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Chapter 1, This War is a Crusade

• McPherson explains the factors that led him to writing this book.

• McPherson's great-great-grandfather emigrated to the US from England in 1857 and then fought with the Union.

• Civil War soldiers were very different from modern soldiers.
• McPherson seeks to answer questions of what motivated Civil War soldiers to face such deadly conditions day in and day out.

• Both sides of the Civil War pointed to duty, honor, and liberty as major motivations to fight.

• The definitions of duty, honor, and liberty were slightly different for each side of the Civil War.

• There were many deserters in both armies.

• Soldiers on both sides complained constantly, but McPherson notes that it has long been the soldier's privilege to complain.
• McPherson has separated the soldiers' motivations into three categories, following those set down by French Revolution historian John A. Lynn.

• The first category is initial motivation...

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