The book "For Cause and Comrades" is a journey to understand why soldiers fought in the Civil War, why they fought so passionately, and why they fought for the long period of time. Men pointed guns at other men they had known all their lives. McPherson's main source of evidence was the numerous letters soldiers wrote home. One of the many significant influences was the way men fought to prove their masculinity and courage. Fighting would prove that they were a man for their community and their country. Fighting also had to do with duty to family. Ideology was also an important motivating factor; each side thought they were fighting for their freedom. The soldier's reputation was made and torn down on the battlefield, where men who showed the most courage were most honored. Religion also played an important role because the second Great Awakening had just occurred. Their religion meant that men who considered themselves saved had no fear of death: “Religion was the only thing that kept this soldier going; even in the trenches..." (McPherson, p. 76) R...