In "The Red Badge of Courage," how do the scenes at the encampment affect the characterization of the Union soldiers?How does Crane characterize...

The scenes of the Union army's encampment reinforce the idea that the Union army is simply waiting and not really fighting a real war. The constant drilling and various rumors that run through the camp only serve to instill a sense of fear in Henry who is convinced the rest of his regiment will be good fighters who will not run in the face of eventual conflict. In Chapter 18 however, Henry and Wilson are stunned to hear their regiment insulted. They keep the insults to themselves but prepare for battle. By the end of the chapter, the regiment does fight and Henry sees his comrades die in horrible ways. Finally, Henry himself, gains courage, pries the flag from the injured flag carrier, and along with Wilson, leads the charge against the enemy.