Although he was never a soldier, and he was born after the Civil War, his most famous novel was The Red Badge of Courage, making him a known name across the world during the 1890s. One of the most popular novels written about the Civil War, The Red Badge of Courage is about a young private in the Union Army, Henry Fleming, who flees from the field of battle. Overcome with shame, he acts as a color bearer carrying the regiment's flag, the most dangerous position in battle. The masterful work has realistic battle sequences, vivid imagery, psychology, and a tone of irony.