Gods and Generals (2003) - full transcript

Welcome, Colonel Lee.
Welcome to my home.

Make yourself comfortable
there, Colonel.

Allow me to get to the point, sir.

I have been authorised by
President Lincoln himself...

with the full blessing
of the War Department...

to offer you full command of the

Army with the rank
of Major General.

This Army being
raised to quell this,

rebellion and to
preserve the Union.

I assume this Army is to be
used to invade those areas...

to eliminate the
rebellion by force.



Yes, sir, the Federal
government has

been challenged by these rebels...

who have been most
effective in changing

the sentiments of
state legislatures...

challenging our Constitution and

challenging our
central government.

The attack on Fort Sumter
cannot be ignored.

General, my home is right
there across the Potomac.

Why, you can see Arlington
House from your front door.

My family is spread all
over this part of Virginia.

If you invade the
South, your enemy

territory will be right
across that river.

Well, sir, there is no great
outcry for secession in, Virginia.

It's not a foregone
conclusion that



Virginia or Tennessee
or Arkansas...

or Kentucky will
join the rebellion.

My friend, may I
humbly submit that

you're mistaken about Virginia.

As you know, the legislature is

convening in Richmond
this very day...

to discuss the very
issue of secession.

Now, perhaps you know their mind
better than they themselves.

And I regret to say
the president's hasty

calling up of 75,000 volunteers...

to subdue the rebellion
in the cotton states...

has done nothing to ameliorate the
crisis. It has only deepened it.

I trust you're not being too
hasty yourself, Colonel.

This is a great opportunity for
you to serve your country.

My country, Mr Blair?

I never thought I'd
see the day the

President of the United States...

would raise an army to
invade his own country.

No, Mr Blair, I cannot lead
it. I will not lead it. No.

I'm sorry to hear
you say that, sir.

I fear you're making a
most dreadful mistake.

Sir, please convey
my deep sense of

honour and gratitude
to the president...

but I must decline his offer.

Please tell him.

Please be clear. I have never
taken my duties lightly...

but I have no greater duty
than to my home, to Virginia.

Thank you, sir.

Gentlemen, if you are going to
succeed at this institution...

you have one common goal:
To learn your lessons.

If you are placing your
energies elsewhere...

you will not succeed
either with me or

in your careers as
military officers.

I had hoped you'd see
that with a proper

grasp of the artillery
principles...

I've laid before you today,
you would learn to apply...

these principles with great

effectiveness in your
field experiences.

But since you seem unable to
grasp these principles...

I'm forced to conclude
I must repeat

this lesson tomorrow,
word for word.

Word for word.

Secession. Secession. Secession.

Hoist it. Hoist it up.

Major, listen to them. The leaders
of our intellectual future...

screaming for the
destruction of our nation.

Sir, President Lincoln
is raising the troops.

I...

I will not stay in
a place where my

students dishonour
their country's flag.

Major, I'm leaving for
Pennsylvania tomorrow.

War is the sum of all evils.

But if I know myself, all
I am and all I have...

is at the service of
my home, my country.

Your country, Thomas?

Your country, my
country. It's all one.

All one, Thomas. All one.

So that in the midst
of the searching

of souls and the
gnashing of teeth...

the delegates of
this convention...

harried by the actions
of a belligerent

usurper and the radicals
of his party...

have stumbled into secession.

Now God knows, I and many in
this room have resisted it.

But how could there be union
with a section of the country...

that wants to impose its
will through coercion?

Now that Virginia confronts the

armed might of the
United States...

we Virginians have determined that
not one spot of her sacred soil...

be polluted by the
foot of an invader.

God bless Virginia.

Now, in the memory of that great
Virginian, George Washington...

who was first in the hearts of his
countrymen and calling also...

upon the memory of his own gallant

father, General
Light-Horse Harry Lee.

This convention now calls upon

Robert Edward Lee
to take command...

of the armed forces of the
Citizen Army of Virginia.

Mr President, gentlemen
of the convention...

I'm profoundly impressed by the
solemnity of the occasion...

for which I must say
I was not prepared.

I accept the position assigned
me by your partiality.

I would have much preferred had

your choice fallen
on an abler man.

But trusting to Almighty God,
an approving conscience...

and the aid of my
fellow citizens...

I devote myself to the service
of my native state...

in whose behalf alone will I
ever again draw my sword.

We must not fear the
final result of this

war, but many a loved
one will fall...

and many a heart throb
with anguish...

before we can breathe the

exhilarating atmosphere
of freedom...

and feel the sweet assurance
of safety and peace once more.

There's nothing in this life more
dear to me than my children...

except perhaps the memory
of your wonderful father.

When you go to Richmond, and
wherever this war takes you...

you must not fear for us. We will
be with you wherever you go.

Surely goodness and mercy have

followed me all the
days of my life.

Now be on your way,
and God be with you.

You all be coming
on back, you hear?

We'll be back, Martha.

Mr Wilkes, sir.

Would you be kind enough as
to autograph my playbill?

I was never much interested
in Shakespeare...

until I saw you play Richard III.

"A horse. A horse. My
kingdom for a horse."

Was ever woman in
this humour wooed?

Was ever woman in this humour won?

Say, haven't I seen
you some place?

Why, of course you have.

This here is Mr Wilkes Booth, the
finest actor in all of Richmond.

All the world's a stage...

and we but its poor players.

What better role than a soldier's
in defence of his home...

his honour...

and his beloved?

Good morning, Major. This
just arrived for you.

Cadet Norris, return
to the Institute.

My compliments to Colonel Smith,

I will be at his office
within the half-hour.

Sir.

"You are ordered
to report with the

corps of cadets to
camp instruction...

to begin training and organisation
of the Provisional Army...

for the defence of the
Commonwealth of Virginia."

My wife.

Come, before I leave,
we must sit...

read together, the verse.

Here.

Yes, here. Corinthians... Second
Corinthians, chapter five.

I have been thinking
about this verse.

"For we know that if
our earthly house

of this Tabernacle
were dissolved...

we have a building of God.

A house not made with hands,
eternal in the heavens."

O, Almighty God...

grant that if it be thy will...

thou wilt still avert
the threatening

danger and bring us peace.

Keep her whom I love
in thy protected care.

And bring us all at last to the
joy of thy eternal kingdom.

Give them hell, sir.

Yeah, give them hell, men.

"The Lord is my light. My
salvation. Whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the strength in my
life. Of whom shall I be afraid?

When the wicked, even mine
enemies and my foes...

came upon me to eat up my
flesh, they stumbled and fell.

Though unhost should
encamp against

me, my heart shall not fear.

Though war should
rise up against me.

In this will I be comforted."

Secession is inexcusable.

Southerners and Northerners
can still work together.

Slavery will eventually
die of natural causes.

But the breakup of the Union
will inaugurate wars...

of a hundred generations
in America...

only to repeat the bloody
history of Europe.

If Virginia adheres to the
United States, I adhere.

Her determination
must control mine.

This is my understanding
of patriotism.

And though I love the Union,
I love Virginia more.

Private Jenkins,
because of the high

regard with which I
hold your father...

you are free to do as
you please. You may

return to his new
home in Pennsylvania.

It is your decision. But, if
you decide to stay with us...

you may never again
leave. If you do,

you'll be treated as a deserter.

Colonel Jackson, sir. Father.

I am a soldier in
the 4th Virginia.

And in the 4th
Virginia I will stay.

And if needs be, die.

- Then I will take my leave.
- No, sir.

It is I who will
leave the two of you

to have some time
together on your own.

You may have this room for
as long as you require it.

Thank you.

Farewell, Colonel.

May we meet again
in happier times.

And if not in this troubled
world may we meet in...

In heaven.

This train was on its
way to Washington.

Its livestock's been requisitioned
by the Confederate government.

There's enough damn beef in here
to keep us fed for quite a while.

And as many steeds as would damn
well meet our current needs.

With your permission,
sir, we've made a

selection of the more
promising horses.

There's some damn fine ones here.

Mr Harman, I fear you
are a wicked man.

This animal looks
fit for the duty.

Then he's yours, sir.

That small horse over there,
has he been assigned?

Well, it's a well-rounded sorrel,
sir, but too small for you.

You'll have your feet
dragging in the dust.

I was thinking of my wife, Anna.

He would make a fine
present for her.

Well, that it would, sir. Shall
I arrange for the purchase?

Leave the bill of the
sale at my headquarters.

I will buy them both.

The Confederate Treasury
is honoured, sir.

And may you both sit
well in the saddle.

What shall I call you?

- Good morning, sir.
- Reverend Pendleton.

How goes it with the
artillery today?

You're just in time
for a christening.

The men have decided to name the

howitzers: Matthew,
Mark, Luke and John.

I'm sure your men will
spread the gospel

wherever they encounter the enemy.

Has my son proven a
worthy adjutant?

I'm certain Captain
Pendleton will prove

himself deserving
of the family name.

Break. Guard. Charge.

As if you could ever get close
enough to stick a man with this.

You can give me your bayonet if
you have no further use for it.

What you gonna do
with two of them?

You never heard of spare parts?

Pogue, your only hope is that some
Yank puts you out of your misery.

Captain White.

How fare the scholars
of Washington College?

Are they making their transition
from books to bullets?

A few more days of drill, and my

boys will surpass
the cadets of VMI.

Drill, Professor White, drill and

drill. Remember
Alexander in Anatolia.

Caesar in Gaul.
Napoleon in Iberia.

We march by day, and
read Xenophon by night.

We will be your Greek phalanx.

Then you must begin
with the bayonet.

The bayonet must
be for a Virginian

what the sarissa was
for a Macedonian.

If the Yankees dare
set foot in Virginia,

we must show them the bayonet.

Train with the bayonet and
we shall keep our freedom.

Yes, sir.

Sir.

Harman has a detachment
ready to take

your sorrel to Mrs
Jackson in Lexington.

The horse you chose is
waiting at headquarters.

I've decided to keep this
little sorrel for myself.

I prefer his gait to that
of the larger horse.

Unlike the other, he
has an even temper.

He will need it where we are
going. Yes, I will keep it.

And Mrs Jackson? What
should we send her, sir?

Instruct Harman to make
another selection.

My complete admiration
in his choice of

livestock, if not in
his choice of words.

The man's vocabulary is
extremely repulsive.

Yes, sir.

- Will that be all, sir?
- Language is blasphemous...

but he is a good
quartermaster, a good

quartermaster. You understand me?

- Yes, sir.
- That's all.

Hyah.

Blue, grey, green,
even red uniforms.

How are we to know
who the enemy is?

You damn fool, you just shoot at
the man that's shooting at you.

I thought we was gonna be trained.

I could have done this walking
on my own back in Staunton.

I never seen you walk
in your life when

you didn't have to.
Nor me, neither.

What man in his senses
would cross his street...

when he could just be
sitting on his front porch?

I done more walking
this week than in my

life and my daddy's
life put together.

Who'll give us fresh
shoes when these

are but tatters and
old bits of laces?

You'll excuse me, gentlemen.

Lieutenant Colonel Stuart
reporting for duty.

Colonel Stuart.

- That's an impeccable hat, sir.
- Thank you, sir.

- Colonel Stuart. You use tobacco?
- No, sir. Not in any form.

Neither do I. I find
I like it too much.

Sit down.

I understand from your record that
you are West Point, class of '54.

Served since in the
cavalry, Ft. Clark, Texas.

Operations against
Apache, Comanche.

Fought with Longstreet
and Ewell, sir.

Nasty business. Merciless climate.

Glad to be home, sir.

The Apache were defending their

homes, as we will
be defending ours.

If we fight as well as the Apache,
I pity the Yankee invader.

Colonel Stuart, if
I had my way, we

would show no quarter
to the enemy.

No more than the redskins showed

your troopers. The
black flag, sir.

If the North triumphs,
it is not alone

the destruction of our property.

It is the prelude to
anarchy, infidelity...

the loss of free and
responsible government.

It is the triumph of commerce.
The banks, factories.

We should meet the invader on
the verge of just defence...

and raise the black
flag. No quarter to

the violators of our
homes and firesides.

Our political
leadership is too timid

to face the reality
of this coming war.

They should look to the Bible.
It is full of such wars.

Only the black flag
will bring the North

to its senses and
rapidly end the war.

