Points of View

The story is told from the third person point of view nearly exclusively from Charley Stoddard's position. Many of the specifics of his travel, daily life, experiences in battle and his leisure are taken from his diary; other incidents are from diaries of others very much like Charley and historical writings of the events. He sees the incompetence in many of his superiors, and we get a good idea of what he thinks of them. He dislikes their actions in many instances, but particularly at the beginning of his army life, he understands that they are little more experienced than he is. They must depend on manuals to direct them and their teachings.

Through Charlie, the reader gets some glimpses of what other soldiers in the same situation as Charley are thinking. He sees Nelson as he was only recently himself, innocent, believing all he is...