The term 'lowly soldier' can be broken down into two crossword solutions: 'GRUNT' and 'buckprivate'. A GRUNT is a slang term for a soldier in the lowest rank of the military, usually referring to an infantryman. A buckprivate is another term for a private, the lowest rank in the US Army and Marine Corps. Both terms refer to soldiers who are at the bottom of the chain of command and have the least amount of authority.