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Gettysburg (film)

1993 film by Ronald F. Maxwell

Gettysburg is a 1993 film based on the novel The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara, depicting the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863. It was followed up by the prequel film Gods and Generals in 2003.

Directed and written by Ronald F. Maxwell.
Same Land. Same God. Different Dreams.

Taglines

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  • Same Land. Same God. Different Dreams.
  • Fate made them soldiers. War made them brothers. Courage made them Heroes.

Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain

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  • [repeated line, to his brother Thomas] Don't call me Lawrence.
  • [tells Thomas to move back from him when a shell explodes near them] Another close one and it could be a hard day for Mother.
  • Gentlemen. We are the flank.
  • Hold to the last. To the last what? Exercise in rhetoric. Last shell? Last man? Last foot of ground? Last Reb?
  • Mutiny. I thought that was a word for the navy.
  • It doesn't make sense; hold a gun on a man to get him to fight.
  • [examining his sword scabbard which was hit by a bullet and bent badly] I'll be damned.
  • You men gather round. I've been talking with, uh, Pvt. Bucklin, he's told me about your problem. There's nothing I can do today. We'll be moving out in a few minutes, we'll be moving all day. I've been ordered to take you men with me. I'm told that, uh, that if you don't come, I can shoot you. Well, you know I won't do that. Maybe somebody else will, but I won't, so, that's that. Uh here's the, uh, situation. The whole Reb army is up that road a ways, waitin' for us, so this is no time for an argument like this, I tell ya. We could surely use you fellas, we're now well below half strength. Whether you fight, or not, that's...that's up to you. Whether you come along is, is...well, you're comin'. You know who we are and what we're doing here, but if you want to fight along side us, there's some things I want you to know. This regiment was formed last summer in Maine. There were a thousand of us then. There are less than three hundred of us now. All of us volunteered to fight for the Union, just as you did. Some came mainly because we were bored at home, thought this looked like it might be fun. Some came because we were ashamed not to. Many of us came because it was the right thing to do. All of us have seen men die. This is a different kind of army. If you look back through history, you will see men fighting for pay, for women, for some other kind of loot. They fight for land, power, because a king leads them or, or just because they like killing. But we are here for something new. This has not happened much in the history of the world. We are an army out to set other men free. America should be free ground - all of it. Not divided by a line between slave state and free, all the way from here to the Pacific Ocean. No man has to bow. No man born to royalty. Here, we judge you by what you do, not by who your father was. Here, you can be something. Here, is the place to build a home. But it's not the land. There's always more land. It's the idea that we all have value - you and me. What we're fighting for, in the end, we're fighting for each other. Sorry, I, uh, didn't mean to preach. You, uh, you go ahead. You talk for awhile. Uh, if you, uh, if you choose to join us, you want your muskets back, you can have 'em. Nothing more will be said by anybody anywhere. If you, uh, choose not to join us, well you can come along under guard, and when this is all over I will do what I can to see you get a fair treatment. But for now, we're moving out. Gentlemen, I think if we lose this fight, we lose the war. So if you choose to join us, I'll be personally very grateful.
  • We can't run away. If we stay here we can't shoot. So lets fix bayonets.

Gen. Robert E. Lee

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  • It's my fault.
  • [thinking] In the morning is the great battle. Tomorrow or the next day will determine the war. Virginia is here. All the South is here. What will you do tomorrow? In the morning the enemy will be up in fortified positions on high ground. Longstreet's corps will be coming up and my boys will be ready to finish the job. If I tell them to withdraw now? No, sir. They've been patient for far too long. With the enemy out there up on the hill, they'll be ready to finish the job. But I don't even know how much is up there. How many men? How many cannon? I don't know the ground or the flanks. I don't know. If I wait in the morning, the early morning, maybe Meade, under pressure, will attack. That would make General Longstreet very happy. But I don't think Meade will come down. And I don't think I can withdraw, so, God's will, thy will be done.
  • [to Longstreet, on the nature of the army] Soldiering has one great trap. To be a good soldier, you must love the army. To be a good commander, you must be willing to order the death of the thing you love. We do not fear our own death, you and I. But there comes a time...we are never quite prepared for so many to die. Oh, we do expect the occasional empty chair, the salute to fallen comrades. But this war goes on, and the men die, and the price gets ever higher. We are prepared to lose some of us, but we are never prepared to lose all of us. And there is the great trap, General: When you attack, you must hold nothing back. You must commit yourself totally. We are adrift here in a sea of blood, and I want it to end. I want this to be the final battle.
  • They will break in the center. Those people will be gaining men from all directions, guns by the thousands. And Richmond has nothing left to send us. So if we stay, we fight. If we retreat now, we will have fought here for two days, and will leave knowing we could not drive them off. And I have never yet left the enemy in command of the field. No Sir. Retreat is no longer an option.
  • [just before Pickett's Charge] With General Longstreet in command, my old war horse, meeting the enemy face to face on ground of his own choosing, and with honour, we will prevail!
  • They do not die for us. Not for us. That at least is a blessing. If this war goes on, and it will...it will...what else can we do but go on, you and I? It's always the same question forever. What else can we do? If they fight, we must fight with them. And does it matter after all who wins? Was that ever really the question?
  • Major, this Army will conduct itself properly and with respect to all civilian population at all times. And you will personally report to me any infraction no matter how minor or trivial they may appear.

