Chapter 7: April 1898 Summary

In America, William James gives a speech dedicating a war memorial to the 54th Regiment, the first organized unit of black soldiers in the United States Army. William writes to Henry about the event, and Henry replies that he would love to have seen it, though he is secretly happy he does not have to discuss the speech. Their brothers, Wilky and Bob, had fought in the 54th and 55th regiments, and Wilky had died in the service. Neither William nor Henry had fought in the Civil War, and Henry feels uneasy when the subject comes up among veterans. Henry does not know how he would react to hearing William eulogize the soldiers.

Henry James Senior devoted his life to books and study after a childhood accident caused him to lose a leg, and he saw the Civil War as an...