“If they both lived through the battle!”
Jeff has been dreaming about going to war for so long that he could hardly restrain his excitement. Finally, Jeff would be able to take part in a real battle and fight the rebels. Since the military life is still new to him, the young soldier doesn’t really know what to expect. When he hears Noah talking about the possibility of them dying during the battle, he scoffs “inwardly.” “If they both lived through the battle!” He just couldn’t understand what makes his comrades “so gloomy.” According to him, war is “a lark, an adventure made for men.” Noah’s dark predictions doesn’t lessen his merriment, but Jeff is about to realize that there is nothing fun about the war. Soon enough he will be as gloomy as the rest of the troop.
“Jeffy, I hope I never have to hear another gun go off, as long as I live.”
Jimmy is only a 14-year-old boy who shouldn’t even be at war, but life is unfair. His first battle goes badly for him: Jimmy’s innocence is destroyed. Though he has won “the respect of all the men,” his “boyish face” is “crestfallen.” He doesn’t feel like a hero, something has broken inside of him. “Jeffy,” he says, “I hope I never have to hear another gun go ff, long as I live.” Unfortunately for him, his wish will never come true. Just like hundreds of other young boys, he will be deadly injured during the battle he doesn’t want to participate in.
“Next time you see me, my dancin’ days will be over forever.”
“A tired-looking surgeon” in “a bloodstained coat” stuck his head out of the tent to choose the next person to sew up. He points “with the needle to the sandy-haired man at Ford’s side.” “Bring him in next,” he mumbles tiredly to Jeff and the litter detail. “So long, Slim,” the soldier told Ford, “almost gaily.” Next time they will see him, his “dancin’ days” will be “over forever.” Noticing Jeff’s “stricken face,” he adds “apologetically” that he doesn’t care about his leg, for he “never could dance worth a darn anyhow.” This is the first time when Jeff realizes that war is not a lark at all.
