First you have to determine if it’s reasonable fear or not. If it is, then by all means, avoid the action and you are right.
Many of us have unreasonable fears concerning some matters. Those unreasonable fears can cause us to put up walls or slam on the brakes when we shouldn’t.
Sadly, this wasn’t one of those cases. He had reasoned fear, and I’m sorry he didn’t listen to it.
He mentioned that every Confederate soldier knew it was folly to march out into that open field, but all of them did.
Foote said it would have been more courageous to tell the general that "no one can take that hill" then to march to certain death.
I guess this fellow felt the same way. How do you tell them you are not going to represent your country because you are frightened.