Well, Colonel.

One way or the other, the South
will give them a warm reception.

You'll be in charge of the cavalry
in the Harper's Ferry district.

Your experience and your
zeal will be invaluable.

Thank you, sir.

And, Colonel...

know that I will
tell my men always

to gallop toward the enemy...

but trot away.

"Trot."

The ratification vote
for secession is in.

Reporting from all the counties of

Virginia, the vote
is 4-to-1 in favour.

And I'm proud to report that the
vote in the Shenandoah Valley...

is 3130 in favour, 10 against.

In my own Rockbridge
County, only one

person voted against
leaving the Union.

Probably the village idiot.

Order.

- Parade, rest.
- Parade.

Men of the valley.

Citizen soldiers.

I am here at the order
of General Robert

E. Lee, commanding
all Virginia forces.

On April 15 of this year
of our Lord, 1861...

Simon Cameron, the secretary
of war of the United States...

sent a telegram to our governor to

raise three regiments
of infantry...

to be sent to assist
in suppressing

the Southern Confederacy.

Governor Letcher's
answer is well known

to you, but perhaps not his words.

His wire to Washington stated:

"You have chosen to
inaugurate civil war.

Having done so, we will meet you
in a spirit as determined...

as the Lincoln administration has
exhibited toward the South."

Two days later the
Virginia legislature

were voting for secession.

Just as we would not
send any of our

soldiers to march
in other states...

and tyrannise other people...

so will we never
allow the armies of

others to march into our state...

and tyrannise our people.

Like many of you, indeed most of
you, I've always been a Union man.

It is not with joy or
with a light heart

that many have welcomed secession.

Had our neighbours to
the North practised

a less bellicose form
of persuasion...

this day might not have come. But

that day has been
thrust upon us...

like it was thrust
upon our ancestors.

The Lincoln
administration required

us to raise three regiments.

Tell them we have done so.

Soldiers. Commanding
General Johnston's orders:

"General Beauregard is being
attacked at Manassas Junction...

by overwhelming forces."

We have been ordered to cross the
Blue Ridge to his assistance.

Every moment now is precious...

and the General hopes his soldiers

will step out and
keep closed ranks.

Well, this march is a forced
march to save our country.

You must get some rest, sir.

I'll rest easier when
Pendleton and the

artillery make it
up this mountain.

They'll make better time tomorrow,
sir. It'll all be downhill.

You'll trust me to wait
for the guns, sir?

Dr McGuire.

You're an excellent
practitioner, and I

believe I will take
your prescription.

No fires, no tents. Just like
I always dreamt it'd be.

You suppose the Virginia
legislature was

gonna buy you your
own personal tent?

That's fine for now.

You'll be humming a
different tune when it's

raining, you're all
covered in frost...

or you need me to dig
you out of a snowdrift.

So damn dark the bats
run into each other.

Old Hickory's just getting
us fit for the fighting.

Old Hickory, Old Jack,
Old Blue Light.

How many names you got
for the old man, anyway?

Them VMI boys come up
with the choice one.

They calls him "Tom Fool" when
he's looking the other way.

I'll be a fool if I listened
to you all livelong night.

Old Tom Fool. That name ought to

stick to him like
a tick on a mule.

That's it. Step lively.
Two at a time.

As quick as you can.
No dilly, no dally.

One foot forward, then the other.
Nothing pretty, nothing fancy.

Into the train. Do it lovely,
do it ugly, all the same to me.

- Colonel Jackson.
- Colonel Trimble.

- I understand you're a train man.
- Baltimore and Ohio.

Spent most of my life
building lines, and

the past six months
tearing them up.

No use in leaving them in fine
fettle with a meddling Yankee.

If you'll excuse me, sir.

Got to move these
men where they'll

do the most damage to the enemy.

Excuse me, ladies.

Now that's the finest dressed man
in the whole Confederate Army.

In you go. Up and over.

Through the brush
and in the clover.

Crowd on in. Move it over.

That's General Bee's brigade.

Inform General Bee the 1st
Virginians are on the field.

Ask him, can he hold long
enough for me to deploy my men?

Yes, sir. I'll ask him.

They may not hold, gentlemen.
We must assume they cannot.

- Mr Smith.
- Sir?

Instruct Imboden and
Stanard to position

their batteries in the
centre of the crest.

I want the 4th and the 27th
regiments stationed as support.

I want the 5th Regiment
posted to their right...

the 2nd and 33rd to
the left. Understood?

Yes, sir.

Counter battery fire.

Eight hundred yards.

- Shell. Five-second fuse.
- Fire.

Counter battery fire.
Eight hundred yards.

Shell, five inch.
Five-second fuse.

- Fire one.
- Two.

- Three.
- Five, fire.

Get primed.

Fire.

General. Our line on
Matthews Hill has broken.

They are beating us back.

Then we must give
them the bayonet.

1st Brigade, move up
to a position just

below the crest of the
hill. And stay low.

- Sir.
- Hyah.

Rally, men. Rally.

Look.

There is Jackson, standing
like a stone wall.

Let us determine to die here
today and we will conquer.

Rally behind the Virginians.

Fix bayonets.

- Fix bayonets.
- Fix.

Fire.

Fill in there...

Instruct the men to lay
down. Hug the ground.

- Lie down, men.
- Privates. First rank, lie down.

Second rank, kneel.

They are coming, boys.

Wait till they get close
before you shoot.

Hold your lines.

Halt.

Hold your fire.

Ready.

Aim.

Fire.

Fire.

Fire. Reload.

- Rise up.
- Quickly, boys.

Rise up.

Quickly, men. Quickly.

Ready.

Aim.

Fire.

Fire.

Fire.

Reload. Reload, men.

Come on, boys. Quick
and we can whip them.

Easy, men. We have no
orders to advance.

Get back in the ranks.

Steady, men. Steady.

Damn it.

Charge.

It's Cummings' boys.

- What are they doing?
- Easy, Mr Pendleton. Easy.

Good to have your dander up,
but discipline wins the day.

About-face. About-face,
men. Aim. Fire.

For God's sakes, forward.

General, sir, the day
is going against us.

If you think so, sir, you had
better not say anything about it.

Rise up, rise up.

Rise up, Virginia.

Stand up, you men. Stand up, you
free men. We're gonna charge them.

We're gonna drive them to
Washington. Stand up, Virginia.

1st Brigade...

reserve your fire...

till they come within 50 yards...

then fire.

And give them the bayonet.

And when you charge...

yell like Furies.

- Ready. Aim.
- Aim.

- Fire.
- Fire.

Charge bayonets.

Charge.

Press on. Press on.

I surrender. I surrender.

General?

How is it you can
keep so serene...

and stay so utterly insensible...

with a storm of shells and
bullets raining about your head?

Captain Smith...

my religious belief teaches me to
feel as safe in battle as in bed.

God has fixed the
time for my death,

I do not concern
myself with that...

but to be always ready,
whenever it may overtake me.

That is the way all
men should live.

Then all men would
be equally brave.

Preliminary reports
for the brigade,

sir. One hundred and eleven dead.

Three hundred seventy-three
wounded or missing.

And if I may ask,
sir, how's your hand?

Just a spent bullet. No more than
a scratch really, Mr Pendleton.

I'm more than pleased
with the part

performed by the brigade
during the action.

Through the blessing of God...

they met the thus far
victorious enemy

and turned the
fortunes of the day.

Good evening, gentlemen.

Tomorrow's a new day.

- Evening, General.
- Evening, sir.

Oh, Mr Pendleton?

Thank you for the report.

I will never forget these men.

Which is it tonight, John? Hamlet?
Richard III? Or the Scottish play?

The schedule's posted.

I'm relieved to see you've
prepared for your role.

I admit, my concentration has been

impaired by the
distractions of this war.

Then think "winter
of our discontent."

And what a glorious
summer it will be.

When the South is free of
these meddling Yankees.

Sometimes when I'm
up on that stage...

brandishing the prop sword or
threatening with the mock word...

I wonder if it's more
farce than tragedy.

More posturing than art.

Harrison.

As we recite and declaim,
others march and die.

Down in Mississippi...

when all the other
boys went hunting

or fishing, I was reading books...

learning Shakespeare
sonnets by heart.

My daddy said art was
the hardest thing.

That everything else seems
more important at the time...

but that we needed
it more than air.

More than food, even.

So now it's politics
instead of hunting.

Same old thing.

Gotta stay concentrated
on what really matters.

Shakespeare matters.

Acting matters.

Gentlemen, new orders
from the War Department.

The Confederate Army's been
reorganised into three districts.

That of the Potomac will remain
under General Beauregard.

The Aquia under General Holmes.

I've been promoted
to Major General...

commanding all forces in and
around the Shenandoah Valley.

The entire army
together will now be

known as the Army of
Northern Virginia.

Although I am being
transferred to Winchester...

the brigade must remain
here at Centreville.

Begging your pardon, sir...

but the men would prefer
remaining under your command.

That's right, sir.

Couldn't the entire brigade be

transferred with
you to the Valley?

Gentlemen, such a degree of
public respect, confidence...

as puts it in one's
power to serve his

country must be
accepted and prized.

But apart from that...

promotion among men is only
a temptation and a trouble.

Had this not come to
me as an order, I

should instantly
have declined it...

continued in command of
my brave old brigade.

Sir, may we hope...

that a formal entreaty to the
authorities in Richmond...

may effect a transfer of the
entire brigade to the Valley?

Hear, hear.

I'll not stop you from
making such a request.

But for now, we must
prepare ourselves.

We shall all have our
labours to perform...

but with the help of an
ever-kindly heavenly father...

I trust he will enable
us to accomplish them.

Forward.

Rest.

Throughout the broad
extent of the country...

through which you have marched...

by your respect for the rights
and property of others...

you have always shown you are
soldiers, not only to defend...

but able and willing both
to defend and protect.

You've already won...

a brilliant reputation throughout
the Army of the whole Confederacy.

And I trust in the future by
your deeds in the field...

and by the assistance
of the same kind

providence who has
favoured our cause...

you will win more
victories and add

lustre to the reputation
you now enjoy.

You already gained a
proud position...

in the future history of this...

our second war of independence.

I shall look with anxiety
to your future movements...

and I trust whenever I shall
hear of the 1st Brigade...

on the field of battle...

it will be of still nobler deeds

achieved and higher
reputation won.

In the Army of the Shenandoah,
you were the 1st Brigade.

In the Army of the Potomac,
you were the 1st Brigade.

In the 2nd Corps of this Army,
you are the 1st Brigade.

You are the 1st Brigade in the
affections of your General.

And I hope by your
future deeds and bearing

you will be handed
down to posterity...

as the 1st Brigade...

in this, our second
war of independence.

Farewell.

Jackson. Jackson.
Jackson. Jackson.

Jackson. Jackson. Jackson.

The universe itself is
subject to rules, to law.

The super-abounding life lavished
on this world of ours...

is proof...

that the play of
infinite freedom...

is here to help work out
the will of infinite law.

The nature of the
universe demonstrates...

that freedom can only exist...

as part of law.

Pardon me, Professor
Chamberlain...

but how does the
study of philosophy

intersect with real life?

If freedom can only exist
as a part of law...

how can we continue to tolerate
slavery protected by law?

Lawrence, I know.

How?

I've noticed the way
you've been looking

into the children's
room each night.

Blue.

Why blue uniforms?
It should be red.

Like the English, the
colour of blood.

Are you angry with me?

Lawrence, my darling Lawrence.

Do you remember when you were
thinking of being a missionary?

And you wrote me saying that
you wished your little wife...

was willing for you to take

whatever course you
thought best...

and was ready to help you
in it with all her heart?

"Little wife." How could I
ever have called you that?

Your spirit is vaster than oceans.

Then you wrote back.

And I have never
forgotten what you said.

You said, "Well, dear,
she is willing...

and she feels that you know better
about the matter than she does."

But now...

I never think I know
better than you.

I couldn't bear for
you to feel that

you must forever
remain at a stand...

just because you're married.

I always want to help you on
in your excelsior striving.

But I had a dream about
you, Lawrence. Last night.

While you were away, offering
your services to the governor.

I saw you in my dream. There
were boys in blue marching past.

Some of the boys that we know.

And there you were...

riding ahead of them on
a great, white horse.

