The Red Badge of Courage: An Episode of the American Civil War

ters of the river. Its rays, shining upon the moving masses of troops, brought forth here and there sudden gleams of silver or gold

they might be suddenly and fearfully assaulted from the caves of

the brave sleep of wearied men. In the morning they were routed out with e

h that the regiment lost many

began to shed their knapsacks. Some tossed them unconcernedly down; others hid them carefully, asserting their plans to return for them at some convenient time. Men extricated themselves from thick shirts. Pr

dy infantry of practice. The regiment, relieved of a burden, received a new impetus

the command had first come to the field, some perambulating veterans, noting the length of their column, had accosted them thus: "Hey, fellers, wha

the history of headgear for a period of years. And, moreover, there were no letters of faded gold s

trils. The sound of monotonous axe blows rang through the forest, and the insects, nodding upon

own a wood road in the midst of men who were panting from the first effects of speed. His canteen banged rhythmically upon his thigh, an

under-we-skedaddlin' this way fer?" "Billie-keep off m' feet. Yeh run-like a cow." And t

moved from the rush of a great body of troops. F

new was that if he fell down those coming behind would tread upon him. All his faculties s

he youth perceived that the time had come. He was about to be measured. For a moment he felt in the face of his gre

cape from the regiment. It inclosed him. And there were iron l

e to the war. He had not enlisted of his free will. He had been dragged by t

tream. The mournful current moved slowly on, and from the wa

e youth forgot many things as he felt a sudden impulse of curiosity. He scram

ed a batt

runks, he could see knots and waving lines of skirmishers who were running hither and thither and firing at

ed slowly through the woods in the rear of the receding skirmishers, who were continually melting into th

ly knocking against stones or getting entangled in briers. He was aware that these battalions with their commotions were wov

ts into thickets and at distant and prominent trees

youth could see that the soles of his shoes had been worn to the thinness of writing paper, and from a great rent in one the dead foot projected piteousl

ly at the ashen face. The wind raised the tawny beard. It moved as if a hand were stroking it. He vaguely desired to wal

satisfied. If an intense scene had caught him with its wild swing as he came to the top of the bank, he might have gone roaring on. This advanc

ndscape. It threatened him. A coldness swept over his back, and it is tru

ught came to him that the generals did not know what they were about. It was all a trap. Suddenly those close forests would bristle with rifle barrels. Ironlike brigades would appear in the rea

would come to pass unless they were informed of these dangers. The generals were idiots to send them marching into a regular pen

erest, as if they were investigating something that had fascinated them. One or two stepped with overvaliant airs as if they were already plunged into war. Others walked as upon thin ice.

ith fear they would laugh at his warning. They would jeer him, and, if practicable, pelt him with mis

that he is doomed alone to unwritten responsibil

ing out in a loud and insolent voice: "Come, young man, get up into ranks there. No skulking'll do here." He mended

rmishers were still popping. Through the aisles of the wood could be seen the floati

em. They used stones, sticks, earth, and anything they thought might turn a bullet

reheads, a mark. They said they scorned the devices of the cautious. But the others scoffed in reply, and pointed to the veterans on the flanks who were digging at

ut here for?" he demanded of the tall soldier. The latter with calm faith began a heavy explanation, although he

another line of small intrenchments. They ate their noon meal behind a third one. They wer

rpose on the part of the generals. He began to complain to the tall soldier. "I can't stand this much longer," he cried. "I don't see what good it does to make us wear out our legs for nothin'." He wished to return to camp, knowing t

ed it in a nonchalant manner. "Oh, I suppose we must go reconnoitering around the

id the lo

anything 'most than go tramping 'round the country all da

t ain't right. I tell you if anybody wi

. You little damn' cuss. You ain't had that there coat a

ther. "I didn't come here to walk. I could 'ave walked to

allowed another sandwich as

e argument in the presence of such sandwiches. During his meals he always wore an air of blissful

th the stride of a hunter, objecting to neither gait nor distance. And he had not raised his voice when he had been ordered away from three lit

had taken in the morning. The landscape then ceased to threaten

petence reassailed him, but this time he doggedly let them babble. He was occupied with h

but rest, and he was filled with a momentary astonishment that he should have made an extraordinary commotion over the mere matter of getting killed. He would die; he would go to some

chattering sound. With it was mingle

ter a time the hot, dangerous flashes of the rifles were visible. Smoke clouds went slowly and insolently

as as if it had exploded. And thereafter it lay stretched in the distance behind a

gazed spell bound. His eyes grew wide and busy with the

on his shoulder. Awakening from his trance of ob

aid the latter, with intense gloom. He was

the youth in gr

, old boy," continued the loud

ha

ere things-to-my-folks." He ended in a quavering sob of pity for hims

devil-" began t

he depths of a tomb, and raised his limp