Honor

I can't help but appreciate the way opposing sides dealt with each other during this war. They respected each other, they regarded each other as "sir," and they were trustworthy. These ideals seem so foreign from what we see in today's wars. When Chamberlain went running down the side of Little Round Top and captured a Confederate officer, the man simply said, "Your prisoner, sir." Chamberlain thereafter left the officer expecting that he would remain a prisoner despite the fact that no one was guarding him. Before the battle began, two men from the Second Maine still refused to fight. Not able to spare a man to guard them, Chamberlain declared, "I'll waste no man to guard you. I'll expect to find you here when this is over." Tom later approached Chamberlain with another Reb officer. After being introduced to the officer Chamberlain offered him water from his own canteen. There seemed to be such honor among men in the past. Where has that gone today? What changed? Why isn't a handshake or a man's word good enough any more?