Fanny, my love, I
felt I had to go.

I offered the
governor my services,

wherever he wanted to place me.

I thought he'd probably
order me to an officer.

- Speeches, administration.
- Oh.

Lawrence...

I know you. When you do a
thing, you do it to the utmost.

So? He gave you a
commission, didn't he?

They need serving officers.

Five new regiments are
being formed now.

Maine has already sent
15. How could I refuse?

Poor Lawrence, damn you,
you'll be good at it too.

You'll be good at
soldiering just like

you're good at
everything else. So go.

Go do your duty to
your country's flag...

go on and get your medals for

bravery, go and get
yourself killed.

That poem of Lovelace.

That beautiful, horrible,
damnable, lovely, sad poem.

I think that you recited
it in my dream.

Lovelace. "Off to the
English Civil War"?

I would not dare presume
to quote it now.

Tell me not, sweet, I am unkind.

That from the nunnery of thy
chaste breast and quiet mind.

To warlike arms I fly.

True, a new mistress now I serve.

The first foe in the field.

And with a sterner faith embrace.
The sword, a horse, a shield,

yet this inconstancy is such

as thou too shalt adore.

I could not love
thee, dear, so much.

Loved I not honour more.

You will be wounded.

You will be changed
by the horrors of it.

But you will come home.

I believe that, my love.
You will come home.

Come in.

You must be Mr Lewis.

There's some that
calls me Uncle Jim.

Some calls me Big Jim. Some
folks just calls me Jim.

I don't suppose you've heard
any of the names I get called?

I heard Stonewall once.

That name properly belongs to the
1st Virginia Brigade, not to me.

They were the ones who earned it.

Some folks says otherwise.

Folks say men can't fight without
nobody up front to lead them on.

I'm told you're a first-rate cook.

Yes, sir.

They wasn't lying, told you that.

Whatever you likes to
eat, I can cook it.

Pan-fry, griddle,
boil, bake. Roasted.

And I understand
you're from Lexington.

You come highly
recommended to me, Jim.

Lexington is my home,
General. Same as yours.

If I could do my share
in defending my home...

I'd be doing the same as you.

I heard it was
Napoleon himself said:

"An army can't march
but on its stomach."

Well.

If you love your country...

fear the Lord...

and have no trouble
getting up at 4:00

in the morning, the job is yours.

Yous got yourself a deal, General.

Sir.

My darling wife.

Welcome to Winchester.

Thomas, Oh.

- Come in out of the cold.
- Why, thank you.

- I have been thinking, Thomas...
- Mm.

That it may have
been a blessing...

that the Battle of Manassas
was fought on my birthday.

Why is that?

In our old age, you
will never forget it.

I will forget my own before
I ever forget yours.

Oh, Anna.

Anna.

What is it, Tom?

What?

Everything in this
life seems so fragile.

So temporary.

When we are separated, I fear...

I will never see you again.

I fear we may never have a child.

I fear I may lose you if
we dare to have a child.

I know I should trust
in the Lord...

but then I see the face
of my dear mama...

of my first wife, dead and cold.

With our dead darling.

Dead before he could draw his
first breath in this world.

And I am afraid.

And I am afraid to feel happiness.

Afraid to hope for it again.

I am afraid of God's judgement.

We serve a loving God, Thomas.

We are in each other's arms.

We are together, and
we are happy together.

And is our love not proof of his?

We must not fear, Thomas.

We will survive this war.

And we will have a child.

So help us, God.

Major Gilmore, stop
that damn drumming.

Quiet.

- Stop that damn drumming.
- Quiet.

This is a hell of a regiment.

Men of the 20th Maine
Regiment of Volunteers...

this is your commanding
officer, Colonel Adelbert Ames.

Quiet. Quiet.

You do not cheer an officer.

You salute him.

20th Maine, I commend you
for the enthusiasm...

that has made you volunteer for
service in Lincoln's Army.

I can see that many of
you are strong and fit.

We Maine men know that life
in the woods of Maine...

toughens the muscles and
stretches the sinews.

I've no doubt many of you have
become good shots by hunting deer.

But tough muscles and
skilful shooting

are not enough to make a soldier.

That requires discipline.

Major Gilmore tells me
you are in the habit

of holding discussions
with your officers.

That will cease from now.

An officer's orders
are to be obeyed

instantly and without question.

This regiment must learn
to move as one man.

Otherwise we will all be killed.

See if you can teach
them to march.

Yes, sir.

Colonel Chamberlain.

Come with me.

When I say, "20th
Maine, attention"...

you bring your feet together.

Governor Washburn and
Adjutant General Hodgson...

have sent me an impressive
report about you.

They say you will master any
assignment you're given.

I shall certainly try, sir.

I, understand you were in
the Battle of Bull Run.

Wounded too. It taught me the need

for discipline and
proper procedure.

Take the act of
shooting, for example.

When you're hunting
in the Maine woods

there's no difficulty
in loading a rifle.

But in the panic of
war, men act foolishly.

In Bull Run I saw a
soldier forget to

remove his ramrod from the barrel.

When he fired, out it
flew with a dismal twang.

He lost the means of
firing again and was

killed soon after
by a Rebel bullet.

Sergeant Tom Chamberlain
reporting for duty, sir.

Tom, what on earth...?
What are you doing?

I signed up, Lawrence, I'm in this
regiment. I'm coming with you.

Did Father approve? How
will he run the farm?

Once he heard you were
Colonel, he couldn't say no.

Besides, you know him, he'll
be all right. They both will.

I'm giving them one
less thing to cuss at.

Mama said so many
prayers for the both

of us, we got nothing
to worry about.

Well, I guess I have one more

responsibility. I have
to look after you.

Me?

Lawrence, Mama told me
to watch after you.

Just remember, lads,
even a tin cup

is a great weight after 20 mile.

Your precarious pegs won't last if

you turn yourselves
into pack mules.

And only one leg to a
pant, if you please.

You'll soon be at the
worn end of it...

where your formal attire will
be your shirt collar and boots.

In the US Army we have the
School of the Soldier...

in which the soldier is trained
and by numbers drilled.

Loading a musket is done
in nine movements...

performed over and over until
they become automatic...

or, as we call it,
loading in nine times.

I see. Sergeant Chamberlain.

Loading in nine times.
Demonstrate this.

Assume the musket has
just been fired.

One, reach into cartridge
box and withdraw cartridge.

Two, place cartridge
between teeth.

Three, tear paper open.

Four, pour powder into
barrel and charge cartridge.

Five, withdraw the ramrod.
Six, ram the ball home.

Seven, return ramrod.

Eight, half-cock the hammer...

remove old cap...

and put a new cap on the cone.

Nine, shoulder arms.

All right, you have the idea.

But this must be done without
thinking and much, much faster.

Here.

One, two, three, four...

five...

six...

seven...

eight...

nine.

Practise until you can
do it as fast as that.

It may save your lives. Colonel.

Line of battle
consists of two lines

of men, one behind the other...

so that while one line
fires, the other reloads.

Behind them is a line of, file

closers. Lieutenants
and sergeants.

But two lines make a regiment
unwieldy on the move...

so we need to switch
to column of fours.

We need to be able to change from

column of fours to
line of battle...

and back again quickly.

It is not difficult to move from

line of battle into
column of fours.

It is harder to move from column
of fours into line of battle...

and if we're called
to make that move,

it will be when we're under fire.

You understand how
important it is that

these moves are learnt
so thoroughly...

that the men can perform
them in their sleep.

Company...

halt.

Company, front.

Order arms.

Well done, Colonel.
That's a beginning.

But that move must be practised
and practised and practised.

Another month and we'll be ready.

But we leave for
Washington tomorrow.

Shoulder arms.

Company, forward march.

Gentlemen, it's only September.
Too soon for winter camp.

We have the momentum.

I propose we advance our
army north into Maryland...

because there the farms are
plentiful and nearly untouched.

And with a fall harvest, we could
feed our troops very well indeed.

And there is one
other consideration.

Maryland is being held
in the Union by force.

Our arrival may be
viewed as a liberation.

We might receive some hospitality.

Might even receive a number of

volunteers for
service in the Army.

General, might this not be
considered an invasion?

I don't believe so,
General. No, sir.

With the Federal
invasion of Virginia...

the Confederacy proved
who's the aggressor here.

We did not bring this war...

and we fight now only to free the
South of Federal occupation.

As I've said many times...

if Washington will end
their side of the

fighting and recall
their armies...

this war will be over.

But in the meantime...

we must show the enemy
that they cannot win.

Cannot win.

Now, by moving into
Maryland, we'd be in

a position to push
into Pennsylvania.

And so far, gentlemen, the bloody
fields are Southern fields.

If we threaten the
Northern cities...

if we threaten to bring the
blood into the North...

there'll be pressure on
Lincoln to end this war.

Amen.

Our presence, just the
threat, could be sufficient.

General Lee...

we'd be cutting
ourselves off from our

base of supplies, communications.

We'd be vulnerable
from the rear, sir.

General Longstreet, you marched
into Mexico with General Scott?

Yes, sir.

Did not General Scott
cut himself off

from his supplies
and communication?

And by so doing, did he not
bring a rapid end to that war?

And did he not accomplish all
of that in a foreign land?

Well, this is not a foreign land.

The citizens will see
we're not coming

to vandalise as the
Yankees did to us.

We've come to end
the war quickly...

and without any need to
conquer or subdue anyone.

We proved our superiority
on the battlefield.

That superiority may be
all we need, gentlemen.

All we need.

- General Lee?
- Yes.

Pleased to hear we're finally
taking the war to the enemy.

Let them feel the scourge of
this war that they began.

Yes, sir.

♪ His torch is at
thy temple door ♪

♪ Maryland, my Maryland ♪

♪ Avenge the patriotic gore ♪

♪ That flecked the
streets of Baltimore ♪

♪ And be the battle
queen of yore ♪

♪ Maryland, my Maryland ♪

Morning to you, sir. Colonel
Ames sent me to get you.

Said you might be
needing a drop of this.

Ah. Thank you...

Kilrain, sir. Sergeant Kilrain.
Glad to be of service.

You know, Colonel...

the boys...

We've been watching
you, sir, that we have.

You've learnt fast. Becoming a
pleasure to serve under you.

Yes, well, ahem...

Are you a, veteran, Sergeant?

Aye, sir. I suppose
you could say that.

Did me duty in the regular
Army for a while.

Did the great long
walk with General

Scott, down south
of the Rio Grande.

Some men you fought
with are on the other

side. Almost all
of their Generals.

Oh, it gets worse than
Generals, Colonel.

Some of the lads that I
left Ireland with are

on the other side as
well. Imagine that.

We left together to
escape a tyranny...

and end up shooting at one
another in the land of the free.

I, too, have friends on
the other side, Sergeant.

And enemies.

Yes, sir.

No shortage of enemies,
that's for sure.

We're ordered to remain in place.

The army is spreading
out a couple miles up.

The enemy is dug in
behind a small creek.

Antietam Creek, just
this side of Sharpsburg.

We may be put into the
battle at any time.

For now, get the
men to step it up,

finish breakfast and
wait for orders.

- Got that?
- Certainly, Colonel.

Whose guns are those?
Has the attack begun?

Likely it's the first feeling-out,
probing, testing of strength.

It's a game to the
artillery boys...

letting you know they can hit
you when the time comes.

Lawrence. Lawrence, lookie here.

This is what we've
been eating every day.

But you know what? I've
gained some weight.

Hard to believe a man could gain
some weight on a diet of worms.

Well, best eat up, Sergeant.
We're moving out.

Good morning, sir.

The Yankees are coming thick and
fast in the woods before us.

We're making it hot for them.

We must hold this ridge. We must.

So pour it to them, Reverend.

Sir.

Sir, it's me, Rob.

My dear son. How are you, boy?

I'm well, sir.

I congratulate you for being
in the fight and unhurt.

May God keep you so.

And remember, son, we must do all
we can to drive these people back.

Yes, sir. We'll do our best, sir.

Fire.

Mr Pendleton, ride
to General Hood,

ask him can he
maintain his position?

Yes, sir, can he
maintain his position?

Hyah, hyah.

Fire.

Reload.

Fire.

It's good to be
Sergeant, isn't it?

