What do the actions of the civilians who came out to view the battle tell about their view of war in general?
it was a spectator event. they were there to watch the contestants and enjoy the festivities.
war was something to be experienced and to view it firsthand would give them great insight.
it was thought that the war would be long, and this would be a chance to see what it was like.

“well,” he says, “there’s excuse for picks and letting-on, in a case like this; if it warn’t so, i wouldn’t approve of it, nor i wouldn’t stand by and see the rules broke—because right is right, and wrong is wrong, and a body ain’t got no business doing wrong when he ain’t ignorant and knows better. it might answer for you to dig jim out with a pick, without any letting-on, because you don’t know no better; but it wouldn’t for me, because i do know better.” the meaning in this excerpt is