Tried using soldiers at time of loss (9)
I believe the answer is:
detriment
'loss' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'tried using soldiers at time' is the wordplay.
'using' indicates an anagram (the letters used in a different way).
'soldiers' becomes 'men' (men can mean a group of soldiers).
'at' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'time' becomes 't' (abbreviation).
'tried' with letters rearranged gives 'detri'.
'detri'+'men'+'t'='DETRIMENT'
'of' is the link.
(Other definitions for detriment that I've seen before include "State of being harmed or damaged" , "Possible loss" , "Damage, loss" , "Harm, damage" , "hurt" .)