How did duty and honor compel us into this awful war?

[OldGreyWolf]

Much is written about the "duty" and "honor" of the men that fought on the various battlefields of the late great unpleasantness, but I am not sure many of us know exactly what it meant to them.

What is the general consensus regarding "duty" and "honor" and the American Civil War soldier?

How did they regard "duty"? Duty to self; to family and friends; to neighbors; to State and to Country.

How did they regard "honor"? What was considered honorable and dishonorable and why?

What had we ought to learn from their example? What have we forgotten?

If there is one thing I've learned on this long hunt for truth; I have more questions than answers.

[larry_cockerham]

As you know, these are relatively simple questions with not so simple answers. I suspect many in this group have varied opinions and the eagerness to express them. I suspect honor was something earned in the field while duty was thrust upon the individual soldier from a multitude of directions and inspirations. I'm anxious to learn your thoughts and those of our comrades. What was one man's 'honor' was another man's brush with death. 'Kind of depended on where you were standing at the time?

[ole]

I'm just going to sit here silent and impressed. Be back later.

ole

[5fish]

[

quote=larry_cockerham;86340]As you know, these are relatively simple questions with not so simple answers.

So true!!

[bankerpapaw]

Not to take one thing away from the soldiers, I think part of the honor aspect was that these men were in companys and regiments that were from the same part of the country. The soldier did not want to bring disgrace on his outfit or his home town. I realize that this is just a small part of Honor, but it did play a part.

[larry_cockerham]

Originally Posted by bankerpapaw

Not to take one thing away from the soldiers, I think part of the honor aspect was that these men were in companys and regiments that were from the same part of the country. The soldier did not want to bring disgrace on his outfit or his home town. I realize that this is just a small part of Honor, but it did play a part.

Almost seven thousand Confederates marched to their final destiny at Franklin and what the South deemed honor, merely on the strength of peer pressure. In the face of danger, courage often comes from one's relationship to the guy standing next in file. If he can do, so will I, that sort of thing. Even Cleburne turned to Granbury and said something to the effect "If we're to die, let us die like men." They did.

[Baggage Handler #2]

If you're a vet, consider for a few moments the finest officer you knew.

If you're not a vet, or were unfortunate enough not to have known outstanding officers, then I cannot help.

[whitworth]

Since his wife's estate was so close to Washington, it didn't seem to matter what happened to her estate, when he went with his state, out of loyalty.

With all his military training, he must have had some pessimism about Virginia's chances to win the war and defend Virginia. He even attempted to "save" Wheeling, Virginia, on the Ohio River, for Virginia. There was absolutely no way the Confederacy could save Wheeling and much of the western Virginia counties.

As an army engineer, Lee had experience on the Mississippi River doing work to preserve the St. Louis port on the river. Surely, he had to know that the U.S. had superiority when it came to war involving steamboats. That modern transportation of supplies and troops, would totally endanger Confederate land near navigable waterways.

And he kept the "sense of honor" after the war was lost, by attempting to hold Petersburg, and retreating to Appomattox.

Sometimes I feel Lee was a man of brilliance held fast by his honor, while associating with a bunch of incompetents.

If the Confederate founding fathers had asked R.E. Lee his thoughts on military action before secession, I wonder what he would have said about their chances?

[M E Wolf]

Dear List Members;
[quote=OldGreyWolf;86332]Much is written about the "duty" and "honor" of the men that fought on the various battlefields of the late great unpleasantness, but I am not sure many of us know exactly what it meant to them.
I highly doubt if any modern standard of what 'duty' or 'honor' remotely compares to the standard of 'duty' and or 'honor' of those during the Civil War. However, those who fought the Civil War were, in most cases-grandson/grandaughters of those who fought in the Revolutionary War, perhaps the War of 1812 and previous wars. Being that religion was far more influential of overall behavior, expectations were seen as duties and honor was a personal commitment and all a person's reputation was due to honor of keeping their word/oath/commitment/contracts. Honor was not hollow in those days. Duty was not always pleasant but, it was the right thing to do and, at times the consequences are personal sacrifices. I feel empathy in these words Honor and Duty; as I made a promise to my dying father to take care of my mother. My oath has become my duty. My honor, is keeping my oath and keeping to my duty, my personal life on hold and perhaps will expire in discharging my duties.

What is the general consensus regarding "duty" and "honor" and the American Civil War soldier?

It seems to me duty and honor existed prior to any military service, again the society/civil code of conduct remained in a 'knightly' yet civilian manifestation, as words were with weight and reputation was all an individual had, which then trust was built and leadership followed and or inspiration to do much the same; as it would feed a positive response in which everybody was raised to a higher level of respect and dignity. It is the manner/etiquette of which seeing to another's comfort and welfare was common and also appreciated. Being a good host for example--seeing guests having the most memorable moment in their lives and the center of respect and attraction. Word was a contract it seems, thus an oath, a honor to commit to keeping that oath valid and duty to the commitment/contract.