Lt. Gen. James Longstreet

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  • I don't like going in without Pickett. It's like going in with one boot off. I'll wait as long as I can before sending my boys in.
  • We should've freed the slaves, then fired on Fort Sumter.
  • I guess we Southerners and you English have at least one thing in common. We'd rather lose the war than admit to the mistake.
  • If they get batteries up there, we're gonna need buckets to catch the lead.
  • Place the guns! Bring up the guns!
  • I must tell you now, I believe this attack will fail. No fifteen thousand men, ever made, can take that ridge.
  • [to his spy, Harrison, just before Pickett's Charge] You know what's gonna happen? I'll tell you what's gonna happen. Troops are now forming behind the line of trees. When they come out, they'll be under enemy long-range artillery fire. Solid shot. Percussion. Every gun they have. Troops will come out under fire with more than a mile to walk. And still, within the open field, among the range of aimed muskets. They'll be slowed by that fence out there, and the formation - what's left of it - will begin to come apart. When they cross that road, they'll be under short-range artillery. Canister fire. Thousands of little bits of shrapnel wiping the holes in the lines. If they get to the wall without breaking up, there won't be many left. A mathematical equation...But maybe, just maybe, our own artillery will break up their defenses. There's always that hope. [sighs] But that's Hancock out there, and he ain't gonna run. So it's mathematical after all. If they get to that road, or beyond it, we'll suffer over fifty percent casualties. But, Harrison...I don't believe my boys will reach that wall.

Brig. Gen. Lewis Armistead

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  • [to Col. Fremantle, on the irony of his uncle defending the original "Star Spangled Banner" at Ft. McHenry in 1814] Colonel Fremantle, it does not begin or end with my uncle, or myself. We're all sons of Virginia here. That major out there, commanding the cannon - that's James Dearing, first in his class at West Point, before Virginia seceded. And the boy over there with the color guard - that's Private Robert Tyler Jones. His grandfather was President of the United States. The colonel behind me - that's Colonel William Aylett. Now, his great-grandfather was the Virginian, Patrick Henry. It was Patrick Henry who said to your King George III, "Give me liberty, or give me death." There are boys here from Norfolk, Portsmouth, small hamlets along the James River...from Charlottesville and Fredericksburg, to the Shenandoah Valley. Mostly, they're all veteran soldiers now; the cowards and shirkers are long gone. Every man here knows his duty. They would make this charge, even without an officer to lead them. They know the gravity of the situation, and the mettle of their foe. They know that this day's work will be desperate and deadly. They know, that for many of them, this will be their last charge. But not one of them needs to be told what is expected of him. They're all willing to make the supreme sacrifice - to achieve victory, here...the crowning victory...and the end of this war. We are all here, Colonel. You may tell them, when you return to your country, that all Virginia was here on this day.
  • Father, into Your hands, I commend my spirit.
  • Virginians! Virginians! For your lands! For your homes! For your sweethearts! For your wives! For...Virginia! Forward...march!
  • [reaches the fence, noticing a soldier cowering nearby] Come on, boy, come on! What will you think of yourself tomorrow? Virginians! Virginians! [impales his hat on his sword] We'll stay! Who will come with me?!
  • The day is ours, men! Turn the cannons on them! Turn the cannons! [jumps off the stone wall and places his hand on a cannon] Man this cannon! Man this cannon!
  • [last words] Will you tell General Hancock that General Armistead sends his regrets? Will you tell him how very sorry I am?

Maj. Gen. George Pickett

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  • Hello, my bully boys! Virginia has arrived!
  • You know I consider it unbecomin' to a soldier, all this booklearnin'.
  • For the glory of Virginia, form your brigade.
  • Up, men! Up! And to your posts! And let no man forget today that you are from old Virginia!
  • [as Armistead leads the charge to the stone wall] That's the style, Lo! [raises his hat in the air] THAT'S THE STYLE!!
  • [as smoke obscures the charge] What's happenin'? I can't see what's happenin' to my boys. WHAT'S HAPPENIN' TO MY BOYS?!
  • [responding to an order to form a defensive position after his division has been slaughtered] General Lee, I have no division.

