What were the motivations for people to join the Civil War in Sam Watkins' book, Co. Aytch?

The Civil War was about slavery. Southern slave owners got cheap labour to work their farms and businesses. I don't know if Sam Watkins owned slaves, but he does state that soldiers were offered a discharge if they owned more than 20 slaves, so he said that he wished he had 20 slaves so he could get out of the army.

Probably most common confederate soldiers didn't own slaves, and ironically, in their everyday lives, they had to compete against slave labour, which made wages for them low. So there wasn't much economic advantage to the poor white. He was fighting and dying for the wealthy slaveholder's interest, and against his own interest.So why would poor whites do this? Hard to say. Some have said poor whites supported slavery because it gave them someone they could look down on. And then, of course, there is patriotism, which could be inflamed by clever politicians wishing to incite the poor whites to join the confederate cause. An Arkansan would fight for the south because all his friends and relatives were southerners. Perhaps a sheep syndrome was in play. "Everybody's doing it, so I'll join the gang, too. Don't want to stand out in the crowd. What will the neighbours say?"

Then, of course, war was thought of as a way to gain glory, become a hero and maybe even impress the girls.

We also shouldn't overlook the fact that some people love war. J.E.B. Stuart, the famous confederate cavalry commander was said to have loved war. I myself have known soldiers who loved war. I remember one who volunteered for duty in Vietnam for three tours.

Finally, as Watkins eloquently states in his book, once you have joined the army and can't leave, fear is a great motivator. His commander, General Bragg, shot or flogged deserters as a matter of course. It would also be disastrous if you betrayed your comrades in arms. Someone might frag you.