Manifested in the Official Records, personal feelings, emotions were often kept 'arrested' to which these officers and soldiers set aside their personal agendas, feelings and or such, and committed to the agenda, the mission, the philosophy of the military. Transending from individual as an individual representative of the military and that Government that military represented.

How did they regard "duty"? Duty to self; to family and friends; to neighbors; to State and to Country.

Again, it is my own personal opinion--that family was most important in those times, and perhaps --When the states/commonwealths are considered the relatives of a family, e.g. "The Union" and or "United States," should there be unrest--one then falls back to the blood relatives that had borne that person in the most positive manner--loyalty to family; only rising into the state level when the threat is manifested into that level.

Reputation could not be bought--it could only be earned, respect equally must be earned -- there might be respect for the position, e.g. officer, president and or what they represent but, the seed of hate for the person, e.g. John Doe can exist.

For me, my mother has never been kind to me. I do not suffer under my mother's cruelty out of masochism; but--for the promise and the duty to honor my word to my father. I have no idea how many chances to find the right spouse for me have passed. But, I do not dwell on what I might be missing--I know I am denied opportunities but, my duty is what I make of it--what I honor myself in keeping my word/promise/oath. Little will my duty be known. But, I do not do my duty to gain 'atta-boy' praises or seek my own glory--I do this because it is the right thing to do--not because it is easy--physically, mentally, emotionally and or spiritually.

How did they regard "honor"? What was considered honorable and dishonorable and why?

In reading several Army Rules and Regulations, Army Code of Conducts, Specifications of Duties, Conducts and the like; my sense of 'honor' in respect was that there was a standard of behavior; to which much was black and white - few gray areas. I like an analogy of right and wrong as like pregnancy--'either you're pregnant or you're not--you can't be a little bit pregnant.' Again, honor is something that is bestowed on others as well as presented to another--in correspondences it might be very hollow--but, only the person themselves know their 'spirit of intent.' Words mean nothing but, the person who 'works in speaking of honor' must walk the walk and talk the talk--or it is just hollow fluff.

What had we ought to learn from their example? What have we forgotten?

For me, honor is knowing that you are invited into someone else's privacy, military theater, commander's confidences and intimate thoughts and life, the honor of being accepted and or invited; as well as honor being in the position of being empowered to extend towards others. Honor means, showing respect for others without expecting any return but, humbled that honor is returned and 'spiritually intentional in truth.' Honor is not a right but, a gift of empowerment, respect, recognition, acknowledgment and importance that what is said or done, is important and worthy of respect and or the 'office' and or 'position' they represent bringing the respect and authority and standards of that position, as the representative of what it all means.

Honor is a form of 'trust.'

Duty--It is a commitment regardless of the degree of participation and or rank. From the lowest form of service, that performance of service is extremely important and not ever insugnificant, regardless of how a person may feel about it. Duty is not a money price commitment but, ethical, moral, spiritual, mental, emotional and most visible--the physical self. Duty, for me is to set aside my personal welfare and place another's before mine. My duty is to defend, protect, provide, comfort, support, maintain a standard of behavior to which inspires others to achieve and be their own best standard of behavior in life. Should my life end in such duty--It is for me, my personal investment in the bank called family, called my country, my commonwealth, called my friends and called my total sum of my life. My duty is being the best 'me' I can be.

Duty is doing what is the right thing to do, regardless of personal feelings and or political leanings. Duty is committing to what is the correct thing to do--not because it is hard or easy. It must be done by someone who is willing to stick with their commitment.

If there is one thing I've learned on this long hunt for truth; I have more questions J

Personally, I feel that there will be as many explainations of what duty and or honor means to those who answer. Yet, though the words can put into text in a dictionary form what they mean--at times the deeds of honor and duty transends any summary of a word.

Life to me has always been a series of questions and answers. When this ends, I expect I shall be buried.

Just some thoughts.

M. E. Wolf

[Freddy]

Here is one soldier's reasons for enlisting after Lincoln's call for volunteers. Duty, both Christian and political, played a part in his enlisting. From his diary:

"July 30, 1862
The past 22 days have been busy and eventful ones to me. Thursday, July 10th, enlisted as a volunteer in the service of the U.S. Soon after the President’s call for the 300,000 volunteers felt it my duty to be one of them, feel it as much a Christian as a political duty, and feel that every citizen ought to feel it so. And certainly have never felt more peace of mind as flowing from a sense of duty done, as in this matter of enlistment into the service of our country. In most of the towns of our state volunteering goes on rapidly. In others, however, there seems to be but little true patriotism. All towns are offering liberal bounties, varying from one to three hundred dollars. I fear that some of our volunteers go more from motives founded in dollars and cents than from those drawn from true patriotism. May God bless our land and help us as a people to have that true patriotism which is founded in true Christian and political principles. I have been at home all day or nearly so, having left Mr. Bogden’s Monday night. I have been busy packing my effects and preparing my camp equipage. Tomorrow go to camp at Lynnfield. May Thy blessing, My Heavenly father, be with me, and aid me to have thy love and service first and foremost upon the affections of my heart, and be the foundation motives of each thought, word and act, for Christ’s sake."