The Little Regiment, and Other Episodes of the American Civil War

Cold fog, thick mud and the sound of distant guns surround the soldiers waiting to cross a river in Stephen Crane's opening story. Among them are Billie and Dan Dempster, brothers whose constant insults entertain their comrades. Their quarrels sit beside an instinct to protect one another, bringing family friction into the uncertainty of military life. As the regiment moves toward a battered town, private irritation continues even under the pressure of approaching battle.

This collection of American Civil War stories also includes Three Miraculous Soldiers, A Mystery of Heroism and The Veteran. The stories move between the everyday talk of troops and sudden moments of alarm, including a confrontation between a sentry and a captive officer. Crane pays attention to how people speak, wait and react when danger interrupts ordinary concerns. Readers interested in short fiction about war will find close observation of rivalry, fear and the uneven scale of personal experience within a larger conflict.