# Captain Ransome — In the Midst of Life character guide

> Captain Ransome in In the Midst of Life by Ambrose Bierce.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Ransome

**First appearance:** 0029-one-kind-of-officer

## Who they are

A Union battery commander whose order to open fire becomes the axis of a court of inquiry he cannot argue his way out of.

## In the story

### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_midst_of_life_se/chapters/iii)

The Federal officer who witnesses the aerial horseman and later reports to the commander.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_midst_of_life_se/chapters/i)

The officer in charge of the execution, standing on the bridge.

### [Parker Adderson, Philosopher](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_midst_of_life_se/chapters/parker-adderson-philosopher)

Provost-marshal (referred to as Captain Hasterlick in the text) who receives the execution order and is stabbed by Adderson.

### [An Affair of Outposts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_midst_of_life_se/chapters/an-affair-of-outposts)

The Union officer who orders the fire that leads to tragic consequences.

### [One Kind of Officer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_midst_of_life_se/chapters/one-kind-of-officer)

Orders his men to fire on their own troops under General Cameron's command.

### [Of the Uses of Civility](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_midst_of_life_se/chapters/i-of-the-uses-of-civility)

Commander of a battery, receives a curt order from General Cameron and responds with exaggerated formality to signify his resentment.

### [II: Under What Circumstances Men Do Not Wish to Be Shot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_midst_of_life_se/chapters/ii-under-what-circumstances-men-do-not-wish-to-be-shot)

Commands a battery of six guns; fortifies his position on the left flank.

### [III: How to Play the Cannon Without Notes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_midst_of_life_se/chapters/iii-how-to-play-the-cannon-without-notes)

Sits motionless and silent on horseback, isolated by fog, and orders fire despite insufficient support.

### [To Introduce General Masterson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_midst_of_life_se/chapters/iv-to-introduce-general-masterson)

Commander of the battery; his guns break the truce of doubt, triggering the enemy attack.

### [V: How Sounds Can Fight Shadows](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_midst_of_life_se/chapters/v-how-sounds-can-fight-shadows)

Commands the battery, walks behind his guns, mounts the parapet to observe, shoots a flag-waving assailant, and orders ceasefire.

### [Why, Being Affronted by A, It Is Not Best to Affront B](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_midst_of_life_se/chapters/vi-why-being-affronted-by-a-it-is-not-best-to-affront-b)

Commander of the battery who knowingly fired on his own men; he surrenders his sabre after Lieutenant Price's testimony.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_midst_of_life_se/characters/captain_ransome
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_midst_of_life_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_midst_of_life_se/characters