Brig. Gen. John Buford

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  • [to Col. Devin, one of his brigade commanders] You know what's gonna happen here in the morning? The whole damn rebel army's gonna be here. They'll move through this town, occupy these hills on the other side. When our people get here, Lee'll have the high ground, and there'll be the devil to pay. The high ground! Meade will come in slowly, cautiously, new to command. They'll be on his back from Washington, wires hot with messages: "Attack! Attack!" So he will set up a ring around these hills, and when Lee's army is all nicely entrenched behind fat rocks on the high ground, Meade'll finally attack, if he can coordinate the army. Straight up the hillside, out in the open, in that gorgeous field of fire. We will charge valiantly, and be butchered valiantly! Afterwards, men in tall hats and gold watch-fobs will thump their chests and say what a brave charge it was. [sighs] Devin, I've led a soldier's life. I've never seen anything as brutally clear as this. It's as if I can actually see the blue troops in one long, bloody moment, going up the long slope to the stony top, as if it were already done, and already a memory. Odd, set, stony quality to it, as if tomorrow's already happened and there's nothing you can do about it. Way you sometimes feel before an ill-considered attack, knowing it'll fail, but you cannot stop it! You must even take part, and help it fail!
  • [observing the initial attack of the Confederates against his men] Got one brigade in position and that's all. We've got the best damn ground around and they're hitting me with one brigade. Lovely. Lovely! [turns around, looking for a sign of Gen. Reynolds, sees none] Damn it.

Other

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  • Narrator: In June 1863, after more than two years of bloody conflict, the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, Robert E. Lee commanding, slips across the Potomac to begin the invasion of the North. It is an army of 70,000 men. They move slowly behind the Blue Ridge using the mountains to screen their movements. Their objective is to draw the Union army out into the open where it can be destroyed. Late in June, the Union Army of the Potomac, 80,000 men, turns north from Virginia to begin the great pursuit up the narrow roads across Maryland and into Pennsylvania. General Lee knows that a letter has been prepared by the Southern government; a letter which offers peace. It is to be placed on the desk of Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, the day after Lee has destroyed the Army of the Potomac somewhere north of Washington.
  • Maj. Gen. Harry Heth: It started out as a minor scrap with a few militia, the next thing I know, I'm tangled with half the Union Army!
  • Cpl. Glazier Estabrook: Colonel, sir. You know who this 2nd Maine man is? Dan Burns from Orono. I know his daddy, the preacher. Best darn cusser I've ever heard. Knows more fine swear words than any man in Maine.
  • Lt. Col. Arthur Fremantle: You call yourselves Americans, but you're really just transplanted Englishmen.
  • Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock: There are times when a corps commander's life does not count.
  • Maj. Gen. Isaac Trimble: [to Lee, after the first day] Sir, I said to General Ewell these words. I said to him: "Sir, give me one division and I will take that hill." He said nothing. He just stood there and stared at me. I said, "General Ewell, give me one brigade and I will take that hill." I was becoming disturbed, sir. And General Ewell put his arms behind him and blinked. So I said, "General, give me one regiment and I will take that hill." And he said nothing! He just stood there! I threw down my sword. Down on the ground in front of him. We could have done it, sir. A blind man should have seen it. Now they're working up there. You can hear the axes of the federal troops. And so in the morning many a good boy will die...taking that hill. Sir, I must request another assignment.
  • Maj. Gen. John Reynolds: [last words] Forward, for God's sake, forward!
  • Col. Strong Vincent: You are the extreme left of the Union Army. Understood? The line runs all the way from here back to Cemetery Hill. But it ends here. You cannot withdraw under any condition. If you go this line will be flanked. If you go, the enemy will sweep up over the hillside and take this entire army from the rear. You must defend this place to the last.
  • 2nd Maine Soldier: No man will call me a coward.
  • 2nd Maine soldier: [shoots a Confederate soldier] I got me one. I got me a Reb.
  • Young Marylander: [the only line spoken by a female in the entire film] I thought the war was in Virginia.
  • Cpt. TJ Goree: [to Gen. Longstreet] No good trying to get yourself killed, General. The Lord'll come for you in his own good time.

