Loyalty

As a commander, one of the most important things to have in an army is loyalty, that of of officers and subordinates down to the last private, as well as the loyalty of the people one serves.

Keegan examines loyalty throughout history as it applies to military history. Alexander demanded and received loyalty through being benevolent and melodramatic enough to create a wave of guilt over his people. Wellington had some difficulty with loyalty, perhaps due to his perfectionism and lack of what he deemed to be qualified soldiers. Still, those who were most loyal to Wellington were surely part of the reason the British duke was able to be so successful in his conquests.

U.S. Grant had great problems with loyalty at Shiloh when nearly one-fifth of the army deserted him in the face of sure defeat. Eventually, Grant would succeed in having loyal followers, as...