Gettysburg (1993) - full transcript

In June 1863, after more than
two years of bloody conflict...

the Confederate army of Northern

Virginia, Robert E.
Lee commanding...

slips across the Potomac to begin
the invasion of the North.

It is an army of 70,000 men.

They move slowly behind
the Blue Ridge...

using the mountains to
screen their movements.

Their objective is to draw the
Union army out into the open...

where it can be destroyed.

Late in June, the Union army
of the Potomac, 80,000 men...

turns north from
Virginia to begin the



great pursuit up the
narrow roads...

across Maryland and
into Pennsylvania.

General Lee knows that
a letter has been

prepared by the
Southern government.

A letter which offers peace.

It is to be placed on
the desk of Abraham

Lincoln, President of the U.S...

the day after Lee has destroyed
the Army of the Potomac...

somewhere north of Washington.

Federal cavalry. Two brigades.

Howdy, friend. Where you headed?

General Longstreet.
I must see him.

Is that a fact?

I know General Lee's headquarters
are up here a little ways.



Wherever he is,
Longstreet is nearby.

- Take me that way. It's urgent.
- Let me put it to you like this.

You're not in a uniform and you're
coming through my picket line.

I'll take you up there, but
if nobody there knows you...

I guess, unfortunately,
you'll have to be hanged.

Sir. General, sir.

I'm sorry, excuse me, sir,
but Harrison is back.

- Harrison?
- Yes, sir.

The scout, Harrison, sir.

I knew you'd want to know
that as soon as possible.

He's right outside here, sir.

Your servant, general.

Didn't expect to see me, did you?

I paid you in gold three
weeks ago. What do you got?

I don't suppose you got
another one of those.

That good southern tobacco.

What do you got?

I got the position
of the Yankee army.

They're only a few
miles down the road.

The whole Yankee army coming
this way. Seven corps.

A few miles?

Yes. Two brigades of Yankee
cavalry down that road about...

two, four hours away.

Behind that there's seven corps.

I put it all on a map, if you'd
like to see it. About 80,000 men.

All seven corps.

You didn't know any of that?

You didn't know they
were on the move.

You wouldn't be spread
so thin if you'd known.

How do you know we're spread out?

Listen, general. I'm
good at this business.

Sir, I beg your pardon, but if
this man's story is true...

why haven't we heard about it?

General Stuart's cavalry is out
there. He would have reported.

What do you know about Jeb Stuart?

He's out there all right.

He's riding up north somewhere
getting his name in the papers.

He hasn't caused anything
but a little fuss.

If the Federal army was moving
that fast, as close as you say...

- I believe General Stuart...
- Look here.

I came within an angry mule's
kick of the whole Yankee cavalry.

And all the way through
a picket line.

Hazardous too.

I don't know what
Jeb Stuart's doing.

I don't care. I do my job.

Yankee cavalry's down the
road, thick as fleas...

not two hours hard ride
from this here now spot.

And that, by God, is
the Lord's truth.

- Major Sorrel.
- Yes, sir.

Will you go to General Lee's

headquarters and
notify him about this?

Yes, sir.

- Captain Goree.
- Yes, sir.

Get this man a tent.

And a cigar.

Sir.

He says the lead element is
here with the Third Corps...

the Sixth right behind...

supported by a column
of Federal cavalry.

Seven corps all together.

The First and Eleventh
are above Taneytown.

And there's more cavalry
two hours east.

There may be as many
as 100,000 altogether.

Do you believe the
man, this Mr Harrison?

No choice. You remember him,
sir, the actor from Mississippi?

An actor? We move on
the word of an actor?

Can't afford not to.

There would be some word
from General Stuart.

General Stuart would
not leave us blind.

Oh. One other thing.
Hooker's been replaced.

George Meade's the new commander.

Harrison read it in
the Yankee papers.

George Meade, Pennsylvania man.

Meade would be cautious, I think.

Take him some time
to get organised.

Perhaps we should
move more swiftly.

There may be an opportunity here.

Yes, sir.

No reason to delay.

I think we should
concentrate here.

All the roads converge
just east of this gap.

- This junction will be necessary.
- Yes, sir.

I left my spectacles over there.
What is the name of this town?

- Gettysburg.
- Very well.

Message for Colonel Chamberlain.

Colonel.

Colonel, darling.
Rise up, me bucko.

I'm sorry, darling, but we
got a bit of a problem here.

Would you like to hear about it?

Would you wake up, sir?

We got a whole
company coming, sir.

This way. I'll give
you time to wake

up, but we've got quite a problem.

Altogether, 120 men are coming.
We're to be having them as guests.

What?

Should be here any minute.

- Who?
- Mutineers.

Mutineers, colonel, me lad.

A hundred and twenty
men from the old

Second Maine, which
has been disbanded.

A hundred and twenty mutineers?

Yes, sir.

You see, what happened was
the enlistment papers...

on the old Second Maine run out.

They were sent home, all
except these 120 fellows...

who foolishly signed
three-year papers.

Three years, that is.

So these poor fellows got
one more year to serve.

Only they thought
they were signing to

fight only with the
Second Maine...

and the Second Maine only.

So they, quit.

They resigned, you see. 120 men.

- Colonel, are you all right?
- Yeah.

The point is, these Maine
fellows won't fight no more.

Nobody can send them home and
nobody knows what to do with them.

Until they thought of us...

being as we are the only other
Maine regiment in the Fifth Corps.

So they've been assigned to us.

Yes, sir.

I have a message here from
the new commanding general.

George Meade, sir. That's right.

Our very own general of
our very own corps...

has been promoted to
command of the whole army.

The latest, if you keep track
of them as they go by.

The message says
they'll be arriving

this morning and
they are to join us.

Oh. "And if they refuse
to follow orders,

please feel free to shoot them."

- To shoot them?
- Yes.

- These Maine men?
- Mm.

"You are hereby
authorised to shoot

any man who refuses
to do his duty."

Are these all Maine men?

Yes, sir. And fine big
fellows they are too.

Mutiny. I thought that
was a word for the Navy.

We'll move at sunrise.

It's a good time of the day.

I always do enjoy this time,
just before the dawn.

When all this is over, I
shall miss it very much.

Sir?

I didn't mean the fighting.

Well...

it's all in God's hands now.

Good day, sir.

Good day to you.

General, sir.

Should I wake them up, sir? Should
I get them waked up and get going?

No, Moxley.

Let the boys sleep a little
longer. They'll need it.

Yes, sir.

Prisoners, mark file, left.

How many men do we have
now in the 20th Maine?

Somewhere around 250, sir,
counting the officers.

How the heck are we supposed
to take care of 120 men?

Colonel, it's going to
be a hot day today.

Seeing as you already
been down with

the heat, will you
ride the horse...

that the good Lord
provided, instead

of marching in the dirty dust?

You walked.

Darling, I've been in the
infantry since you was in books.

After the first few
thousand miles,

a man gets limber with his feet.

Morning, Lawrence.

How are you? You're
looking kind of peaked.

Darn it, Tom. Don't
call me Lawrence.

It doesn't make sense.

Hold a gun on a man
to get him to fight.

Detail, about face.

Attention, detail.

You heard the captain.
Stand at attention.

Guards, get these men
back on their feet.

I'm looking for commanding
officer, 20th Maine.

You found him.

- That's him.
- You're Chamberlain?

Colonel Chamberlain to you.

Captain Brewer, sir.

118th Pennsylvania.

If you're the
commanding officer, I

present you with these prisoners.

You're welcome to them.

Lord knows, I had to use the
bayonet to keep them moving.

You have to sign for them.

Sign it, lieutenant.

You are relieved, captain.

You are authorised to use
whatever force necessary.

You want to shoot them...

go right ahead.

Won't nobody say nothing.

I said you are relieved, captain.

You men can leave now. We
won't need any guards.

My name is Chamberlain. I'm the
colonel of the 20th Maine.

When did you have
something to eat?

They're trying to break
us by not feeding us.

We ain't broke yet.

They just told me you were
coming a little while ago.

I'll get the cook going.

The meat may be raw, but
there's no time to cook.

We've got quite a
ways to go today.

You'll be coming with
us, so eat hearty.

We'll set you up in those trees.
Sergeant Tozier, see to it.

Yes, sir.

Well.

You boys go eat, then I'll come

over and hear what
you have to say.

Colonel.

Colonel, we've got grievances.

The men elected me
to talk for them.

All right. You come along with me.

The rest of you boys go eat. We're
gonna get moving in a little bit.

All right, men, on your feet.

- Gosh, Lawrence.
- Smile. Don't call me Lawrence.

- Are they moving?
- Yes, sir.

Forward, march.

What's your name?

I don't feel too kindly, colonel.

Yes, well, I'm usually
not this informal.

I just took command of this
regiment a few days ago.

Somebody ought to welcome
you to my, to our outfit.

They tell me they're
holding you fellows

because you signed
three-year papers.

I'm sorry. Would you
like some coffee?

Are you sure?

- Go ahead. Sit down, Mister...
- Bucklin.

Joseph Bucklin.

Listen, Colonel. I've been
in 11 different engagements.

How many have you been in?

Not that many.

It ain't the papers.

I done my share. We all have.

Damn good men. Shouldn't
be used this way.

Look here.

It went clean through.

Colonel, we got a courier coming.

Listen, colonel. I'm tired.

You know what I mean? I'm tired.

I've had all this army,
all these officers...

This damn Hooker, this
damn idiot Meade.

All of them. The whole
bloody, lousy mess

of sick-brained,
pot-bellied scareheads.

They ain't fit to
lead a johnny detail.

They ain't fit to pour
pee out of a boot

with instructions
written under the heel.

I'm tired.

We are good men and we
had our own good flag.

These damn idiots used us like
we were cows or dogs or worse.

We ain't gonna win this war.

We can't win with
these lame-brained

bastards from West Point.

These damn gentlemen.
These officers.

The courier, sir.

Don't go away.

Colonel Chamberlain, sir.

Colonel Vincent wishes to inform
you the Fifth Corps is moving out.

You and the 20th Maine Regiment
are instructed to lead.

20th Maine's assigned
first position in line.

Send out advanced
guards and flankers.

- Flankers?
- Yes, flankers.

Right, yes. My compliments
to the colonel.

Captain Clark, you heard
him. Get the regiment up.

Sound the assembly.
Strike the tents.

You better get something to eat.
Looks like you could use it.

Tell your men I'm coming.

The boys from the Second Maine
are being fed, Lawrence.

Don't call me Lawrence.

Damn it, Lawrence.
I'm your brother.

Be careful about the name
business in front of the men.

Because we're brothers, it
looks like favouritism.

General Meade got his own
son as his aide-de-camp.

That's different.
Generals can do anything.

Nothing quite so much like God on
earth as a general on battlefield.

What are you going to do
with them? Colonel, sir.

You can't shoot them. You never
go back to Maine if you do.

I know that.

I wonder if they do.

Colonel, sir. You
know who this man is?

Dan Burns, from Orono. I know
his daddy, the preacher.

Best cusser I ever heard.

Knows more fine swear words
than any man in Maine.

You men gather around.

I've been talking
with Private Bucklin.

He's told me about your problem.

There's nothing I can do today.

We're moving out in a few
minutes. We'll be moving all day.

I've been ordered to
take you men with me.

I'm told that...

if you don't come,
I can shoot you.

Well, you know I won't do that.

Maybe somebody else
will, but I won't.

So that's that.

Here's the, situation.

The whole reb army is up that
road a ways waiting for us.

This is no time for an argument.

I tell you, we could
surely use you fellows.

We're now well below
half strength.

Whether you fight or
not, that's up to you.

Whether you come along
is... Well, you're coming.

You know who we are,
what we're doing here.

If you fight alongside us, there's
a few things you must know.

This regiment was formed
last summer in Maine.

There were 1,000 of us then.

There are less than 300 of us now.

All of us volunteered to fight
for the Union, just as you did.

Some came mainly because
we were bored at home.

Thought this looked
like it might be fun.

Some came because we
were ashamed not to.

Many of us came because it
was the right thing to do.

And all of us have seen men die.

This is a different kind of army.

If you look back through history,
you'll see men fighting for pay...

for women, for some
other kind of loot.

They fight for land, power.

Because a king leads them, or
just because they like killing.

We are here for something new.

This has not happened much
in the history of the world.

We are an army out to
set other men free.

America should be free ground.

All of it.

Not divided by a line between
slave state and free.

All the way from here
to the Pacific Ocean.

No man has to bow.

No man born to royalty.

Here we judge you by what you
do, not by who your father was.

Here you can be something.

Here is the place to build a home.

But it's not the land.

There's always more land.

It's the idea that
we all have value.

You and me.

What we're fighting
for, in the end...

we're fighting for each other.

Sorry.

I didn't mean to preach.

You go ahead.

You talk for a while. If you...

If you choose to join us and want

your muskets back,
you can have them.