To shoot a Sergeant, you have
to fire through two men.

A Sergeant never fires
his weapon until

the men in front of
him are killed...

and then only unless
you want to show off.

Move the men into this field
and wait for further orders.

We're part of the reserve.

- Battalion, forward.
- Forward.

March.

Compliments from General Jackson.

He wants to know, can
you maintain position?

Tell General Jackson unless
I get reinforcements...

I must be forced back.

But I'm going on while I can.

Yes, sir. Reinforcements.
Yes, sir.

- Load.
- Load.

Take aim.

Fire.

Forward, men, forward.

Fire.

- General McClellan, sir.
- General Hancock.

Had you heard that General
Richardson had been wounded?

I heard he'd been wounded.

I'm sorry to tell
you it is serious

and you will assume his command.

Yes, sir. Of course, sir.

I'm honoured to
accept the command.

I'm sure you will
perform this duty...

with the skill and courage
you have shown already.

We are on the move now,
and we will drive the

Rebels into the river
before the sun sets.

Hold this position against
any assault by the enemy.

Reply from General Hood:

"Tell Jackson unless I get

reinforcements, I
must be forced back."

- But he will go on while he can.
- Good, good.

General McLaws, advance your...

Captain Morrison.

I think it advisable you
keep your distance from me.

It would not do for
Anna to lose both a

husband and a brother
on the same day.

Battalion, halt.

The battle may be moving
our way. Keep them ready.

Yes, sir.

Courtesy of a lady
admirer in Sharpsburg.

Think we can hold out
against another attack?

I think they have
done their worst.

I think there's little danger
of our line being broken.

We won't be needed today, Colonel.

The 5th Corps was not
needed today, gentlemen.

Not according to the judgement
of our commanding General.

The battle has been
extremely costly.

The enemy has been checked,
at great loss to both sides.

From what we can observe so
far, we've gained little.

It's possible the fight
will resume tomorrow.

He that created us gave us
such strong argument...

starting before and after,
gave us not capabilities...

and divine reason to fust
inside of us unused.

Now, whether it be
bestial oblivion,

or some craven scruple...

of thinking too precisely
on the event...

a thought which, quartered,
hath but one part one wisdom...

and ever three parts coward...

I do not know why yet I live
to say "This thing's to do"...

sith I have cause and will and
strength and means to do it.

Examples gross as earth exhort me:

Witness this army of
such mass and charge...

led by a delicate and
tender prince...

whose spirit with divine
ambition puffed...

makes mouths at the
invisible event...

exposing what is
mortal and unsure...

to all that death and danger
dare, even for an egg-shell.

Rightly to be great is not to
stir without great argument...

but greatly to find quarrel in a
straw when honour's at the stake.

How stand I then...

that have a father killed...

a mother stained...

excitements of my
reason and my blood...

and let all sleep?

While, to my shame, I see...

the imminent death
of 20,000 men...

that, for a fantasy
or trick of fame...

go to their graves like
beds, fight for a plot.

Whereon the numbers
cannot try the cause...

which is not tomb enough or
continent to hide the slain?

O, from this time forth...

my thoughts be bloody...

or be nothing worth.

He's mad. Did you see this?

It's nothing less than a
call for a slave uprising.

Darling, I hardly
ever get to see you.

Can't we put away the
paper this one evening?

It'll put you in the foulest
mood. It always does.

Well, here. Read it for yourself.

Lincoln plans a General
emancipation on New Year's Day...

for all slaves from states
still in rebellion.

Yet another page from the
Constitution torn to shreds.

But this is harmless, John.

See, it says right here:

"An emancipation
of all slaves from

the states still in rebellion."

But can't you see?

Those are the very
states where the

president has no
authority and no power.

Why, yes. You're quite right.

I hadn't considered
it in that light.

Now, can we fold up the paper
into a nice little square...

so that I can cut it up into
a hundred little pieces...

and throw it into the street?

Boyo, another round,
if you please.

Now, it says here in
Blackmantle's Art of Punning...

that "punning is an art of
harmonious jingling upon words...

which, passing in at the ears and
falling upon the diaphragm...

excites a titillary
motion in those parts...

and this, being
conveyed by the animal

spirits into the
muscles of the face...

raises the cockles of the heart."

All right, then.
Is everyone ready?

- Sure, why not?
- Yes, sir.

Counties of England.

Who has the most dogs?

Bark-shire.

Well done.

And from where did the first
hermaphrodites come from?

Oh. Middlesex.

Yeah. And from whence the
first circus tumblers came?

Circus tumblers?

Somerset.

Somerset.

- Oh, Lord.
- Somerset.

Well, I can see you've all
learnt rule number six:

Never speak well
of another punster

and never laugh at his puns.

Somerset.

The Rebel sharpshooters
was in the house.

That's what made them
Yankees shell it so.

- Where was this?
- Outside Winchester.

Them Yankees been
through that town more

times than there is
flies on a mule.

Mm.

Where's your master now?

I ain't got no master no more.

Now he my boss.

See, I was sold at auction
over in Fredericksburg once...

and he bought me for $1200.

Then the war come, that
didn't set right with him...

so he gave me my freedom papers.

Now he pays me wages.

- No, sir.
- Thirty dollars a month.

What he pay you for?

I can do anything I
turn my hands to.

Then them Yankees come and
burned down his house...

and the next thing you know, the
man who's paying me wages...

is in the Confederate
Army. And so am I.

- Man, that's good.
- Let's do this thing right here.

Hey, come on. Check it.

No, no, no. Gentlemen.

Stay where you are.

Greetings.

General.

How is our fine Prussian
officer this evening?

I would've thought General Stuart
would've had you at least...

20 miles behind enemy lines...

creating havoc and
bewilderment in Washington.

I would certainly
prefer such a mission.

But tonight...

tonight, General, I come
bringing you a present.

General Jackson...

I am greatly pleased to bring
this present from General Stuart.

The General has gone to great
lengths to secure for you this.

Would you like for me to
open that for you, sir?

Thank you.

General.

This is some fine
material. Look here.

That's gold braid.

You may tell General Stuart that
I deeply appreciate this gift.

Please assure the General...

I will treat it with
the utmost of care...

and see that no harm comes to it.

Mr Pendleton, will you kindly
place that uniform in my tent.

- And keep it neatly folded.
- Sir.

No, General, no.

You do not understand.

General Stuart was most insistent.

He says now that you are
a Lieutenant General...

corps commander, you
deserve a new uniform.

He was most insistent
you try it on.

He will certainly ask,
"How was the fit?"

Please, General.

Try it on.

General, that's some
mighty fine coat.

That is the sweetest
music I ever heard.

Ah, gentlemen.

Excuse us, General Burnside...

General Hancock has information
you may find useful.

Yes, General Hancock, a
pleasure. Sumner, come.

We have visitors.

Sir, General Hancock
reports the river

can be forded the
short way upstream.

There'll be no difficulty
crossing. With

your permission, we
can move right away.

General Hancock, I appreciate
your efforts at reconnaissance...

but this possibility has been
considered and rejected.

The pontoons will
be here any time.

We'll cross with not only the men
but also the waggons and supplies.

It would be foolhardy
to send the men

without the waggons,
the big guns...

Excuse me, am I correct
in my observation...

that there's little force
opposing us across the river?

Yes, you're absolutely correct.

For once we seem to have
caught Lee by surprise.

Then, sir, if I may suggest, isn't

it possible Lee is
moving this way?

Certainly he's aware
of our intentions. If

we could occupy the
town with infantry...

it would make our job much easier
when the bridges do arrive.

Yes, but that's risky. Those men
could be cut off. In this weather?

It snows one day, melts the next.
The river could rise unexpectedly.

It will be best, I
assure you, if we wait

until the entire Army
can cross together.

General Burnside, if we don't
cross the river soon...

General Lee will make
every effort to stop us.

He will not let us move
toward Richmond unopposed.

Where are General
Jackson's forces now?

Shouldn't we attempt to
occupy Fredericksburg...

and possibly the
Heights beyond now,

while we have it for the taking?

Please allow me, sir,
to at least send

General Hancock's division
across the river.

Surely they can carry enough
supplies with them...

and the artillery
from this side can

protect them against
any advance by Lee.

Gentlemen, we will
cross this river

when the bridges
arrive and not before.

I do not have the luxury of
deviating from the larger plan.

The president approved my
strategy, and I shall stick to it.

Once this Army is
across the river,

we will advance on
Richmond in force.

We must not allow him...

the luxury of attacking
us as divided and

separated units as
he's done in the past.

And I will not make the same
mistake as my predecessors.

So no, General Hancock.

You will stay on this side until
the pontoons are in place...

and the entire Army
crosses together.

An irresistible,
impregnable force.

Did you know George
Washington spent

his boyhood not far from here?

And across that
river, he's supposed

to have thrown that
silver dollar...

and cut down that cherry tree.

That may be so, Mr
Taylor, but it has

an even greater
significance for me.

It's where I met my wife.

That's something
these Yankees do not

understand, will never understand.

You see these rivers and
valleys and streams...

and fields, even towns?

They're just markings
on a map to those

people in the war
office in Washington.

But to us, my goodness, they're
birthplaces and burial grounds.

They're battlefields where
our ancestors fought...

places where you and I learnt
to walk, to talk and to pray.

Places where we made friendships
and, oh, yes, fell in love.

And they're the incarnation of
all our memories, Mr Taylor...

and all that we are.

All that we are.

- What place is this?
- Chancellor's Crossing.

We're another two hours or
so from Fredericksburg.

We'll rest here for a short time.

Yes, sir. I'll see what the
good folks can provide.

The General be fixing
to eat something warm?

No, no, Jim.

We got to ride on straight
through to General Lee.

Don't want to get
all warmed up just

to feel the cold all over again.

You never seem to
mind the cold much.

Oh. I minds it. I
just don't shows it.

Now, Little Sorrel, I know
this corn look poorly...

but it sure beats no corn at all.

You heard from your family lately?

Ain't heard much for some time.

Yankee mail used to move
quicker than Secesh mail.

Lord, from where you sit you
can see the great distance...

that separates our Southern men
from their wives and children.

We pray that you watch
over our families.

Lord, I ask you to watch
over Jim Lewis' family...

over his friends, his loved
ones, wherever they may be.

Lord, I know you sees into
the hearts of all men...

just like you sees into the
heart of old Jim Lewis.

And, Lord, I know there's no
lying or deceitfulness...

can hide from you.

You find the truth...

in the bottom of the
deepest pit of darkness.

There be no hiding from your truth
and your ever-watchful eye.

Amen.

How is it, Lord?

Can you explain something
to this old Virginia man?

How is it a good Christian man...

like some folks I know...

can tolerate their black
brothers in bondage?

How is it, Lord,
they don't just...

break them chains?

How is it, Lord?

My heart is open and aching.

And I wants to know.

Lord, speak to us.

Speak to your children.

Speak to Jim Lewis
and Thomas Jackson,

your humble and obedient servants.

Speak to all of us.

Our hearts are open.

Lord, you show us the
way, we will follow.

Amen.

Amen.

- Jim?
- Yeah.

What is the status of your family?

About half is free, half slave.

That's counting all
the cousins and such.

You must know that there are
some officers in this Army...

who are of the opinion that...

we should be enlisting Negroes
as a condition for freedom.

That's what they says
around the camp.

Your people will be free,
one way or another.

The question is, if the Southern
government will have...

the good sense to do
it first and soon.

And in so doing seal a bond of
enduring friendship between us.

That's what they says, General.

God's plan is a great mystery.

It will be revealed to us.

That's all the fodder
you get tonight.

We is going to a
country where there's

nothing more for an
animal to eat...

than there is what's in
the palm of my hand.

General Lee, fine day, sir.

We got batteries all
along that hill,

covering our front to the river.

Strong anchor on the north.

Tomorrow, guns will be positioned
in those trees to the south.

We'll be able to cover the
entire open ground, all of it.

General, they gonna
come at us here?

Colonel Alexander...

Federal troops amassed
across that river

are watching us prepare for them.

If I were General Burnside,
I wouldn't attack here.

I'd move back upstream,
come across from above us.

Burnside is not a man with
the luxury of flexibility.

He's being pushed from behind
by loud voices in Washington...

by newspapers who
demand quick action.

