Withdraw from the general retreat (6)
I believe the answer is:
renege
'withdraw' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'from the general retreat' is the wordplay.
'from' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'retreat' says the letters should be written backwards.
'egener' is hidden in the letters of 'the general'.
'egener' backwards is 'RENEGE'.
(Other definitions for renege that I've seen before include "South American cowboy" , "Default" , "Go back (on promise etc)" , "Fail to keep promise, or revoke in cards" , "In card games, revoke" .)