Dialogue

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Pvt. Buster Kilrain: Colonel? Colonel, darlin'. Rise up, me bucko. [Chamberlain groans] Oh, I'm sorry, darlin', but we've got a bit of a problem here, Colonel, would ye like to hear about it? Would ye wake up, sir? We got a whole company comin', sir. This way. I'll give ye time to wake up, but we've got quite a problem. Altogether, 120 men are comin'. We're to be havin' them as guests.
Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain: [still half asleep] What?
Pvt. Buster Kilrain: Yeah. Should be here any minute.
Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain: Who?
Pvt. Buster Kilrain: Mutineers. Mutineers, Colonel, me lad. 120 men from the old 2nd Maine which has been disbanded.
Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain: 120 mutineers? [gestures for Kilrain to keep talking]
Pvt. Buster Kilrain: Yes, sir. Ye see, what happened was the enlistment papers on the old 2nd Maine run out. So they were sent home. All except these 120 fellows who'd foolishly signed 3-year papers. 3 years, that is. So these poor fellows, they got one more year to serve, only, you see, they thought they was signin' to fight only with the 2nd Maine and the 2nd Maine only. So, they, uh, quit. They resigned, ye see. 120 men! [Chamberlain puts his head down] Colonel? Are ye all right?
Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain: Yeah.
Pvt. Buster Kilrain: Well, the point is, sir, these Maine fellows; they won't fight no more. And nobody can send them home and nobody knows what to do with them. Til they thought of us. Being as we are the only other Maine regiment in the Fifth Corps. So they've been assigned to us. Yes, sir. I've a message here from the new commanding general. George Meade, sir, that's right! Our very own general of our very own corps has been promoted to command of the whole army. The latest, if ye keep track of them as they go by. [pulls out message, reads] The message says, uh, they'll be arrivin' this mornin', and they're to join us, oh, and if they refuse to follow orders, please feel free to shoot 'em.
Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain: To...To shoot 'em?
Pvt. Buster Kilrain: Yes, sir.
Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain: These are...Maine men?
Pvt. Buster Kilrain: [nods] Mm-hm.
Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain: [takes the note, reads] "You are hereby authorized to shoot any man who refuses to do his duty." Buster, are these all Maine men?
Pvt. Buster Kilrain: Yes, sir, and fine big fellows they are, too.
Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain: [sighs] Mutiny. I thought that was a word for the navy.
Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain: What's your name?
Pvt. Joseph Bucklin: I don't feel too kindly, Colonel.
Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain: Yes, well, I'm not usually this informal. I just, uh, just took command of this regiment a few days ago, so somebody ought to welcome you to my, uh - to our outfit. They, uh, they tell me that, uh, they're holding you fellas because you signed 3-year papers - I'm sorry, would you like some coffee? [Bucklin shakes his head] You sure? Go ahead, sit down, Mister...
Pvt. Joseph Bucklin: Bucklin.
Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain: Bucklin.
Pvt. Joseph Bucklin: Joseph Bucklin. Listen, Colonel, I've been in eleven different engagements. How many have you been in?
Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain: Not that many.
Pvt. Joseph Bucklin: It ain't the papers. I done my share. We all have. Damn good men. Should not to be used this way. Lookee here. [pulls up his pants leg to reveal a bullet wound scar] Went clean through.
Pvt. Buster Kilrain: [walks up] Colonel, we got a courier comin'. [walks off]
Pvt. Joseph Bucklin: Listen, Colonel, I'm tired. You know what I mean? I'm tired. I've had all this army, and all these officers, this damn Hooker, this damn idiot Meade. All of them. The whole bloody, lousy rotten mess of sick-brained, potbellied scareheads that ain't fit to lead a johnny detail! They ain't fit to pour pee out of a boot with instructions written under the heel. I'm tired. We are good men and we had our own good flag. These damn idiots used us like we were cows or dogs or worse. We ain't gonna win this war. We can't win no-how with these lame-brain bastards from West Point. These damn gentlemen, these officers!
Lt. Tom Chamberlain: One thing about this brigade is we got our own special bugle call. Ever hear tell of Dan Butterfield?
2nd Maine Soldier: What, General Butterfield? What was with Hooker?
Lt. Tom Chamberlain: That's the same fellow. See, he used to be our brigade commander.
2nd Maine Soldier: Yeah, he was a pistol. No man like him for having a good time.
Lt. Tom Chamberlain: I don't know about that. But I know he used to like to write bugle calls. The problem with this army is, we got too many calls. We got a call for artillery, infantry, get up and eat, retreat. Anyway, old Butterfield, he wrote a special call for this here brigade. Say there is an order for this brigade, you and me. Some blame fool'll be blowing his bugle, we will think that order's for us when it wasn't. We'll follow that order anyway, and then we'll look around and we'll be in a world of hurt.
2nd Maine Soldier: Yeah, that happened to me once. Us, that is. Half the regiment charged, the other half retreated. You had your choice.
Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain: Tell me something, Buster. What do you think of Negroes?
Pvt. Buster Kilrain: Well, if you mean the race, I don't really know. This is not a thing to be ashamed of. The thing is, you cannot judge a race. Any man who judges by the group is a pea-wit. You take men one at a time.
Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain: To me, there was never any difference.
Pvt. Buster Kilrain: None at all?
Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain: None at all. Of course, I haven't known that many freed men, but those I knew in Bangor, Portland, you look in the eye, there was a man. There was a "divine spark," as my mother used to call it. That is all there is to it. Races are men. "What a piece of work is man. How infinite in faculties, in form and moving. How express and admirable. In action, how like an angel."
Pvt. Buster Kilrain: Well, if he's an angel, all right then. But he damn well must be a killer angel. Colonel, darling, you're a lovely man. I see a great vast difference between us, yet I admire you, lad. You're an idealist, praise be. The truth is, Colonel, there is no "divine spark." There's many a man alive no more of value than a dead dog. Believe me. When you've seen them hang each other the way I have back in the Old Country. Equality? What I'm fighting for is the right to prove I'm a better man than many of them. Where have you seen this "divine spark" in operation, Colonel? Where have you noted this magnificent equality? No two things on earth are equal or have an equal chance. Not a leaf, not a tree. There's many a man worse than me, and some better, but I don't think race or country matters a damn. What matters, Colonel, is justice. Which is why I'm here. I'll be treated as I deserve. Not as my father deserved. I'm Kilrain, and I damn all gentlemen. There is only one aristocracy, and that is right here. [taps his temple] And that's why we've got to win this war.
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet: Good Lord, George, what is that smell?
Maj. Gen. George Pickett: That's me. Ain't it lovely?
Brig. Gen. Lewis Armistead: He got it off a dead Frenchman.
Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain: Sergeant Owen, let's get these fellows some muskets.
Sgt. Owen: There are no muskets, sir.
Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain: [to 2nd Maine men] You just wait here for a bit. There'll be guns available in a little while.
Lt. Thomas Chamberlain: The boys from the 2nd Maine are being fed, Lawrence.
Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain: Ye - Don't call me Lawrence.
Lt. Thomas Chamberlain: Darn it, Lawrence, I'm your brother.
Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain: Well, just be careful about the name business in front of the men, alright? Just because you're my brother - It looks like favoritism.
Lt. Thomas Chamberlain: God Almighty, General Meade's got his own son as his aide-de-camp.
Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain: Well, that's different. Generals can do anything. Nothing quite so much like God on Earth as a general on a battlefield.
Lt. Thomas Chamberlain: Well, what are you gonna do with 'em, huh, sir? Colonel, sir. You can't shoot 'em, you'll never go back to Maine if you do that.
Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain: I know that, I know that. I wonder if they do.
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet: You English had your own civil war once, didn't you?
Lt. Col. Arthur Fremantle: Oh, that was ages ago. Wouldn't dream of it now. Cavaliers and Roundheads. "Off with his head, off with his head!" Heads lying about everywhere. One could hardly take a step without tripping over a fallen crown. We're much more civilized now, I assure you.
Lt. Col. Arthur Fremantle: We have so much in common, your country and mine. I earnestly hope that we shall become allies.
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet: Your government will never ally itself with a Confederacy that had the institution of slavery. You know that, and so do I. We should've freed the slaves, then fired on Fort Sumter. I guess we Southerners and you English have at least one thing in common: We'd rather lose the war than admit to the mistake. We whopped you British twice, as I recollect.
Lt. Col. Arthur Fremantle: [Chuckles] Your candor is admirable, if not somewhat eccentric.
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet: I've got some night work for you. Are you up for it?
Harrison: "All the world will be in love with night, and pay no worship to the garish sun!"
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet: When this is over, I do look forward to seeing you on the stage.
General Robert E. Lee: General Ewell, I had hoped that after moving through the town, you would've taken that hill.
Lt. Gen. Richard Ewell: I didn't think it was practical. Well, for many reasons. We'd marched all day, and we'd fought. And your orders were to caution against bringing on a general engagement.
Maj. Gen. Jubal Early: There were reports of Federal troops in the north, sir. We couldn't bring sufficient artillery to bear on that hill. We decided it was best to wait for another of our divisions, Johnson's.
Lt. Gen. Richard Ewell: Yes, sir. Johnson didn't arrive till after dark, just a while ago. He's out there now, looking over the terrain.
General Robert E. Lee: General Early, do you think you can attack on your flank in the morning?
Maj. Gen. Jubal Early: [sighs] That hill will be a very strong position once it's fortified, which is what they're doing right now, sir.
General Robert E. Lee: I am very much aware of that, General.
Maj. Gen. Jubal Early: Have you looked over the ground yourself, sir?
General Robert E. Lee: From a distance only.
Maj. Gen. Jubal Early: I do not think we should attack this point. This will be the strong point. Our troops have marched hard and fought hard toady. I suggest we hold here while the rest of the army attacks the other flank.
