What Was The Red Badge Of Courage?

The Red Badge of Courage referred to the title of Stephen Crane's novel of the same name. The Red Badge of Courage is meant to represent the head wound that Henry Fleming, the young hero of the book, sustained in battle.
The background of the book is during the American Civil War. The story begins when Henry and his comrades of the Union army are waiting to charge into action. When the time comes, Henry gets scared, especially by the shocking carnage that he sees before him. He stands, bewildered, amongst the retreating line of anxious men as they flee from the battle ragging ahead. Henry suffers his wound as one of the fugitives hits him on the head with the butt of a rifle. Henry staggers away and is taken by a friend to have his wound cleaned.
The following morning, another battle is fought and Henry discovers his courage. Henry takes up the flag and leads the charge. He survives the battle and at the end of the story he marches away from the regiment.
The Red Badge of Courage was one of Cranes most famous 'books for boys' and although he wrote other books, none was as famous as The Red badge of Courage.