Nothing more will be said
by anybody, anywhere.

If you choose not to join us,
you can come along under guard.

When this is over,
I'll do what I can...

to see you get a fair treatment,
but for now, we're moving out.

Gentlemen.

I think if we lose this fight...

we lose the war.

So, if you choose to join us,
I'll be personally very grateful.

Colonel, it's a fine morning.

- Captain, are we ready?
- That we are.

Then let's move out.

20th Maine.

Forward.

March.

That's infantry, all right.

At least a whole brigade.

Any sign of cavalry?

Not a lick, sir.

That's strange.

Infantry moving alone in
enemy country, blind.

Very strange, sir.

What do you make of that?

He's headed this way.

Sir?

Lee's turned. That's
the main body.

You think so?

I thought they were
going to Harrisburg.

He was.

That's too many troops
to be a raiding party.

There's power behind it.

Sir, if you want to fight here,
this is such lovely ground.

It's the best damn ground
I've seen all day.

It is that.

We'll move both
brigades into town.

That'll make the
good citizens happy.

Let's go down and have a look.

Sir.

Soldier, your shirt needs mending.

I thought the war was in Virginia.

What division are you boys with?

Colonel, do you mind?

A good officer doesn't
ride all day.

I've been sitting too long anyway.

What do you think?

- What do you think?
- About what?

About the Second Maine
boys, what else?

Are any of them going to join us?

Would you believe it? All but six.

What?

I counted by actual vote. 114
voted to pick up the rifle.

Well, I'll be.

You did good, brother, real good.

Good. See to it they
march together.

Yes. Glazier's got the hardheads
in tow. There are six.

Get the names. Put them
in different companies.

I want them spread out,
not bunched together.

- I'll see about their muskets.
- Colonel, sir.

Keep the patrols out. Scout
this bunch in front of us.

Also scout up north. They'll be

coming over that
way from Carlisle.

I think Lee's turned
the whole army...

headed this way, trying
to get around us...

get between Meade and Washington.

If I'm right, there'll be a
lot of troops up this road...

and down that northern
road too, so hop to it.

Sir.

By God, I can't believe they're
coming this far north.

Can I have a ride on your pony?

There's Johnny Rebs everywhere.

Sure am glad to see you fellas.

Your servant, madam.

Is there going to be a
disturbance in our town?

Nothing the cavalry can't handle.

Never knew you were
such a cavalier.

I'm just not as shy and reserved
as you, sir. Beg your pardon.

Yeah, I'm about as shy as a
regiment at full gallop.

Rebel raiding parties
have been here for days.

Peeled the land of every
cow, chicken and hog.

Can't chew a plough horse
with what they didn't take.

Bobby Lee's up this road a piece.

Got the whole army of
Northern Virginia with him.

I recommend you
good folks get back

to your homes and stay indoors.

Yeah, for how long?

Till the shooting stops.

Something about the
mayor and politicians

and dignitaries that
troubles me a bit.

They're too fat and
they talk too much.

And they never think twice about
asking a man to die for them.

You know what's happening
here in the morning?

Sir?

The whole damn rebel
army is gonna be here.

They'll move through this town,

occupy the hills
on the other side.

When our people arrive,
Lee'll have high

ground. There'll be
the devil to pay.

The high ground.

Meade will come in slowly,
cautiously, new to command.

They'll be on his
back from Washington.

Wires hot with messages.
Attack. Attack.

So he will set up a ring
around these hills.

And when Lee's army
is nicely entrenched

behind fat rocks on
the high ground...

Meade will finally attack, if
he can coordinate the army.

Straight up the hillside,
out in the open...

in that gorgeous field of fire.

We will charge valiantly and
be butchered valiantly.

And afterwards, men
in tall hats and gold

watch fobs will thump
their chest...

and say what a brave
charge it was.

Devin, I've led a
soldier's life...

and I've never seen anything
as brutally clear as this.

It's as if I can
actually see the blue

troops in one long
bloody moment...

going up the long slope
to the stony top...

as if it were already done...

and already a memory.

An odd, set...

stony quality to it.

As if tomorrow has
already happened and

there's nothing you
can do about it.

The way you sometimes feel before
an ill-considered attack...

knowing it will fail,
but you cannot stop it.

You must even take
part and help it fail.

Sir.

We have 2,500 men.

They'll be coming in force.

There could be 20,000 coming
down that road in the morning.

If we hold this ridge for a couple
of hours, we can keep them away.

We can block that road until
our main body gets here.

We can deprive the enemy
of the high ground.

The boys are ready for a
brawl. No doubt of that.

We'll force the reb to deploy.

That's a narrow road
they'll be coming down.

If we stack them up,
it will take them a

while to get on track
to get into position.

Is Calef's battery up yet?

His six guns are deploying now.

How far back is Reynolds
with the main force?

About 10 miles,
sir. Not much more.

Sir, you were right.

My scouts report the rebel army
is coming this way for sure.

They're all concentrating
in this direction.

We'll hold here in the morning.

Long enough for Reynolds and
the infantry to arrive.

If we hang on to the high
ground, we have a chance...

to win this fight that's coming.

- Understood?
- Yes, sir.

Post the cannon along this
road, the Chambersburg Pike.

The rebels will hit
us at dawn. I think

we can hold them at least 2 hours.

Hell, general, we can hold
them all the livelong day.

He's right, sir.

At Thoroughfare Gap, you
held against Longstreet.

You held for six hours.

They never came. We
held for nothing.

The rebs will hit us
just about first light.

Keep a clear eye.

Have the pickets give
us a good warning.

All right, gentlemen.

- Let's get posted.
- Sir.

General Reynolds, my troops are
deployed on good ground...

west of Gettysburg on
the Chambersburg Pike.

I've sent reconnaissance
parties in every direction...

from which the enemy
might be approaching.

I'm satisfied A. P. Hill's corps
is massed just west of here...

back of Cashtown.

The enemy's pickets are within
four miles of my position.

Rumour says Ewell's coming over
the mountains from Carlisle.

If true, two
Confederate corps will

converge upon us in the morning.

One from the west and
one from the north.

Do you want me to hold
this position if attacked?

Confirmation requested.

J.N.O. Buford.

"Bow down thy heaven, O Lord.

Come down and touch the
mountains and they shall smoke.

Blessed be the Lord, my strength,

which teaches my
fingers to fight...

and my hands to war. Amen."

Good morning, Lucy.

Traveller, good
morning to you, sir.

Good morning, sir.

Good morning, Major Taylor.

How are you this morning,
sir? How you feeling, sir?

Is there any word
from General Stuart?

No, sir. I would have
wakened you, sir, if...

There was no report at all, sir.

If I don't hear from
General Stuart by this

evening, I'm gonna
send word out to him.

Yes, sir. I have a message
from General Hill, sir.

Yes?

General Hill wishes
to inform you that...

he is going to
Gettysburg this morning

with his lead division
general, Heth.

- For what purpose?
- He advises me that there is...

a supply of shoes
in the town, and he

intends to requisition
some footgear.

General Hill knows I want no fight
till this army is concentrated?

General Hill expects
no opposition...

except for some local militia
with shotguns and such.

Very well.

- Will the general have breakfast?
- No, thanks.

We have flapjacks
in small mountains.

Fresh butter, bacon, waggons of
ham, apple butter, ripe cherries.

You really ought to pitch in, sir.

Courtesy of our host, the great
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Has there been any trouble
from the local population?

Oh, no, sir. No trouble with them.

The men are behaving very well.

But there are some local women who

claim we have taken
all their food.

And though they don't complain
of our having paid for it...

in the good dear coin
of mighty Virginia...

well, sir, they do
object to starving.

We must be charitable
to these people, major.

- We have enough enemies.
- Yes, sir.

The men have their strict orders.

But I must admit those orders
would be easier to follow...

had the Yankees showed charity
when they were in Virginia.

Major, this army will
conduct itself properly...

and with respect to all civilian
population at all times.

And you will personally report
to me any infraction...

no matter how minor or
trivial they may appear.

- Yes, sir.
- Very well.

Good morning, sir.

General Longstreet, good morning.

Federal forces are concentrating.

Yes, and I've confirmed some of
your man Harrison's information.

Their new commander is
definitely George Meade.

I have reports of Union
cavalry in Gettysburg.

Cavalry?

General Hill reports only militia.

- He did?
- Mm.

Well, it's cavalry.

Where there's cavalry,
infantry will be close behind.

Meade's closing fast.

It could be he's thinking of
swinging around behind us.

Behind, in front,
direction does not

matter. We'll fight
him wherever he is.

Probably got old Abe
Lincoln on his back

frantic to throw us
out of Pennsylvania.

We may have an opportunity here.

I agree.

Our objective was
to get their army

out of Virginia and into the open.

Now they are in the open.

General Meade has been
forcing the march.

The weather has
been unusually hot.

He will probably arrive here worn
out and weary, piece by piece.

If we concentrate, we can
hit him as he comes up.

If we can take out a few of his
corps, we can even the odds.

But we must strike hard and
we must strike quickly.

What artillery is that, major?

I don't know, sir.

General Heth is in front.

- My instructions were clear?
- Yes, sir. To all commanders.

Avoid contact with the enemy until
the army's up and concentrated.

And General Heth?

He has instructions not
to force major action.

I told him this morning.

We should move closer to the
front. Send for General Heth.

- I must know what is going on.
- Yes, sir.

General...

in the fight that
is coming, I want

you to stay back
from the main line.

This army has lost too many
of its veteran commanders...

and you, sir, have a very bad
habit of moving too far forward.

Can't lead from behind.

May I say it plainly, sir.

I cannot afford to lose you.

General, let's look to this day.
You may bring up your corps.

Sir.

Major Taylor, have
Traveller saddled up.

I'm gonna look around for myself.

Yes, sir.

They've got a brigade in
position and that's all.

We've got the best
damn ground around,

and they're hitting
me with one brigade.

Lovely. Lovely.

Go on down, gentlemen.

Fall back.

They're on the run.

Close crop, General.

- How are your losses?
- Not bad, sir.

We got them out in the open.
Really got a twist on them.

They are arrogant people, you
know? They came right at us.

We took some prisoners.
They're from

Heth's division of Hill's corps.

That's what I've got
in front of me.

A new division. 8,000 men more or
less. All within sound of this.

Just back up that
road between here and

Cashtown. A little
ways up the road.

It'll take them a little
while to get on line.

Yes, sir, but Hill's whole
corps is behind. Maybe 25,000.

Longstreet behind that. Ewell
over there to the north.

I know, Colonel.

When John Reynolds gets here, he
won't have the full army with him.

Only part of it.

The point is, the rebs will
be here this afternoon...

with everything they've got. I
just thought I'd mention it.

What do you want me
to do here, sir?

Heth will be back in a bit.

If he's got any brains at
all, and he's not stupid...

he'll know by now he's got at
least a brigade in front of him.

He won't wait to get his
whole division in line.

That would take half the morning.

He don't need his whole division.

That's right.

Does Devin report any activity
on his front over to the right?

- No, sir. Not a lick.
- All right.

I'll have Devin leave his cover
and withdraw his boys...

and have them move in alongside
you, lengthening your line.

When Heth gets back, he'll
run into two brigades.

That ought to hold him
until Reynolds gets here.

Right, sir.

Damn sure glad the
rain is gone. Don't

want anything to slow up Reynolds.

Take care of yourself, colonel.

Don't worry about me, sir.
I'm the soul of caution.

Fire.

Move. Fall back.

That flank... Hold it.

Stand fast, keep up your fire.

Keep up your fire. Pour it into
them, boys. Pour it into them.

Keep up your fire.

Gamble's down, sir.

Colonel Gamble, but
he's not hurt bad, sir.

I'm all right, I'm all right.

It was close, that's all.

Colonel Devin's compliments.
No problem on the right.

They came up close, but
we put in the reserve.

We didn't put it all in, sir.

Wishes to know if you
have further orders.

Tell Devin all reserve
forward, now.

Keep up your fire.

Fire.

Fire.

Sir, it's General Reynolds.

Thank God.

What goes, John?

There's the devil to pay.

- Can you hold?
- I reckon I can.

Captain, ride as fast as
you can to General Meade.

Tell him the enemy is
advancing in strong force.

I'm afraid they'll
get to the heights

beyond the town before we will.

We'll fight them
here, inch by inch,

through the town if necessary.

- Yes, sir.
- Lieutenant.

Go into town, tell the
people to stay in

off the streets,
especially children.

There's liable to be a
fair-sized dispute here today.

Joe, how can you see anything
with those things on?

General. Damn glad to see you.

First corps is coming up. The
11th is right behind it.

- Good job, John.
- Thank you.

I don't think they knew until
now what they were up against.

Now that you're here,
they still don't know.

Well, they'll be coming
back. Very good.

Heth'll come in here
thinking he's up

against two tired
cavalry brigades.

