Chapter 20

Abstract: Henry and Wilson then turn with the flag and see that the rest of their regiment who weren't dead were slowly going back. The lieutenant and another officer yell at them to keep fighting. They keep going though and go back to the trees. Meanwhile, Henry and Wilson are having a little fight over who carries the flag. Henry then pushes Wilson, and he then carries the flag. The regiment then gets shot at but don't really do anything and just stand there, dejected. The back of the regiment still continues to shoot though. The youthful lieutenant then got shot in the arm when he had his back turned. Henry then remembers the mule driver comment and becomes very angry. Henry and the lieutenant try to make the men concentrate as they are walking. The other soliders wouldn't really listen to him and the lieutenant though. They then become confused and think they are actually going deeper into the battle and towards the front lines. They start to run all around. Henry then goes and stands between the mob with his flag. Wilson comes up to him and says goodbye, and Henry tells him to stop being a fool. The officers try to get the soldiers into a circle to try to organize them. Henry notices that the officer is sort of calm and is just standing their whispering to himself.The lieutenant then yells that the enemy is coming. The soldiers on Henry's side then start shooting. Henry can clearly see the enemy and their faces. He sees that their uniforms are light gray and look new. The enemy then start to shoot back. They have an intense battle. Henry is impressed that his fellow soldiers are fighting so hard. At the end when his side makes the other side retreat and they notice that they are gone, they all are really happy and jump for joy. They feel like they have vindicated themselves by winning and are prideful. The chapter ends with the ling, "And they were men".

Response: Henry has really blossomed from the beginning. He no longer relies on someone else, but instead he tries to motivate others to fight hard. He shows them what a good soldier looks like. The end line is really good. I think it means that the soldiers finally feel like they are actual soldiers who have contributed to their cause even if they had only won a small battle. They knew what it took to fight their hardest and win. They had finally proved themselves. They kind of went through a rite of passage by winning the battle just like boys do to become men. They feel like they are no longer the scared inexperienced boys, but rather experienced veterans who know how to fight and what to expect.