DuringtheCivilWar,aUnionregimentrestsalongariverbank,whereithasbeencampedforweeks.AtallsoldiernamedJimConklinspreadsarumorthatthearmywillsoonmarch.HenryFleming,arecentrecruitwiththis304thRegiment,worriesabouthiscourage.Hefearsthatifheweretoseebattle,hemightrun.ThenarratorrevealsthatHenryjoinedthearmybecausehewasdrawntothegloryofmilitaryconflict.Sincethetimehejoined,however,thearmyhasmerelybeenwaitingforengagement.
Atlasttheregimentisgivenorderstomarch,andthesoldiersspendseveralwearydaystravelingonfoot.Eventuallytheyapproachabattlefieldandbegintohearthedistantroarofconflict.Aftersecuringitsposition,theenemycharges.Henry,boxedinbyhisfellowsoldiers,realizesthathecouldnotrunevenifhewantedto.Hefiresmechanically,feelinglikeacoginamachine.
Theblue(Union)regimentdefeatsthegray(Confederate)soldiers,andthevictorscongratulateoneanother.Henrywakesfromabriefnaptofindthattheenemyisagaincharginghisregiment.Terrorovertakeshimthistimeandheleapsupandfleesfromtheline.Ashescampersacrossthelandscape,hetellshimselfthathedidtherightthing,thathisregimentcouldnothavewon,andthatthemenwhoremainedtofightwerefools.Hepassesageneralonhorsebackandoverhearsthecommandersayingthattheregimenthasheldbacktheenemycharge.Ashamedofhiscowardice,Henrytriestoconvincehimselfthathewasrighttopreservehisownlife.Hewandersthroughaforestgladeinwhichheencountersthedecayingcorpseofasoldier.Shaken,hehurriesaway.
Afteratime,Henryjoinsacolumnofwoundedsoldierswindingdowntheroad.Heisdeeplyenviousofthesemen,thinkingthatawoundislike“aredbadgeofcourage”;visibleproofofvalorousbehavior.Hemeetsatatteredmanwhohasbeenshottwiceandwhospeaksproudlyofthefactthathisregimentdidnotflee.HerepeatedlyasksHenrywhereheiswounded,whichmakesHenrydeeplyuncomfortableandcompelshimtohurryawaytoadifferentpartofthecolumn.Hemeetsaspectralsoldierwithadistant,numblookonhisface.HenryeventuallyrecognizesthemanasabadlywoundedJimConklin.HenrypromisestotakecareofJim,butJimrunsfromthelineintoasmallgroveofbusheswhereHenryandthetatteredmanwatchhimdie.
Henryandthetatteredsoldierwanderthroughthewoods.Henryhearstherumbleofcombatinthedistance.ThetatteredsoldiercontinuestoaskHenryabouthiswound,evenashisownhealthvisiblyworsens.Atlast,Henryisunabletobearthetatteredman’squestioningandabandonshimtodieintheforest.
Henrycontinuestowanderuntilhefindshimselfcloseenoughtothebattlefieldtobeabletowatchsomeofthefighting.Heseesablueregimentinretreatandattemptstostopthesoldierstofindoutwhathashappened.Oneofthefleeingmenhitshimontheheadwitharifle,openingabloodygashonHenry’shead.Eventually,anothersoldierleadsHenrytohisregiment’scamp,whereHenryisreunitedwithhiscompanions.HisfriendWilson,believingthatHenryhasbeenshot,caresforhimtenderly.
Thenextday,theregimentproceedsbacktothebattlefield.Henryfightslikealion.ThinkingofJimConklin,heventshisrageagainsttheenemysoldiers.HislieutenantsaysthatwithtenthousandHenrys,hecouldwinthewarinaweek.Nevertheless,HenryandWilsonoverhearanofficersaythatthesoldiersofthe304thfigh