Instead he'll be hitting two
corps of fresh Union infantry.

Yes, sir. Poor Harry.

You can pull your boys out
as soon as we set up.

Put them out on my flanks.
Good cavalry on both flanks.

Yes, sir. Well, John, most of
my life I've been leery...

about the appearance
of high command.

But, John, I sure
am glad to see you.

Gentlemen, place the troops.

Now, John...

Heth probably has
10,000 men coming

down that road, wouldn't you say?

Yes, sir. But there'll
be more behind him.

We can put almost 20,000 in the

field. We're in good
shape, I think.

For a while, sir.

I'm sending messages
to all commanders

to come here with
all possible speed.

It's lovely ground.

I thought so, sir.

Now let's go surprise Harry Heth.

Come on.

- General Heth.
- Sir. I beg to report.

Yes.

Very strange, sir. The
situation is very confused.

What happened?

I moved in this
morning, as directed.

I thought it was
only a few militia,

but it was dismounted
cavalry, sir.

There weren't all that many, and
the boys wouldn't hold back.

I thought we shouldn't be stopped
by a few dismounted cavalry...

but they made a good fight.

They really put up a scrap, sir.

Go on, general.

Well, sir, they wouldn't leave.

My boys got their dander up.

We deployed the whole
division and went after them.

We just about had them running
then all of a sudden...

they got infantry support.

We got pushed back.

Then we reformed and
tried again. We

couldn't just leave
it to them, sir.

Now there's more Yankee infantry
coming. I don't know how many.

But I don't know what
else we could've done.

It started as a minor
scrap with a few militia.

The next thing I know, I'm
tangling with half the Union army.

Things will get out of control, Mr
Heth. That is why we have orders.

Is it possible you misunderstood?

No, sir.

Can you identify those people?

The infantry is the First
Corps, the Black Hats.

There's another corps coming
that we haven't identified.

I must have all possible
information on enemy strength.

Major Taylor, I want
you to ride forward

to the highest
position and observe.

- And do be careful.
- Yes, sir. Hyah.

- Sir, shall I attack?
- No, sir.

We are not ready for
full engagement.

General Longstreet is
not up with his corps.

Sir, the enemy is disorganised.

If we throw all our forces in the
field, we will have the advantage.

Is that our artillery?

Yes, sir.

I can't imagine what has
happened to General Stuart.

I've heard nothing.
Do you understand?

Yes, sir.

I have no idea of
what lies in front of

me. It may be the
entire Federal army.

Sir, compliments
of Colonel Babbit.

Rebels are coming from the
north. Your instructions, sir?

That'll be Ewell's corps.
They're trying to flank us.

We got to meet them and
force them to go on line.

Tell Colonel Devin to get up
that way as quick as he can.

We'll get Gamble's boys back in
the saddle and be there shortly.

General Rodes has
encountered Yankee cavalry.

Buford's brigades.

General Early's right
behind him and

will be on the field
within the hour.

General Early may
be attacked by half

the Federal army within the hour.

- Is that Pender's artillery?
- Yes, sir. He's up now.

Four batteries in position
with two more in reserve.

With General Rodes
attacking up there and

Pender and I, we have
three divisions.

We could sweep them.

General, sir.

I saw only two Federal
corps. First and Eleventh.

And, General, I saw
Early's lead columns

coming down north of Rodes' lines.

He'll be engaged any minute, sir.

Sir, we got 20,000 infantry coming

down almost behind
the Union lines.

It's perfect, sir.

God's will.

Gentlemen, it would appear the
fight is already underway.

General Heth, you may attack, sir.

My orders to all
commanders: attack.

- Fire.
- Fire.

Forward men, final
brigade forward.

Drive those fellas
out of that wood.

Forward. For God's sake, forward.

He's dead.

One thing about this brigade is we
got our own special bugle call.

Ever hear tell of Dan Butterfield?

What, General Butterfield?
What was with Hooker?

That's the same fellow.

He used to be our
brigade commander.

Yeah, he was a pistol.

No man like him for
having a good time.

I don't know about that.

But I know he used to like
to write bugle calls.

The problem with this army
is, we got too many calls.

We got a call for artillery,
infantry, get up and eat, retreat.

Anyway, old
Butterfield, he wrote a

special call for
this here brigade.

Say there is an order for
this brigade, you and me.

He'll be blowing his
bugle, we will think

that order's for
us when it wasn't.

We'll follow that order anyway,
then we'll be in a world of hurt.

Yeah, that happened to
me once. Us, that is.

Half the regiment charged,
the other half retreated.

You had your choice.

This here brigade
got a special call.

You hear that call, you know
the next one is for you.

It goes like this.

See, the call's like
"Dan Butterfield."

In the middle of a fight, I'm
supposed to remember that?

You can remember that.
That's easy to remember.

Butterfield, he wrote
a lot of bugle calls.

You ever hear
"Butterfield's Lullaby"?

Butterfield's what?

Colonel, sir.

Begging the colonel's pardon.

But would the colonel
please do us a

favour and get back
on the damned horse?

I'll tell you, sir, it's not easy
handling these new recruits...

when the officers act like
they ain't got any sense, sir.

Make way, make way.

Lawrence, sir.

We've gone over 20 miles today.

We've gone over 100 miles
in five days, sir.

There's something going on.

- Colonel Vincent, sir.
- Chamberlain.

Far cry from Bowdoin
College, isn't it?

No farther than Harvard Yard.

Indeed. With luck, we'll both
see our alma maters again.

In the meantime, colonel, you move
your boys along as best you can.

Two corps have engaged
at Gettysburg.

So we'll keep going through
dark and on until we get there.

- Yes, sir.
- Godspeed.

Battery, fire.

They're running. They're running.

General Pender begs to report
that the enemy is falling back.

- They're on the run.
- Very well.

General Early says the
enemy's caved in...

on the left flank, going
back to Gettysburg.

- They're all running.
- Very well. Thank you.

Find General Hill's
chief of artillery.

Tell him I want
fire placed on that

hill. As much fire as possible.

- Yes, sir.
- Very well.

- Major Taylor.
- Yes, sir.

Deliver this message in person.

Tell General Ewell the Federal

troops are withdrawing
in confusion.

We must only push those people
in order to gain the heights.

Tell him to take that hill, if

practical. The one
beyond the town.

- Do you understand?
- Yes, sir.

- Very well.
- Hyah.

Congratulations, general.

I want you to see this.

It's like second
Manassas all over again.

Couldn't have worked
better if we'd planned it.

If we can take that hill, I
want it occupied by nightfall.

Sir, the Federal army has
fallen back through Gettysburg.

They're reforming on the
ridges outside of town.

Very well.

This is almost perfect. We
got them where we want them.

Let's move south and east, get
between them and Lincoln...

find some high ground...

and they'll have to hit us.

Then we have them, general.

You mean disengage?

I've always been under
the impression...

that it was our
strategy to conduct a

defensive campaign
wherever possible...

in order to keep the army intact.

Granted, but the
situation has changed.

- How?
- We already pushed them back.

They're on the run,
vacating the town.

How can we move off in
the face of the enemy?

- Major Marshall?
- Yes, sir.

I ordered firing on that hill,
but no cannons are firing.

- Send over and find out why.
- I'll see to it, sir.

Thank you.

What are you thinking, general?

Maybe we should not
have fought here.

I know that. But we have
prevailed. The men have prevailed.

They've always done that.

But in the morning, we
may be outnumbered...

and they'll be entrenched
on the high ground.

You know as well as I, we've never

been concerned with
being outnumbered.

That is true. You are right.

If we move south to Washington,
they have to pursue us.

Then we can fight on
ground of our choosing.

But the enemy is here.

We did not want the fight,
but the fight is here.

How can I ask this
army to retreat in

the face of what
they've done this day?

Not retreat, sir. Re-deploy.

Our guns will move them off that
hill or Ewell will push them off.

But if Meade is there tomorrow,
I can't move this army away.

I will attack him.

If Meade is up there
tomorrow, it is

because he wants us to attack him.

We pushed back two corps, but
there are five more coming.

General, I will bring up
my boys as soon as I can.

Very well.

- General?
- Sir?

Your man Harrison, the
actor, he was quite correct.

Had it not been for
him, this entire army

might have been
destroyed in detail.

The Federal force might've been

here waiting when
we turned around.

I'm deeply grateful to you, sir.

Hello, men.

What outfit are you with?

Archer's brigade, Heth's division.

- Where you from?
- Tennessee.

How about you?

Maine.

I've never been to Tennessee.

I reckon I've never
been to Maine neither.

I don't mean no disrespect
to you fighting men...

but sometimes I can't
help but figure,

why are you fighting this war?

Why are you fighting it?

To free the slaves, of course.
And to preserve the Union.

I don't know about other folk, but
I ain't fighting for no darkies.

I'm fighting for my rights.

That's what we're
all fighting for.

- For your what?
- For our rights.

Why can't you folks live the
way you want to live...

and let us live the way we do?

"Live and let live," I
hear some folks say.

Be a mite less fuss and bother
if more folks took it to heart.

Where'd you get captured?

Railroad cut west
of Gettysburg town.

It wasn't a pretty sight.

Many a good boy lost a
young and promising life.

Some wore blue, some wore grey.

Seen enough of this war?

I guess I have.

I guess I have too.

It looks like I'll be
sitting out the rest of it.

I appreciate you talking to me.

See you in hell, Billy Yank.

See you in hell, Johnny Reb.

I have found a John Henry, sir.

John who?

A John Henry, sir. A runaway.
I heard him a-groaning.

Is he wounded?

Don't know for sure.

The man's exhausted.

We'll get him something to
eat. The surgeon's on the way.

Did you get his name?

He said something I
couldn't understand.

I can't understand anyone
south of Mason-Dixon.

Rebs or darkies.

All right, men, as you
were. Surgeon, see to him.

We had visitors from the
South before the war.

They were always very polite,
academic, you understand.

We stayed off the question
of slavery out of courtesy.

But toward the end there was
no getting away from it...

and yet I could never
understand. I don't now.

I don't know why.

They fight so well.

Tell me something, Buster...

what do you think of Negroes?

Well, if you mean the race...

I don't really know.

This is not a thing
to be ashamed of.

The thing is, you
cannot judge a race.

Any man who judges by
the group is a pea-wit.

You take men one at a time.

To me, there was never
any difference.

- None at all?
- None at all.

Of course, I haven't known
that many freed men...

but those I knew in
Bangor, Portland...

you look in the eye,
there was a man.

There was a "divine spark,"
as my mother used to call it.

That's all there is to it.

Races are men.

"What a piece of work is man.

How infinite in faculties,
in form and moving...

how express and admirable.

In action, how like an angel."

Well, if he's an angel,
all right then...

but he damn well must
be a killer angel.

Colonel, darling,
you're a lovely man.

I see a vast great difference
between us, yet I admire you, lad.

You're an idealist, praise be.

The truth is, colonel...

there is no "divine spark."

There's many a man
alive no more of

value than a dead dog. Believe me.

When you've seen
them hang each other

the way I have back
in the Old Country.

Equality?

What I'm fighting
for is the right to

prove I'm a better man
than many of them.

Where have you seen this "divine
spark" in operation, colonel?

Where have you noted this
magnificent equality?

No two things on earth are
equal or have an equal chance.

Not a leaf, not a tree.

There's many a man worse
than me and some better...

but I don't think race or
country matters a damn.

What matters, colonel...

is justice.

Which is why I'm here.

I'll be treated as I deserve...

not as my father deserved.

I'm Kilrain...

and I damn all gentlemen.

There is only one aristocracy...

and that is right here.

And that's why we've
got to win this war.

Howdy.

Howdy, general.

Hello, my boys.
Virginia has arrived.

General Pickett presents
his compliments...

and asks to parley with the

commanding general,
s'il vous plaît.

Hey, George.

General.

Good Lord, what is that smell?

That's me. Ain't it lovely?

He got it off a dead Frenchman.

- Good evening.
- Hey, Lo.

I did not get it off
a dead Frenchman.

I bought it in a store
in Richmond with Sally.

It did have a French name,
but Miss Corbert likes it.

- How are you, general?
- Good, Jim, good. How are you?

Real good.

Dick, how's it going?

Fine, John, just fine.

Good. Oh, listen, I
am sorry to assign

you to old smelly George here...

but I hear tell you
have a strong stomach.

General, I want you to know...

how much I appreciate
this opportunity

to be back in action again, sir.

Let it go, Dick. Let it go.

I consider it a damn
fine piece of luck...

to have a man of your calibre
attached to this command. I do.

General, sir. Just exactly
what do we have here?

Oh. Excuse me.

Gentlemen? Colonel Fremantle?

Allow me to introduce Major
General George Pickett.

General Pickett, Lieutenant
Colonel Arthur Fremantle...

of Her Majesty's venerable and
elite Cold Stream Guards...

