Military in the field - ID issues

[rusquen]

This is a fantasy story set in a secondary world. The army in question is vaguely reminiscent of the Napoleonic army, but the country it belongs to is definitely and defiantly a republic (so - no nobles pulling rank

Comments

[xolo]

Okay... If it were me: The lieutenant isn't out on patrol alone, or at least I hope not. He'll have a sergeant, and several enlisted men with him. His patrol has just been in an unexpected fight, so he's entirely justified in having his men load and prime their muskets, and possibly fix bayonets as well, if that won't interfere with firing the muskets (some bayonet designs did). Depending on how dense the trees are, and how closely an enemy can approach from cover, bayonets may be a better weapon anyway.

I'd start immediately back for the fort with the general in custody. The purpose of a patrol is to find out if anything untoward is happening nearby, and meeting enemy troops and finding a stray general needs to be reported at once. The general occupies a status between being under arrest and being given a protective escort, which everyone understands, but everyone will pretend that it's very much the latter.

When we get within sight of the fort (and a fort should have a clear-cut killing zone around it, so no-one can approach under cover), I'd send a runner ahead to alert the officer in charge of the watch, and ask for instructions and the doctor. We'd wait outside the fort, (under the walls, where an enemy would have to be prepared to take serious casualties to get at us), and wait for instructions.

In European armies, in the late 18th / early 19th centuries, an officer was also considered a gentleman, and a general was usually nobility. Since he's not recognized, it would not be out of line to politely ask him to give his word that he has no hostile intent.

Edit for afterthought:

Or, if I've misconstrued the situation, and the lieutenant sallied out of the fort because he noticed fighting outside: He'll have made his comrades aware of what's happening before he goes out. 100% guaranteed. If there's any danger, sounding the alarm is his #1 priority, before mounting a rescue. That's going to be pretty much universal, no matter what army. If that's the case, then the doctor, the Watch Officer or Officer of the Day, and everyone else will be aware of the situation, probably before the fight ends. The lieutenant won't have to worry about what to do, because a senior officer will take charge.