But we're here, and so
he will attack us here.

We got batteries pointing
from all angles.

They cross that canal,
that'll slow them down.

We shall hit them from all sides.

No, sir, a chicken couldn't
live on that field.

General Lee, sir.

General Jackson sends
his respects...

and advises his corps will deploy
to the south of this position...

by tomorrow, as you instructed.

Well, what are his men made of?

He's 150 miles away.

To General Jackson, dawn begins
the minute after midnight.

General Hood, I've often
wondered how it is that...

Texas men, the most
independent-minded

in this Army of irascibles...

have agreed to serve
under a Kentuckian.

I have often wondered the same.

General Gregg, have
you settled your

differences with General Jackson?

No, General Hill, I have not.

Have you?

No, sir.

Tell me, General...

do you expect to live until
the end of this war?

Oh. I do not know...

but I'm inclined to think I will.

I expect I will be wounded.

And you, General?

I do not expect to live to
see the end of this war.

Nor can I say that without
victory I would desire to do so.

- Get up.
- Get up.

Sir?

Yes, Mr Pendleton, you may enter.

Forgive me, General.
There's a letter for you.

Courier was running a
little slow today,

but I thought you'd
want to see it.

Yes, thank you.

Good night, sir.

My own dear father.

As my mother's letter has been
cut short by my arrival...

I think it but justice
that I should continue it.

I know that you are rejoiced
to hear of my coming.

And I hope that God has sent me to
radiate your pathway through life.

I am a very tiny little thing.

I weigh only eight
and a half pounds...

and Aunt Harriet says I am the
express image of my darling papa.

My mother is very
comfortable this morning.

Your loving daughter.

Thank you, Lord.

Thank you.

Thank you, thank you.

They've occupied all the
buildings along the riverfront.

We will be lining up those pontoon
bridges through a hail of lead.

Once across, the Rebs are sure
to make us pay for every block.

Beyond the town is the canal which
cuts across this open field...

a field we'll have to
cross to reach their

entrenchments on
Marye's Heights...

another difficult obstacle in
the face of artillery fire.

Down to our left we
could burst through...

turn Jackson's lines,
push him back,

trap Longstreet on
top of the hill...

surround him.

It's possible.

Turn Jackson's lines?

No, General, we'll
meet them head on.

And it will be a bloody mess.

We'll march up to
that hill there...

and we'll eat their artillery fire
all the way across this field.

We'll be able to look
at ourselves and say:

"We're good soldiers. We
did what we were told."

If we're not successful,
we can say it was

a good plan, but there
were contingencies.

You can go back to
your home town...

and tell the families of your
men they died doing their duty.

The Rebs have fortified the
high ground up the river.

And anyway, there
are strong currents

and obstacles to a crossing there.

Below Fredericksburg,
the river is too wide.

And our earliest forces are
clear down to Port Royal.

Fredericksburg is now the
only place we can cross.

If Burnside doesn't cross here,
he might as well resign.

That wily grey fox has
outmanoeuvred our command again.

And there's going
to be hell to pay.

Hurry up. Let's go.

Pick your targets, boys.

Commence firing.

Them Yankees is coming,
sure as Jesus.

They got two pontoons
across that river.

We got to get you and them
children out of here.

Stop fussing with me. Get your

family ready. We'll
leave together.

Miss Jane, us done
talked this over,

and we decided to stay here...

and look after the house.
No use saying no more.

Martha, I won't leave you to the
mercy of those blue devils.

Miss Jane, you know
they ain't gonna

be bothering us coloured folks.

If we go with you, there
won't be any food

left in the pantry
when we come back.

And we need to eat, same as you.

Pastor Lacy, we must
run to our lines.

There's no time.

The streets are raining
iron. To the basement.

Anybody hurt?

Sam?

Easy.

Sam.

Can you get up? Easy. Easy.

Fall back, Mississippi.

Fall back.

Mother? Are you here?

Oh, praise be. It's Master John.

- We're down here in the cellar.
- The door is blocked.

I'll go around to the side.

Children, you all stay right
here. Mama'll be back.

Come out. There's an
ambulance out front.

The enemy is crossing
the river. Hurry.

No. Martha, I won't
leave without you.

I done told you, I'm staying.

Off with you then.

Come on, Martha.

Stay in the basement.

Hyah.

Get the bayonets.

May God be with them.

May he strengthen their hearts and

their arms for the
coming struggle.

Give them the victory.

Can I be of service to you
fine Northern gentlemen?

Is this your master's place?

This is my place.

Children.

Sorry to have to
bother you, madam.

Come on, let's go.

Go back inside. Hurry up.

Put a stop to this at once.
Where are the officers?

Drop that, soldier. Now.

Get a message to
Couch, to Hancock.

This will not be tolerated.
This is an army, not a rabble.

Well, General Jackson, you are a
most gallant sight this morning.

Thank you, General Stuart,
your gift is much appreciated.

General Longstreet, show us where
your troops are positioned.

Yes, sir. We're anchored on the
north by Anderson's division...

up on the bend in the river
and Ransom's division...

along and below the ridge
of Marye's Heights...

with Cobb's brigade dug in down on
the road behind that stone wall.

Now, to their right,
is General McLaws...

and further down in the woods and
to the right, Pickett and Hood.

General Hood is my right flank.

He's connected in
those heavy trees

over there with General
Jackson's left.

Up here on the Heights, we have
the Washington artillery...

Colonel Alexander's
batteries and support.

It's a strong line, General.

Very well.

General Jackson, would you
please extend the line for us?

General A.P. Hill is on the
left, adjoining General Hood.

Position is supported by General
Taliaferro and General Early.

Now to the right flank
and behind is D.H. Hill.

We've built a road behind our
lines running the entire length.

We can move troops
as is necessary.

If the enemy penetrates
our lines at any point...

the reserves,
Taliaferro and Early,

can move rapidly
to a new position.

If the enemy attempts
to cut our centre...

or if General Pickett is pressed,
we can change positions, sir.

Good, very good.

General Stuart, are you in a
strong position for protecting...

General Jackson's flank?

Oh, yes, sir.

We're covering the enemy from the

river, as far out
as our own lines.

If the Yankees move down river or

threaten to turn General
Jackson's line...

we can block their advance
until the line is moved.

Very well. Gentlemen, these
deployments are sound.

The rest is in God's hands.

Amen.

In the Roman civil war.

Julius Caesar knew he had
to march on Rome itself.

Which no legion was
permitted to do.

Marcus Lucanus left us a
chronicle of what happened.

How swiftly Caesar had
surmounted the icy Alps...

and in his mind conceived
immense upheavals, coming war.

When he reached the
little Rubicon,

clearly through the murky night...

appeared a mighty image of
his country in distress...

grief in her face...

her white hair streaming
from her tower-crowned head.

With tresses torn
and shoulders bare,

she stood before him
and sighing, said:

"Where further do you march? Where

do you take my
standards, warriors?

If lawfully you come,
if as citizens,

this far only is allowed."

Trembling struck his limbs.

And weakness checked his progress,

holding his feet at
the river's edge.

At last he speaks.

Oh, thunderer...

surveying great Rome's walls
from the Tarpeian rock.

Oh, Phrygian, house
Gods of lulus...

clan and mysteries of Quirinus
who was carried off to heaven.

Oh, Jupiter of Latium, seated in
lofty Alba and hearths of Vesta.

Oh, Rome, equal to the highest
deity, favour my plans.

Not with impious weapons
do I pursue you.

Here am I, Caesar...

conqueror of land and sea,
your own soldier everywhere...

now too if I am permitted.

The man who makes me your enemy,
it is he will be the guilty one.

He broke the barriers of war
and through the swollen river.

Swiftly took his standards.

When Caesar crossed the flood and
reached the opposite bank...

from Hesperia's forbidden fields,
he took his stand and said:

"Here, I abandoned peace
and desecrated law.

Fortune, it is you I follow.

Farewell to treaties. From
now on, war is our judge."

Hail Caesar.

We who are about
to die salute you.

General Zook. Move
your brigade forward.

Double quick, forward march.

Steady, boys, steady.
You'll soon be forward.

Is that to be General
Meagher's position?

He's enjoying the privilege of
an officer. Protecting the rear.

He's got a lame knee,
for pity's sake.

Fair enough. Someone's got
to keep Burnside company.

Quiet in the ranks.

Shoulder arms.

Colonel.

20th Maine to the front.

Battalion. Shoulder arms.

Shoulder arms.

Left face.

High-file right...

march.

Come on, boys. Show them the cold
steel. Irish brigade, move out.

Irish brigade, at
the double-quick...

forward march.

Front and centre.

Double column, boys. Form up.

Forward.

Keep moving.

That's the Irish. What are those
boys doing fighting in blue?

Don't they know we're fighting
for our independence?

Did they learn nothing at
the hands of the English?

They're Reb Irishmen.
They're our brothers.

They've been misled
to their fates.

Do your duty.

Steady, men. Steady.

Men, do your duty.

Battalion, halt.

Ready.

Aim.

Fire.

Load them up, boys, load them up.

Keep loading, boys.

Ready.

Aim.

Fire.

Load. Load. Load.

Ready.

Aim.

Fire.

Fall back. Fall back, men.

Now move. Move.

Fall back. Now.

Go to hell. Go to
hell and damnation.

Move, boys.

Lie down here.

Lie down and load.

Lie down and load.

Load.

Load and fire.

Quickly.

Blaze away, lads. Do it, boys.

Fire, boys.

Fire.

Keep firing, men. Keep firing.

Fall back.

Fall back, lads.

Every man for himself.

Fall back, men.

Caldwell's brigade, forward. Now.

Yes, sir.

At the double-quick. March.

- General Armistead.
- Afternoon, General Pickett.

See that last charge
by Meagher's brigade?

Those fellas deserved
a better fate.

Their bravery is worthy
of a better cause.

My heart stood still
as I watched it.

I would not have
believed that mortal men

could march into the face
of such destruction.

General Longstreet...

those people committing more
fresh divisions at your lines...

their mounting numbers may
overwhelm our defence.

Sir, if they put every man they

have on the field
to approach me...

give me plenty of
ammunition, I'll kill

them all before
they reach my line.

Nevertheless, we must
be prudent, General.

We must never ignore the
unknown or the unpredictable.

Yes, sir. I'll take the
necessary measures. Orders.

Send orders to Ransom's Tar Heels
to advance his division...

and to Kershaw to bring up his

brigade to support
Cobb at the wall.

Yes, sir. Hyah, hyah.

Forward, men.

General Griffin, sir.

There goes my first
brigade to hell.

All right, get them ready.

20th Maine, fix bayonets.

Officers of the 3rd
Brigade will dismount.

Shoulder arms.

All right, men, move them out.

Forward march.

Load. Five-second fuse.

She burst. The barrel burst.

- Stretcher.
- General Lee, you all right, sir?

Sergeant. Call for the
surgeon. Quickly.

Here I go. Help me up, boys.

It's not yet our time, gentlemen.

Not yet our time.

General Kemper. General Kemper.

You are ordered by
General Longstreet to

proceed to your left
in support of McLaws.

Take two regiments
of your brigade into

the sunken road behind
the stone wall.

Yes, sir. At once.

Do your duty, General.

My horse. We go to
where the fight is.

Commanding General has
called us into battle.

We move at once.

If we can whip the
enemy here today...

I tell you, from what I know...

the Confederacy is
surely established.

Men of Virginia...

you who have fought on so
many hard-won fields...

today your country calls
upon you one more time...

to stand between
her and the enemy.

And I know that you
will do your duty.

Brigade, halt. Form by battalion.

Pass them forward. Just
load and pass them forward.

Fire.

20th Maine...

halt.

It is not difficult to move from

line of battle into
column of fours.

It is much harder
to move from column

of fours into line of battle...

and if we're called
to make that move,

it will be when we are under fire.

You understand how
important it is that

these moves are learnt
so thoroughly...

that the men can perform
them in their sleep.

Seems a terrible long
distance up that hill.

It'll be shortened by
those in the front.

Begging your pardon, sir.

The only thing
that'll be shortened

by those in front is their lives.

God help us now.

Colonel, take care
of the right wing.

Yes, sir. I'll watch them, sir.

Hail Caesar.

We who are about
to die salute you.

20th Maine.

