RBC: Chapter Twenty-Four.

Everyone settled back into the normal ways. Henry thought and wondered what would be next. Although each didn't have a liking for this they had to go back to where they had been. They were found across enemy lines, but in sweet relief that battle was over. Henry is a changed man. I didn't think it to be possible, but like the saying goes "war changes people". Henry looked back at all of his struggles,changes, and acts. He was now a man to be proud of. He was a soldier. The pride and glory came in a deserving sense unlike before. He felt pain for the things of the past. Regret also came with it. These trials he had set before him formed him into the man he is now. No matter the regret he may have he still should be thankful and I believe he is for the things that are of the past. It is all stepping stones to the bigger person he became. For example, with the tattered man he felt sorrow. Almost like guilt for the horrible thing that happened to him would live with him forever. The ways he thinks now show that he despises his old ways. It puts a whole new great view of Henry in my mind.

RBC: Chapter Twenty-Three.

Now they had orders that there was a need to charge the enemy. They needed to move forward so hopefully the enemy would move from the safety of the fence. The men were unselfish in fighting and just kept moving whether orders were said or not. The fighting was un-halting and had a catapult effect. Cheering rang out soon after, but there was another group with no movement. They could be in a bit of trouble. The blue went very near to them and according to the book it seemed like there might be a scuffle. Yelling began between them. For another time yearning for the flag came. It's glory was a thing he would not want to lose. Henry came upon the color bearer of the enemy side. He saw that the man had suffered from the last bullets fired, but death was upon this man. The man hugging at his flag strived to reach safety, but could not. With his side losing, in the midst of trying to at least keep their pride, the ways of death came first. Henry with no emotinal feeling towards this retrieved the flag. No matter what the suffering of that man appeared to be the ways of war came first. There was no regular human heartfelt feeling for the enemy in any way whatsoever in my opinion. War was war and that meant you fought for your side and acted as soldier. Nearing the end of the battle again this time there were four captives. Each had a different expression. One throws out insults, another just stares at the ground, interested in the others ways of things compared to his was one soldier, and lastly was a man who held the expression of being ashamed for being there. Again Wilson and Henry met up congratulating one another.

RBC: Chapter Twenty-Two.

Next we again are confronted with more battling. They await yet again, but this time there are many battles in all different directions. As usual since Henry has began acting like a soldier he is again determined to receive victory. With the battle started the men keep shooting. A lot was going on and they couldn't decipher much. An enemy started towards them and without even an order they began firing. The enemy was quick to get out of this mess. They moved towards a fence seeking safety there. The regiment kept themselves going by thinking of how they had once again been insulted. This time they had been called mud diggers. Henry thought that only the dead body of the red bearded man would be enough revenge. Also, during this battle the sergeant had been shot straight through the cheeks. His jaw was hanging down and all. Things slowed down again and Henry searched for Wilson. He found him untouched.

RBC: Chapter Twenty-One.

The regiment saw the open space and heard nothing, but stillness and normal noises. They were no longer threatened and came to believe they were now free. Relief came and then fear with the end of their journey nearing. They didn't want to die just before reaching safety. They reached camp where all of the other regiment's men on their side were surprised that they came back. Death was sure to come to them. They were supposed to be goners. That was not the case, however, they came back the victory they set out for. The men mocked them because they had been so close to home. The victory had been rubbed in the red-bearded mule-driver calling man's face though, and this made Henry glad. It was bothersome still that they had mocked them. Simple things were now seen differently from Henry and the men were ruining it. It had been ridiculous how close the trees were from which they escaped. They didn't go there and do what they were supposed to in the first place and the others did not like it. Henry doesn't care because they had fought and did what they should have. They proved themselves. In my opinion, he should be happy with what happened. They were sent there to die so who cares what the others think of how they fought at least they made it out. It is even quite amazing that they didn't actually lose. Henry sat back resting in the thoughts of his actions. He was content with the way he battled. This was fine until the mocking did not have an end. Especially the red bearded man's mocking. They went on about that the regiment wasn't good enough due to the fact that they did not get what they were supposed to. The regiment then became angered and in a way amongst themselves bashed the others. For they know not of what happened or how awful it had been. Men talking among themselves about the battles found that there was a comment that could have meant the secret was out. The men outside of their group were talking of how Henry and Wilson were thought to be the best fighters. This was good, but one comment stood out to me. One man said something about how they had not seen these men from the beginning. In other words it looks to be in my opinion that someone thinks they haven't been faithful fighters.

