John Brown’s Body · Chapter
Book III explained
Jack Ellyat, now a soldier in Grant's Army of the Tennessee, feels isolated and homesick among the Western troops who mock him as 'Bull Run Jack.' After a defeat, he and a fellow soldier, Bailey, attempt to escape but are caught.
What happens
Jack Ellyat, now a soldier in Grant's Army of the Tennessee, feels isolated and homesick among the Western troops who mock him as 'Bull Run Jack.' After a defeat, he and a fellow soldier, Bailey, attempt to escape but are caught. Ellyat manages to flee alone and hides in the wilderness, reflecting on the vast, untamed landscape of Tennessee and his own disillusionment with war.
Themes in this chapter
War and Destruction
Ellyat's disillusionment and the chaotic retreat illustrate the brutal, inglorious reality of war.
National Identity
The tension between Eastern and Western soldiers reflects regional divides within the Union army.
Fate and Human Agency
Ellyat's helplessness and the randomness of his escape highlight the interplay of fate and individual action.
Characters to notice
- Jack Ellyat
Feels alienated among Western soldiers, mocked as 'Bull Run Jack,' and attempts escape after a defeat.
- Ellen Baker
Mentioned in Ellyat's memory as 'pink Ellen Baker' whom he told about war.
- Henry Fairfield
Mentioned as marching with the old company back in McClellan's army.
Key passages
“He was sick of the war and the mud and the Western faces. He hated the sight of his Illinois uniform.”
Ellyat is deeply weary of the war, the muddy conditions, and the unfamiliar Western soldiers, and he despises his own uniform.
Expresses Ellyat's profound alienation and war-weariness.
“They had damn well skedaddled. They damn well had. That was all. The rest of the army could win or lose They had surely skedaddled. They had been whipped again.”
Ellyat acknowledges that they fled the battle, feeling defeated and humiliated, regardless of the overall army's fate.
Captures the shame and resignation after a rout.
“Run like hell, Jack, they'll never catch you!”
Bailey urges Ellyat to flee as they are being pursued.
Shows Bailey's self-sacrifice and the desperation of their escape attempt.