I recall the segment on the Civil War, I believe a link is at post #11, where Shelby Foote mentioned that there wasn't a soldier on the Southern side that didn't know that the charge was a mistake.
But they attacked anyway.
Kind of reminds me of the charges at Fredickburg by Union forces. I believe Joshua Chamberlain was in that battle too.
LOL. And Fredericksburg reminds me of the election in November. So what if we "take the hill?" The loss to our side will be nearly irreplaceable. And if we don't? Equally bad. Yet there is Burnside (McCain) crying in his tent before ordering the attack!
And, yes, Chamberlain was in that battle, and I think was wounded---a wound from which he always had problems, despite living until 1913 . . . the 50th anniversary of the battle. He died shortly thereafter.