General Robert E. Lee: Do you think an attack on your flank will succeed?
Maj. Gen. Jubal Early: I think it would be very costly.
Lt. Gen. Richard Ewell: Very costly, sir.
General Robert E. Lee: General Rodes?
Maj. Gen. Robert Rodes: We, uh, could attack of course, General, but the boys have had a good fight and that will be a strong position. General, I am sorry we didn't take that hill today.
General Robert E. Lee: Well, this day is done. You know, General Longstreet proposes that we move our army around to the right, and flank the Federal army, and interpose between Meade and Washington.
Lt. Gen. Richard Ewell: And to vacate this position? To leave this town we've just captured, sir?
General Robert E. Lee: This town is of no military significance whatsoever, General.
Maj. Gen. Jubal Early: To move this entire corps in the face of a fortified enemy?
General Robert E. Lee: And yet you tell me that you cannot attack in the morning? Gentlemen, if we do not withdraw and if we do not move in the face the enemy then we must attack. Is there any alternative? General Hill?
Lt. Gen. Ambrose P. Hill: No, sir.
General Robert E. Lee: Very well. I do thank you, gentlemen.
[Generals Early, Rodes, and Hill salute and leave. General Ewell remains to speak to Lee]
Lt. Gen. Richard Ewell: [clears throat] General...I believe I may have been too slow today. I regret that very much. I was trying to be careful. May have been too careful.
General Robert E. Lee: You won a victory this day, General. It was not a large victory. It could have been larger. Perhaps we could have pushed harder. But it was a victory nonetheless. And your people fought valiantly. This was your first campaign commanding a corps. Now you know it's not always as simple as it sometimes appears. Go and rest now for tomorrow.
Maj. Gen. John Bell Hood: General. Look here. The ground is strewn with boulders. The soldiers up there are entrenched all over the ground. And there are guns in the rocks. Every move I make is observed. If I attack as ordered, I lose half my division. And they'll still be looking down the throats at us from that rocky hill, right there. We must move around to the right, sir, and take them from the rear.
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet: Sam, the commanding general will not allow a flanking movement around those hills. I argued it yesterday, I argued it all morning, hell, I've been arguing against any attack at all. I can't call this one off. You know it.
Maj. Gen. John Bell Hood: Let me move move up the big round hill to the south. There's nobody on that. Now if I could get a battery up there...
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet: There ain't enough time. You'd have to cut down trees to place your artillery. It'd be dark before you were in action. On the other hand, if they get batteries up there, we're gonna need buckets to catch the lead. You've got to take that hill.
Maj. Gen. John Bell Hood: They don't even need guns to defend that. All they need to do is roll rocks down on you.
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet: Just take it.
Maj. Gen. John Bell Hood: General, I do this under protest.
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet: Sam, you are the best I got. Now, sir, if you are ready, why don't you take that hill?
Col. Strong Vincent: The whole reb army is down there, and coming up around our flanks. They could be here any minute. We've got to hold this place. We've got to hold it. Well, all right. I place you here. Put your colors here, and set your regiment to the left of this line. The rest of the brigade will form on your right. Understood?
Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain: Yes. Ellis, this is the point.
Cpt. Ellis Spear: Yes, sir.
Col. Strong Vincent: Now, your regiment is to the left of this point. Colonel, sir, you're the end of the line.
Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain: Yes.
Col. Strong Vincent: You're the extreme left of the Union army. Understood? The line runs all the way from here back to Cemetery Hill, but it ends here.
Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain: Understood.
Col. Strong Vincent: You cannot withdraw under any condition. If you go, this line will be flanked. If you go, the enemy will sweep up over the hillside and take this entire army from the rear. You must defend this place to the last.
Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain: Yes, sir.
Col. Strong Vincent: [shakes Chamberlain's hand] Now we'll see how professors fight.
Lt. Thomas Chamberlain: Hello, men. What outfit you with?
Confederate Prisoner: Archer's Brigade, Heth's Division.
Lt. Thomas Chamberlain: Where you from?
Confederate Prisoner: Tennessee. How 'bout you?
Lt. Thomas Chamberlain: Maine. I never been to Tennessee.
Confederate Prisoner: I reckon I never been to Maine neither.
Lt. Thomas Chamberlain: I don't mean no disrespect to you fightin' men. But sometimes I can't help but figure, why you fightin' this war?
Confederate Prisoner: Why you fightin' it?
Lt. Thomas Chamberlain: Well, to free the slaves, of course. And to preserve the Union.
Confederate Prisoner: I don't know about some other folk but I ain't fightin' for no darkies, one way or the other. I'm fightin' for my rights. All of us that's what we're fightin' for.
Lt. Thomas Chamberlain: For your what?
Confederate Prisoner: For our rights. Why is it you folks can't just live the way you want to live, and let us live the way we do? Live and let live, I hear some folks say. Be a mite less fuss and bother if more folks took it to heart.
Lt. Thomas Chamberlain: [nods slowly, considering the man's words] Where'd you get captured?
Confederate Prisoner: Railroad cut just west of Gettysburg town. Wasn't a pretty sight. Many a good boy lost a young and promising life. Some were blue, some were grey. Seen enough of this war?
