Abstract: The chapter beings with Henry remembering waiting for a parade to start as a child and also past people in his life. He comes out of this daydream though when someone says, "Here they come!" The soliders then get ready for battle. When the Confederates were running towards him, Henry had a fear that he didn't have his gun loaded. Everyone seems really nervous about the ensuing battle Henry included. As soon as he saw the enemy though, he begins to shoot and does not really think about anything even more not even is emotions and fears. He kind of lost himself in the battle just shooting and reloading automatically. He felt connected and like a whole with the other soliders. He even wishes he could shoot and reload faster. He also gets mad because he does not like the smoke because he couldn't breathe after the battle he was fighting in ends. The whole battle and the other ones seems really loud and disorganized but also at the same time kind of rhythmic because they keep on repeating what they are doing and sounds they are making. Henry then notices how one man tried to run away and also other little fights in the battle. He noticed how some dead people too. He also noticed the flames which he took great delight in.
Response: The battle seems to have changed Henry. It seems like he easily got over his fear of running away and didn't. He seems proud of himself that he was able to fight, and he did it relatively easily just doing what he was taught. When he sees the flag, his pride in his country seems to really swell. He seems proud in himself that he was able to defend a place he loved so much. He clearly greatly respects the flag as well as what it stands for even though before he felt that the government was forcing him to be in the army. What changed in Henry so that all of the sudden he seems proud and not ashamed of himself? Was it that he did not run away?
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