In war, when soldiers are clean they are inexperienced and when they are dirty, they are more mature.
During the first segment of the first battle Henry's regiment fought in, they did really well for being as new the the battle as they were. However, when the rebel army charged back as them, all they did was complain and let themselves be intimidated by the other army. "The men groaned. The luster faded from their eyes. Their smudged countenances now expressed a profound dejection. They moved their stiffened bodies slowly, and watched in sullen mood the frantic approach of the enemy. The slaves toiling in the temple of this god began to feel rebellion at his harsh tasks. They fretted and complained each to each. 'Oh, say, this is too much of a good thing! Why can't somebody send us supports?'" (Crane 6. 11-12). They were being immature to think that because they didn't want to fight again the rebel army was just going to stop fighting. Just because they were new in battle didn't mean that other soldiers were going to stop what they were doing and help them. When you are a soldier in the army, your job is to fight for the cause and do your job without complaining like children.
In the last battle, Henry's regiment was assigned to charge and basically sacrifice themselves. During this charge, Henry and the others get close to the enemy. At this point in the book, Henry has finally matured by fighting with everything he's got and not running away. When the regiment gets close to the rebel army, Henry notices that the enemy closest to them looks clean, inexperienced, and unknowing of what is happening. "The youth's eyes had instantly turned in the direction indicated by the awakened and agitated lieutenant, and he had seen the haze of treachery disclosing a body of soldiers of the enemy. They were so near that he could see their features. There was a recognition as he looked at the types of faces. Also he perceived with dim amazement that their uniforms were rather gay in effect, being light gray, accented with a brilliant-hued facing. Too, the clothes seemed new." (Crane 20. 23). Henry notices that those soldiers are like how he was a week ago: immature and youthful.
"She had doggedly peeled potatoes and addressed him as follows: "You watch out, Henry, an' take good care of yerself in this here fighting business--you watch, an' take good care of yerself. Don't go a-thinkin' you can lick the hull rebel army at the start, because yeh can't. Yer jest one little feller amongst a hull lot of others, and yeh've got to keep quiet an' do what they tell yeh. I know how you are, Henry." (Crane 1. 26). In chapter 1 Henry is thinking about when he left home for the war and how is mother was acting. Henry seems to think that she wasn't proud that he was going off to fight and come back a hero, but she knows that he is a youthful person and could make mistakes that he would be ashamed of. Henry's mother was also thinking about how Henry has never fought before and doesn't have the same preparation that the other soldiers may have. Like every other young and hopeful soldier, Henry thinks that he is going to win the war himself, but he hasn't gotten dirty yet.
"The youth took note of a remarkable change in his comrade since those days of camp life upon the river bank. He seemed no more to be continually regarding the proportions of his personal prowess. He was not furious at small words that pricked his conceits. He was no more a loud young soldier. There was about him now a fine reliance. He showed a quiet belief in his purposes and his abilities. And this inward confidence evidently enabled him to be indifferent to little words of other men aimed at him." (Crane 14. 14). When Henry returns to the army, he meets Wilson and notices that he has changed. Wilson is calmer, less likely to verbally fight another soldier for something that was said, and also seemed more confident in himself and others. Henry then realizes that because he ran away and wasn't completely exhausted from fighting like the others, he is different than them. The are filthy with sweat, blood, and dirt from the battle and Henry isn't. Henry knows that getting grimy and experienced during battle is changing the boys into men, and he hasn't finished that process yet, even though Wilson has.
In the last battle, Henry's regiment was assigned to charge and basically sacrifice themselves. During this charge, Henry and the others get close to the enemy. At this point in the book, Henry has finally matured by fighting with everything he's got and not running away. When the regiment gets close to the rebel army, Henry notices that the enemy closest to them looks clean, inexperienced, and unknowing of what is happening. "The youth's eyes had instantly turned in the direction indicated by the awakened and agitated lieutenant, and he had seen the haze of treachery disclosing a body of soldiers of the enemy. They were so near that he could see their features. There was a recognition as he looked at the types of faces. Also he perceived with dim amazement that their uniforms were rather gay in effect, being light gray, accented with a brilliant-hued facing. Too, the clothes seemed new." (Crane 20. 23). Henry notices that those soldiers are like how he was a week ago: immature and youthful.
"She had doggedly peeled potatoes and addressed him as follows: "You watch out, Henry, an' take good care of yerself in this here fighting business--you watch, an' take good care of yerself. Don't go a-thinkin' you can lick the hull rebel army at the start, because yeh can't. Yer jest one little feller amongst a hull lot of others, and yeh've got to keep quiet an' do what they tell yeh. I know how you are, Henry." (Crane 1. 26). In chapter 1 Henry is thinking about when he left home for the war and how is mother was acting. Henry seems to think that she wasn't proud that he was going off to fight and come back a hero, but she knows that he is a youthful person and could make mistakes that he would be ashamed of. Henry's mother was also thinking about how Henry has never fought before and doesn't have the same preparation that the other soldiers may have. Like every other young and hopeful soldier, Henry thinks that he is going to win the war himself, but he hasn't gotten dirty yet.
"The youth took note of a remarkable change in his comrade since those days of camp life upon the river bank. He seemed no more to be continually regarding the proportions of his personal prowess. He was not furious at small words that pricked his conceits. He was no more a loud young soldier. There was about him now a fine reliance. He showed a quiet belief in his purposes and his abilities. And this inward confidence evidently enabled him to be indifferent to little words of other men aimed at him." (Crane 14. 14). When Henry returns to the army, he meets Wilson and notices that he has changed. Wilson is calmer, less likely to verbally fight another soldier for something that was said, and also seemed more confident in himself and others. Henry then realizes that because he ran away and wasn't completely exhausted from fighting like the others, he is different than them. The are filthy with sweat, blood, and dirt from the battle and Henry isn't. Henry knows that getting grimy and experienced during battle is changing the boys into men, and he hasn't finished that process yet, even though Wilson has.
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