Chapter XX Summary

The regiment was unaware of the machinery behind the orders; all they knew was that they were charging toward an unseen enemy buried in clumps of trees that lay before them. Henry found himself in front of the line, his eyes riveted to that clump of trees. The Rebel yell could be heard coming out at them from all kinds of places. Then the song of bullets began felling men in grotesque agonies.

It seemed to Henry that he saw everything clearer at this moment. Every blade of grass was sharper and greener and he could even see the transparent vapor that hung in the air in sheets around him. He saw every rough edge of every tree and every face of every man he passed along his path. He was caught up now in the frenzy that pushed the unit...