[quote=@Skallagrim]
Yes all those codes existed and only applied in certain situations. You are a romantic Melon. Warfare is brutal and deadly, those codes would be hardpressed to follow in a melee.
[/quote]

Melees were pretty rare in pitched battles. They did descend into total bloodshed of both sides resulting in no real winner. Hence why they were avoided.  


I think the real point is that guns are very good at killing people. Which I believe results in allot more deaths compared to battles of the past. I mean, you have a hard time having 'friendly fire' when your only weapon is a long pointy object.