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The youth stopped。 He was transfixed by this terrific medley of all
noises。 It was as if worlds were being rended。 There was the rip… ping
sound of musketry and the breaking crash of the artillery。
His mind flew in all directions。 He conceived the two armies to be at
each other panther fashion。 He listened for a time。 Then he began to
run in the direction of the battle。 He saw that it was an ironical thing for
him to be run… ning thus toward that which he had been at such
82 pains to avoid。 But he said； in substance； to him… self that if the
earth and the moon were about to clash； many persons would doubtless
plan to get upon the roofs to witness the collision。
As he ran； he became aware that the forest had stopped its music； as if
at last becoming capable of hearing the foreign sounds。 The trees hushed
and stood motionless。 Everything seemed to be listening to the crackle
and clatter and ear… shaking thunder。 The chorus pealed over the still
earth。
It suddenly occurred to the youth that the fight in which he had been
was； after all； but perfunctory popping。 In the hearing of this present din
he was doubtful if he had seen real battle scenes。 This uproar explained a
celes… tial battle； it was tumbling hordes a…struggle in the air。
Reflecting； he saw a sort of a humor in the point of view of himself
and his fellows during the late encounter。 They had taken themselves
and the enemy very seriously and had imagined that they were deciding
the war。 Individuals must have supposed that they were cutting the
letters of their names deep into everlasting tablets of brass； or enshrining
their reputations forever in the hearts of their countrymen； while； as to fact；
the affair would appear in printed reports under a meek and immaterial
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The Red Badge of Courage
title。 But he saw that it was good； else； he said； in battle every one would
surely run save forlorn hopes and their ilk。
He went rapidly on。 He wished to come to the edge of the forest that
he might peer out。
As he hastened； there passed through his mind pictures of stupendous
conflicts。 His accumulated thought upon such subjects was used to form
scenes。 The noise was as the voice of an eloquent being； describing。
Sometimes the brambles formed chains and tried to hold him back。
Trees； confronting him； stretched out their arms and forbade him to pass。
After its previous hostility this new resistance of the forest filled him with
a fine bitterness。 It seemed that Nature could not be quite ready to kill
him。
But he obstinately took roundabout ways； and presently he was where
he could see long gray walls of vapor where lay battle lines。 The voices
of cannon shook him。 The musketry sounded in long irregular surges
that played havoc with his ears。 He stood regardant for a moment。 His
eyes had an awestruck expression。 He gawked in the direction of the
fight。
Presently he proceeded again on his forward way。 The battle was like
the grinding of an immense and terrible machine to him。 Its com…
plexities and powers； its grim processes； fascinated him。 He must go
close and see it produce corpses。
He came to a fence and clambered over it。 On the far side； the ground
was littered with clothes and guns。 A newspaper； folded up； lay in the
dirt。 A dead soldier was stretched with his face hidden in his arm。
Farther off there was a group of four or five corpses keeping mournful
company。 A hot sun had blazed upon the spot。
In this place the youth felt that he was an invader。 This forgotten part
of the battle ground was owned by the dead men； and he hurried； in the
vague apprehension that one of the swollen forms would rise and tell him
to begone。
He came finally to a road from which he could see in the distance dark
and agitated bodies of troops； smoke…fringed。 In the lane was a blood…
stained crowd streaming to the rear。 The wounded men were cursing；
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The Red Badge of Courage
groaning； and wailing。 In the air； always； was a mighty swell of sound
that it seemed could sway the earth。 With the courageous words of the
artillery and the spiteful sentences of the musketry mingled red cheers。
And from this region of noises came the steady current of the maimed。
One of the wounded men had a shoeful of blood。 He hopped like a
schoolboy in a game。 He was laughing hysterically。
One was swearing that he had been shot in the arm through the
commanding general's misman… agement of the army。 One was marching
with an air imitative of some sublime drum major。 Upon his features was
an unholy mixture of merriment and agony。 As he marched he sang a bit
of doggerel in a high and quavering voice：
〃Sing a song 'a vic'try； A pocketful 'a bullets； Five an' twenty
dead men Baked in apie。〃
Parts of the procession limped and staggered to this tune。
Another had the gray seal of death already upon his face。 His lips
were curled in hard lines and his teeth were clinched。 His hands were
bloody from where he had pressed them upon his wound。 He seemed to
be awaiting the moment when he should pitch headlong。 He stalked like
the specter of a soldier； his eyes burning with the power of a stare into the
unknown。
There were some who proceeded sullenly； full of anger at their wounds；
and ready to turn upon anything as an obscure cause。
An officer was carried along by two privates。 He was peevish。 〃Don't
joggle so； Johnson； yeh fool；〃 he cried。 〃Think m' leg is made of iron？ If
yeh can't carry me decent； put me down an' let some one else do it。〃
He bellowed at the tottering crowd who blocked the quick march of
his bearers。 〃Say； make way there； can't yeh？ Make way； dickens take
it all。〃
They sulkily parted and went to the road… sides。 As he was carried
past they made pert remarks to him。 When h