![]() ![]() The honours of war became traditional in the age of early modern warfare, when sieges were more common, and logistical challenges made it difficult to corner a defeated enemy after a battlefield victory. The French General Montcalm refused to grant honours of war to the officer, John Littlehales, because he felt that Littlehales had not put up enough of a fight. For example, after the British commander was killed by a cannonball at the Battle of Fort Oswego (1756), his replacement quickly decided to surrender. ![]() Therefore, a victorious general may also refuse to grant the honours of war if he feels that the enemy has given up too easily. The honours of war are considered to be a symbolic recognition of a valiant defense. When negotiating the surrender of a British army at Yorktown a year later, American General George Washington insisted: "The same Honors will be granted to the Surrendering Army as were granted to the Garrison of Charles Town." As a result, the British had to march with flags furled and muskets shouldered, and the surrender articles insisted that the band play "a British or German march." The American defenders had been refused the honours of war when they surrendered after the Siege of Charleston (1780). It was common for commanders to withhold the honours of war in retaliation for some other incident. The defeated army may also take a couple of cannons with them, along with a symbolic supply of ammunition. However, officers may keep their sidearms and personal baggage. Īfter the march-past, the defeated army will stack its arms and turn over any government property to the victor. However, there is no requirement that the defeated army select an enemy tune, and the British army at the Battles of Saratoga (1777) marched out to the tune of " The British Grenadiers". As the defeated army marches past, its band can play a tune of its own choice, customarily an enemy tune. During the matchlock era, musketmen would light their matches on both ends and place musketballs in their mouths. When full honours of war are granted, the defeated army may march out with its flags flying, drums beating, and bayonets fixed. Typically a surrendering garrison was permitted to march out with drums beating and flags flying, after which they would become prisoners of war or granted free passage. The honours symbolise the valour of the defeated army, and grew into a custom during the age of early modern warfare. The honours of war are a set of privileges that are granted to a defeated army during the surrender ceremony. ![]()
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