THE LITTLE REGIMENT
AND OTHER EPISODES OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR
BY STEPHEN CRANE
Author of The Red Badge of Courage, and Maggie
Copyright, 1896,
By D. APPLETON AND COMPANY.
Copyright, 1895, 1896, by Stephen Crane.
CONTENTS.
THE LITTLE REGIMENT.
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
THREE MIRACULOUS SOLDIERS.
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
A MYSTERY OF HEROISM.
AN INDIANA CAMPAIGN.
I.
II.
A GRAY SLEEVE.
I.
II.
III.
THE VETERAN.
Other Books by Stephen Crane.
THE LITTLE REGIMENT.
I.
The fog made the clothes of the men of the column in the roadway seem ofa luminous quality. It imparted to the heavy infantry overcoats a newcolour, a kind of blue which was so pale that a regiment might have beenmerely a long, low shadow in the mist. However, a muttering, one partgrumble, three parts joke, hovered in the air above the thick ranks, andblended in an undertoned roar, which was the voice of the column.
The town on the southern shore of the little river loomed spectrally, afaint etching upon the gray cloud-masses which were shifting with oilylanguor. A long row of guns upon the northern bank had been pitiless intheir hatred, but a little battered belfry could be dimly seen stillpointing with invincible resolution toward the heavens.
The enclouded air vibrated with noises made by hidden colossal things.The infantry tramplings, the heavy rumbling of the artillery, made theearth speak of gigantic preparation. Guns on distant heights thunderedfrom time to time with sudden, nervous roar, as if unable to endure insilence a knowledge of hostile troops massing, other guns going toposition. These sounds, near and remote, defined an immensebattle-ground, described the tremendous width of the stage of theprospective drama. The voices of the guns, slightly casual, unexcited intheir challenges and warnings, could not destroy the unutterableeloquence of the word in the air, a meaning of impending struggle whichmade the breath halt at the lips.
The column in the roadway was ankle-deep in mud. The men swore piouslyat the rain which drizzled upon them, compelling them to stand alwaysvery erect in fear of the drops that would sweep in under theircoat-collars. T