Personal observation....i have a passion for history...The Civil War is my obsession... So are Civil War Generals capable of Empathy... My opinion... Many generals were Empaths...and highly sensitive......
The two leaders....Robert E.Lee....was often heard expressing this sentiment to his commanders...""To be a great leader...is to order to there death....that which you love most.""
Ullyses Grant...When Grant took over Union forces in the east...Lee seemed able to make the war last past northern tolerance. Grant was different in one way. If Lee defeated him, Grant did not retreat. He pressed on. One such battle, or shall we say slaughter, was Cold Harbor. Fought on June 3, 1864. Grant had superior numbers. He advanced a large force across the James River into an open field. Lees hardened veterans waited. They cut down thousands of Union soldiers in minutes. It was described as grain before the scythe. Men began to panic, retreat haphazardly. They were met by a sword waving Grant, screaming for them to stand there ground. They did, and Lee did not pursue. But Grant was not able to mount an offensive for some time. And the dead covered the field two and three deep. Still Grant pushed his men to be strong.
That night, just as the sun set. An aide looked for Grant. Grant was found concealed from site. He was kneeling, face buried in his hands. Weeping uncontrollably.