Civil war, a poor man's fight

[Music] The Red Badge of Courage is an American classic it was Steven Crane's national language of Civil War to one man search for the meaning of his life in time of Crisis as the outer public War has fought on the battlefield Union private Henry Fleming experiences an inner private war between bravery and Dread anticipation and fear to many who fought in it North and South this Civil War was a rich man's war and a poor man's fight all the politicians argued over slavery and states rights ordinary soldiers wondered what do you suppose the name of this year battle is going to be the reasons for going to war the great causes are easily forgotten on the battlefield what remains is the personal struggle within each Soldier Will I be brave will I run will I die Spring 1862 the bloody war between the states t of great movement shook the land marches sieges conflicts but for the untried Army on the Rapa hanic war was simply a matter of waiting waiting and endless Drilling [Music] [Music] right [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] well Rick now dig some worms and gold fish the fish ain't F I know it but there's nothing else to do now them's got a plank floor as comfortable as home needs a rocking chair just like the set Rock how's things ah just like they was yesterday and the day before like they'll be tomorrow probably well now I wouldn't be too sure about tomorrow if I was you what do you mean oh nothing nothing sure you mean something come on tell me like a good fell can you keep it to yourself of course I can well I know a fell that's got a brother that's in orderly up at division headquarters and this Fella's brother saw some orders last night and them ORD said this here Army's going up the river cut across and come around in behind the r Thunder yeah you just wait tomorrow you're going to see the biggest battle you ever saw just wait hey hey's going to work we're going up the river cut across and come around in behind the red a lie that's all it is a thundering lie I don't believe this dur all arm's ever going to move well you can believe it or not just as you like I don't give a hang well I believe you and I tell you why I just finished laying a plank floor for my tent I hell off all winter cuz I figured the Army was going to move but come spring I decided we was here for good so I set about making that plank floor I reckon that's all it took to get things moving what's up Wilson no more drilling bill it's all behind us from now on is going to be out and out fighting n what are you talking about fell I know up at headquarters saw the orders we're going up the river River cut across and come around in behind them but what I don't understand is why we going up River instead of down where the land's flat and cleared us and the Reps could stand up to each other and have a proper fight this way it's all Hills we'll do more climbing in the will fight you just don't understand nothing Bill Porter about there was a youthful private who was deeply troubled by the talk of his comrades they were so sure of their courage [Music] [Music] have you heard the news Henry you mean about the Battle yeah we're going up the river cut across and come around in behind them oh like is not this story turn out just like all them others did not much you won't you just wait till tomorrow you're going to see figh in the real out and out fighting what do you think Jim I can't believe they mean to keep drilling us forever and it's getting nigh on to that Jim yeah how do you think the Regent will do Oh They'll fight all right once they get into it we'll be on them like wild cats they won't know what hit them think care the boys will run run there may be a few of them run but there's them kind in every regiment especially when they first goes under Fire but the boys come a good stock mostly I figure they'll do better than some worse than others we'll chew them up and spit them out in little pieces did you ever think you might run too Jim well I thought it might get too hot for Jim Conlin and some of them scrimmages if a whole lot of the boys started to run I suppose I'd start and run if I once started to run I'd run like the mischief and no mistake if everybody was a standing and a fighting I'd stand and fight by Jiminy I would I'll bet on it what's the matter Henry are you scared scared me of course not what a dumb fool question I am am might so they were at last going to fight tomorrow perhaps there would be a battle and he would be in it was it possible that he would be a part of a great battle in a great war in the darkness he saw visions of a thousand tonged fear that would Babble at his back and cause him to flee who goes there me a just me move back into the shatters yank unless you want one of them little red badges I couldn't you standing there in the Moonlight are you a reab that's right I don't see much point in US C shooting each other especially when we ain't fight no batt so if you just get out of the Moonlight I'll be much oblig to you thanks gra Now That's mighty of you a to thank me I take it most kindly you're a right Dum good fell so take care of yourself don't go them little red badges p on [Music] you more drilling he says that's all behind us now now it's going to be out and out fighting he said H who why Tom Wilson what Tom Wilson that the one everything in the world oh that time will can all go we can all go up the river get across and come around in behind them where do we fall out Bill Porter I'll learn you something private wilon step forward is that you talking rank speak up turn it all Lieutenant answer yes or no yes sir private Wilson 6 hours extra duty all back arms at four who this man I want a word with you Porter we ever do a drill I'm getting Mighty sick of it thunder I joined up to fight Smell gunm Smoke for once what are these here guns for anyway to shootter to drill with might as well be broom well we'll get our marching orders one of these days and I reckon when that day comes it'll be soon enough not for me at wish I was as full of fight as some of you fellas guess I just ain't high-spirited enough to be a good soldier hey fellas Tom Wilson and Bill Porter are going to have a f fight hit onse looks to me like they're scared of each other what is this a fist F or round Dan can I have the next B come on let's see something grab your NE [Applause] [Music] we're he felt alone in space no one else seemed to be wrestling with such a terrific personal problem he was a mental outcast [Music] well what did I tell you are we going up the River or ain't wait who was right huh come on answer me you fell who was doing all that laughing you was right Wilson nobody can deny that I heard some officers talking and they said we had the revs just about where we want we're going to give them a turn good stum I bet they're going to which they'd stay to home I hope this here gun shoot straight that's all wouldn't worry about that gun if I was you I'd worry about how steady I was holding wished I had my dog along first time I ever went hunting without my old dog I wonder what the name of this here battle's going to be come Henry what are you doing here thank you you're getting blue my boy you're looking Thunder and peaking what the Dickens is wrong with you nothing well we're going after him now Henry and by the Eternal Thunders we're going to lick him good this time we're in for a big battle and we got the best end of it certain sure G Rod how we going to something oh you're going to do great things great things I don't know grandpy fought with Washington it's it's in my blood I reckon how do you know you won't run when the time comes run me well plenty of good enough men who thought he was going to do great things before the fight but when the time come they scad that's all true enough I suppose but I'm going to do my share of the fighting the man that bets on my running is going to lose his money that's all Shu you he's the bravest man in the world are you no I ain't I didn't say I was the bravest man in the world either I just said I was going to do my share of the fight that's what I said I am too who are you anyhow you talk like you thought you was Napoleon bonapart or something you need get mad about it [Music] all right man get back in the rank they're laging behind [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Applause] for [Applause] and right old boy listen it's my first and last battle something tells me it's my first and last battle I'm a gone Goose I just know it I want you to take this and send it to my folks they give it to me last year when I turned [Applause] 21 looks like we're getting a good lick go back go back you card go back go back you coward go back get back in there and Fire get back in there and fire go back power go back [Applause] you got to hold him back Captain you've got to hold him back all right we do our best sir Lieutenant now you mind me we got a hole no matter what happens we got a hole yes Captain all right sir and you me mind me we got the hole can you hear me we got the get ready hold your fire fire [Applause] come here yeah fire [Applause] get back get back I'll have your for theer [Music] Taylor's rushing his men like everything they'll be reaching the woods before we know it we can't have that they'll be worn out before they're committed I keep my shoulders drapped for a fresh Brigade pumpkins go over and see Taylor tell him not to be in such an all fired hurry tell him to stop his Brigade on the edge of the wood tell him to detach your regiment say I think the center will break unless we can give it some help and tell him to hurry up yes sir we tell them General we repuls the second charge held them Havey we'll wall them now we've got him sure [Music] the youth cringed as if discovered in a crime so his regiment had won after all his imbecile comrades had remained and their very ignorance had brought them Victory he felt betrayed he wondered they would remark when later he appeared in Camp his mind heard howls of derision [Applause] what's happening over there what's the matter what are you running from where you going let go What's happen over there let [Music] [Music] go who goes there [Music] hello Wilson Henry Flem yeah me well well old boy by Ginger I'm glad to see you I give you up for a goner I thought you was dead sure enough I've had an awful time I've been all over way over on the right I separated from a regiment terrible fighting over there I got shot got shot yeah I got shot in the head poor old boy why didn't you say so right off on minut I'll call a Corporal who you talking to Wilson you're the turn to Sentinel hello Fleming you here I thought you was dead hours ago where was you over on the right I separated yeah and he got shot in the head and he's in a terrible fix I ought to look after him right away all right well better take care of him hurts hurts like places bleeding all the way here but it stopped now I guess terrible pain when I got hit must have been unconscious for a long time I come too I thought I'd peel over from the hurt it give me when I started walking you know I I might have a bullet in the head a wound like that likely to be fatal have a look at your head Henry maybe it's so bad oh you're mighty lucky Henry it's ain't as bad as you feared you've been grazed by a ball it's raised AER sort of a lump just as some fell lams you on the head with a club well most of it is that in the morning you'll feel that a number 10 hat wouldn't fit you you might get some other ailments too you can't never tell still I don't much think so it's just a dang good belt on the head and nothing more I'll have you fixed up in just about a minute you don't holler or say nothing I'm a blacksmith that taking care of alen folks and you never even squeak you're a Braven Henry most men would have been Hospital long ago Tom yeah did thee anyone say anything about me being missing no now the regiment lost over half its men and I thought of course they was all dead but laws they keep coming back till it seems after all we didn't lose but a few they were scattered all over Meandering around in the woods and fighting with other regiments just like you I brought your watchback oh thanks he had performed his mistakes in the dark so he was still a man well Henry what do you think the chances are you think we'll wall up them not if we don't do a lot better than we done yesterday where I was over on the right I'd say that we was getting a good pound you think so I thought we handled him pretty rough not at all well man you didn't see none of the fight n compared to what you saw I guess well maybe we are in for a linking well Wilson what's got into you David before yesterday you was going to lick the whole Kaboodle all by yourself was I perhaps I was how you wasn't NE all you need in mind Henry I reckon I was a pretty big fool in those days you talk like it was years ago instead of day before yesterday seems like you're [Music] n [Music]