# General Masterson — In the Midst of Life character guide

> General Masterson in In the Midst of Life by Ambrose Bierce.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Introduce General Masterson

**First appearance:** 0033-iv-to-introduce-general-masterson

## Snapshot

A burly commander who becomes an equestrian statue of himself as one gallant rider pays in blood for the army's need to know.

## Who they are

Masterson commands from the fringe of the wood, motionless while his staff officers hold their glasses up and the whole line of battle stands caught in a new kind of attention. He knows that sending skirmishers would cost half their lives for the same answer, and he lets the volunteer ride instead. His silence is the story's moral pressure: the price of knowledge, and who is permitted to pay it.

## In the story

### [II: How to Say What Is Worth Hearing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_midst_of_life_se/chapters/ii-how-to-say-what-is-worth-hearing)

Advises the Governor against riding too far forward, using dry humor about siege guns.

### [The Great Honor the Great](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_midst_of_life_se/chapters/iv-the-great-honor-the-great)

Observed addressing another officer and praising the fight.

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

Division commander who meets Cameron and discusses troop positions before the attack.

### [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)

Rides into the redoubt after the battle, discovers the fratricidal error, and confronts Captain Ransome.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/in_the_midst_of_life_se/characters/general_masterson
- 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