A Military Incident
"A Military Incident" is a short story by Ambrose Bierce, first published in 1893. The story follows an unnamed soldier who is involved in a skirmish during the American Civil War. Despite being wounded, the soldier manages to kill his enemy and is praised by his comrades for his bravery. However, the soldier soon realizes that the incident has left him emotionally scarred and unable to shake off the memories of the battlefield. The story explores themes of war, violence, and the psychological effects of combat on soldiers.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1895 · Genre: War Literature, Historical Fiction, Short Stories · 147 words
First lines
Dawn heralded the coming sun -- Fort Douglas was computing The minutes -- and the sunrise gun Was manned for his saluting.
The gunner at that firearm stood, The which he slowly loaded, When, bang! -- I know not how it could, But sure the charge exploded!
Yes, to that veteran's surprise The gun went off sublimely, And both his busy arms likewise Went off with it, untimely.
Then said that gunner to his mate (He was from Ballyshannon): "Bedad, the sun's a minute late, Accardin' to this cannon!"
What this Textopian page supports
A Military Incident is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1895 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Ambrose Bierce
- Date: 1895 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: War Literature, Historical Fiction, Short Stories, Drama, Literary Fiction
- Length: 147 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Military Incident by Ambrose Bierce
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A Military Incident?
- How does this short story by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does War Literature first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Militiaman by Ambrose Bierce
- Three Recruits by Ambrose Bierce
- The Veteran by Ambrose Bierce
- Two Military Executions by Ambrose Bierce
- The Wooden Guns by Ambrose Bierce
- A Coward by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- War Literature — The title suggests the story is about a specific event in a military context, which is a common theme in war literature. Moreover, Ambrose Bierce is known for his writings based on his experiences in the Civil War which can also lead to this genre classification.
- Historical Fiction — Bierce's work often includes historical settings and characters. In this context, 'A Military Incident' might involve real-world events and characters in a historical period of warfare.
- Short Stories — Ambrose Bierce is known for his succinct and impactful stories. Given this, 'A Military Incident' could likely be a short story.
- Drama — If the narrative focuses on the human emotions and relationships affected by the military incident, the book could fall under the drama genre.
Tags
war · military · conflict · violence · action · adventure · suspense · mystery · thriller · fiction · short story · classic