In Stephen Crane’s story, the protagonist, a lieutenant, approaches a field hospital. Upon arrival, he encounters a physician who interacts with him using a rough manner. While the narrator does not provide the reasons, the reader may infer that the doctor is very busy with other patients. Other possible interpretations are that he does not believe that the lieutenant’s injury is all that serious. Conversely, he may have immediately identified the severity and realized amputation was necessary. In the last case, the doctor’s goal may be to allay the patient’s anxiety by withholding the need for surgery.

As the narrative unfolds, the lieutenant is initially presented as having an injured arm but attempting to fulfill his duties. Another soldier who examines the injury, however, assesses it as severe enough to need examination. He ties it up and recommends that the officer go to the field hospital.

When the lieutenant arrives, he sees a large number of patients, some of whom look dreadful. He even contemplates telling one man he looks to be near death. The doctor, first acting quite friendly, becomes brusque when he sees the injured arm. The lieutenant’s first interpretation is that the doctor talks like he is about to send him to jail rather than medically treat him. When the doctor looks closer and criticizes the bandage, the reader begins to suspect that he has realized how serious the situation is. As he maneuvers the patient inside so he can attend to him, he calls him a “baby” for thinking about amputation. The reader finally learns that he did lose his arm, supporting the idea that the doctor tried to make light of doing that procedure.