Henry and Wilson then begin to get praise for carrying the flag and being such leaders at the front of the regiment. The fellow men said that the colonel thought they should be appointed to major generals for the things they had done. They denied the colonel having said it, but inside hoped it to be true. They looked at one another and transferred a look of happiness through their actions. This time they (Henry mainly) were not egotistical, but thanking towards the colonel and the lieutenant.

RBC: Chapter Twenty.

The regiment was pushed back into the trees to get away from the firing. During this Henry and Wilson seemed to be to be fighting over the flag. They both had gone after it and retrieved it, but Henry gained possession of it. They went on about the battle and each time they reached an open space the firing began almost immediately. Firing seemed never ending. It was as if they had been put in this battle to die. This is when they began to question if they had been betrayed. Henry wants to win so badly it will give him the revenge against the one who called them mule-drivers. That insult upset him so. The regiment is distraught and all over the place. This was no reason to give up for Henry though. With the flag in his hand he went forth fighting. They passed a point where they thought they had been relieved from fighting for a while. They were wrong. Confronted by another enemy they stood searching for a way to escape in one piece. Henry finds that if they are to lose then victory would not be easy, but learning from past mistakes he was not about to let that just happen. He goes forward with flag in hand. Battle again has been started and they were so close the features of the soldiers could be seen. Much battling passed and finally one side seemed to be coming out on top. Although the opponent was moving forward still, blue was still seen as winning. Through the smoke it was thought they had grown weaker, but then with its passing there was no more left but an open battle field with the exception of dead bodies. Cheering began and then celebration on Henry's side.

RBC: Chapter Nineteen.

The regiment set out for the battle that could be the end of them. Henry was ready as if on a mission. During the battle Henry is seeing many of the men fall dead. He was running quickly as if things would be all a blur, but he depicted everything clearly. The battle came to a point where it was almost like they could not win. The men appeared to in a way give up. They returned to the view of just a regular man. The strength and courage had passed. The men left alive in the regiment just stood there stunned at the sight of all the men dead. The lieutenant came and yelled that they couldn't just stand there and do nothing they would surely die. The men just stood there. That was until Henry's friend fell to his knees and began firing towards the trees. Almost in an awakening manner the men realized what was happening. They set off again away from death hopefully. Henry was thinking of what could happen next when they came upon a group of enemy men with an expression that showed like it wasn't their responsibility to fight Henry's regiment. They had no other choice, but to charge passed. It was that or die. They didn't know how it would be possible. The lieutenant says how they had to. Henry stands up to this and challenges them! He says, "Come on yerself then!" I think that is a changing point in Henry. They moved toward the point and during this Henry found a wanting for the enemy's flag. It was like another little badge of courage or a sign of victory. They did get the flag when an enemy color sergeant had fallen and could no longer keep it from him. He was wounded and then died so there was nothing he could do.
This stop for Henry showed a lot to me. I do not know how I would be if I were in that situation, but I have not liked Henry from the beginning because of his foolish acts. It was bothersome to see him have all the men help him, but he would do nothing them. Now I think he has grown up and found that victory which is for the first time well deserved.

RBC: Chapter Eighteen.

They found themselves witnessing a man named Jimmie Rogers being shot. It was a horrible sight and experience. It brought on even more of the feeling that war was bigger than just a game. Henry and Wilson went out in look for a stream where they had previously been fighting. It was weird to look at the battle field with no fighting. They also saw man that was almost run over by the general and others. They had to stop in order to not hit him. They were coming to set up a plan that would soon stun Wilson and Henry. They sat hidden listening in to what the general had come to say. The enemy was going to come again, but this time they decided to have the 304th regiment (Henry's regiment) fight against them. This meant that they probably wouldn't come back either. They were to be spared. Henry and Wilson went back in hopes of telling the rest of the regiment, but didn't get the whole story out before the news came that they would fight. Only Henry and Wilson knew the extremity of the situation though. The others didn't know that it could be the end of them.

RBC: Chapter Seventeen.

With this battle that has been brought on again Henry begins to back up in my mind. His thoughts turn to him deciding he deserved rest. He questions if he should have to fight because he has done SO much. He began to find jealousy in him. He hated the other soldiers that they had not grown tired or weary during this war. They had not run and he had yet he is worn out. Or is he just making excuses? He is nervous for the enemies arrival. The only thing he could think of was how the others had the feeling of victory he longed for and he felt nothing, but hatred towards them and worthlessness. (Or he should feel worthless in my mind). Henry decided that he was determined to win this battle. He wanted that victory as usual, but this time he was going after it. He was intent on the fighting and just kept going reloading and shooting his gun. He was so into it that when the battle was over he hadn't even noticed. He was still going. The other soldiers around him asked if he was okay and he realized it was over. When the lieutenant came over he complimented Henry's fighting. This probably just made Henry more egotistical. He saw himself as hero now. Maybe this was just Henry learning from his past or at least I hope it was. This action may make me actually like Henry instead of think he is just a coward even if he still does it for the wrong reasons.

