Same in the Marines, During WWII there were cases in the Pacific where the Company commander was a sergeant. Senior man takes charge, whether he's a General, or a PFC.
In defense of Kipling however I will point out that "Take open order and await your supports" was the standard procedure and probably exactly what the officer would have order had a 5 rupee jezail not erased L2,000 worth of education. (It's an obscure reference to another Kipling line. Sorry for those who don't get it.)