The Red Badge of Courage The Red Badge of Courage is the tale of a young American in the Civil War. Our male lead is Henry Fleming. A new recruit in a new regiment coming from New York. Henry has to wait a long time to see action. When he does, he withstands his first test. In his second, all of the mental planing that he has done is of no use: he deserts. After hooking up with a group of wounded soldiers, and seeing a friend die in a most unpatriotic manor, Henry is led back to his regiment. He is shocked to be accepted back so readily. No one realized he fled in such a cowardly way. When he goes into battle again, he proves to himself that he can stay an