Duty was a powerful motivator for many soldiers. The simple feeling of duty to one's country provoked thousands to enlist. Of course, one might surmise that such a sense of responsibility to the country might be replaced by fear and pragmatism once the soldiers saw the horrors of battle. But still, most remained determined to fight after "seeing the elephant." McPherson points out that "one finds repeatedly in soldiers' letters the sentiment that 'I have no desire to get into another fight, but if duty calls I am ready to go.' 'All the money in the world would not hire me to go into another battle but I shall go cheerfully when I am ordered to.'"
Working concomitantly with that feeling obligation to the country was also the fear of being seen as a coward or even felt afraid of knowing that they themselves were fearful. And this is where the mark of honor played a powerful part. Often, the courage certain soldiers mustered to enlist and to fight in ferocious battles was actually the avoidance of this virtue's opposite. The author points out that "Civil War soldiers went into a hail of bullets because they were more afraid of 'showing the white feather' than they were of death." Passing the test of manhood by willingly engaging in battle was a serious business for the Civil War soldier, for if he failed, he would never be able to hold his head up in his unit again. In fact, many seriously ill soldiers dragged themselves into battle out of fear of being called a "sneak" and a "coward."
Of course, the fear of being seen as yellow had its roots back home; most soldiers who enlisted did so with friends and family in their own communities. Many enlistees were childhood friends who remained in close contact with the local newspapers and family back home. News of any cowardice act would by any individual would undoubtedly make it back home, thus ostracizing that soldier into utter shame. Fear of this humiliation was a compelling force in the initial, sustaining, and combat motivations.
