Honors of War

A compliment granted on capitulation to a garrison which has made a gallant defense. The exact nature of the honors accorded have varied in different ages and on different occasions. Ordinarily they are as follows: The garrison marches out through the gap in the breach, if there is one, with arms and personal baggage. The drums beat, the colors fly, officers carry their swords drawn, and the men their bayonets fixed. A certain number of guns—ordinarily two—accompany the force, and formerly the gunners carried lighted matches. On reaching the glacis the garrison—unle it is one of the stipulations that it is to join the main army—forms up and grounds arms, only the officers retaining their swords, and is marched off under escort.