Civil War

The Civil War was a very violent episode in America’s history. There were more casualties in this war than all of the American wars, (McPherson, 5). The war turned brother on brother, thus coining the name ‘the Brother War,” (McPherson, 15). Many people in today’s era often question why so many men willingly fought knowing death was always a high possibility. We will never know the exact answer but from many writings: letters, newsletters, journals, memoirs, we can get a glimpse at what the motivations were for them to enlist and then keep fighting. James M. McPherson attempts to do this in his book For Cause & Comrades. He gives many firsthand accounts as evidence for his explanations. His most important motivators are rage militarie, honor and brotherhood, ideals on slavery, and religion.

A major motivator that got men to enlist in the Civil War was “rage militarie,” (McPherson, 16). In the beginning of the war, around 1861and 1862 (McPherson, 16), many chose to enlist; the draft had not started yet. With so many men enlisting, many others wanted to do so as well. It was a craze, and very excited phase of the war. “…the feeling runs mountains high, and thousands of men are offering their services where hundreds only are required,” (McPherson, 16). Many men felt obligated to enlist and defend their beloved country, or even just their hometowns, homes, women and families, because so many others had. The peer pressure on a man was to love their nation as much as their neighbor, which greatly influenced men to enlist in the war. This mania died down but would burst into life again when later points of crisis would become present, (McPherson, 17). The idea of “rage militarie” was present in both the Union and the Confederate.

Honor w...

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...forces “who are battling for their rights and for an institution in which Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee are [as] interested…” “…The vandals of the North… are determined to destroy slavery… We must all fight, and I choose to fight for southern rights and southern liberty…,” (McPherson, 20). This was also an issue of liberty to Confederates. Life, liberty and property, slaves, were being jeopardized to them. The idea of losing their property also motivated them enlist. To many of the Union soldiers, this was a way to bring justice to the slaves. They knew that the south would never give up this tradition willingly because it benefited them. The war was letting the slaves have their voice as people. A man from Ohio worked as an artillery officer believed that the war “will not be ended until the subject of slavery is finally and forever settled…,” (McPherson, 19).