sb. pl. [ad. F. logistique, f. loge-r to quarter, LODGE, or logis LOGIS: see -ISTIC.] (See quot. 1898.)
1879. R. Taylor, Destruct. & Reconstr., v. 47. I have written of him [Johnston] as a master of logistics.
1890. Nicolay & Hay, in Century Mag., Feb., 570/2. The marches of Sherman disturbed all previous axioms of logistics.
1898. Athenæum, 10 Sept., 341. Strategy is the art of handling troops in the theatre of war; tactics that of handling them on the field of battle . The French have a third process, which they call logistics, the art of moving and quartering troops, i. e., quartermaster-generals work.
1901. Blackw. Mag., Jan., 3/1. To the small commandos, say of from 50 to 300 men, hanging about is the beginning and end of logistics.