Britain's military attache
to the Confederacy...

and, you might say, the eyes
and ears of Queen Victoria.

Hardly, sir. I'm merely an
observer and your humble guest.

Sir...

the fame of your regiment
has preceded you.

General Pickett here is
our ranking strategist.

The First Corps Army
of Northern Virginia.

We refer all our deeper
questions to him.

They do. They do indeed.

His record at West Point is
still the talk of both armies.

You know I consider
it unbecoming to

a soldier, all this book learning.

Book learning ain't
for gentlemen, right?

Nor that either.

He graduated last in
his class. Dead last.

Quite a feat, considering
his classmates.

The Yankees got all the smart
ones. Look where it's got them.

Colonel, allow me to
present my commanders.

Each one of these
chaps, as you might

say, commands a brigade of mine.

Now this fellow here,
this is Lo Armistead.

Lo. That's short for Lothario.

The lover.

This here is Richard Brooke
Garnett. You'll pardon his limp.

He got kicked by his
horse the other day.

That fellow there...

That's Jim Kemper.

You note the shifty eye,
the hand in the pocket.

He's not even a West
Pointer, so watch him.

He's a politician from Virginia.
Jimmy's only here for the votes.

I was Speaker of the
House in Virginia.

As a matter of fact,
I'd like to talk

to you about some
political matters.

You know the queen, don't you?

What I need to know and
tell my folks back home is:

When are you going
to do something...

about that damn Yankee blockade
out there on the water?

Can you tell me
something about that?

Time for some branch
water. Come on.

General? Sir.

Might I have a few words?

Sure, George. Come on.

I must confess I'm rather curious
about General Longstreet.

Up until tonight, he never seemed
to fraternise all that much.

Almost dour, one would
have to suggest.

Well, if I were you, colonel, I'd
count myself among the lucky.

He just happens to be
about the best damn

poker player in this
here man's army.

There was a time you'd have to
fight to keep him out of a game.

Scarlet fever hit Richmond last
winter, right at Christmastime.

General lost all three
of his children to it.

The youngest was 10.

Hasn't been quite the same since.

- The queen.
- To the queen.

Her majesty.

Well, see, you are looking fine.

Looking lovely yourself, George.

General. No reflection
on you, sir...

but you know, my division,
my Virginia boys...

we haven't seen all that
much action for a long time.

I mean, well, we weren't that
engaged at Fredericksburg.

We missed Chancellorsville
altogether.

Off on some piddling affair.

Now they took two of my brigades,
Corson, Jenkins, and sent them...

off to guard Richmond. I mean,
Richmond of all places?

And now, sir, do you
know where I've

been placed in the line of march?

Last, sir. That's
where I am, exactly

last. I'm bringing
up the damn rear.

Beg pardon, sir. You
see, my boys...

are beginning to feel
a trifle disgusted

at this attitude towards them...

as fighting men, sir. My boys...

- George.
- Sir.

Please.

I sure don't mean
to imply you, sir.

No. Hell no, sir.

No, it's just... Well,
the bureaucrats.

See, I was just... I was hoping,
sir, that perhaps you could...

talk to somebody about this
arrangement of the troops.

Would you like me
to move the whole

army to the side so
you can go first?

Sir?

Now that you mention it...

There is no plot, George. It's
just the way things fell out.

I mean, hell, look at it this way.

If the army has to turn
around, fight its way back...

well, you'll be first in line.

Yes, I suppose that
is true, isn't it?

You understand, sir.

That this whole damn war might
be over after one more battle...

and my Virginia boys will
have missed most of it.

Yeah, I know.

How far back are they?

Chambersburg, a hard
day's march, sir.

I know I can count on you,
George, when the time comes...

and it will come. It will come.

Sorry to butt in,
but they're calling

for George over at
the poker table.

Your fame, sir, has preceded you.

Well, thank you, general.

Well, cheerio, fellas.

Don't forget to bring your money.

Have you heard any
news of old Winfield?

Old Winnie boy?

Hancock? Oh, yeah.

Well, how's he doing?

- You're gonna find out.
- Yeah?

He's got the Second Corps.
Damn clover leaves.

He's headed this way. Probably run
into him in the next few days.

I wish I could see him again.

I haven't seen him
since before the war.

Never thought it would
last this long.

Me neither, Lo.

I sure would like to talk
to old Hancock again.

One more time.

Well, why not?

You wouldn't mind?

Hell, no.

I mean, really.

Do you think it would be
proper? You know, ethical?

Look, when the time
comes, and he's close...

just send a messenger over under
a flag of truce and go on over.

Ain't nothing to it.

Last time I saw him
was in California.

Right when the war
was beginning...

the night before we all left to
go fight against each other.

Old friends off to war.

Hey, Lo.

- How's your brigade?
- Oh.

I've never seen troops
anywhere so ready for a brawl.

I've got to give the old man
credit. A lot of credit for that.

Who else could've held this
army together for so long?

Remember what they
used to say about him?

When he first took command?
They called him "Old Granny."

Lord, what damn fools we were.

Now when he passes...

the boys hush as if they had
seen an angel of the Lord.

Have you ever seen
anything like that?

No. I can't say I have.

It's amazing what one
honest man can do.

Mm. One honest man and a cause.

I don't think on that
too much any more.

I guess my only cause is victory.

This war comes as a nightmare.
You pick your nightmare side.

Then you put your
head down and win.

Old gloomy Pete.

You see, colonel...

the government derives its power
from the consent of the people.

Every government, everywhere.

Let me make this very
plain to you, sir.

We do not consent and
we will never consent.

And what you've got to do is,

you've got to go
back over there...

to your Parliament and you've got
to make it very plain to them.

You've got to tell them that
what we're fighting for here...

is the freedom from
what we consider

to be the rule of a foreign power.

I mean, that's all we want. That's
what this war is all about.

- Jim.
- No, no, no.

Now, we established this
country in the first place...

with very strong
state governments...

just for that very reason.

I mean, let me put
it to you this way.

My home is in Virginia.

The government of my home is home.

Virginia would not allow
itself to be ruled...

by some king over there in London.

It's not about to
let itself be ruled

by some president in Washington.

Virginia, by God, sir, is going
to be run by Virginians.

Oh, my. The cause.

Actually, I got a pair of kings.

And it's all for the Yankees.

The damn money grubbing Yankees.

I mean, those damn fools,
they don't get the message.

Always the darkies.
Nothing but the darkies.

You know, Jim...

Sit down. I think that my idea...

my analogy of a gentlemen's club
is fair enough. It's clear enough.

Colonel, think on it now.

Suppose that we all joined a
club, a gentlemen's club.

After a time, several
of the members

began to intrude themselves...

into our private
lives, our home lives.

Began telling us what we
could and couldn't do.

Well, then, wouldn't any one of
us have the right to resign?

I mean, just resign.

That's what we did.

That's what I did and
now these people

are telling us we don't
have that right.

I got to hand it to you.

You certainly do have a talent for
trivialising the momentous...

and complicating the obvious.

Have you ever considered
running for Congress?

No. It's a thought.

What does Colonel Fremantle think?

Will the British
come in on our side?

Hell, yeah. They'll come in when
we don't need them no more.

Like some damn bank
lending you money

when you're no longer in debt.

- Look here, Mr Speaker...
- George.

A word?

Good night, colonel.

See you later.

In the next few days, we're going
to have a hell of a fight here.

I want you to do everything
necessary to get your boys ready.

You can start bringing them
up by the first light.

I want you all in Gettysburg
by tomorrow night.

Yes, sir.

Good evening, John.

I'm surprised you could find

headquarters with
all that confusion.

There's an old Indian saying:

"Follow the cigar smoke and
find a fat man there."

General Hancock.

How are you, John?

I'm all right.

But the brigades are pretty shot
up. I need to get refitted.

Right. I'll see to it. We know
what you did this morning.

That was one hell of a
piece of soldiering.

Thank you, sir.

Heard you were with John
Reynolds when he was killed.

I'm sending the body up to
his folks in Lancaster.

They might appreciate
a note from you.

I'll send it.

He was a soldier.

And a good friend.

Three of us, Reynolds, Lo
Armistead and I came up together.

Mexican War.

California.

We stayed close.

I wonder how old Lo is
doing. If he's still alive.

Heard he had one of
Pickett's brigades.

Under Longstreet.

Remarkable.

Just across the ridge?

I'd like to see him again,
but not here. Not like this.

Well, maybe after the war?

Where do you want
me in the morning?

I want you to hold your
position on the extreme left.

Get some rest if you can.

We may need you in the morning.

Jeb Stuart's still on the
prowl out there some place.

Yes, sir.

Well, General Reynolds...

we held the high ground.

General Trimble is waiting.

- Will you see him?
- Very well.

I want a scouting party sent out
post-haste to find General Stuart.

- Yes, sir. Right away.
- Thank you.

General Trimble.

Sir, I most respectfully
request another assignment.

Do please go on, general.

The man is a disgrace.

Sir, have you been
listening at all to

what the aides have
been telling you?

Ask General Gordon or
General Ewell. Ask them.

We could've taken that hill.

God in his wisdom knows
we should've taken it.

There was no one there at all
and it commanded the town.

General Gordon saw it. I
mean, he was with us.

Me and Ewell and Gordon...

all standing in the
dark like idiots

with that bloody
damned hill empty.

I beg your pardon, general.

That bloody damned hill was
bare as his bloody damned head.

We all saw it, as
God is my witness.

We were all there.

I said to him, "General Ewell,
we have got to take that hill."

General Jackson wouldn't have
stopped with them on the run...

and plenty of light on a
hill like that empty.

God help us.

I don't know...

I don't know why I...

Do please continue, general.

Yes, sir.

Sir.

I said to General
Ewell these words...

I said to him:

"Sir, give me one division
and I will take that hill."

He said nothing. He just stood
there and stared at me.

I said, "General Ewell,
give me one brigade...

and I will take that hill."

I was becoming disturbed, sir.

And General Ewell put his
arms behind him and blinked.

So I said, "General,
give me one regiment...

and I will take that hill."

And he said nothing.

He just stood there.

I threw down my sword. Down on
the ground in front of him.

We could have done it, sir.

A blind man should have seen it.

Now they're working up there.

You can hear the axes
of the Federal troops.

And so in the morning...

many a good boy will die...

taking that hill.

Sir.

I must request another assignment.

No, sir. That won't be necessary.

You will be of great service.

And I do thank you.

General Meade, sir.

Hancock. It's so damn dark out
there I can't see a thing.

Well, gentlemen.

I hope to God that this is...

good ground.

Is this good ground, general?

Is this the place to have an army?

Very good ground, sir.
Very good ground.

I hope you are right.

Because we are going
to have a fight

here sure enough in the morning.

General Ewell, I had hoped that
after moving through the town...

you would've taken that hill.

I didn't think it was practical.

Well, for many reasons.

We marched all day,
and we'd fought.

And your orders were
to caution against

bringing on a general engagement.

There were reports of Federal
troops in the north, sir.

We couldn't bring sufficient
artillery to bear on that hill.

We decided it was best to wait for

another of our
divisions, Johnson's.

Yes, sir. Johnson didn't arrive
till after dark, just a while ago.

He's out there now,
looking over the terrain.

General Early, do
you think you can

attack on your flank
in the morning?

That hill will be a very strong
position once it's fortified...

which is what they're
doing right now, sir.

I am very much aware
of that, general.

Have you looked over the
ground yourself, sir?

From a distance only.

I do not think we should
attack this point.

This will be the strong point.

Our troops have marched
hard and fought hard today.

I suggest we hold
here while the rest

of the army attacks
the other flank.

Do you think an attack on
your flank will succeed?

I think it would be very costly.

Very costly, sir.

General Rodes?

We, could attack of
course, general...

but the boys have had a good fight

and that will be a
strong position.

General, I am sorry we
didn't take that hill today.

Well, this day is done.

You know, General
Longstreet proposes that

we move our army
around to the right...

and flank the Federal army...

and interpose between
Meade and Washington.

And to vacate this position?

To leave this town we've
just captured, sir?

This town is of no military
significance whatsoever, general.

To move this entire corps in
the face of a fortified enemy?

And yet you tell me that you
cannot attack in the morning?

Gentlemen, if we do not
withdraw and if we

do not manoeuvre in the
face of the enemy...

then we must attack. Is there
any other alternative?

- General Hill?
- No, sir.

Very well.

I do thank you gentlemen.

General...

I believe I may have
been too slow today.

I regret that very much.

I was trying to be careful.

May have been too careful.

You won a victory
this day, general.

It was not a large victory.
It could have been larger.

Perhaps we could've pushed harder.

But it was a victory nonetheless.

And your people fought valiantly.

This was your first campaign
commanding a corps.

Now you know it's not always as
simple as it sometimes appears.

Go and rest now for tomorrow.

Will there be anything else, sir?

No, thank you, major.

Very well.

In the morning is
the great battle.

