One of the Missing

by Ambrose Bierce

In Ambrose Bierce’s short story One of the Missing, an orderly for the Union Army undertakes a scouting mission. Preparing to fire on a retreating army, the structure in which he is hiding is suddenly destroyed by cannon fire. When he comes to, he realizes he is completely pinned under the rubble. Making matters worse his own gun, primed and ready to fire, is coincidentally pointing at his head. This story, which originally appeared in The San Francisco Examiner in 1888, spotlights the caprices of war.

Genres: Short Stories, Literature, Audiobook, Classics

17 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1888

About the author

died perhaps 1914

Caustic wit and a strong sense of horror mark works, including In the Midst of Life (1891-1892) and The Devil's Dictionary (1906), of American writer Ambrose Gwinett Bierce.

People today best know this editorialist, journalist, and fabulist for his short story, An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge and his lexicon.

The informative sardonic view of human nature alongside his vehemence as a critic with his motto, "nothing matters," earned him the nickname "Bitter Bierce."

People knew Bierce despite his reputation as a searing critic, however, to encourage younger poet George Sterling and fiction author W.C. Morrow.

Bierce employed a distinctive style especially in his stories. This style often embraces an abrupt beginning, dark imagery, vague references to time, limited descriptions, the theme of war, and impossible events.

Bierce disappeared in December 1913 at the age of 71 years. People think that he traveled to Mexico to gain a firsthand perspective on ongoing revolution of that country.

Theories abound on a mystery, ultimate fate of Bierce. He in one of his final letters stated: "Good-bye. If you hear of my being stood up against a Mexican stone wall and shot to rags, please know that I think it is a pretty good way to depart this life. It beats old age, disease, or falling down the cellar stairs. To be a Gringo in Mexico--ah, that is euthanasia!"

Reviews

[Quirkyreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is in the same vein as "Owl Creek". It was good and discormforting at the same time.

[Federico DN · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh.

It was ok, but not worth reviewing.

For the moment at least.

It’s public domain. You can find it HERE.

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PERSONAL NOTE :
[1888] [18p] [Historical] [2.5] [Not Recommendable]
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★★★★☆ The Damned Thing.
★★★★☆ An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge. [3.5]
★★★☆☆ Un Habitante de Carcosa y otros Relatos de Terror.
★★★☆☆ Civil War Stories. <-- [2.5]

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Meh.

Estuvo ok, pero no vale la pena reseñarlo.

Al menos por ahora.

Es dominio público, lo pueden encontrar ACA.

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NOTA PERSONAL :
[1888] [18p] [Histórico] [2.5] [No Recomendable]
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[Luke Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good short story on the absurdity of war, and how time seems to move differently depending on your situation.

[Lou Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ll be honest—I’m not usually into war stories. Most of the time they just blur together into a bunch of names, battles, and military jargon I don’t care about. But One of the Missing by Ambrose Bierce caught me off guard. It’s short, yeah, but it packs a real punch.

The story follows a Union scout during the Civil War who gets caught in a collapsed building with a loaded rifle pointed right at him. That’s basically the setup, and from there, it’s this super intense, psychological deep-dive into fear, helplessness, and the randomness of war. It’s less about action and more about the mental spiral this guy goes through—which honestly made it way more relatable and suspenseful than I expected.

What really surprised me is how modern the whole thing felt. Even though it was written in the 1800s, the way Bierce writes about panic and anxiety almost feels like something you'd read today. It’s like a horror story without the monsters—just your own brain turning on you.

The ending hit hard, too. I won’t spoil it, but it makes a point without screaming it in your face. That quiet, brutal irony stuck with me way longer than I expected.

Anyway, I give it 4 stars. It's not my usual thing, but it definitely made me rethink what a “war story” can be.

[J McNett · Rating 4 out of 5]

In our greatest struggles, time often slows to an absolute standstill. The character in Bierce’s short story is caught trying to escape this infinite.

[Andy Hickman · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the missing – A very good, well, how do I say it without giving away a spoiler? “He was not insane – he was terrified.”

[Forked Radish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never go off half-cocked.

[Soap · Rating 4 out of 5]

Waiting for death is greater torture than death itself.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this seems very similar to "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" but not nearly as good.

[Pokotilo · Rating 3 out of 5]

6/10

[Tony Knauf · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic read, more intense than Hemingway, as bleak as staring down the barrel of a gun.