Civil war
Black's Law Dictionary · Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910
Black's Law Dictionary
An internecine war
A war carried on between opposing masses of citizens of the same country or nation. Before the declaration of independence, the war between Great Britain and the United Colonies was a civil war; but instantly on that event the war changed its nature, and became a public war between independent governments.
Hubbard v. Exp. Co.., io R. I. 244; Brown v. Hiatt, 4 Fed. Cas. 387; Prize Cases, 2 Black, 667, 17 L. Ed. 459; Central R. & B. Co. v. Ward, 37 Ga. 515.