Courage: the quality of mind or spirit that allows a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; courage (dictionary). During the Red Badge of Courage, Henry Fleming, a young farm boy who fought for the Union, took to the battlefield and fought to victory with his fellow soldiers. Henry had a prodigious amount of courage during the Civil War. Fleming's valiant efforts eventually paid off, as he was promoted to lead one of the last battles. Courageous defeats against Confederate soldiers led to the end of the Civil War and the victorious Union soldiers now able to return home to their families. Henry's injuries, his role during the battles, his loneliness, and his survival tactics all have an immense impact on how Henry fought and lived throughout the Civil War. During the Civil War, wounds caused a lot of damage to soldiers and their bodies. . Usually, when a soldier is seriously injured, amputation was the best option. A common phrase, "Bite the Bullet", became widespread in Civil War culture. The phrase literally meant during the amputation process, the surgeon would give the soldier an actual bullet to bite into as his limb was removed (Phrases). At the beginning of the novel, Henry constantly thought about running away when the battle began or staying to fight for victory. Henry showed no sign of courage until he took to the battlefield for the second time and began to fight. The wounds inflicted on Henry and his comrades brought a lot of courage upon themselves along with the rest of the army division. “Sometimes he looked enviously at the wounded soldiers. He conceived that people with broken bodies were especially happy. He would have liked for him too,... middle of paper... the battle to begin, but this time Henry is ready to fight. Henry's fighting tactics are extremely savage and he is later complimented by his lieutenant for a job well done. However, between battles, Henry and Wilson (his comrade) hear a general refer to their regiment as "mules" and prepare to sacrifice them on the front lines of the next battle (Crane Chapter 18). Henry has accepted this challenge and sees it as an obstacle he wishes to overcome. As the next battle begins, he and Wilson see the Union Flag begin to fall. Both run to recover the flag and lead their companions to the next fight. After the battle ends, the officers praise their courageous action (Crane Chapter 21). In the novel's final battle, Henry also captures the Confederate flag and helps lead the Union regiment to victory (Crane Chapter 23).