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when we go inteh action； an' then he ses we'll do sech fightin' as never
another one reg'ment done。〃
〃They say we're catchin' it over on th' left。 They say th' enemy driv' our
line inteh a devil of a swamp an' took Hannises' batt'ry。〃
〃No sech thing。 Hannises' batt'ry was 'long here 'bout a minute ago。〃
〃That young Hasbrouck； he makes a good off'cer。 He ain't afraid 'a
nothin'。〃
〃I met one of th' 148th Maine boys an' he ses his brigade fit th' hull
rebel army fer four hours over on th' turnpike road an' killed about five
thousand of 'em。 He ses one more sech fight as that an' th' war 'll be
over。〃
〃Bill wasn't scared either。 No； sir！ It wasn't that。 Bill ain't a…gittin'
scared easy。 He was jest mad； that's what he was。 When that feller trod
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The Red Badge of Courage
on his hand； he up an' sed that he was willin' t' give his hand t' his country；
but he be dumbed if he was goin' t' have every dumb bushwhacker in th'
kentry walkin' 'round on it。 Se he went t' th' hospital disregardless of th'
fight。 Three fingers was crunched。 Th' dern doctor wanted t' amputate
'm； an' Bill； he raised a heluva row； I hear。 He's a funny feller。〃
The din in front swelled to a tremendous chorus。 The youth and his
fellows were frozen to silence。 They could see a flag that tossed in the
smoke angrily。 Near it were the blurred and agitated forms of troops。
There came a turbulent stream of men across the fields。 A battery chang…
ing position at a frantic gallop scattered the stragglers right and left。
A shell screaming like a storm banshee went over the huddled heads of
the reserves。 It landed in the grove； and exploding redly flung the brown
earth。 There was a little shower of pine needles。
Bullets began to whistle among the branches and nip at the trees。
Twigs and leaves came sailing down。 It was as if a thousand axes； wee
and invisible； were being wielded。 Many of the men were constantly
dodging and ducking their heads。
The lieutenant of the youth's company was shot in the hand。 He
began to swear so won… drously that a nervous laugh went along the regi…
mental line。 The officer's profanity sounded conventional。 It relieved
the tightened senses of the new men。 It was as if he had hit his fingers
with a tack hammer at home。
He held the wounded member carefully away from his side so that the
blood would not drip upon his trousers。
The captain of the company； tucking his sword under his arm；
produced a handkerchief and began to bind with it the lieutenant's wound。
And they disputed as to how the binding should be done。
The battle flag in the distance jerked about madly。 It seemed to be
struggling to free itself from an agony。 The billowing smoke was filled
with horizontal flashes。
Men running swiftly emerged from it。 They grew in numbers until it
was seen that the whole command was fleeing。 The flag suddenly sank
down as if dying。 Its motion as it fell was a gesture of despair。
Wild yells came from behind the walls of smoke。 A sketch in gray
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The Red Badge of Courage
and red dissolved into a moblike body of men who galloped like wild
horses。
The veteran regiments on the right and left of the 304th immediately
began to jeer。 With the passionate song of the bullets and the banshee
shrieks of shells were mingled loud catcalls and bits of facetious advice
concerning places of safety。
But the new regiment was breathless with hor… ror。 〃Gawd！
Saunders's got crushed！〃 whis… pered the man at the youth's elbow。 They
shrank back and crouched as if compelled to await a flood。
The youth shot a swift glance along the blue ranks of the regiment。
The profiles were motion… less； carven； and afterward he remembered that
the color sergeant was standing with his legs apart； as if he expected to be
pushed to the ground。
The following throng went whirling around the flank。 Here and there
were officers carried along on the stream like exasperated chips。 They
were striking about them with their swords and with their left fists；
punching every head they could reach。 They cursed like highway… men。
A mounted officer displayed the furious anger of a spoiled child。 He
raged with his head； his arms； and his legs。
Another； the commander of the brigade； was galloping about bawling。
His hat was gone and his clothes were awry。 He resembled a man who
has come from bed to go to a fire。 The hoofs of his horse often
threatened the heads of the running men； but they scampered with sin…
gular fortune。 In this rush they were apparently all deaf and blind。
They heeded not the largest and longest of the oaths that were thrown at
them from all directions。
Frequently over this tumult could be heard the grim jokes of the
critical veterans； but the retreating men apparently were not even con…
scious of the presence of an audience。
The battle reflection that shone for an instant in the faces on the mad
current made the youth feel that forceful hands from heaven would not
have been able to have held him in place if he could have got intelligent
control of his legs。
There was an appalling imprint upon these faces。 The struggle in the
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The Red Badge of Courage
smoke had pictured an exaggeration of itself on the bleached cheeks and in
the eyes wild with one desire。
The sight of this stampede exerted a floodlike force that seemed able
to drag sticks and stones and men from the ground。 They of the reserves
had to hold on。 They grew pale and firm； and red and quaking。
The youth achieved one little thought in the midst of this chaos。 The
composite monster which had caused the other troops to flee had not then
appeared。 He resolved to get a view of it； and t