Tomorrow or the next day
will determine the war.

Virginia is here.

All the South is here.

What will you do tomorrow?

In the morning...

the enemy will be up in fortified
positions on high ground.

Longstreet's corps
will be coming up...

and my boys will be ready
to finish the job.

If I tell them to
withdraw now? No, sir.

They've been patient
for far too long.

With the enemy out there
up on the hill...

they'll be ready
to finish the job.

But I don't even know
how much is up there.

How many men? How many cannon?

I don't know the
ground on the flanks.

I don't know.

If I wait in the morning,
the early morning...

maybe Meade, under
pressure, will attack.

That would make General
Longstreet very happy.

But I don't think
Meade will come down.

And I don't think I
can withdraw, so...

God's will, thy will be done.

Major Sorrel, you've met before.

Thank you, general.

The Federal position was scouted
during the last several hours.

We've drawn it up here.

Now, this is the situation.

The position of the Federal army
is in the shape of a fish hook.

It starts here. You
see these two hills?

This one and the one
with the cemetery.

That is where they have
concentrated their troops.

The hook starts there.

Now, it curves around and comes

down this low ridge
to the south...

ending before two round
hills of high elevation.

The Federals have no
troops on those two hills.

- Carry on.
- Thank you.

We now know that General Hancock
is in charge of the Union centre.

There are now perhaps 60,000 to
70,000 men already in position.

Perhaps as high as 90,000.

I spoke with General Ewell
of your suggestion...

that we move around to the right
to flank the Federal army.

And he is of the opinion that
withdrawing from Gettysburg...

and giving it back to the enemy
would be very bad for morale.

It is unnecessary. It
might even be dangerous.

Do you disagree?

We must attack.

I would prefer not to
fight upon this ground...

but every moment we delay the
enemy uses to reinforce himself.

We cannot support ourselves
for long in this country.

We must not allow the Federal
army to move around behind...

and cut us off from home. No, sir.

We must strike him now.

We pushed him yesterday
and he will remember it.

The men are ready and they are

eager. I see no
useful alternative.

Yes, sir.

Very well.

Gentlemen.

- Good morning, all.
- Good morning, sir.

Longstreet will attack on the
right with the First Corps.

Hill will support...

with Heth in reserve.

Ewell's people on the left will
demonstrate to keep the enemy...

from reinforcing against
our right flank.

Yes, sir. But I still
don't have Pickett.

He's at the rear of column,
a full day's march.

All I've got is Hood and McLaws.

I do believe that
Hood's and McLaws'

divisions will be sufficient.

- With the general's permission.
- General Hood?

Moving in front of those rocky

heights, we'll have
enfilade fire...

coming down on us.

Perhaps, but not for
long. Your division...

will be up over this unoccupied
hill, the little, rocky one.

From there you will
threaten the enemy flank.

When you're heavily
engaged, General

Ewell will strike from the left.

Very well, sir.

- General?
- Let's move out, gentlemen.

Sir.

General Barksdale, is
Mississippi ready for this day?

- Mississippi is ready.
- Very well, sir.

Let's go to it, Sam.

If he's right, General Lee...

then the war is over by sundown.

We'll see.

I don't like going
in without Pickett.

It's like going in
with one boot off.

I'll wait as long as I can.

Do you have any idea of the force?

We counted five
corps, including the

two involved in
yesterday's action.

That don't mean how
many might be...

. hidden behind those hills there.

And, damn it, with
Stuart gone there

ain't no way of knowing for sure.

Hey, Sam.

Take good care of
yourself today, you hear?

You, too, Pete.

With your permission, sir.

I don't believe I've
had the pleasure.

That's Major General John Bell
Hood, but we call him Sam.

One of my three
division commanders.

Fellows from Texas and Alabama.

Oh, you've been to
Texas, as I recall.

Yes. Actually that's
where I came through.

Courtesy of the Yankee Navy who

denied me any other
point of entry.

It's a marvellous place, Texas.

Full of red Indians
and Mexicans...

cowboys, bandits and desperados.

Even hotter and more
humid than this place.

If that's possible.

That fellow Hood...

does his performance in
battle match his appearance?

He really does look the part.

He does his job.

Most interesting army, I must say.

Virginia gentlemen fighting
alongside Texas frontiersmen...

and bayou bushwhackers
from Louisiana.

Drawn together from
across a continent.

Having travelled a good piece
of it myself, I feel a part...

or almost a member
of this enterprise.

You call yourselves Americans, but

you're really
transplanted Englishmen.

Look at your names, Lee, Hood...

Longstreet, Jackson, Stuart.

My people were Dutch.

And the same for your adversaries.
Meade, Hooker, Hancock, and...

shall I say? Lincoln.

The same God. Same language.
Same culture and history.

The same songs, stories,
legends, myths.

But different dreams.

Different dreams.

It's so very sad. Very sad.

You English had your own
civil war once, didn't you?

That was ages ago. We
wouldn't dream of it now.

Cavaliers and Roundheads.

"Off with his head.
Off with his head."

Heads lying everywhere.

One could hardly
take a step without

tripping over a fallen crown.

We're much more civilised
now, I assure you.

We have so much in common,
your country and mine.

I earnestly hope that
we shall become allies.

Your government would never ally
itself with a Confederacy...

that had the institution of
slavery. You know that. So do I.

We should have freed the slaves,
then fired on Fort Sumter.

I guess we Southerners
and you English

have at least one thing in common.

We'd rather lose the war
than admit to the mistake.

We whupped you British
twice as I recollect.

Your candour is admirable,
if somewhat eccentric.

A little eccentricity
is good for a general.

We Southerners like our men
religious and a little bit mad.

I suspect that's why the women
fall in love with preachers.

If I may be so bold...

what's to prevent the Yankees
from attacking us here?

I notice you haven't bothered to

entrench or build a
fortified perimeter.

We were alert today.

But old George Meade ain't
gonna do us any favours.

What we must do is we
must make him attack us.

And in order to do that, we have
to occupy dangerous ground...

between him and Washington.

Then... Then the politicians
will press him to attack us.

Which he will most
certainly do, given time.

Oh, I see. Very
clever. Very clever.

So Lee doesn't dig in...

knowing with certainty that
Meade will not attack him here.

Meade will expect him to
swing around to the south...

in an attempt to cut
him off from the

capital, his supplies
and reserves.

So while Meade ponders his own

position, for fear
he'll be flanked...

Lee will actually attack him here,
where he least suspects it.

Lulled as he is by his own
false feeling of security...

derived by his holding
the seemingly superior

topographical
battlefield position...

in short, the higher ground.

Brilliant. Sheer
military brilliance.

General Lee is the ultimate
strategist, a master deceiver.

Sir, it is exhilarating
to be upon this field.

Well, I will pass on...

your complimentary
sentiments to the general.

Good morning, Colonel Freemantle.

Amen.

General Longstreet.

Do you mind if I accompany you?

Not at all. I'm very glad
to have you with us, sir.

The heat reminds me of Mexico.

Yes, but there it was very dry.

That was a good outfit.

I remember storming
the ramparts of

Chapultapec with old
George Pickett.

Reynolds... My old friend,
Ulysses Sam Grant.

There was some good
men in that army.

Yes, indeed.

Some of those men are waiting for
us now up ahead on those ridges.

I don't know. I sometimes
feel troubled.

Those fellows, those boys in blue,
they never quite seem the enemy.

I know.

I used to command some of those
boys. Swore an oath too.

I couldn't fight against
Georgia and South Carolina.

Not against my own family.

No, sir. There was always a
higher duty to Virginia.

That was our first duty.

There was never any
question about that.

- I guess so.
- Let us not think about that now.

The issue is in God's hands.

We can only do our duty.

General?

Soldiering has one great trap.

To be a good soldier you
must love the army.

To be a good commander, you must
be willing to order the death...

of the thing you love.

We do not fear our own
death, you and I.

But there comes a time...

We are never quite prepared
for so many to die.

We do expect the occasional empty

chair. A salute to
fallen comrades...

but this war goes on and
on and the men die...

and the price gets ever higher.

We are prepared to
lose some of us, but

we are never prepared
to lose all of us.

And there is the
great trap, general.

When you attack, you
must hold nothing back.

You must commit yourself totally.

We are adrift here in a sea of
blood, and I want it to end.

I want this to be
the final battle.

I woke up this morning and I half

thought he'd be
gone, George Meade.

That he would not want
to fight here. Yes, sir.

I woke up and I thought,
"Meade will be gone...

and this war will go
on and on and on."

Well, sir...

we'll make him sorry he stayed.

God go with you, general.

And with you, general.

That's mostly to the south.

I thought the rebs were
all in Gettysburg.

You don't suppose
they're flanking again?

Mama's favourite. Let's go.

Lawrence, what's happening?

Sir, Corporal Estabrook
reporting back, sir.

Brook, I thought you
were on sick call.

- Yes, sir.
- How are you now?

It's my stomach.
I've been vomiting.

It's something you ate.

Finish up. We're
about to move out.

Yes, sir.

- Colonel Chamberlain.
- Colonel Vincent.

Form your men. Follow me and
prepare to double-quick.

We're going to the top of
that hill, right there.

- Hear that?
- Yes. I'll set it up.

The rebels are stacking
up on our left flank.

And we've got to follow them.

- Make haste.
- Yes.

Sound the assembly.

Follow me.

Powder in. Load.

General.

Look here, the ground is
strewn with boulders.

The soldiers up there are
entrenched all over the ground.

And there are guns in the rocks.

Every move I make is observed.

If I attack as ordered, I
lose half my division.

And they'll be looking
down our throats

at us from that hill right there.

We must move around
to the right, sir.

- And take them from the rear.
- Sam...

the commanding general
will not allow a

flanking movement
around those hills.

I argued it yesterday. I
argued it all morning.

I've been arguing against
any attack at all.

I can't call this one
off. You know it.

Let me move up the big
round hill to the south.

Nobody is on that. If I could
get a battery up there

There ain't enough time.

You'd have to cut down trees
to place your artillery.

It would be dark before
you were in action.

One the other hand, if they
get batteries up there...

we'll need buckets to catch the

lead. You've got
to take that hill.

They don't even need
guns to defend that.

All they need to do is
roll rocks down on you.

Just take it.

General, I do this under protest.

Sam, you are the best I got.

Now, sir, if you are ready,
why don't you take that hill?

Hyah.

They're overshooting again.

Hey, fellows, you notice how that
reb artillery always overshoots?

- Tom?
- Yes, sir.

Another one closer and it
could be hard day for Mother.

Go back to the rear. Watch
out for stragglers.

Keep your distance from me.

Lawrence, I don't...

The whole damn reb
army is down there...

and coming up around our flanks.
They could be here any minute.

We've got to hold this
place. We've got to hold it.

Well, all right. I place you here.

Put your colours
here, and set your

regiment to the left of this line.

The rest of the brigade will
form on your right. Understood?

- Yes. Ellis, this is the point.
- Sir.

Your regiment is to the
left of this point.

Colonel, sir. You're
the end of the line.

Yes.

You're the extreme left of
the Union army. Understood?

The line runs from here
back to Cemetery Hill...

- but it ends here.
- Understood.

You can't withdraw
under any condition.

If you go, this line
will be flanked.

If you go, the enemy will
sweep up over the hillside...

and take this entire
army from the rear.

You must defend this
place to the last.

Yes, sir.

Now we'll see how
professors fight.

Ellis, position the regiment.
All company commanders here.

Yes, sir.

Sharpshooters to the left.

Battalion on the right.

Now file into line. March.

Bugler, sound the officer's call.

"Hold to the last."
To the last what?

Exercise in rhetoric.

Last shell? Last man?

Last foot of ground? Last reb?

Advance.

Move out.

Turn those guns around.

Gentlemen, the 83rd Pennsylvania,

44th New York, and
16th Michigan...

will be moving in
to our right. But

if you look left, you will see...

that there is no one there.

Because we're the end of the
line. The Union army stops here.

We are the flank.

Do you understand, gentlemen?

We cannot retreat.
We cannot withdraw.

We are going to have
to be stubborn today.

Put the boys in position,
tell them to stay down.

Pile the rocks up high for
the best protection you can.

I want the reserve pulled
back about 20 yards.

Sloping ground is good ground.

If you have any breakthroughs, men
wounded, a hole in the line...

plug it with the reserve.
How's our ammunition?

Sir, I think about
60 rounds per man.

That's good. 60 rounds. I
think... Yes, that's adequate.

- Any questions?
- Colonel.

It seems to me the fighting
is on that side of the hill.

It seems to me that
we're the back door.

And everything's going
on at the front door.

That hill is steep and
rocky. It's bare.

To come straight up
it is impossible.

The reb army is going
to swing around it.

It'll come up through that
notch right over there.

It'll move under the
cover of trees,

trying to get around the flank.

And gentlemen...

we are the flank.

Gentlemen.

God go with you.

