The Spanish commander asked when they were going to start on their return journey.

The commander asked for four hours time to consider, which, however, I refused, and allowed him only half an hour to speak with his officers.

And would you hit them again if commanders in the field ask for authorization to do so?

Those points do tally with what the Commander was asking about.

I'm not sure I know what the commander is asking about.

They'd done as well as any commander could have asked.

The Commander asked, voice like a file on rough steel.

Commander, I ask you to consider the gravity of the situation.

"Commander, go ahead and ask me," she said with a touch of defiance in her voice.

The cavalry commander asked the next question: "What kind of strange things?"