80% of the guns picked up on Civil War battlefields un fired? Hmmm. Since we killed more Americans in that war than died in all our other wars combined I wonder (but don't REALLY question) about the percentage

I believe this is close to the truth. War has always been to a great extent about intimidation rather than murder : By displaying sheer numbers and iron will, inducing the enemy to flee the field. Even in the blood bath of the Civil War, the desire to AVOID killing or being killed must have been overwhelming among a vast number of combatants. Although bayonets were general issue on both sides in that war, they were seldom used even in infantry charges and melees, the men instead choosing to engage each one another using fists and rifle-butts.

Would I take a life? To stop a murder or terminate a tyrant, certainly. To kill another man on the field of battle would be much, much more difficult.