For Cause and Comrades: Why Men Fought in the Civil War Summary
James M. McPherson

For Cause and Comrades: Why Men Fought in the Civil War Overview

For Cause and Comrades: Why Men Fought in the Civil War delves into the complicated reasoning behind the intensity of the American Civil War. James McPherson utilized over 25,000 letters of both Union and Confederate soldiers writing home to substantiate his claims that soldiers’ motivations varied from “military rage”, pursuit of liberty, honor, patriotism and courage that was often bolstered by feelings of religious strength.