Here is another quote from Melville in "White Jacket" concerning sailors aboard man-of-wars in the US Navy in the 1800's.
The sailors were under penaly of death if they backed of away from the war-like duties, but yet some commanders may fight against invincible odds for his own glory. Melville had this to say:
The captain "crown(ing) himself with glory of the shambles by permitting his hopeless crew to be butchered before his eyes, while at the same time that crew must consent to be slaughtered by the foe, under penalty of being murdered by the law."

New words for me puissant and vandalic.
===The End===