RBC: Chapter Sixteen.

Now we find the men in the middle of a battle inside trenches. When the guns stopped the rumors spread up and down throughout the trenches. No one got their hopes up though. The way he was treated now that he was back at the regiment made him seem like he was off the hook now. He began talking as if he wanted to be known and have some memorable words for others to hear. They fought the best they could according to Henry. His thoughts were that the general was at fault for the battles with no point. One man stopped his "high speech" when yesterday's battle was mentioned with Henry in it. This threw him off his soap box and put fear into the deepest parts of him. He stopped talking now when it seemed someone already knew or would find out. This man knew nothing, but it made Henry realize that they could still find out what happened. They find another battle is coming and Henry is tired of the many battles. They stand readied anyway and no one runs.

RBC: Chapter Fifteen.

Henry remembered the letter that had been given to him by Wilson before their first battle. He wasn't going to give it to him when he decided he was going to keep it. He began to think also that it would bring back hurt to Wilson. Henry began thinking of how he had been "involved" in the battles. He seemed to think that his time was up. His battle was fought so he wanted to go home and get the glory. He could be seen as a veteran and had done the work now, but really I think it is a lie and he is selfish. This appeared to be him talking his way through not being guilty again. All of a sudden he saw himself as some great soldier and had experience? I do not think so. It stunned him when then Wilson asked him for the letters back. He gave them back, but fumbled trying t find something to say. That did not work and he gave in to saying nothing when giving them over.

RBC: Chapter Fourteen.

Henry begins to listen around hearing the noises from places surrounding the camp. He is back at the regiment and had just awoke form a deep sleep. Wilson came to check on him. When he helps him with his wound Henry finds it very painful. He is exclaiming that he is being to rough with it. Soon Henry began to see that war had made Wilson a different person. Each one of them had changed in some way because of war. Wilson had a sense of wisdom about him that seemed to come due to his becoming a soldier and entering this war. He talked as if he had the knowledge of being there for years when it wasn't that long at all since they had first fought. Henry informed Wilson of Jim's death. He seemed to feel disappointed to me, but as if it happens all the time. While they were talking a fight broke out. A man was being teased and had spilled coffee on his knee. When Wilson tried to break it up he was thought to be dumb. He thought it stupid of these men to fight because they shouldn't fight against their own people. They were already fighting against an enemy who needed to fight on the same side then too. Also, Wilson mentioned how many men were flocking back that had been thought dead. They were like Henry, but did they run too?

RBD: Chapter Thirteen.

Henry walked towards his regiment and came across a man who seemed to be standing guard. The man asked who was there and Henry thought the voice was the voice of Wilson. It was him and they reunited with each other. Henry told Wilson of what had "happened" to him. His story was that he had a very tough time and was shot in the head. This was a lie though, unless you consider his emotional stress. He was actually hit with a rifle and it wasn't from the enemy as he made it seem. Wilson was immediately concerned. Henry had that heroic thing about him if he thought about it now. Even if it was a lie. Wilson called for others and some took good care of Henry. They fixed him up and gave him some resting time. Henry looked all around at the people and you would think guilt would fill him, but it doesn't say so. I think guilt should have filled him when he returned because he did not even fight yet he was getting all this good treatment from his men.

RBC: Chapter Twelve.

Battles are breaking out again and just as Henry wanted they started to retreat. He soon finds the men around him and he is in the midst of ti. He came across a man whom he tried to ask what was going on and the man said to leave him alone. When Henry persisted in asking the man things became rough. He pulled at his arm which was in the clutch of Henry and ended up pulling so forcefully that it came the man came back and hit Henry in the head. Henry began bleeding and his legs started to seem, like they could not longer hold him up. He started back and pondered on whether he should stop to lay down or keep going to find a certain spot. He was going along when he came across a concerned man. This man with a cheery voice offered him help. He took Henry on his way with him in order to guide him back tio his regiment. They arrived at Henry's destination and the man strode away, but Henry realized he had not even seen the man's face.

RBC: Chapter Eleven.