- Forward.
- Forward.

- March.
- March.

By the right of companies,
to the front. March.

Right of companies
to the front. March.

Form a line, boys. Form a line.

Form up a line. Form up a line.

Dress to the colours.

Come on, boys.

Dress to the colours.

Come on, boys.

Dress to the colours.

Keep your line, men. Keep
your line. Close that gap.

Dress to the colours.

At the double-quick, men.

Double-quick, boys. Come on, boys.

Keep it tight, boys.
Keep it tight.

Turn right, boys. Right.

Turn to the right.

Keep it tight, men.
Keep it tight, men.

Come on, boys.

At the double-quick,
boys. Come on, boys.

Forward, men. Keep moving.

Battalion, halt.

- Battalion, halt.
- Battalion, halt.

Watch your line.

Dress to the colours.

Ready. Fire.

Reload, boys. Reload quickly.

Hold your line. Hold your line.

Two, three, four...

- five, six, seven...
- Dress right. Dress right.

Eight.

- Steady. Steady.
- Fire.

Load them. Let's go.

Keep firing. Keep firing.

Battalion, fight by fire.

Thattaway, boys, fire away.

Pour it into them.

Close the gap, boys.
Pour it into them.

Fill this hole now.

All right, pour it
into them, boys.

Steady now. Pour it into them.
Dress that line down there.

- Sir?
- What is it?

Request permission to
return to the rear, sir.

Permission granted.
Permission granted.

All right, then, boys. Pour it.

No, no, Patrick, me boy.
Just reload and shoot.

Pour it into them, boys.
Pour it in to them.

Fill that line in.

Fill this hole now.

Dress to the right.

Fire.

Pour it into them, boys.
Pour it into them.

Fire.

- Fall back, men.
- Fall back. Fall back.

Fall back, boys.

- What did you do that for?
- You'll thank me in the morning.

Oh, Mother. Oh, Mother, help me.

It's all right, Casey,
I got you. Don't

worry about a thing.
I'll get you home.

Quickly, men. Reload quickly.

It is well that war
is so terrible...

for we should grow too fond of it.

Yes, sir?

We're requisitioning your
house for use as a hospital.

Come on inside out the cold.

You there.

You wounded?

Truly sorry, old fella...

Damn.

- General Hancock, sir.
- Surgeon.

This man is Major Sidney Willard
of the 35th Massachusetts.

This way, sir.

Prepare to lift. Lift.

He's been shot twice in the chest,
General. There's nothing I can do.

- Is there whiskey in this house?
- Yes, sir.

Drink this, sir.

I love them people you done
chased from this house.

I's known them most all my life.

The Beales is good people.

Mr General?

I was born a slave.

And I wants to die free.

Lord knows I wants
to die free, and

I wants my children to be free.

Heaven help me.

May God bless you all.

Damn it, Tom, you scared
me half to death.

You? Lawrence, I thought
you was with the beyond.

Mother?

I was able to secure the
aid of a good spyglass...

and could ascertain
beyond all doubt

that our house is still standing.

Oh.

Oh, I pray to God for
Martha and her dear ones.

But, Mother...

it is a pitiful sight on the
fields below Marye's Heights.

I should feel rancour in my
heart for those invaders...

but all I feel for them is sorrow.

Dear Lucy...

when you were but a
child in petticoats...

I believe the year was 1847...

there was a great
famine in Ireland.

Those fields below the
Heights were covered...

with the finest crop of corn
ever raised in this section.

The greater part of it was sent as
a donation to the starving Irish.

I cannot help thinking...

but that it helped
to feed the poor

victims of the Irish brigade...

who fell on this very field today.

General Gregg.

General Jackson.

I wish to apologise...

for the differences we had.

The doctor tells me you
have not long to live.

I ask you to dismiss this
matter from your mind...

and turn your thoughts to God...

and the world to which you go.

General...

you know that I'm not a believer.

Well, then I will believe
for the both of us.

How horrible is war.

Horrible, yes...

but we have been invaded.

Lord, what can we do?

Kill them, sir.

Kill every last man of them.

Gentlemen.

Oh, what I wouldn't give
for a cup of Rio just now.

20th Maine. Return fire.

- Return fire.
- Return fire.

Oh.

Patrick.

I hope you don't mind.

I know you're in heaven, but you
got work yet to do down here...

in this poor pitiless world.

- Colonel Chamberlain.
- Mm.

Your orders are to withdraw.
Withdraw to the city.

Colonel.

We are ordered to form
a picket line and

cover the Army's retreat
across the river.

Colonel Chamberlain,
did you hear me?

Yes, sir. We are to retreat, sir.

Captain Spear.

Form the regiment.
We're moving out.

Yes, sir.

Morning, General.

General Jackson would
like to report the

enemy is no longer in
front of his position.

Go on, Mr Pendleton.

General, the enemy has withdrawn
back across the river.

The pontoon bridges are gone,
sir, cut loose from their banks.

Major, summon General Longstreet.

I wanna know what's
down below us here and

I do not wish to wait
for the fog to lift.

Yes, sir.

Captain Pendleton, you may
return to General Jackson.

Express my appreciation
for his diligence...

and remind him we do not
wish to give the enemy...

an opportunity by
exposing our troops

to those guns on Stafford Heights.

When the fog lifts, any
advance will surely

receive a concentration
of his artillery fire.

Yes, sir.

And, Captain, I'm told you
received a wound to your thigh.

I trust it's not serious.

Thank you for asking, General.

It's just a flesh wound.

Nothing serious at all.

Yankees.

Everywhere.

Where you all been? Can't find
my own house. Gone. Gone.

What you all done with my house?

Where is it? Can you
all tell me that?

Well, can you? Can you?

20th Maine, halt.

You had a hard chance, Colonel.

I'm glad to see you out of there.

It was chance, General.

Not much intelligent design there.

God knows it wasn't I
that put you in there.

That was the trouble. You
should have put us in, sir.

We were handed in piecemeal,
on toasting forks.

♪ Steal away ♪

♪ Steal away ♪

♪ Steal away to Jesus ♪

♪ Steal away ♪

♪ Steal away home ♪

♪ I ain't got long ♪

♪ To stay here ♪

What you gonna do now
that your master's dead?

Done already told
you he my boss...

not my master.

Well, one way or the
other, he gone now.

Ain't much left for
me here in Virginny.

My brother done run off with the
Yankees. He in Chambersburg now.

Up north in Pennsylvania.

You planning on
heading up that way?

Once I gets this body up to
his kin in Winchester...

I sees the way things is.

Well, it's good for you your boss
got killed in the wintertime.

That's a long way to be
carrying a man in a pine box.

White folks be killing one
another for a while yet.

They're still plenty
mad, and plenty of them.

But this here Rebel...

give me my freedom papers.

He already with Jesus.

I'm just taking him home.

Amen.

"Men of the Army...

although you were not successful
in the recent battle...

the attempt was not an error, nor

the failure other
than an accident.

No soldiers in the annals
of war fought more bravely.

Condoling with the
mourners for the dead...

and sympathising with
the severely wounded...

I congratulate the Army that
the numbers of casualties...

have been comparatively so small."

Compared to what?

The Scots at Culloden? The
English at Bunker Hill?

The French at Waterloo?

"The thanks of the nation."

Signed: Abraham Lincoln.

Battalion.

Dismissed.

At this Christmas season, when the
good fairies are in the air...

we can hardly wonder at
the sudden miracle...

that has shown us
the Fredericksburg

affair in its true light...

and given us occasion for national
joy instead of national sorrow.

General Jackson?

Do you know what these
decorations signify?

I was wondering if
someone would tell me.

- This is Santa's sledge.
- I see.

And this is stuff made of candy.

This is a gingerbread snowflake.

And this is a paper
chain of angels.

Did you make this angel?

It's lovely.

- How old are you, Jane?
- I'm 5 years old.

- How old are you?
- I'm 38.

My father is 38. He's
a soldier like you.

I haven't seen him for
more than a year.

I've not met your
father, but I'm told

he's a very good
man, very brave man.

I'm sure he misses you as
much as I miss my daughter.

When did you last
see your daughter?

I've never seen her.

She was born just days ago.

I want to see her more than
anything in this world.

I want to see her as much as
your father wants to see you.

You see that star at
the top of the tree?

The star of Bethlehem.

The star that showed the wise men

where they could
find the baby Jesus.

Mother says that star will show

Daddy how to find
his way back home.

Well, your mother's very
wise, very good person.

Your daddy will come home.

All the daddies will come home.

Oh, my.

Gentlemen, let us lift our
glasses to our Southern women...

without whose bravery
and fortitude...

without whose love, without whose
endurance and sacrifice...

not a man among us can
stay the course...

or defend the cause.

Hear, hear.

Hear, hear.

Now it's time for a carol.
Come up. Everybody must sing.

- Carols are my favourite.
- I can't sing.

Of course you can
sing, Mr Jackson.

You can breathe, can't you?

Just let your breath
flow gently over your

vocal chords and
nature does the rest.

♪ Silent night ♪

♪ Holy night ♪

Dearest Fanny:

The bugle has just sounded, 3rd
Brigade extinguish lights.

It makes me happy to think of you
and my dear little ones at home...

all nestled together.

I know that it is all
well and bright with

her whose sweet face
shines in my heart.

Come and let me kiss your
dear lips, precious wife.

Let our hearts worship together
God's love, and wisdom, and mercy.

Yes, all is well, well
with us, darling...

well if we can only meet at
last, as I pray God we may.

Hey, Billy Yank.

That's a mighty nice song.

I'm pleased you rind
it so agreeable.

I'd like it even more if I had
some coffee to wash it down.

- Want some baccy?
- Sure, Johnny.

Have you got a lame horse?

What do you be wanting to
trade for a lame horse?

Would you take General Burnside?

No. I guess I'll
keep the horse hide.

Come on, get your baccy.

Mr Smith, are you
aware that the Bible

gives models of official
battle reports?

- No, sir.
- Nevertheless, there are such.

Consider the narrative of Joshua's
battles with the Amalekites.

It has clearness and
modesty, brevity.

And it traces the victory to the
right source, the blessing of God.

Has it helped you with
your reports, sir?

Anybody home?

Afternoon, General Jackson.

What's this?

New recruits.

My mama helped me make these.

Mm? That's fine.

Left, right. Left, right.

Child, that hat is a
bit too large for you.

However...

there.

I believe that suits a young
girl better than an old soldier.

Mama's baking some biscuits.

You know, I was thinking
of walking over to

the big house for a
nice hot cup of tea.

And I would very much
like the company

of one beautiful little lady.

Yes, General Jackson, a
hot cup of chamomile.

Mr Smith, you may continue
writing the reports.

Consult first and second Samuel...

and first and second Kings.

They will be of help to you.

Shall we go?

Do you prefer butter
biscuits or sugar cookies?

Oh, my. I know your mother's
biscuits are first-rate.

Whoo.

Whoo.

Coward.

It's a fine thing for you
to call me a coward...

when you spend all my
salary on stockings.

Whoo.

The First Lady must look good if
her husband looks like a baboon.

You must be the
missing "link-oln."

I begin to wonder who
runs the White House.

And that's the long
and the short of it.

And now, my gallant friends...

my own dear beau will sing a verse
of his original creation...

and invites you to all
join in on the chorus.

"The Bonnie Blue Flag."

♪ We are a band of brothers
and native to the soil ♪

♪ Fighting for our liberty with ♪

♪ And when our rights
were threatened ♪

♪ The cry rose near and far ♪

♪ Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue
Flag that bears a single star ♪

♪ Hurrah, hurrah for
Southern rights, hurrah ♪

♪ Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue
Flag that bears a single star ♪

We owe you Texas boys a debt of

gratitude for putting
on these shows.

Colonel Patton, any man who can't
handle a guitar or a fiddle...

ain't fit to carry a musket.

♪ But now, when northern treachery
attempts our rights to mar ♪

♪ We hoist an high the Bonnie Blue
Flag that bears a single star ♪

♪ Hurrah, hurrah for
Southern rights, hurrah ♪

♪ Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue
Flag that bears a single star ♪

♪ Then here's to our confederacy,
strong we are and brave ♪

♪ Like patriots of old we'll
fight, our heritage to save ♪

♪ And rather than submit to
shame, to die we would prefer ♪

♪ So cheer for the Bonnie Blue
Flag that bears a single star ♪

♪ Hurrah, hurrah for
Southern rights, hurrah ♪

♪ Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue
Flag that bears a single star ♪

♪ Hurrah, hurrah for
Southern rights, hurrah ♪

♪ Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue
Flag that bears a single star ♪

Attention, battalions.

