Thanks, I've looked through lots of memoirs from the period and there lots of references to a 'flag of truce' as an article - i.e. you could be under it, carry it, bear it etc. But also many uses as a deputation that could be sent, received, refused etc. Possibly the second sense of the phrase came from the first.

I've also got quite a few of the 'advice for officers' type books and none of those specify what form a 'flag of truce' was to take. So I'm guessing that it was common knowledge and so not worth mentioning - which would point to it being an actual white flag. Anything as vague as a trumpeter sounds as though it would be asking for trouble, and begs the question what would infantry do. With Wellington being such a micro-manager you would have expected something a bit more specific somewhere.

Anyway, thanks for your input. I think I'll now move on and not worry about it any more.

Regards

Rob

P.S. Here are some examples of usage:

Circumstance of Dragoon Whelan of my troop being on vidette when a flag of truce came in, and the manner he used his sword on the French trumpeter who would not halt when he was ordered by Whelan, but continued to advance, sounding as he moved forward.

Preparations were at the same time made by us for storming, and when the proper time arrived a flag of truce was sent in, giving the enemy the choice of
surrendering without risking any further additional loss of life. This the governor refused, but the French general officer, who was next in authority, at once complied. He hauled down the tricolour and hoisted the white flag, acknowledging all as prisoners of war.

Two or three hours afterwards, just as we were about to fall in, an hour before day-break, the serjeant came to say that a flag of truce was at the barrier.

This arose from a party of French cavalry having approached our advanced guard bearing a flag of truce, and escorting General Kellerman, who was sent by Marshal Junot to propose an armistice.

We sent a flag of truce for leave to bury the dead and remove the wounded, but it was not received.

Just as they were about to move off for the purpose, a flag of Truce issued from the Fort ; the result of the conference, which lasted some time, was the
surrendering up the Fort and all it contained to the Allied Army.

Had it been known he was a prisoner, the flag of truce would of course have gone in, and I with it.

A flag of truce having just gone in, or rather hoisted in the town by the enemy, and being not so much distracted by shot and shell, I embrace
the opportunity (which I may say with truth is almost the only one I have had since the commencement of the siege) of writing these few lines.

Still General Thouvenot disbelieved or affected to disbelieve the whole affair ; but he returned an answer by the flag of truce which accompanied the
aide-de-camp,

Hence we may account for that apparently treacherous act of the enemy, in demanding a cessation of arms, and then sending a reinforcement for the defence of the breach, while a flag of truce was flying.

The Major of Artillery Barretto, who proved a traitor, was sent by Cox as a flag of truce.