Hoplites fighting in Phalanx formation

[Tarbicus]

Why they would do it? Well, motivation, revenge patriotism, you name it.

Patriotism is by far the most un-cited reason for acting in combat, over the last couple of hundred years at least. It's even a taboo subject amongst many fighting units. What writers decide to write afterwards is a different matter altogether, but usually in the cause of propaganda for the folks back home and not scientific documentation or analysis of men in combat.

Most scholars in my opinion know knowthing about armies amd try to make edjucated guesses who might be wide off-mark.

But what of those who were qualified military men, interested in the psychology of battle such as Harris and duPicq, and whose research has been borne out by practical application of their theories and observations?