Lt. Thomas Chamberlain: I guess I have.
Confederate Prisoner: I guess I have, too. It looks like I'm gonna be sittin' out the rest of it.
Lt. Thomas Chamberlain: [nods] Well, I appreciate you talkin' to me.
Confederate Prisoner: [salutes] See you in hell, Billy Yank.
Lt. Thomas Chamberlain: [salutes] See you in hell, Johnny Reb.
Brig. Gen. Lewis Armistead: Well, what do you hear about Sam Hood?
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet: May lose an arm.
Brig. Gen. Lewis Armistead: Dick Garnett ain't fit. Can't hardly walk. Thing is, if there's a fight, he can't stand to stay out of it. But if you ordered him to stay out of it...Huh. Don't suppose you could do that.
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet: Mm-mm.
Irish Tenor: [in the background] Kathleen Mavourneen, the gray dawn is breaking. The horn of the hunter is heard on the hill. The lark from the light... [continues song through conversation]
Lt. General James Longstreet: Mm-hmm. That boy can sing. That's "Kathleen Mavourneen".
Brig. Gen Lewis Armistead: [looks away, slightly husky voice] What do you hear about Hancock?
Lt. Gen James Longstreet: [lighting pipe] Ran into him today. He's out there, 'bout a mile or so. Just a mile or so. He was...tough. Very tough today.
Brig. Gen. Lewis Armistead: He's the best they got. God don't make 'em any better, and that's a fact. Well, I'd like to go over and see him as soon as I can. Last time I saw Win, we played that song, that very song. Back in California, we were all together for the last time. Before we broke up. Spring of '61. [pauses] Almira Hancock. You remember Almira, Hancock's wife? Beautiful woman. Most perfect woman I ever saw. They were a beautiful couple. Beautiful...Garnett was with me that night. A lot of fellows from the old outfit. People standin' around singin'. In the blue uniform. We were leavin', the next day. Some goin' North, some goin' South. Splittin' up. [looks up] A soldier's farewell. "Goodbye. Good luck. I'll see you in hell." [chuckles] You remember that? [sighs] Towards the end of the evening, we all sat around the piano. And Mira played that - that song there, that was the one she played. "May be for years, may be forever..." I'll never forget that. [laughs] You know how it was, Pete. [sits down, voice husky] Win was like a brother to me...Remember? [Longstreet nods] Towards the end of the evening... [shakes his head] things got a little rough. We all began to - Well, there were a lot of tears. [takes several shaky breaths] I went over to Hancock...I-I took him by the shoulder. I said, "Win...so help me...if I ever raise my hand against you...may God strike me dead!" [pauses, quickly wipes his eyes] I ain't seen him since. He was at Malvern Hill, White Oak Swamp, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg... [sighs] One of these days...I will see him, I'm afraid. Across that small, deadly space. I thought about sittin' this one out, but I can't do that. That wouldn't be right, either. [wipes his eyes again] I guess not. [nods] Thank you, Peter. I had to talk about that.
Lt. Gen James Longstreet: Yup.
Brig. Gen Lewis Armistead: [stands, turns slightly] Um, I'm sending Almira Hancock a small package to be opened in the event of my death. [takes package from coat, holds it towards Longstreet] You'll drop by and see her, after all this is over...Won't you, Pete? [Longstreet takes the package] Thank you.
Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart: You wish to see me, sir?
General Robert E. Lee: [nods and sighs] It is the opinion of some...excellent officers that you have let us all down.
Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart: [looking angry, voice raising] General Lee, sir, if you will please tell me who these gentlemen are...
General Robert E. Lee: [quietly but sharply] There will be none of that. There is no time.
Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart: Sir, I only ask that I be allowed to defend my...
General Robert E. Lee: [sharper, and louder] There is no time. [Stuart stares for a moment in stunned silence] General Stuart...your mission was to free this army from the enemy cavalry and report any movement by the enemy's main body. That mission was not fulfilled. You left here with no word of your movement, or movement of the enemy, for several days. Meanwhile, we were engaged here and drawn into battle without adequate knowledge of the enemy's strength or position, without knowledge of the ground. So it is only by God's grace that we did not meet disaster here.
Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart: General Lee, there were reasons...
General Robert E. Lee: [holds up his hand for silence] Perhaps you misunderstood my orders? Perhaps I did not make myself clear. Well, sir...this must be made very clear. You, sir, with your cavalry, are the eyes of this army. Without your cavalry, we are made blind. That has already happened once. It must never, never happen again.
Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart: [stares at the floor, then slowly draws his sword, holding it out] Sir...since I no longer hold the General's...
General Robert E. Lee: [pounds the table with his fist, suddenly furious] I have told you, there is no time for that! There is no time! [pauses, takes a deep breath, and calms down again] There is another fight comin' tomorrow, and we need you. We need every man, God knows. You must take what I have told you, and learn from it, as a man does. [takes Stuart's sword and replaces it in its scabbard] There has been a mistake. It will not happen again; I know your quality. You are one of the finest cavalry officers I have ever known, and your service to this army has been invaluable. Now...let us speak no more of this. [turns and slowly walks away; Stuart stares in silence for a moment; turns back to him] The matter is concluded. Good night, General.
