General, or GENERAL OFFICER, is an officer of the general staff of the army. A field-marshal or general commanding-in-chief would in the field usually command several Army Corps (q.v.), a general one corps, a lieutenant-general one Division (q.v.), a major-general one Brigade (q.v.). Brigadier-generals in the British army are usually colonels in temporary command of brigades. There are many in India. In 1889 there were 5 field-marshals in the British army, 13 generals, 43 lieutenant-generals, and 117 major-generals. Comparatively few of these hold commands, and if unemployed for five years in either rank they are compulsorily retired. Also, a major-general must retire if he reaches sixty-two without being promoted, and a lieutenant-general or general at sixty-seven. Promotion amongst the generals is by seniority, unless there are good grounds for a contrary course, but promotion to field-marshal is made by the sovereign without respect to seniority. Colonels, if under fifty-five (sixty-two if holding temporary rank as major-general), and stated to be competent by the commander-in-chief, are eligible for promotion to general's rank, and the seniors are usually taken to fill vacancies as they occur; but at any time a colonel may be promoted for distinguished conduct.
As regards pay, when actively employed a general commanding-in-chief receives £10, 15s. a day; a general not in chief command, £8; a lieutenant-general, £5, 10s.; a major-general, £3; and a brigadier-general, £2, 10s., all exclusive of allowances for forage, &c. When on half-pay a field-marshal receives £1300 a year, the others £800, £650, and £500 respectively. When retired a general receives £1000 a year, a lieutenant-general £850, and a major-general £700; but there are various modifications affecting these amounts.
The rank of captain-general, superior even to field-marshal, is held by the sovereign ex officio and is borne by the colonel of the Honourable Artillery Company of London, but otherwise it has not been conferred upon any officer of the British army during the 19th century.
In the United States the rank of general, a higher rank than had before existed, was created by act of congress in 1866, and conferred on General Grant. It was subsequently conferred on Sherman and on Sheridan. The highest rank held by Washington was that of lieutenant-general, which is also usually that of the general-in-chief of the army. There is, of course, but one lieutenant-general; and by law there can be but three major-generals and six brigadier-generals. The general's yearly pay is 13,500; the lieutenant-general's 11,000; the major-general's, 7500; the brigadier-general's, 5500. In the militia there are ranks with like names, and the title of general as a form of address is consequently of embarrassing frequency in the United States.