Many times in real life and in the plots of stories extreme acts of fear lead to
extreme acts of courage. These situations often come about in times of danger and panic.
The initial results of situations like this are often poor and show no progress and
sometimes a regression. But through the poor results valuable things are learned which
allow you to face your fears and take hold of the situation and accomplish it with
The Civil War was a war fought from 1861-1865. It was fought between the
Union(the North) and the Confederates (the South). The cause of this war was the
South's dedication to trying to keep slavery and the agricultural way or life. And the
North's dedication to abolishing slavery and modernizing their way of life. This war
caused more loss of American life that any other war fought to date.
Henry Fleming lived in upstate New York in the 1860's the time of the Civil War.
He is unaware of whether or not he is courageous enough to fight in the war. In order to
find out he enlists in the war. Henry enlists in the 304th regiment of New York. He
comes home to tell his mother of what he has just done and she disapproves of him going
to fight in the war. His mother feels that Henry's work on the farm is more important
than what he would do in the army. Henry went against his mother's will into the army to
The novel starts out in an army camp that the soldiers have been stationed in for
what seems to be eternity. There is a rumor about the camp that the regiment may be
moving across the river to attack the enemy from the rear. The rumor is spread by the tall
soldier who soon becomes known as Jim Conklin. He is shouted at by the soldiers and is
called a liar. The other soldiers call him a liar because nobody is really informed of what
is going on in the camp. We assume they have been told they would be moving before
and they have not, so they are very skep...