Lt. Col. Edward Porter Alexander: The longer we delay, the more time the Federals have to strengthen their own line. And even if we recover more supplies from the ordnance trains, how much more damage can we inflict on them then they on us? They're bringing in fresh Batteries as quickly as we drive them off.
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet: Just get some more ammunition and keep it hot! I cannot send in Pickett's division, or the others, until we clear some of those guns off that ridge!
Maj. Gen. George Pickett: Well, sir, you are looking fine.
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet: Lookin' lovely yourself, George.
Maj. Gen. George Pickett: General...uh, no reflection on you, sir, but, well...you know, my division, my Virginia boys, we haven't seen all that much action for a long time. I mean, well, we weren't all that engaged at Fredericksburg; we missed Chancellorsville altogether, off on some piddlin' affair. Now they took two of my brigades, Corse and Jenkins, and sent them off to guard Richmond? I mean, Richmond, of all places? And now, sir, do you know where I have been placed in the line of march? Last, sir. That's where I am. Exactly last. I'm bringin' up the damn rear, beg pardon, sir. You see, my boys are beginning to feel a trifle disgusted at this attitude towards them as fightin' men. My boys-
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet: George...
Maj. Gen. George Pickett: Sir?
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet: Please.
Maj. Gen. George Pickett: Oh, I sure don't mean to imply you, sir. No. Hell no, sir. No, it's just, uh... well, the bureaucrats. See, I was just... I was hoping, sir, that you could talk to somebody about this arrangement of the troops.
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet: Would you like me to move the whole army to the side so you can go first?
Maj. Gen. George Pickett: Sir? [chuckles] Now that you mention it...
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet: There is no plot, George. It's just the way things fell out. I mean, hell, look at it this way. If the army has to turn around, fight its way back...well, you'll be first in line.
Maj. Gen. George Pickett: Yes...yes, I suppose that is true, isn't it? You understand, sir. It's just that this whole damn war might be over after one more bout, and my Virginia boys will have missed most of it.
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet: Yeah, I know. How far back are they?
Maj. Gen. George Pickett: Chambersburg. A hard day's march, sir.
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet: Mm-hmm...I know I can count on you, George, when the time comes. And it will come. It will come.
Brig. Gen. Lewis Armistead: [walks up] Sorry to butt in, but they're calling for George over at the poker table. Your fame, sir, has preceded you.
Maj. Gen. George Pickett: Well...thank you, General. [shakes Longstreet's hand] Well...cheerio, fellas.
Brig. Gen. Lewis Armistead: Don't forget to bring your money.
Lt. Thomas Chamberlain: Lawrence. I just got back from the hospital. Godawful mess. They got no room. They got no shade, they got men lyin' everywhere! They're cuttin' off arms and legs right out there on front of everybody. They oughta not do that in public, Lawrence. Men oughta have some privacy at a time like that.
Col Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain: You see Kilrain? [Thomas nods wordlessly] Well, how is he?
Lt. Thomas Chamberlain: [looks away] Well...Lawrence...he died. [takes off kepi] Yeah...He died this morning, before I got there. A couple of the fellows, they, they was with 'im. [looks at his brother] He said to tell you goodbye...And that he was sorry.
Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain: Yeah.
Lt. Thomas Chamberlain: [glances across the field for a moment] I tell you, Lawrence...I sure was fond of that man.
Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain: [forces a smile] Yeah.
[During Pickett's Charge, as Federal artillery and rifle fire begins to destroy the leading formations]
Brig. Gen. Lewis Armistead: What are you doing?!
Brig. Gen. James Kemper: You gotta come up Lo, you gotta come up and help us! Goddamn, they're flanking us! They're flanking us, they're coming down on the right, and they're firing right into us.
Brig. Gen. Lewis Armistead: Head for the trees! Head up for the center. I'll call for double quick, we'll go on double quick. Nobody waits, everybody goes! [Kemper rides back to the line as he addresses his Brigade] Boys! At the double quick!
Confederate Officers: Double quick!
Brig. Gen. Lewis Armistead: March!
Lt. Thomas Chamberlain: [to a wounded General Armistead, who has just been captured] Sir. Sir!
Brig. Gen. Lewis Armistead: Will you help me up, please?
Lt. Thomas Chamberlain: Sir, could you tell me what your name is? Who you are?
Brig. Gen. Lewis Armistead: I would like to speak to General Hancock. Do you know...where...General Hancock may be found?
Lt. Thomas Chamberlain: I'm sorry, sir. The general is down. He's been hit.
Brig. Gen. Lewis Armistead: No! Not both of us...not all of us! Please, God!
Lt. Thomas Chamberlain: Sir, sir, we're having a surgeon come as quickly as we can.
Brig. Gen. Lewis Armistead: Can you hear me, son?
Lt. Thomas Chamberlain: Yes, sir. I can hear you.
Brig. Gen. Lewis Armistead: Will you tell General Hancock...that General Armistead sends his regrets? Will you tell him...how...very sorry I am?
Lt. Thomas Chamberlain: I will tell him, sir. I will tell him.

Cast

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