“Wounds,” which precedes this chapter, explains that battlefield injuries would often become infected with gangrene; the only treatments available were amputation or the use of maggots in the wound to eat away the infection. Without one of these treatments, the patient would die.

While he heals from his head wound, Samuel has dreams or hallucinations of his mother caring for him. He hears her speak about his injury and his treatment, but he isn’t conscious or coherent for this period. When he recovers enough, he discovers that he’s been saved by a young man named Coop and his group of rebels traveling to join the American forces. Coop tells Samuel that they’ve come 12 miles from the clearing but that it’s been six or seven days due to some of the others having more serious injuries. Coop provides him with broth and some more solid food once he’s improved enough to eat it.

This chapter is preceded by “American Spirit,” which explains that the American soldiers had high morale due to being on “home soil” despite their smaller numbers and “inferior equipment” (65).

Samuel is recovered enough to eat more solid

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