Halt.

Sergeant, keep these
men here for now.

Yes, sir.

Sir.

The men have rounded
up three deserters.

Establish the courts-martial.

Have them arraigned. See
they're given a fair hearing.

Yes, sir.

Yes?

Well, I thought that
you should know, sir.

They all belong to the
Stonewall brigade.

Do your duty, soldier.

Yes, sir.

Mr Pendleton, if they are
innocent, these men will go free.

But if they are found
guilty of desertion...

the courts-martial condemns
them to death. It must be so.

Yes, sir.

Of course, sir.

I'm not done yet.

Sandie.

If the Republicans
lose their little war,

they are voted out in
the next election...

and they return to
their homes in New

York or Massachusetts
or Illinois...

fat with their war profits.

If we lose, we lose our country.

We lose our independence.

We lose it all.

Our soldiers are brave.

They have endured hardships none
of them could ever have imagined.

Desertion is not a solitary crime.

It's a crime against the tens
of thousands of veterans...

who are huddled together in the
harsh cold of this winter.

Against all those who
have sacrificed.

Against all those who have fallen.

Against all the women
and the children we

have left alone to
fend for themselves.

I regard the crime
of desertion as a

sin against the Army of the Lord.

Duty is ours.

The consequences are God's.

I am a soldier in
the 4th Virginia.

And in the 4th
Virginia I will stay.

And if needs be, die.

The courts-martial of the
Army of Northern Virginia...

has found you guilty of desertion
and sentences you to death...

by firing squad.

Lieutenant, do your duty.

Detail, ready.

Aim.

Fire.

Recover, arm.

Morning, Lawrence.

- Any mail?
- No.

But I did manage to get my
hands on a New York Tribune.

What are they saying about us now?

Well, not much about us.

I mean, that is, this Army
here in Stoneman's Switch.

Sure are kicking up a fuss about

Lincoln's Emancipation
Proclamation.

Oh. Says here that enlistments
are down and desertions are up.

- Any grumbling among the men?
- Well, not in our regiment.

A few wonder out
loud why they should

be risking their lives
for the darkies.

Well, Tom, you know my position.

I signed up to preserve the Union.
The president did the right thing.

What's the use of
uniting the country

by force and leaving
slavery in place?

It sure riled up
those Johnny Rebs.

They'll think Lincoln incited the
slaves to rise against them.

Why shouldn't they?

Freeing the slaves
wasn't a war aim when

this began, but war
changes things.

- It sorts things out.
- Well, I don't know, Lawrence.

Not everybody feels the way
we do about the darkies.

Especially when it comes
to fighting and dying.

Tom.

Do me a favour.

Don't call me Lawrence and
don't call Negroes "darkies."

That's a patronising expression
from which we must free ourselves.

Come outside. I want to... I
want to show you something.

All these thousands of men.

Many of them not
much more than boys.

Each one of them
some mother's son.

Some sister's brother.
Some daughter's father.

Each one of them a
whole person, loved

and cherished in
some home far away.

Many of them will never return.

An army is power.

Its entire purpose
is to coerce others.

Now, this kind of power cannot be
used carelessly or recklessly.

This kind of power
can do great harm.

We have seen more suffering
than any man should ever see...

and if there is going
to be an end to it,

it must be an end that
justifies the cost.

Now, somewhere out there
is the Confederate Army.

They claim they are
fighting for their

independence, for their freedom.

Now, I cannot question
their integrity.

I believe they are wrong,
but I cannot question it.

But I do question a
system that defends its

own freedom while it
denies it to others.

To an entire race of men.

I will admit it, Tom, war is a
scourge. But so is slavery.

It is the systematic coercion of
one group of men over another.

It has been around since
the book of Genesis.

It exists in every
corner of the world.

But that's no excuse for
us to tolerate it here...

when we find it right before our
very eyes, in our own country.

As God is my witness,
there is no one

I hold in my heart
dearer than you.

But if your life or mine
is part of the price

to end this curse and
free the Negro...

then let God's will be done.

Oh, my, General, we do
appreciate the gift.

Where do you get all these lemons?

It's a kind providence
that provides kindly.

Miss Corbin, the Yankees have not

succeeded in cutting
our rail lines...

to the South.

Here is to the
sultry, balmy South.

And, Miss Corbin, here's
to your engagement.

May Sandie Pendleton
prove to be as

fine a husband as he is a soldier.

Hear, hear.

Mm.

Mm.

That's good, it's not too sweet.

May I have some more?

Sure.

Mrs Corbin.

Thank you for your
many kindnesses.

Our cause and our country
are in your debt.

I only regret, General,
that we could not do more.

You'll come visit us again
when this cruel war is oven?

I should like to say
goodbye to your

daughter. I shall
miss her very much.

Certainly, General. She's not
feeling very well today.

All of the children have come down
with the fever. Please, come in.

Well, now.

What's this?

How can I play with my friend if
she insists on staying in bed?

Jane.

Will you place this angel on
your tree next Christmas?

Bless you, child.

Mrs Corbin, I must
return to my men.

My physician, Doctor
McGuire, will attend to her.

- I will send him directly.
- Bless you, General.

Fresh meat. What a change.

Yeah. A live steer
around these parts is

as rare as a peacock
in a poultry pen.

It was scarlet fever.

The children are all right.
They'll be fine. Except...

I'm so sorry, sir.

The little girl, Jane.

She did not survive.
She died, sir.

No, Sandie.

What is it?

He's never cried before.

Not for all the blood
and all the death,

not for his young
students from VMI...

not for his friends...

not for anyone.

Not so, Sandie.

I think he is crying for them all.

She's too pretty to look like me.

Nonsense, Thomas.

She is very like you.

She rises early and she loves
to be field in my arms.

I have never seen you
look so well, Thomas.

You are handsomer than ever.

And grant that this child now
to be baptised therein...

may receive the fullness
of thy grace...

and ever remain the number
of thy faithful children.

Through Jesus Christ,
our Lord. Amen.

Amen.

What is the Christian
name of the child?

- Julia Laura.
- Julia Laura.

I baptise thee in the
name of the Father...

and of the Son...

and of the Holy Ghost.

Amen.

Amen.

He won't agree.

Mr Minnis.

Would you tell him
that you were sent

to take General
Lee's photograph...

but that General Lee
declined unless

General Jackson's was taken first.

Certainly, Captain Pendleton.

No photographs.

Sir, I was sent from Richmond to

take a photograph
of General Lee...

but the General
decided that he did

not want his photograph taken...

until I had taken your
photograph first.

Sir, General Lee
was most insistent

on the importance
of your photograph.

I cannot refuse General
Lee's request.

Where do you wish me to stand?

Mr Booth is here the entire month.

He's playing in Hamlet,
Katherine and Petruchio...

The Merchant of Venice,
Richard III and Macbeth.

Which is your favourite,
Mr President?

I think nothing equals Macbeth.

I have read it many times.

I am curious to see
Mr Booth's rendition.

Indeed?

I am told Booth does the
death scene spectacularly.

Very physical. Wilder
than his brother Edwin.

That is one reproach I have
of Shakespeare's heroes.

What reproach is that, dear?

They all make long speeches
when they are killed.

They do indeed.

Is this a dagger which
I see before me...

handle towards my hand?

Come, let me clutch thee.

I have thee not, yet
I see thee still.

Art thou not, fatal vision,
sensible to feeling as to sight?

Or art thou but a
dagger of the mind...

a false creation...

proceeding from the
heat-oppressed brain?

I see thee yet.

In form as palpable as
this which now I draw.

Thou marshall'st me the
way that I was going...

and such an instrument
I was to use.

Mine eyes are made the
fools o' the other senses.

I see thee still

and on thy blade and dudgeon...

gouts of blood, which
was not so before.

It is the bloody business which
informs thus to mine eyes.

Whiles I threat...

he lives.

Words to the heat of deeds
too cold breath gives.

I go, and it is done.

The bell invites me.

Hear it not, Duncan...

for it is a knell that
summons thee to heaven...

or to hell.

Well, Mr Booth, another triumph.

The president and Mrs
Lincoln wish to see you.

You may tell that tyrant...

that destroyer of
civil liberties...

that warmonger...

that I am indisposed. Huh?

Better still, tell him nothing.

Tell him I'd already gone.

Golly gee, Booth.

An endorsement from the
President of the United States.

Could be a big thing
for your career.

General, from what
we've observed...

Hooker has moved five
corps, maybe 70,000 men.

They're digging in around
Chancellor's mansion.

Sedgwick has another 40,000 spread
out along the Stafford Heights...

on the north bank of
the Rappahannock in

front of General Early
at Fredericksburg.

Now, there's possibly 30,000 more

back along the river
north of here...

that we've not yet located.

We're not in a position
of strength here.

We owe a great deal
to the unexplainable,

the mystery of General Hooker...

who's allowed us to
manoeuvre freely...

between two parts
of an army that's

more than twice our strength.

We do not yet understand his plan.

He may still plan a move
toward Gordonsville...

move around below us, cut
us off from Richmond.

And there's still
Sedgwick on the river.

Now Sedgwick shows no signs of
moving, but that could change.

They're anchored
against the river...

and their lines continue down
below Chancellorsville...

then curves along here.

We've observed their lines curving
out in these open clearings...

then extending on out to the west.

Then what, General? Do you know
where their right flank is?

No. Not yet. We must
know, We must know.

If he marches in that direction,
he could threaten our flank...

or be going toward Gordonsville
before we can react.

Out here, in the west, along
this turnpike, here...

their right flank's
in the air. It's

the one place they're
not digging in.

They're not expecting
any pressure there.

- Who's on their flank?
- 11th Corps. Oliver Howard.

Were there any roads farther
down below the turnpike?

Yes, sir. Indeed there
are, good roads.

That's Catherine's Furnace
here and there's a road here.

- There's a road over this way.
- Then, we must hit them there.

Then attack the flank. They
will have nowhere to go.

They'll have to go back across the
river or we will destroy them.

We're too close to their lines.
They'll observe our movements.

There must be another
road farther down.

Now, is there someone we know?

Someone we can trust
who knows the area?

Captain Pendleton. Find
Reverend Lacy for me.

I'm, here, sir.

This is my chaplain, the
Reverend Tucker Lacy.

He has family in this area.

General Lee.

Reverend, it would be very helpful

if you could find
us a safe route...

around the enemy.

Well, sir, there, I know a family.

The Wellfords. I
suggest a visit to

them. We may find
ourselves a guide.

Please go at once, Mr
Lacy. Find someone

who might show us how
we might proceed.

Yes, sir.

Then it has been decided, General.
This mission will be yours.

I would not have it any other way.

Where is General Jackson, Jim?

He done gone to see
his officers, sir.

How come that you
know so much about

what the General is thinking, Jim?

None of us do.

The General never tells
me nothing, sir.

But the way I knows is this:

The General say his
prayers twice a day...

morning and night.

But if he gets out of bed in the

night two or three
times to pray...

I just packs the haversack.

I know there's a move on hand
and hell to pay in the morning.

"Hell to pay in the morning."

Very amusing.

- Amusing.
- Yeah.

Yeah.

Wait.

There is another road.

It's a road that runs well
below the Federal lines.

The Wellford boy explained it
to me. He knows the route.

He will march with us to where
this road rejoins the turnpike...

then we turn to the east and
attack their right flank.

It is a greater
distance, perhaps 12

or 13 miles, but the
boys can do it.

They have never let us down.

Farewell, General.

How many troops will you require?

Five, General, my whole corps.

And what will you leave me?

Well, the divisions of
Anderson and McLaws.

You leave me 12,000 men
against Hooker's 70,000.

If Hooker pushes out
of his trenches...

he could destroy not only the
plan but possibly the Army.

And there's still
Sedgwick along the river.

How long will he sit staring
at Marye's Hill? How long?

We've divided the Army before.

We must retain the
advantage of surprise,

we must outflank the flankers.

