The Red Badge of Courage
what where the "red eyes" from across the river in the red badge of courage
chapter two
chapter two
Although Crane does not necessarily ever say explicitly what the "red eyes" are, he does equate fire with the color red later on in the chapter. Therefore I think it is safe to assume that the "red eyes" from across the river are the enemy campfires.
"From across the river the red eyes were still peering."