In a symbolic and enlightening short story “Chickamauga” (1889) Ambrose Bierce guides the reader through a brutal and unforgiving world seen through the eyes of an innocent child. Through the use of symbolism Ambrose Bierce creates a hopeful atmosphere that was gained through the sacrifice of brave souls that dreamt of something better. In the story the young boy saw soldiers, who “crept like babes” while trying to distance themselves from a dreadful battlefield, and “mounted” on one of them to show how the hopes of a young United States rode on the backs of these brave soldiers that fought for a better future for their children. However,
