Major Felter keenly grasped this pain point and would eagerly speak of the pros and cons to his subordinates whenever he had the chance.
He would first speak extensively about the miserable fate of being captured—a fate mostly conjured from Major Felter's own imagination;
Then he would emphasize how strong the defenses of Maple Fort were—and this was no exaggeration;
Finally, he would promote his ultimate theory—that Maple Fort was a bargaining chip belonging to everyone inside, and they could use it to negotiate better terms with the Rebels;
Therefore, they must hold out! The longer they held, the better the terms!
They needed to hold out until the Rebels were powerless, until the Rebels were impatient, until the Rebels came to negotiate a surrender, for that would be the best outcome for everyone.
Major Felter even coined a catchy slogan that he led the defenders in shouting three times before every meal:
