Chapter 18

Abstract: The troops begin to rest. During the resting period, the men hear a fellow soldier, Jimmie Rogers, crying out in pain. Wilson thinks there is a stream in the area so he decides to go get water. Henry goes with him to get water. They don’t see any water, but they found a place where they can see a big portion of the battle. They see the blue troops form and a general run an injured man over. As a general passes by, they hear the commanders and the general talking about what unit they don’t need. They decide they don’t need the 304th unit, which is the unit Henry is in. They said they do not fight well enough.
Response: I believe the theme of this chapter is betrayal. The general is going to put his soldiers in a situation where they have no chance of winning that fight. That is betrayal to me. He is sacrificing people if he does this. The soldiers are loyal to him and that is how he is going to repay them? By killing them? I don’t personally think that is right. I guess there is no mercy in war, not even for the people on your side. The general will probably do anything to win, including killing his own.
Question: Why do the leading officers want to send the 304th in to a battle they can’t win?