Ambrose Bierce's “Chickamauga” is a work of fiction, but the story is genuine realism sort due to the cruel truth of the ferociousness and gory brutality that followed throughout the historic Battle of Chickamauga in the Civil War. Ambrose describes the soldiers in a way I could picture them in my mind. They slinked around on their hands and knees. They tired their legs and used their hands to move about. They used their knees only, their arms droopy slothful at their sides. They struggled to get to their feet then fell in the effort. Advance foot by foot step by step in the same route.

Bierce ironic comprehension from a mature understanding of war often coils from innocent observations in which men adore combat in an epic and imaginary appearance,