fatigue party

“So it was with some satisfaction that I noted facings and markers — the old 60th Royal Americans, the Buffs, a fatigue party of the 44th — I felt a cold shudder at the memory of the bloody snow by Gandamack, the starved handful of survivors, and Soutar with the Colours of this same 44th wrapped round his waist as the Ghazis closed in for the kill.”

Flashman and the Dragon

“As Crutchfield's guns dueled with the well-protected Federal batteries, Hill tried to get a fatigue party to the site of the broken bridge, but they could not work under the enemy's shellfire.”

Simon & Schuster: LEE’S LIEUTENANTS

““More effectually to mask the movement,” wrote Major Wilkinson, “Washington ordered the guards to be doubled, a strong fatigue party to be set to work on an intrenchment . . . within distinct hearing of the sentinels of the enemy,” while American campfires were kept blazing all along the creek to make it appear as if the entire army remained in place.”

Simon & Schuster: Angel in the Whirlwind