Looking at the men going out to battle brings him to more guilt and again more covering it up. Each time we see everything he has done can be justified as having a good reason for doing so. This being because he cannot just be okay with taking it that he did run. Instead he builds himself up and makes himself feel better by saying things that may be wrong with him or that it was for the good of others in the end to make it better for him. Henry was greedy and even even pinned himself to be selfish. He always felt low for what had happened. He thought if he saw men retreat from a battle then it would make them no better than he. This way they would be on the same level and he could not feel as bad. They would be equal or "symmetrical". This was always an internal battle Henry had. He wanted that glory, pride, and bravery, but he knew he did not deserve it. The boyhood dream of becoming a hero to many who was looked up to seemed it would not come after all. Henry thought that if the others did end up retreating and ultimately he got his pride back that it would be a life saver. He could then be successful and live up to what he wants. His mind was boggling around these many thoughts, but it almost seemed wrong to him that he want his people to lose. It is like he is signing them off for murder and he was at fault. "A defeat of the army had suggested itself to him as a means of escape from the consequences of his fall" (29). When he came to the conclusion that maybe they would not lose the battle he began to ponder what he was going to use as an excuse now. He could find nothing and so feared his return. He questioned what if they laugh at him for what they had done and what if they decided to keep a special; watch on him. He was worried about these many things and has been for some time.

RBC: Chapter Ten.

The tattered man is still in awe over how Jim had so much strength in the time when he would be thought weakest. Henry began to notice that the tattered man was turning a shade of blue. He did not want him to die too. He says that there is no way he is going to die too. He will not because he has his children at home that need him. It was just an impossibility that he would die now. The man went off on a tangent about how wounds are not always see, but still are there. That maybe that was what happened to Henry. This topic had brought grand conviction upon him and he wanted to get out of it. Henry begins to notice that this man is acting like Jim did. Like dumb and animal like. The disease seemed to be there. Henry is mistaken by the tattered man for his friend and he seems to have gone crazy. Henry wishes he were almost dead. He had envy for those dead soldiers laying there. The things the tattered man said "thrust like a knife". He knew he could not keep his running from the battle a secret forever.

RBC: Chapter Nine.

Henry was in the midst of all these wounded men and began to realize that they all seemed to have battle wounds. These injuries were like a symbol of glory, honor, and deserved praise. He did not have any. He said it to be like a "Red badge of courage". The courage he had not shown. He came across a man whose emotions showed that of great despair. He then noticed that the man was his friend, Jim Conklin. This was a startling conclusion to find. Jim had been shot, but when Henry tried to help him out it was as if he was not needed. Henry was, however, a very loyal friend just as Jim said he would have been for him in that position. They walked on when suddenly a tremor hit Jim. He grabbed at the youth's arm and told Henry that he was afraid the artillery wagons would run him over if he fell. It passed and he seemed to forget the fears. The tattered soldier came to Henry and told him that Jim was in the road some time later and that he would surely get run over if he did not move. He seemed to have something wrong with him. He had to be coaxed out of the road by Henry. He was going to have him come over into the field, but Jim ran off into a clump of bushes. This could cause him to get hurt though so they were concerned. Jim kept saying to leave him alone and not touch him. Henry tried to be there for him and help by asking what was wrong and trying to figure out why he was doing this. Jim began to shake and convulse. After he collapsed and died. The agony was over the tattered soldier and Henry, but they could do nothing, only watch. Walking closer they found that where his jacket had covered and now fallen away from his body it looked like wolves had chewed on Jim. In anger and rage Henry stood up and lifted his fist towards the battle field. He seemed to be cursing it or rather what war seemed to be able to do.

General Notes,

motifs: distinctive feature or dominant idea
*noise/silence- from nature to battle
*light/dark
*clean/dirty- way they treated their clothing- they only had one uniform. (lieutenant, for example, held his bleeding hand away from his pants).
*youth/maturity- courage to stay or run?

symbols: objects, characters, figures or colors used to represent abstract ideas *The Dead Soldier- Henry saw questions in front of him with the dead soldier. It made him question what is to come after death. What would have happened if he had not run? Would this man have lived? Would this have been him? Also, the sense of turning around and being afraid it could get up and move.
*The Flag- Seen many times as a symbol of pride in one's country (people, bravery)

themes: idea that recurs or pervades a work
*courage
*manhood
* self-preservation
*disregard for human life

Main Characters:
Henry Flemning- The Youth
Jim Conklin- Tall Soldier
Wilson- Fat Soldier
Tattered Soldier
Lieutenant
Henry's Mother- did not really want him to go at first. She knew what war could do.