Chapter 24

Abstract: Henry and Wilson and looked up at the battle because they hear the battle noises decreasing. They could see the soliders moving around in all different directions. They aren't hurried though. They are just moving around kind of slowly. Henry and Wilson then get up out of the grass. The regiment then received orders to go back to where they were before. The regiment then joined up with others to reform their brigade. They were waking towards the river and away from the field. Henry then looks at Wilson and says, "Well it's all over". Henry then reflected upon his experiences. He thinks of his failures and achievements. He can't believe he escaped. He knows that his comrades were able to see the great things he had done in battle. He remembers the tattered and tall solider. He is not happy with himself for running away from the tattered soldier and lying to him. He now knows that he is a man. It then begins to rain. Henry realizes that he had rid himself of the 'red sickness of battle'. The sun then comes out and just at that time Henry turns to a place of eternal peace with tranquil skies, fresh meadows, and cool brooks.

Response: This novel was really a sort of coming of age story. At the beginning of the book, Henry was just a boy. He only cared about himself and no one else. He was a coward and wanted to be like a real soldier, but he didn't know how to be one. He didn't have the courage or bravery that a soldier should have. He deeply wanted this. He then goes into battle, and he comes out a man. He doesn't run away like he had once before. Instead, he stays and fights. He becomes engrossed in the battle and does everything he can to make sure that he is trying his hardest. He comes out a man. He knows what it is like to face death but still come out alive. I think that Henry will probably become less loud, cocky, and scared. He will have confidence in himself that he can make the right decisions, and if he doesn't make the right ones then he can still move on because everyone has a good and bad side.