“Why did you fight as you did? Why did you risk death so often? Did you do it for the good of the country? ..The war wasn't for the good of the country. It was for the benefit of private mercantile interests, fueled by by the conceit of politicians. You fought for the glory and medals then? Hardly. Then why? ...Everything I did was for my men. For the noncommissioned ones who had joined the army to avoid starvation or the workhouse. And for the junior officers who were experienced and long-serving but hadn't the means to buy a commission. I had the command only because I had money to purchase it, not for reason of merit. Absurd. And the men in my company, the poor bastards, were supposed to follow me , whether I proved to be incompetent, an imbecile or a coward. They had no choice but to depend on me. And therefore I had no choice but to try and be the leader they needed. I needed to keep them alive... I failed far too often. And now I would love for someone to tell me how to live with their deaths on my conscience.” Crimean WarCaptain Christopher Phelan Book:Love in the Afternoon Source: Love in the Afternoon