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It was the day when generals and lords were on the battlefield with their troops. Early example is Richard I of England on Crusade in Palestine: on the highway to Joppa he saw in the valley below and at some distance a caravan escorted by a small contingent of Templars who had formed a battle "square" which signified a fight to the death. Their opponent was over 1300 Ottoman light cavalry. He turned reign to support them and after being warned by his attendants that he would surely die and that the death of the Templars would be an honorable one, he threatened to cut off the arm of the one holding his horse by the bridle.

aside: Richard was once greeted by a Saracen embassy, one of whom displayed the sharp edge of his Demascene blade by cutting though a silk cloth (strongest natural fiber/impossible with Crusader steel) as it floated in the air. The messenger then said to the effect,"so will we cut through the strongest of armies". Richard walked up to the messenger's camel and with one blow struck off the beast's head. He didn't need to say anything. The strength of that King was legendary.- Payne,"The Dream and the Tomb", A history of the Crusades.

His next quote attributable to Matthew Paris was,"I sent those men here. If I do not die with them here today, may I never be called King again." I will spare you the romantic flourishes. Suffice it to say that the Templars, emboldened at the site of their King charging toward the fray with his company behind routed an enemy of over 20 times their number. I could go on and on, but to cite the Civil War specifically, their was great gentility shown and admiration on both sides for their enemies. Obviously most of the generals fought together during the War with Mexico, but the common soldier would cheer and weep for the other side during great battles and tragedies like Vicksburg or Kennesaw to name a few. Grant and Sherman closed that war with hammer strokes. With very few exceptions those who now start the wars no longer fight in them. Think of all the Senators and Congressmen from national and state houses who joined the fight on either side. You have never seen that since. Sure they may site age or training, but how old do you have to be to move equipment ashore during the Normandy invasion or crossing no man's land in WWI? Men became cogs in the machinery of war. During the Middle ages and on through the High Renaissance you still saw the largest casualties among the nobility and lesser gentry. In fact it is history, and not Hollywood films that bears my assertion out. I don't recall seeing any Senators or Congressmen vacating their seats to serve in Iraq.

At any rate, this wasn't meant to be an exposition. I just wanted to offer a rebuttle. All in friendship.