We must beat them
at their own game.

Take your entire corps, General
Jackson, and destroy the enemy.

God be with you.

Boys, my days are numbered.

My time has come.

You can laugh, but
my time has come.

I got a 20-dollar
gold piece I carried

through the war and
a silver watch...

my daddy sent to me
through the lines,

Take them off me when I'm dead.

Give them to my Captain to give to
my daddy when he gets back home.

Here's my clothes and my blanket.
Anybody who wishes can have them.

My rations I do not
wish at all. My gun

and cartridge box I
expect to die with.

- Mr Smith.
- Sir.

Your instructions
to the ranks: There

is to be no noise,
I want no talking.

Stragglers will be
bayoneted, let the men know.

No muskets are to
be loaded until we

deploy for battle.
Secrecy, Mr Smith.

Everything depends upon
the element of surprise.

Sir, I'll convey the
orders. No stragglers.

- Reverend.
- May we bow our heads.

Dear Lord, heavenly Father,
you who know all things.

We face again a mighty
foe, a vast host.

An enemy more than
twice our number.

But you have taught us to
fear not, to trust in you.

When the Philistines
came before them,

the people of Israel
feared Goliath.

Their Army was in terror.

No one had the courage to stand
against the mighty warrior.

Then you brought forth
David, a mere boy.

And Saul armed David
with his armour...

and he put a helmet of
brass upon his head.

Also he armed him
with a coat of mail.

And David girded his sword upon
his armour and he assayed to go.

General Rodes, deploy
your men on either

side of the turnpike,
brigade front.

How soon will General
Colston's men be up?

We're right behind, General.

General Lee.

I hope as soon as
practicable to attack...

I trust that an ever
kind providence

will bless us with great success.

Take this to General Lee.

Well, General Rodes...

it appears the Virginia Military

Institute will be
heard from today.

Deploy your brigade.

Two hours of daylight left.
Are you ready, General Rodes?

You may move forward.

Fall back.

They're coming. Get your muskets.

Shoulder to shoulder.
Let's go, let's go.

Fall back.

Aim, fire.

Pull back and save yourself.

Fall back.

Fire. Fall back.

Into the trees, men. Fall back.

Into the trees.

Form a line. Form a line.

Form a line.

- Run. Run.
- Charge.

Press on.

Hold up right here. Aim. Fire.

Push on.

Push on.

Fire.

Fire.

Hell, that's hot. I knew you'd
be all right, you damn fool.

Oh, God.

Regroup.

- Stop running.
- Move into line.

Stay together.

My God. Give them the bayonet.

- Stop running.
- Stop running.

Stop running, soldier.

Stop running. Rally with me, men.

- Rally with me.
- Stop. Rally around the General.

We have stopped, sir. Can't
see. The lines are tangled.

We're mixed in with Rodes'
men. It's confusion, sir.

We need Hill to come up.
Hill's men can move on by us.

Tell General Colston he
must re-form his men.

Now I will strongly urge General
Hill to push forward hard.

We must not stop.
Let General Colston

know they will run
if we press them.

Yes, sir.

General Hill, you
must keep the men

moving. We must keep
the pressure up.

We have broken their flank. We can

crush them now if we
can cut them off.

We must not give them
time to get organised.

General, take your
division forward.

Press on north, move toward the

river, toward the
United States ford.

- We must not let them escape.
- It's late in the day, General.

- We don't know the ground.
- Boswell.

You will ride with General
Hill. You will find

a way through the woods
to the north-east.

You will find the rear
of the enemy's position.

Yes, sir.

We will cut them off, General.

They're digging in.
Must be Federal.

Sound carries at night,
they could be a ways off.

General, sir, we are beyond our

lines. This is no
place for you, sir.

You're right.

It cannot go the way I'd hoped.

It will have to be tomorrow.

Gentlemen, let us
return to the road.

Stop firing. You're
firing at your own men.

Hold it.

Hold your fire. These
are your own men here.

It's a lie. Pour into them, boys.

Cease fire. Cease fire.

General Hill, they're our men.

What have they done?

Who is this?

Oh, God, General.
Are you hurt badly?

I'm afraid I am, in my shoulder.

And here.

Get a litter. We
need a litter. Move.

Yes, sir.

We must leave here, General.

Here, take this. It'll help, sir.

I will try to keep this from
the knowledge of the troops.

Thank you, General.

The Yankees have set
up a battery not

a hundred yards. We must get away.

Ready? Lift. Careful now.

Move out. Ready, lift.

Fire.

Fire.

General. Lie quiet, or you
will most certainly be killed.

Let's go. Lift.

Move. Ready? Lift.

Doctor, good to see you.

I am hurt badly.

I fear I am dying.

Sir, I want you to drink this.

It's whiskey and morphine.

Your right hand is minor. The
ball lodged under the skin.

It's these other wounds.

I need to examine your arm.

And I'll administer chloroform
to make it painless.

If I should find that the
condition warrants amputation...

may I proceed at once?

I have complete faith
in you, Dr McGuire.

You must do to me whatever
you think necessary.

Breathe deeply, General.

What an infinite blessing.

Blessing.

Doesn't seem right that General
Jackson isn't hereto see this.

No, Major. It does not seem right
at all. But it is the will of God.

He's lost his left arm.
I've lost my right.

General?

How you feeling, sir?

Do not concern yourself about me.

But tell me, how are we faring?

General, the enemy's
gone across the river.

We secured the high ground
around Chancellorsville.

General Stuart did
well by you, sir.

And the Stonewall brigade...

right in the middle of it, sir.
"Remember Jackson," they shouted.

I heard that all day.

They were fighting for Stonewall.

Well, isn't that just like them.
They are a noble set of men.

That name, Stonewall, belongs
to the brigade, not to me.

I have the ball.

Dr McGuire allowed me to keep the

musket ball he took
from your hand.

It was a round, smooth bore.
It had to be one of ours.

I heard. They thought
I was asleep.

It could not be helped.
There's no blame in war.

We must all forgive.

Watch your step.

Mrs Jackson.

So am...?

Am I allowed to visit my
husband before he is buried?

Buried? He's...

Oh, my. No, no, no. This is
the body of Frank Paxton.

General Paxton is moving his
body back to Lexington.

Well, I knew Mr Paxton. General
Paxton, he's our neighbour.

His wife, she cried when he left.

I suppose she knew something
like this would happen.

Thank you.

I had to remove your husband's
left arm, patch his right hand.

He's healing well,
I'm very pleased.

But there is a new problem.

I do believe he is
developing pneumonia.

May I see him, doctor?

Well, certainly,
certainly. He's weak.

I've given him some
medicine to help him sleep.

He's in some pain
and the medication

makes him drift away.
He's in and out.

General, I have a treat for you.

Something you may
have been missing.

Another medicine?

Very well, doctor.

No, it's not mine, actually.

But it may do you some good.

Oh, oh, oh, so sweet.
Too much sugar.

Always the problem with
my wife's lemonade.

I'm so glad to see you
looking so bright.

No, no. You must be cheerful.

Let's not have a long face.

You know I like cheerfulness
and brightness in a sickroom.

Wifey.

My wife.

I know you would gladly
give your life for me...

but I am perfectly
resigned. Do not be sad.

I hope I may yet recover.

Pray for me.

But in your prayers,
never forget to

use the petition,
"Thy will be done."

I'm so glad you're here.
Your lemonade is delicious.

- It's not too sweet.
- Too much sugar.

I never told you that.

O, Caesar... Hence. Wilt
thou lift up Olympus?

Great Caesar...

Doth not Brutus bootless kneel?

Speak, hands, for me.

Et tu, Brute.

Then fall, Caesar.

Liberty. Freedom.

Tyranny is dead.

- Hello, Mrs Chamberlain.
- Hello.

- Thank you for staying.
- Thank you.

Come, you must meet
the other actors.

Mr Harrison, Mr
Booth, may I present

Colonel Chamberlain and his wife.

May I congratulate
you, all of you,

on a most moving interpretation.

This is only a play.

We've heard about you, Colonel...

and how you stood on the bridge of
the Rappahannock like Horatius...

as hundreds fled in
panic round you.

How can our playing
compare to what

you have seen, what you have done?

Well, remember, gentlemen, I
am not a soldier by nature.

I am a teacher of rhetoric...

and my master, as
yours, is Shakespeare.

And, did you enjoy the
play, Mrs Chamberlain?

Oh. Very much.

Mr Booth, tell me something.

Do you regard yourself
as the hero or

the villain of Shakespeare's play?

Well...

Well, an actor must always regard

himself as a hero,
Mrs Chamberlain...

even if that role
be no more than a

simple soldier who
only speaks one line.

Yes. It's for the
audience to decide

who is a hero and who is villain.

We merely play the
parts allotted to us.

How do you think of us,
Mrs Chamberlain...

Cinna and Brutus, as
heroes or villains?

Well...

noblest Roman of them all...

you cannot be villains
in Shakespeare's eyes...

though Dante makes you the
worst villains in the world...

after Judas Iscariot.

No, you are not villains
to Shakespeare...

but I wonder, are you heroes?

- Oh. I speak too much. I'm sorry.
- No, no, no.

My beloved husband has been given
a few days' furlough here...

and everything about these
days delights me utterly.

Do not expect me to
speak intelligently

about your play or anything else.

My eyes, my heart,
my whole being is

dancing uncontrollably with joy...

at being together with
the man that I love.

Thank you for enriching
my stay here

with those immortal
words. Thank you.

Come, Fanny. We must
leave the players

to rest after their exertions.

Good evening.

What a Caesar, Harrison.

What a Caesar.

Too young for Caesar. Henry V.

Yes, Henry V.

With that voice shouting,
"Once more into the breach."

Oh, yes. Henry V.

Teacher, not a soldier.

And a better actor
than either of us.

But he's chosen the right
role in the right play.

He'll be applauded long
after we're forgotten.

All we can do, Harrison, is
like I said to Mrs Chamberlain.

All we can do is play the
roles allotted to us.

Well, if a teacher of rhetoric can
become a soldier, so can an actor.

I've known for some time I
could not go on like this.

And now...

If the Yankee cause can
sway a man like that...

then we need every
man we can muster.

Booth, I'm quitting the
stage. I have to go.

I loathe, I detest his cause.

But were I to be killed
by a man like that...

I'd regard it an honour.

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

An honour.

You were always inclined
to melodrama, Harrison.

What makes you think you'll be a
better soldier than an actor?

Stay here.

Your place is here.

Why should we think what we do is
any less than what soldiers do?

We may be mere actors...

but think of the words
we help to keep alive.

Who will remember the names of...

Queen Elizabeth's Generals,
and politicians?

Who will ever forget...

the name...

Shakespeare?

Is that my sweet darling angel?

My Julia.

Is it certain, doctor?

Does he know?

I have not told him.

Then I will.

He must know.

He must be prepared.

♪ Guard us, guide us ♪

♪ Keep us, feed us ♪

♪ For we have no help but thee ♪

♪ Yet possessing every blessing ♪

♪ If our God our father be ♪

My darling...

today is Sunday.

Do you know that the doctor says
you must very soon be in heaven?

Do you not feel willing
to acquiesce in God's

allotment if he wills
you to go today?

I prefer it.

I prefer it.

Well...

by the time this day closes...

you will be with the blessed
Saviour in his glory.

I will be an infinite
gainer to be translated.

General Lee.

What is the news, Reverend?

General Lee, I must report that
his case appears hopeless.

His wounds are healing, but
he's dying of pneumonia.

Surely General Jackson
must recover.

God will not take him from us, not
now that we need him so very much.

Will you see him, sir?

No, sir, I won't. No, sir.

When you return, I trust
you'll find him better.

And when the occasion
offers, tell him

that I prayed for
him last night...

as I never prayed, I
believe, for myself.

Please tell him.

Please tell him.

Sir.

Push up that column.

Move up that column.

Pendleton, take charge of
that line. Where's Smith?

Tell him. Push up that column.

Move the batteries
to the centre of

the crest. There's
no time to waste.

General Stuart, no quarter to the

violators of our
homes and hearths.

General Lee, we must take
the war to the enemy.

You are the 1st Brigade.

Advance, my brave boys.

Press on.

Press on.

Let us cross over the river...

and rest under the
shade of the trees.