Captain Clark, take the
right side from the 83rd...

over in this direction
to the centre.

Ellis, take the left
but be watchful.

Your flank will be in the air.

- Colonel, sir.
- Corporal Estabrook?

What do I do with these prisoners?
The hardheads of the Second Maine.

Any of you care to join us?

- The rebs really coming?
- They're coming.

Well, it's kind of dull just
sitting here watching, sir.

For any man who joins us, there
will be no court martial.

No man will call me a coward.

Why not?

I'll waste no man to
guard you. I expect

you to be here when this is over.

Let's get these
fellows some muskets.

There are no muskets, sir.

Wait here for a bit.

There will be guns available
in a little while.

That's the New York boys. The
rebs are getting closer.

Must be moving this way.

Sir, Private Foss is praying.

Will you put in a
kind word for me?

Yes, sir.

You're the Merrill
brothers, right?

Yes, sir.

Boys, why aren't
you on the ground?

Sir, I can't shoot worth
a darn lying down.

Never could. Bill neither.
We like to fight standing.

I suggest you find a thicker tree.

Here they come.

I want you to stay with
me, but you keep down.

Buster.

I bet the whole reb army
is coming this way.

Walk down the line. Tell the
boys to get good cover.

Pile the rocks high
and fire carefully.

- Go down and come back.
- Right.

You got to keep an eye on them.

Some of them load but never fire.
They just keep right on loading.

Some come home with eight
bullets rammed up the barrel.

Never fired a shot.

Sir.

Fire.

Keep up your fire, boys.

Keep your head down.

Watch your left side.

Keep up your fire.

They're falling back.

They'll be back in a minute.

- How are we doing?
- Fine. Fine.

- Colonel.
- Captain Clark, anybody hurt?

- Head and shoulder wounds.
- They didn't hit the left.

They're moving out that
way. Can you see them, sir?

They're coming again, boys.

Colonel, look there.

A new regiment has arrived
that's moving against the left.

It's out there. Do you see them?

Double-quick.

I don't think we'll be
able to hold another one.

Get all company
commanders up here.

On the double.

- Sergeant Owen.
- Yes, sir.

Get up to the top of that hill and

report me the situation
from up there.

Yes, sir.

We'll soon be flanked.
Here's what we'll do.

I want you to keep up a
good hot masking fire.

Keep a tight hold on the 83rd,
on old Pennsylvania over there.

I want no break in the line.

Captain Clark, that's you.
You understand? No breaks.

Right wing will
sidestep to the left...

thinning out to twice
the present distance.

You see the colours? They will
end up down to the extreme left.

When you reach that point, we
are going to refuse the line.

Understand?

We'll form a new line
at right angles.

We'll pull up as much of
a reserve as possible.

We've got to be able
to counter-attack

whenever there's a hole.

- Any questions?
- No, sir.

Fine. Move.

Lieutenant. You
fellows, on the double.

Come on.

- How are you, Andrew?
- I'm fine, sir. And you?

A bit worn.

The boys are putting
up a hell of a fight.

They are indeed.

I got me one. I got me a reb.

Buster. Are you all right?

I'll be fine in a
minute, but plays

hell with me target practise.

The surgeon will see to it.

No. A little bandage is
all I'll be needing.

A few minutes off my feet.
My brogans are killing me.

Colonel, my men are getting
low on ammunition.

Go over to the 83rd. Ask
them to send what they can.

Lieutenant, go get
from the wounded

and from the others
anything you can.

Pick up what you
can from anywhere.

Here they come, sir.

Keep up the fire. Fill
your holes down here.

Colonel? Colonel?

There they go.

I'll be damned.

They keep coming. How long
will they keep coming?

I don't have much left. Two
shots. That's what I got.

They keep coming on the flanks.
They keep moving to the left more.

They can't send
help from the 83rd.

They say they got
their own troubles.

Colonel, sir. We'd like to report.

What?

Vincent is badly wounded.

He got hit a few minutes
after the fight started.

We've been reinforced
at the top of

the hill by Weed's
brigade up front.

This is what they tell
me. But Weed is dead.

So they moved Hazlett's battery
of artillery up there.

But Hazlett's dead.
Far as I can tell...

Can you can get
ammunition from up there?

I don't know. It's a mess.
But they're holding good.

The rebs are having a
hard time climbing.

- It's a steep hill.
- We'll need the ammunition.

Colonel, sir, the better
of my men are wounded.

If the rebs come up that hill any
stronger, we can't stop them.

Send out word to take
ammunition from the wounded.

- Make every round count. Go.
- Here they come again.

Ready, boys.

Come on, keep it coming.
Keep it up, lads.

Ready.

Aim.

Pour it on, boys.

Keep at them. Keep up your fire.

Here they come, boys.

Go plug that hole over there.

Tom. Tom.

Tom.

Tom.

Colonel, sir. Sir,
half my men are down.

Most of the rest are wounded.
The left is too thin.

- How is our ammunition?
- Almost gone.

Sir, we're running out. We don't
have much left to shoot with.

Some boys got nothing at all.

What do we do for ammunition?

My boys picked up reb muskets
and fired back with them.

- We ought to pull out.
- No, we can't do that.

We can't hold them again, sir.

If we don't, they go right over
the hill and the flank caves in.

Sir.

Here they come.

We can't run away. If we
stay here, we can't shoot.

So let's fix bayonets.

We'll have the advantage
moving down the hill.

They must be tired if we
are. So fix bayonets.

Ellis, you take the left
wing. I'll take the right.

Right wheel forward,
the whole regiment.

- You mean charge?
- Here's what we do.

We're going to charge
swinging down the hill.

Just like we pulled back
to the left side...

we'll swing it down like a door.

We'll sweep them down the hill
as they come up. Understand?

- Does everybody understand?
- Yes, sir.

Ellis, take the left wing.

When I command, the
whole regiment goes

forward swinging
down to the right.

All right, sir. Fine.

Move.

Bayonets.

Come on. Let's go. Move.

Quickly, boys. Quickly.

Let's go.

Bayonets.

Draw.

Bayonets.

Left swing, right wheel.

Right wheel.

Charge.

Charge.

Charge.

The pistol.

Your prisoner, sir.

Wait here.

By God, colonel, the boys
are still advancing.

You better stop them.

They're on their way to Richmond.

- Richmond.
- They've done enough for today.

I want you to meet this
fellow from Alabama.

Captain Hawkins, this is my
brother, Colonel Chamberlain.

Sir.

May I have some water?

Yes.

Sure. Tom, get this man a canteen.

Yes, sir. Right this way.

How you doing?

Twice.

Would you believe, for
the love of Mary?

Twice.

And how are you, colonel,
darling, this fine day?

I got it in the armpit.

For the love of God,
in the bloody armpit.

- How is he?
- It's an arm.

Only an arm. You got
to lose something.

It might as well be an arm.

I can part with that
easier than other

mechanics of nature,
and that's the truth.

I could do with a nip right now.

I'll see what I can do.

You do pretty good.

Colonel. Colonel?

I'm right here, Buster.
I'm right here.

The army was blessed.

I want to tell you,
just in case...

that I never served...

I've never served
with a better man.

Don't worry, sir.

He'll make it. He's
a tough old mick.

Colonel, sir. If you
would so honour me.

Colonel, sir. I've been moving
these rebs with an empty musket.

Not so loud.

Colonel.

You're ordered to go to
the top of the big hill.

My New Yorkers will
take your prisoners.

Yes, sir.

We watched from our
position above.

It's the damnedest
thing I ever saw.

May I...? May I shake
your hand, sir?

Colonel, one thing. The name
of this place, this hill...

Has it got a name, this hill?

This is Little Round Top. That's
the name of the hill you defended.

The big one you're going up
to, that's Big Round Top.

Is that so? I guess
I'll remember that.

Ellis, move the men out.
I'm going to go ahead.

Sam?

We drugged him, sir.

It'd be better if he slept.

Didn't see much.

The boys went in. Hit the rocks.

How did it go, Pete?

Fine, Sam.

We take those rocks?

Most of them.

Worst...

ground I ever saw.

You know that?

They call it...

Devil's Den. It's a
good name for it.

What casualties?

Don't know yet.

Got to give my boys credit.

You should've let
me go to the right.

We should've gone to the right.

He needs to rest some.

You summoned me, sir?

Harrison.

I did.

I've got some night work.

Are you up to it?

"All the world will be
in love with night...

and pay no worship
to the garish sun."

When this is all over, I do look
forward to seeing you on stage.

What are the general's wishes?

I want you to go out on the right,
scout the Federal position.

Their condition,
what they've got in

reserve, what they're bringing up.

It'll probably take all night.
But I want it right and clear.

- Your obedient servant.
- Good.

Now, Harrison, it'll be dangerous.
And I do appreciate this.

Thank you, sir.

But I must confess, the thing
that bothers me about this job...

is the absence of an audience.

When you do it right,
no one knows it.

Nobody ever watches
your work. Do you see?

That's very hard on an actor.

This current creation
is marvellous.

I'm a poor half-witted
farmer, do you see...

terrified of soldiers.
And me lovely

young wife has run
off with a corporal.

And I'm out scouring the
countryside for her.

Sorrowful, pitiful sight I am.
People looking down their noses...

grinning behind me back.

And the whole time telling me
exactly what I wanna know...

about who's where, how
many, how long ago.

And them not even knowing
they're doing it.

Too busy feeling contemptuous.

There are many people,
general, don't give

a damn for a human
soul, you know that?

Strange thing is...

after playing this
poor fool farmer for a

while, I can't help but
feel sorry for him...

because no one cares.

No one cares.

Well...

we all have our sacrifices
to make, don't we?

Indeed we do, sir.

All right, Harrison, on
your horse, get going.

- And, Harrison...
- Sir?

You be real careful, you hear?

Thank you, sir.

Go on.

General, I'm very
glad to see you well.

I've just come by
for my orders, sir.

It would appear that General
Stuart has returned.

The prodigal son.

It was very close this afternoon.

Sir?

They nearly broke.

I could feel them breaking.

There for a moment I thought I
saw our flags go up the hill.

It wasn't that close.

The attacks were not properly
coordinated. I do not know why.

And nevertheless, we
nearly won the day.

I could see a clear road
all the way to Washington.

How is it with General Hood?

I think he'll live.
May lose an arm.

Dear God.

I couldn't spare General Hood.

So many good men
were lost this day.

Sir?

Lo did take the peach
orchard and wheat field.

But he couldn't get up that ridge.

And Hood, he seized
the Devil's Den, but

he couldn't take the
little rocky hill.

The Federals still hold the
heights. And they're reinforced.

General?

That way around to the
right is still open.

I will think on it, general.

We have enough artillery for one
more good fight, but just one.

I know. Let me think on it.

- General...
- I am glad to see you well.

We will speak again
in the morning.

You know, hearing you talk
about monkeys and trees...

I remember the time during a
cannonade on the peninsula.

There was one tree for
the men to hide behind.

It was a skinny
little tree and the

boys, they fell in behind it...

in a long thin line which
moved just like a pigtail.

It swayed to one side,
then the other.

A shell came this way, the
line swayed that way.

A cannonball came that way,
the line swayed this way.

It was a thing to see.

George, what has that got to do
with what we're talking about?

General.

Carry on, gentlemen. Don't let
me interrupt the revival.

General, you're just in time.

I've been trying
to persuade George

here of the modern, scientific...

theories of Charles Darwin.
The theory of evolution.

The notion that all mankind
is descended from the ape.

He does not subscribe.

- That so?
- I do not.

I've ordered General
Armistead to stop

filling his head with
heathen blasphemies.

Now, you are to devote your
reflective moments to study...

in matters of military
significance.

Ordered me.

Or perhaps appropriating some
more of this fine whiskey here.

- Absolutely.
- Would you care for?

No, thank you.

Surely the commanding
general shares

my deep feelings of disgust...

at this simian suggestion.

I suppose there's
some pretty smart

folk that take Darwin
for the Gospel.

They would not be invited
to join George's

ever shrinking circle of friends.

General Longstreet, sir.

I intend to lay this matter to
rest for once and for all time.

Good.

Sirs, perhaps there are
those among you...

who think that you are
descended from an ape.

I suppose it's possible
there are those of you...

who believe that I'm
descended from an ape...

but I challenge the man
to step forward...

who believes that General Lee
is descended from an ape.

- Here, here.
- Not likely.

George, all science
trembles before the

searing logic of your
fiery intellect.

So exactly how many of your
relatives are there that are apes?

Well...

What do you hear about Sam Hood?

He may lose an arm.

Dick Garnett ain't fit.
Can't hardly walk.

Thing is, if there's a fight, he
can't stand to stay out of it.

But if you ordered
him to stay out...

I don't suppose you could do that.

That boy can sing.

That's "Kathleen Mavourneen."

What do you hear about Hancock?

Ran into him today.

He's out there about a mile or so.

