The Drummer Boy of Shiloh Reading Response

I have recently read in class The Drummer Boy of Shiloh by Ray Bradbury. It all starts with a drummer boy named Joby sleeping under a peach tree. He was startled awake by a peach stone falling from the tree and hitting his drum. After he sits up panicked Joby turns his drum on its side, and notices all of the soldiers with him in the peach orchard. "Me, thought the boy, I got only a drum and two sticks to beat it." Joby sat there believing that was not important to the war and had no real reason to be there. This changes when he meets the general.

"Why its the drummer boy, isn't it?" The general says. The two start to talk and at some point the general realizes that Joby is not confident in being a drummer boy. "You ready for tomorrow or the next day Joby?" The general asks. "I think so." was Joby's reply. This is where the general starts to tell Joby that he is important and he does play a role in the army. "You are the heart of the army. Think about that. You are the heart of the army."

At this point Joby turns his drum so it faces the sky, and puts his arm around it. Joby changed alot thru out the story. He ended up becoming the heart of the army. I personally think he became more than that, I feel he became the soul of the army. This is because Joby is so proud of being a drummer boy that his spirits will bring up the spirits of the rest of the army. He was proud to not just be the drummer boy of Shiloh, but a drummer boy.