Chapter 3, Anxious for the Fray Summary and Analysis

Most of the soldiers on both sides were eager to fight at the beginning. They were often afraid that the war would end before they had a chance to make their mark. Both sides wanted to show what kind of men they were. Those units stuck in the rear of a troop during a battle were not considered "safe," but rather dishonored. Most of the time spent not at battle was filled with boredom and monotony. But the troops retained their zeal.

The emotional impact of combat was overwhelming. The men often write that they were scared to death. They quickly grew tired of seeing dead bodies and limbs ripped off of bodies. Soon after a battle, the excitement disappeared. Honor talk evaporates and a sense of horror sinks in; soldiers quickly become...