Just a mile or so.
And he was tough.

Very tough today.

He's the best they got.

God don't make them any
better. And that's a fact.

Well...

I'd like to go over to see
him as soon as I can.

The last time I saw Winn...

we played that song.
That very song.

Back in California, we were all
together for the last time.

Before we broke up.

Spring of '61.

Almira Hancock.

Do you remember Almira,
Hancock's wife?

Beautiful woman.

Most perfect woman I ever saw.

They were a beautiful couple.

Beautiful.

Garnett was with me that night.

A lot of fellows
from the old outfit.

People standing around singing...

in the blue uniform.

We were leaving the next day.

Some going north.
Some going south.

Splitting up.

A soldier's farewell.

"Goodbye. Good luck.

I'll see you in hell."

Do you remember that?

Towards the end of the evening...

we all sat around the piano.

Almira played...

that song there, that
was the one she played.

Maybe for years, maybe forever...

I'll never forget that.

You know how it was, Pete.

Winn was like a brother
to me. Remember?

Towards the end of the evening...

things got a little rough.

We all began to...

Well...

there were a lot of tears.

I went over to Hancock.

I took him by the shoulder.
I said, "Winn...

so help me...

if I ever raise my
hand against you...

may God strike me dead."

Ain't seen him since.

He was at Malvern Hill...

White Oak Swamp, Sharpsburg,
Fredericksburg.

One of these days I will
see him, I'm afraid.

Across that...

small deadly space.

I thought about
sitting this one out.

But I can't do that.

That wouldn't be right either.

I guess not.

Thank you, Peter.

I had to talk about that.

I'm sending Almira Hancock...

a small package to be opened...

in the event of my death.

You'll drop by and see her...

after this is over.

Won't you, Pete?

Thank you.

What day is it now, major?

It's long after midnight, sir.

It's already Friday.

- Friday, July 3?
- Yes, sir.

Then tomorrow is the
Fourth of July.

Sir?

Independence Day.

Huh.

I'd quite forgotten.

The good Lord has a
sense of humour.

I'm very sorry to
keep you up so late.

It is my pleasure.

We should have a larger staff.

I'd be offended, sir.

I can do the work.

Very well.

General Stuart is waiting
to see you, sir.

- Shall I bring him in?
- Of course.

- Major?
- Yes, sir.

General Stuart and I
must not be disturbed.

- Very well, sir.
- Thank you.

General Lee will see you now, sir.

You wish to see me, sir.

It is the opinion
of some excellent

officers that you
have let us all down.

Sir, if you will please tell
me who these gentlemen are?

There will be none of
that. There is no time.

I ask that I be allowed
to defend my...

There is no time.

General Stuart.

Your mission was to
free this army...

from the enemy cavalry.

And to report any movement
by the enemy's main body.

That mission was not fulfilled.

You left here...

with no word of your movement or
movement of the enemy for days.

Meanwhile we were engaged
and drawn into battle...

without adequate knowledge of the
enemy's strength or position.

Without knowledge of the ground.

So it is only by God's grace that
we did not meet disaster here.

General Lee, there were reasons.

Perhaps you misunderstood
my orders.

Perhaps I did not
make myself clear.

Well, sir, this must
be made very clear.

You, sir...

with your cavalry, are
the eyes of this army.

Without your cavalry,
we are made blind.

That has already happened once.

It must never, never happen again.

Since I no longer
hold the general's...

I told you there is
no time for that.

There is no time.

There is another fight coming
tomorrow and we need you.

We need every man. God knows.

You must take what
I have told you...

and learn from it as a man does.

There has been a mistake.

It will not happen again.
I know your quality.

You are one of the finest cavalry
officers I have ever known...

and your service to this
army has been invaluable.

Now...

let us speak no more of this.

The matter is concluded.
Goodnight, general.

Colonel, sir.

What are you doing up here?

I'm just resting my leg.

All right.

You sure can see a ways from here.

Where have you been?

We sent out a detail...

and found some more departed
souls down there...

and they were carrying coffee for
which they had no more use for.

You're a ghoul.

Lawrence.

You did real good yesterday.

The way them rebs
just kept coming.

You had to admire them.

You think they'll
come again today?

It doesn't look like
they're planning to leave.

We don't have but 100 men.

Even with the whole flock
from the Second Maine.

This position's good.

Diversion.

Go alert the pickets.

That may be a diversion. They
may be coming this way again.

Where's the ammunition
I asked for?

Go check the hospital, see about
the boys. Check on Buster.

Very well, sir.

We need another runner.

I keep going up and
down this hill,

my legs are going to fall off.

- Morning, General.
- Morning, sir.

- Ride with me, if you will.
- Yes, sir.

General Longstreet,
you have General

Pickett now and he is fresh.

I want you to bring
your corps forward.

Take those heights in the centre
and split the Federal line.

Sir...

my two divisions,
Hood's and McLaws'...

They executed a forced
march yesterday

and went straight into the fight.

Lost half of their strength.

Sustained 50 percent
casualties, sir.

They are tired and need rest.

There are...

now three Federal
corps on those two

rocky hills on our right flank.

If I move all my people forward...

we won't have a flank at all.

They'll simply swing
around and crush us.

They are well entrenched up
there. They aim to fight.

They got good artillery
and plenty of it.

Sir, any attack we make will
be uphill over open ground.

How do we communicate? How
do we coordinate attack?

They're all massed together,
damned near in a circle.

Good interior lines.

Anywhere we hit
them, they'll bring

up reinforcements in minutes.

But we try to bring up support,
it has to come from miles away.

Their cannon will see every move.

Hell, their cannon are looking
down on us right now.

In the centre, they will break.

Sir?

They will break in the centre.

They'll be gaining men from all

directions, guns by
the thousands...

and Richmond has nothing left to
send us. So, if we stay, we fight.

If we retreat now, we will have
fought here for two days...

and will leave knowing we
could not drive him off.

And I have never
yet left the enemy

in command of the field. No, sir.

Retreat is no longer an option.

The enemy has been
attacked on both wings.

He has reinforced there...

and is strongest there on the
wings. The hills and the rocks.

So the weak point
is in the centre.

They have command
of the high ground.

But in that long
slope, you see there?

The long slope in the centre,

there's where he's
most vulnerable.

General Pickett's
Virginians are the

only people not yet engaged. Yes?

With General Longstreet in
command, my old warhorse...

meeting the enemy face to face
on ground of his choosing...

and with honour, we will prevail.

Sir, a courier from Colonel Rice.

Colonel Chamberlain.

That's some climb, sir.

My men need rations, lieutenant.

Colonel Rice has entrusted me to

tell you that you're
relieved, sir.

Relieved?

Fresh troops are on their way up
and they'll take over here, sir.

Colonel Rice wants to
give your people a rest.

He wants you to fall back,
and I'm to show you the way.

Fall back. Yeah.

Ellis, have the men fall
in. We're moving out.

Yes, sir.

Where are we going?

Oh, sir. Lovely spot.

Very quiet. Safest place
on the battlefield.

Right smack dab in the centre.

Yes, sir, general.

We will attack the centre.

But I think you are
right about the flank.

Hood and McLaws were both
very badly damaged yesterday.

I'll give you two other divisions:

General Pettigrew and
General Trimble.

They are stronger and rested.

Now you will have
nearly three divisions

at your command,
including Pickett.

Your objective will be that
clump of trees yonder.

The attack will be preceded
by massed artillery.

We'll concentrate all of our
guns on that one small area.

A feu d'enfer, as
Napoleon would call it.

When the artillery
has had its effect,

your charge will break the line.

You will have nearly 15,000
men at your command, general.

You may begin whenever
you're ready.

But plan it well. Do plan
it well, I pray you, sir.

We stake everything on this.

Sir, with your permission.

Sir, I've been a
soldier all my life.

I have served from the ranks
on up. You know my service.

I must tell you now, I believe
this attack will fail.

No 15,000 men ever made
can take that ridge.

It's a distance of more than
a mile over open ground.

When the men come out of
the trees they will be...

under fire of Yankee artillery
from all over the field.

Those are Hancock's boys.

And now they have the stone wall
like we did at Fredericksburg.

We do our duty, general.

We do what we must do.

Yes, sir.

Colonel Alexander is in charge of
the artillery and he is very good.

We will depend on him
to drive them off the

ridge before your
divisions get there.

And the men will know
what to do. All 15,000...

will concentrate
squarely on the centre

of that line. That
lower ridge there.

The line is not strong there.

General Meade has great
strength on both flanks.

He must be weak in the centre.

I estimate his
strength in the centre

not to be more than 5,000 men.

And Colonel Alexander's
artillery will

break them up like
at Fredericksburg.

- Yes, sir.
- Farewell.

What are you thinking, general?

Well, sir...

Pickett's division
is from my corps.

But the other two units are
of A. P. Hill's corps.

Shouldn't General Hill
lead the attack, sir?

Say again?

Shouldn't General
Hill lead the attack?

My apologies, sir.

I've always been very cautious.

Very cautious.

There is no one I trust more.

Sir, if we can take that ridge...

We can. And we will.

General, God go with you.

George, you are leading attack.

Now get ready, George.

Take your men behind the line of

trees. I'll give
you details later.

Now, move, George.

Sir.

Forgive me the torn trousers, sir.

An officer riding
around like this.

Colonel Alexander.

Those Federal cannon
up on that little

rocky hill can cause some trouble.

I want you to assign some
guns and keep them silent.

Then...

you move forward when
the infantry advance...

keeping the flanks clear.

Porter, how old are you, son?

- Sir, I'm 28, sir.
- Huh.

Porter, we must also
clear those guns

off that low centre
ridge right there.

- That's the main thing.
- Yes, sir.

- I'm relying on you.
- I'll sure keep them shooting.

Good. Good.

I want you to use
everything you have.

Maximum effort. Fire all
long-range ordinance.

But don't open up till I give the
word and everything's in position.

Then fire with all
you've got. I don't

want to see a single gun silent.

Find an observation point
and check the damage.

We must clear those
people off that ridge.

If we don't...

Anyway, you let me
know when you're

nearing the end of
your ammunition.

We must conserve enough to support

the infantry attack.
Is that clear?

Yes, sir.

Gentlemen.

Johnston Pettigrew,
University of North Carolina.

Yeah, I know.

They still talk about your grades
there with reverence and awe.

Your reputation as a scholar
has preceded you, sir.

I hear you've written a book.

It was only a minor work. If the
general would care to read it...

- Surely.
- A copy with my compliments.

Captain, retrieve my
book from the baggage.

General, my apologies,
but I do not believe

I will have time to
read that today.

Gentlemen.

I want you to look at that
clump of trees on that ridge.

That is where all
units will converge.

You will be spread
out in a long line,

perhaps a mile, about 15,000 men.

All units converging on that point
on the crest of that ridge.

Now, look here.

The Yankee centre. A stone wall.

A small grove of trees.

General Trimble,
commanding Pender's

division, will be on the left.

Pettigrew's brigade in support.

General Pickett's division will be
on the right side of the attack.

And now, George, I want you to
put two brigades in front...

and one in back, like so.

Yes, sir.

Garnett's brigade.

That's Jimmy Kemper.

Armistead's in support.

Good. All right, then.

Garnett will dress off
at Trimble's flank.

And he will be the hinge, so to

speak, in a series
of left obliques.

Somewhere about the
Emmitsburg Road...

you will execute your
first left oblique.

Then direct.

Then left again.

And so on at your
own discretion...

in order to deceive
the Yankees and

spread them out in a long line.

Here. Any questions?

All right, gentlemen.

Gentlemen...

that is the conversion
point. That clump of trees.

We will use all of the artillery.

They will centre on that
point, right there.

Will fire every gun they have
until the ammunition runs out.

When that is done, I will give
the order and you all go in.

Gentlemen...

I do believe this attack will
decide the fate of our country.

All the men who have died in the
past are with you here today.

I want to say, sir,
it is an honour

to serve under your command.

I want to thank you,
sir, for giving

me the opportunity
of serving here.

I have prayed, sir.

George, can you take that ridge?

Sir.

Harrison.

Would you mind giving someone
an order to give me a musket?

I think today I'd like
to join the attack.

If I could even borrow
a hat from a soldier

or just a jacket with
some stripes on it.

Sir, just once.

Because I think, sir, today
might be the last day.

Haven't I earned it, sir?

You know what's gonna happen?

I'll tell you what's gonna happen.

Troops are now forming
behind the line of trees.

When they come out,
they will be under

enemy long-range artillery fire.

Solid shot. Percussion.
Every gun they have.

Troops will come out under fire
with more than a mile to walk.

And still, within
the open field...

they'll be in the range
of aimed muskets.

They'll be slowed down
by that fence out there.

And the formation, what's left
of it, will begin to come apart.

When they cross that road, they'll
be under short-range artillery.

Canister fire.

Thousands of little
bits of shrapnel

wiping the holes in the lines.

