The red badge of courage is the story of Henry Fleming, a teenager who enlists with the union army in the hopes of fulfilling his dreams of glory.Shortly after enlisting, the reality of his decision sets in. He experiences tedious waiting, not immediate glory . The more he waits for battle, the more doubt and fear creep into his mind. When he finally engages in his first battle, he blindly fires into the battle haze, never seeing his enemy. As the next enemy assault approaches, Henry's fears of death overwhelm him, and he runs from the field.