A general officer on active duty acquired a (by European standards) small staff. Some of these were supplied - eg Quartermaster General's staff and (civilian) commissariat officers. Some he appointed himself. Amongst the latter were his Aides De Camp - general assistants and messengers. These were usually selected by the officer himself, even when they were paid by the government. Officers on staff duties usually received extra pay allowances.
One particular staff appointment often causes confusion, a Brigade Major. This was a temporary staff appointment to organise the administration when battalions were brigaded together on active service. The appointee could be (and often was) a junior officer who thereby acquired the title of major! Harry Smith was a Brigade Major (and effectively in command of a brigade) while still a lieutenant.
ADCs are an interesting example of how misconceptions can arise. The government made an allowance to general officers on active duty to pay their ADCs. The allowance was for one ADC for command at Brigade or Divisional level and two for command at Army level. If the general wanted more ADCs, he had to pay them out of his own pocket! Given this, it is not surprising to find Wellington appointing relatives as ADCs. After all, he was paying them.
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Last update 14/07/02