If they get to that wall
without breaking up...

there won't be many left.

A mathematical equation.

But maybe, just maybe...

our own artillery will
break up their defences.

There's always that hope.

That's Hancock out there.
And he ain't gonna run.

So it's mathematical after all.

If they get to that
road, or beyond it,

we'll suffer over 50
percent casualties.

But, Harrison...

I don't believe my boys
will reach that wall.

Sir, with your permission.

I'll get myself that musket, sir.

That's Meade's headquarters.

You're to take a
position in reserve.

You don't have to entrench,
but please don't go away.

- Major, do you have that?
- Yes. I'll place the men.

You, sir, are to report to General
Hancock. If you will follow me.

General Hancock, sir. Colonel
Chamberlain, 20th Maine.

Chamberlain.

Yes.

I hear from the ranks that you
may have been more involved...

than anyone in staff has told me.

We were involved.

They tell me you ordered
a bayonet charge.

It's nothing to be ashamed
of, I might tell you.

I'm gonna look into it.

We need fighting men in this army.

And one damn thing is sure, we'll
need some brigade commanders.

Meanwhile, well done. Well done.

Thank you, sir.

How's your outfit?

We need provisions. The men
need a meal. And ammunition.

We're out.

See to Colonel
Chamberlain's request.

I want you to write a report.

Yes, sir.

They say you are a school teacher.

That seems like a long time ago.

Sometimes I'm not sure how
long I've been in this war.

Three years or three lifetimes.

- What do you teach?
- Rhetoric...

and Natural and Revealed Religion.
At Bowdoin College, sir.

Now you tell me, professor.

Can you recall a story from
antiquity where two men...

who are best of friends,
almost brothers...

where these men find themselves,
by a trick of fate...

on opposing sides in a great war?

Then, on a given day...

find themselves facing one another
on the very same battlefield?

If the Greeks did not tell of such
a story, surely the Romans did.

But, sir, I think it must
be found in the Bible.

There isn't an officer
on either side...

who hasn't known someone wearing
the other uniform. I know that.

But this morning...

I looked through my glass
and saw the colours...

of the 9th and 14th
Virginia regiments

on those ridges before us...

directly facing us,
right over there.

It was as if I could
hear his voice...

see his old crumpled hat.

Armistead commands
one of Pickett's

brigades and he's
out there for sure.

I somehow thought this
day would never come.

I thought the war would
be over in a month.

It's three years
and how many more?

Who could've dreamt it
could go on for so long?

What would you do, Chamberlain?

What do the books tell you to do?

Now you go and rest up.

Nothing's gonna
happen today anyway.

Everybody's too tired, too
hot, too worn out. Both sides.

Yes, sir. We're placed in
reserve, just over there.

Thank you for your
sentiments, sir.

Lawrence.

I just got back from the hospital.

God awful mess.

They got no room.

They got no shade. They
got men lying everywhere.

They're cutting off arms and
legs in front of everybody.

They ought to not
do that in public.

Men ought to have some
privacy at a time like that.

You see Kilrain?

How is he?

Lawrence...

he died.

He died this morning
before I got there.

A couple of fellows were with him.

He said to tell you goodbye.

And that he was sorry.

Yeah.

I tell you, Lawrence.

I sure was fond of that man.

Yeah.

General, please get down.
We cannot spare you.

There are times when a corps
commander's life does not count.

How are you, Lo?

I'm fine, Dick.

Well, that's good.

How's the leg?

It's all right.

Can't walk. I'll have to ride.

You can't do that. You'll
be the perfect target.

We're going up there today and
we're gonna break that line.

When the Yankees run
away, there'll be

an open road all the
way to Washington.

And maybe we'll win it today.

And today will be the last day.

Maybe today.

I've got to ride up there.

Well, Lo...

I'll see you at the top.

My God, Lo. Ain't it marvellous?

I thought we missed it all.

- Any questions?
- No.

All right, then.

When the firing ceases,
we step out real quick.

No halting, no
stopping to fire. We

want to get there quick as we can.

What about Garnett?

- What about him?
- He can't hardly walk.

Damnation.

George, order him not
to make the charge.

General Armistead, how
can I do that? Hyah.

General Armistead, sir.

My compliments.

I hope Her Majesty's emissary
passed a comfortable night.

Slept like the dead, sir.

A baby. Slept like a
newborn baby, sir.

Lie still, men. Keep down.

There's no safe place here.

One spot's as good as the next.

- Fire.
- Fire.

We've been firing for
a good while, sir.

It's apparent neither
the Federals nor

we are going to gain
a clear advantage.

If we continue to expend our
ammunition at this rate...

we may endanger our ability
to support the advance.

Did you not have enough
ordinance when this was begun?

The Federal fire
compelled us to remove

the artillery train
farther to the rear.

It's taking us longer
to refill the caissons.

Sir, we must slow
down our fire now...

or we will have to cut back on the

guns sent in to
support the infantry.

Damn.

I'll have to order
General Pickett to halt

his attack until the
guns get replenished.

The trains have a
little ammunition.

It'll take an hour
to redistribute it.

In the meanwhile, the enemy
would improve the top.

The longer we delay...

the more time the Federals have
to strengthen their own lines.

And even if we recover
more supplies

from the ordinance train...

how much more damage can we
inflict on them than they on us?

They're bringing
in fresh batteries

as quickly as we drive them off.

Just get some more
ammunition and keep it hot.

I cannot send Pickett's
division or the others...

until we clear some of
those guns off that ridge.

I'm told you are descended from
an illustrious military family.

Who told you that? Kemper?

He tells me it was your uncle
who defended Fort McHenry...

during the War of 1812.

And that he was
therefore the guardian

of the original Star
Spangled Banner.

I must say, I do appreciate
the irony of it all.

Colonel Fremantle.

It does not begin or end
with my uncle or myself.

We're all sons of Virginia here.

That major out there
commanding the cannon...

that's James Dearing.

First in his class at West
Point, before Virginia seceded.

And the boy over there
with the colour guard.

That's Private Robert Tyler Jones.

His grandfather was president
of the United States.

The colonel behind me, that's
Colonel William Aylett.

Now, his great grandfather...

was the Virginian Patrick Henry.

It was Patrick Henry who said
to your King George III:

"Give me liberty
or give me death."

There are boys here from...

Norfolk...

Portsmouth...

small hamlets along
the James River.

From Charlottesville
and Fredericksburg.

The Shenandoah Valley.

Mostly they're all
veteran soldiers now.

The cowards and
shirkers are long gone.

Every man here knows his duty.

They would make this charge even
without an officer to lead them.

They know the gravity
of the situation.

And the mettle of their foe.

They know that this day's work...

will be desperate and deadly.

They know that for many of them...

this will be their last charge.

But not one of them needs to be
told what is expected of him.

They are all willing to make
the supreme sacrifice...

to achieve victory here.

The crowning victory and
the end of this war.

We are all here.

You may tell them when you
return to your country...

that all Virginia was
here on this day.

A message from Alexander.

"Hurry up, for God's sake, or
the artillery can't help you."

Your order, sir?

General Longstreet, should
I commence the attack?

I shall lead my
division forward, sir.

For the glory of Virginia,
form your brigade.

Gentlemen...

form your battalions.

Battalion, forward.

Father, into your hands,
I commend my spirit.

Up, men. Up. And to your posts.

And let no man forget today...

that you are from old Virginia.

Virginia. Virginia. Virginia.

Virginians.

Virginians.

For your lands. For your homes.

For your sweethearts.

For your wives.

For Virginia.

Forward.

Forward.

March.

Come on, men. And
keep your heads down.

- Reload.
- Reloading.

Clear the lines. To the
front, boys. One, two.

We are with you, general.

Come on, boys.

Come on, boys.

The glasses.

Let's go. Over the fence.

Fill that gap.

Over the fence.

Keep your heads down.

Fire.

Over the fence, lads.

But save your strength
for the attack

and get over the fence, quickly.

Fire.

Tell him.

General, Trimble sends his
compliments and says...

that if the troops he had the
honour to command this day...

cannot take that position,
all hell can't take it.

Give them double canisters.
That's it. Double canisters.

Get up, men. Fire.

Give them the cold steel.

Quick step.

Keep up your fire.

Take that to General
Longstreet quick as you can.

With my compliments.

Damnation. Come on.

Do it.

Fire away, men.

Close it up.

Steady. Keep that line there.

Keep up your fire. Colonel.

Bring your men forward.
We'll flank these bastards.

- Bring the men forward.
- Yes, sir.

By God, we'll flank them.

Damn it all.

I will not be moved...

until this engagement is decided.

Get me a tourniquet
before I bleed to death.

Forward, boys.

What are you doing?

You've got to come up and help us.

In God's name,
they're flanking us.

Coming down on the right
and firing right into us.

Head for the trees. Head
right for the centre.

I'll call for double-quick.
Nobody waits.

- Everybody goes.
- All right.

Boys. At the double-quick.

March.

Come on. Together.

Come on, boys. They're breaking.

Forward to the wall.

Get to them on the right, boys.

Move out, boys. Move out.

Come on, boy. Come on.

What will you think
of yourself tomorrow?

Virginians. Virginians.

We're staying. Who
will come with me?

Let's go, boys.

That's the style, Lo.

That's the style.

The day is ours, men.

Turn the cannons on
them. Turn the cannons.

Break them, Lo.

What's happening? I can't see
what's happening to my boys.

What's happening to my boys?

Major, give me your glasses.

There's a rebel.
Take him prisoner.

Sir, sir.

Will you help me up, please?

Sir, could you tell me what
your name is? Who you are?

I would like to speak
to General Hancock.

Do you know where General
Hancock may be found?

I'm sorry, sir. The
general is down.

- He's been hit.
- No.

Not both of us.

Not all of us.

Please, God.

Sir, we're having a surgeon
come as quickly as we can.

Can you hear me, son?

Yes, sir. I can hear you.

Will you tell General Hancock...

that General Armistead
sends his regrets?

Will you tell him...

how very sorry I am?

I will tell him, sir.
I will tell him.

General Webb, sir.

Fredericksburg. Fredericksburg.

Let go of the horse, major.

Major Sorrel, I said
let go of the horse.

Now you form up here,
put fire down on them.

They're coming and I'm
going to meet them.

Captain Goree. Come on.

General, what are your orders?
What do you want me to do?

Where do you want me to go?

You've got to pull back,
general. Pull back, sir.

Place the guns. Bring up the guns.

God.

How are you, T. J?

I'm tolerable, sir.

They ain't coming.

Too bad.

Yes, sir.

General.

I'll tell you plain.

There are times when you worry me.

No good trying to get
yourself killed.

The Lord will come for you
in his own good time.

What are the orders, sir?

Prepare for defence, but
the Yankees ain't coming.

Come on, boys.

Sir...

I have the figures from
Pickett's command.

General Armistead is missing.

General Garnett, missing and
figured to be dead, sir.

General Kemper is down,
seriously wounded.

Sir, of the 13 colonels
in Pickett's division,

seven are dead and
six are wounded.

No more. You tell
me the rest later.

- Major?
- Yes, sir.

Is that General Kemper
there bearing toward us?

I believe it to be, sir.

General Kemper.

I do hope you are not
seriously injured.

They tell me that
it's mortal, general.

I do pray God that
it is not the case.

Is there anything I can do?

There's nothing more
you can do for me.

But, General Lee,
will you see to it

that full justice is
done for my men...

who made this charge today?

I will do so, sir.

Thank you, general.

Thank you, general.

It's my fault.

It's my fault.

I thought we were invincible.

Friends.

It is all my fault.

Hear me.

Hear me, I pray you.

It is entirely my fault.

No.

Hear me.

Hear me. Please, friends.

We must rest now.

We must retire and fight
again another day.

And there will be another day.

Meanwhile, friends, we
must show good order.

Never let them see you
run. Do you hear me?

Never let them see you run.

Let us hit them again. Let us
reform and hit them again.

I know we can do it.

God bless you, gentlemen.

They're forming over there,
major. I do fear they may attack.

Yes, sir.

General Pickett.

You may reform to the rear of this

ridge and set up a
defensive position.

General Pickett, sir. You
must look to your division.

General Lee...

I have no division.

General...

We will withdraw...

as soon as we have secured
all those wounded...

who are well enough to be moved.

If we can reach the Potomac...

and cross over into Virginia...

there will be no more
immediate danger.

But I'll need your help, Pete.

I'm so very tired.

What can I do, sir?

General?

We must look to our
own deportment.

The spirit of the army is still
very good. Very good indeed.

We will do better another time.

They do not die for
us. Not for us.

That at least is a blessing.

If this war goes on...

And it will.

It will.

What else can we do
but go on, you and I?

It's always the same
question forever.

What else can we do?

If they fight...

we must fight with them.

And does it matter,
after all, who wins?

Was that ever really the question?

Will almighty God ask
that question in the end?