Chapter 1

Abstract: The tall solider Jim thinks that they are going to fight soon. He and the other soliders then discuss if they think that they really will go to battle soon some do not think they will because they haven't moved for weeks. Henry, the young soldier, then goes into his hut to think after listening to what they said. He remembers how he always wanted to go to war. He had thought that it would be sort of glorious, but his mother never wanted him to go. She thought that he should stay on the farm. He enlisted anyway though. He then remembers what his mother said to him. She told him to watch out for himself and to not be influenced by the older soliders. He remembers how after he left home he went to his school. His classmates their all admired him for being in the army.He also remembers how people reacted when he and other soliders went to Washington. He then goes on to think about how he will react when he really goes into battle. He wonders if he will run away or not. He is not really confident in his skills because he has never had to fight anyone before. Jim and the other soliders then come in. Henry asks Jim what he would do. Jim said that he would run if the others ran but would fight if they stayed and fought. This seems to give a little comfort to Henry.

Response: Henry seems really concerned over how he will react to his first battle. He had thought war was so glorious before he was in the army, but now it seems that he kind of regrets ever enlisting. Henry talks a lot about how his mother didn't want him to go, but what did his father think? It kind of seems like his father is dead because Henry's mother talks about him in the past tense. I can see why Henry is confused and a little depressed. A war camp would not be a very enjoyable place to live. It seems dreary and depressing.

Characters: Tall solider was Jim. He was the one that thought that they would go fighting soon.
Henry was the one in the story described as the young solider. He is the main character.