I've often wondered if I would have enlisted had it not been for the draft. I know that I didn't give a damn about that stinking little Southeast Asian country, and I don't think it was worth a single American life. Most of the guys I served with seemed to feel the same way. That being said, the acts of heroism and self-sacrifice that took place over there rival any that occurred in any "good" war this country ever fought. None of us "had a dog in that fight," except for the buddy next to us.

I suspect that the average Civil War soldier, North and South, felt the same. In war, soldiers will do things for their buddies and for the honor of their unit, that they would never willingly do for some lofty political principle or economic system. And you can add one more element that seems to have been unique to the Civil War -- loyalty to your general. In no other war that I can think of, did men go the extra mile because of their devotion to their general -- Robert E. Lee, Pat. Cleburne, et al. I can't imagine a soldier of my generation laying down his life for Westmoreland or Abrams.

It might make an interesting research topic for someone to try to explain why Civil War soldiers were willing to make such sacrifices for certain generals.