Military sense, is a small but indefinite number of troops, sent from the main body of a regiment, brigade, division, or army, as the case may be, to perform some special duty. In the Royal Artillery the party of men who work one gun is called a 'gun detachment.'
Detachment
Chambers's Encyclopaedia, Volume 3: Catarrh to Dion, p. 777
Source scan(s): p. 0790