Courage: the quality of mind or spirit which enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery (Dictionary). Throughout The Red Badge of Courage, Henry Fleming, a young farm boy who fought for the Union, took to the battlefield and fought his way to victory with his comrades. Henry displayed prodigious courage throughout the Civil War. Fleming's courageous tasks finally paid off, as he was promoted to lead one of the last battles. Courageous defeats against Confederate soldiers resulted in the end of the Civil War and victorious Union soldiers who could now return home to their families. Henry's injuries, his role during the battles, his loneliness, and his survival tactics all had an immense impact on the way Henry fought and lived throughout the Civil War. During the Civil War, injuries caused a lot of damage to soldiers and their bodies. . Usually, when a soldier is seriously injured, amputation is the best option. A common phrase, "Bite the Bullet", became very prevalent in Civil War culture. The phrase literally means that during the amputation process, the surgeon gave the soldier a real bullet to bite while his limb was being removed (Phrases). At the beginning of the novel, Henry was constantly considering fleeing when the battle began or staying to fight for victory. Henry showed no signs of courage until he entered the battlefield for the second time and began to fight. The wounds inflicted on Henry and his comrades took great courage from them and the rest of the army division. “Sometimes he looked at the wounded soldiers with envy. He designed people with torn bodies to be particularly happy. He wishes that he too... middle of paper ... another battle begins, but this time, Henry is ready to fight. Henry's battle tactics are extremely savage and his lieutenant subsequently congratulates him on a job well done. However, between battles, Henry and Wilson (his fellow soldier) overhear a general referring to their regiment as "mule drivers" and preparing to sacrifice them on the front line in the next battle (Crane, Chapter 18). Henry has accepted this challenge and sees it as an obstacle he wants to overcome. When the next battle begins, he and Wilson see the Union flag begin to fall. They both sprint to collect the flag and lead their comrades to their next fight. Once the battle is over, the officers salute their courageous action (Crane, chapter 21). In the final battle of the novel, Henry also captures the Confederate flag and helps lead the Union regiment to victory (Crane chapter). 23).