Henry's greatest worry in The Red Badge of
Courage is how he will react when he finally goes into battle. Most of the
other men in his regiment have the same concerns, since none of them have ever gone into
combat before. Many of the soldiers boasted of the heroic actions they would perform
once they were under fire, but Henry was more realistic about his performance. During
the first Confederate attack, which Henry's regiment repulsed, Henry held his ground and
breathed a sigh of relief during the temporary lull. He reveled in the satisfaction he
felt as a part of a larger unit: When the other men stood and fought, so did Henry. But
during the second Confederate charge, Henry broke and ran after seeing others do the
same.
Afterward, Henry was overcome with guilt and dread at
the thought of how he would be treated after he rejoined his unit. He would be branded a
coward, he believed, and the shame may follow him forever. Luckily for Henry, the injury
he incurred from a fellow "skedaddler" was mistaken for a real battle wound--a red badge
of courage. His secret remained safe, and he determined that he would make up for his
actions at the next opportunity.
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