Chapter 4, Bull Run Summary

Some time has passed, and Charley finds himself in his first battle. As the men march across an open field toward the enemy's position, the head of the man next to Charley is immediately blown off, and an officer's horse is killed by the same cannon shot. As Charley marches on toward the hidden enemy, many of his comrades are killed before anyone on his side can even fire a shot. Men everywhere fall. The sound of bullets whizzing by is frightening, and the cloud of black gun smoke blurs his vision. Charley is so scared that he does not know what to do. He does not fully comprehend what is happening around him as the battle continues.

A man near Charley calmly turns around and begins to march toward the rear of the soldiers, but just as Charley...