When their combined strength was gone there was individual helplessness and panic.

Consider, now, a remnant of that army, the members of which have the courage of the finer quality, individually resolute and set on resistance, clearly seeing at once all the possible consequences of their action, yet with that higher quality of soul accepting them without hesitation, pledging all human hopes for one last great hope of snatching victory from defeat, or, if not to save a lost battle, to check an advancing host, rally flying forces, and redeem a campaign.

This is the heroic quality.

In a crisis, the mind possessed of it does not wait for instructions or to reason a conclusion.

It sees definite things, and swift as thought decides.