"Dear Mother!" "I hope you are keeping well and not worrying too much about me." "You mustn't think that any of us are going to be killed." "For they're collecting such a force here that an attack would be insane." "The Massachusetts men passed through here this morning." "How grand it is to meet the men from all the states.." "..east and west, down here.." "..ready to fight for their country.." "..as the old fellows did in the revolution." "But this time we must make it a whole country.." ".. for all who live here, so that all can speak." "Before this war began.." "..many of my regiment had never seen a Negro." "But now the roads are choked with the dispossessed." "We fight for men and women whose poetry is not yet written.." "..but which will presently be as enviable and as renowned as any." "Last night we heard of yet another defeat.." "..but we are not disheartened." "I am honoured to be part of such a splendid company." "They have made me captain, of which I am enormously proud." "You would think it strange to see me giving orders to a hundred men.." "..most of whom are older than I am." "Thank you for sending my volume of Emerson." "His words come home to me like truth." ""A deep man, " he says, "believes that the evil eye can wither.." ".. that the heart's blessing can heal.." "..and that love can overcome all odds. "" "My dearest love to Father." "Your son, Robert." "Fire!" "Ready." "Forward!" "Fire!" "Steady, boys!" "Fire!" "Steady now." "Fire!" "Fire!" "Fire!" "Fire!" "Fire!" "Now fire!" "Steady boys." "Forward." "Fire!" "Fire." "For God's sake, come on!" "Fire!" "Fire!" "Robert, come on!" "We must fall back!" "Morse!" "You all right there, captain?" "Please!" "Not my leg!" "Where's the chloroform?" "Stop!" "No wait." "So it's the neck, right captain?" "Oh yeah." "The surgeons are all busy but I'll fix you." "Right enough." "Let me know if I hurt you." "It's nothing." "Heard the latest?" "What's that?" "Well, I had it from a friend who's a dispatch rider.." "..who got it from a friend of his.." "..who is one of Stanton's clerks in the War Office." "He says Lincoln's gonna issue an Emancipation Proclamation." "Gonna free the slaves." "What?" "Well, maybe not the ones in the Border States.." "..or something like that but he's going to free some of them anyway." "My God!" "Yeah." "Says he would've done it sooner only.." "..he was waiting on a big victory." "Which is, I guess what this is." "Oh, my God!" "Please don't cut anymore!" "Please!" "Please!" "This might hurt you, captain?" "I'm sorry." "Please." "Robert!" "Thomas!" "Captain Shaw. I was so proud when I heard." "They had no choice." "All the other officers are dead." "And Forbes?" "lmpossible as always." "He's around here somewhere." "How about you?" "Working for your father." "Helping him with the resettlement.." "..for the Freedman's Relief Association." "There's a shortage of housing." "Robert, are you all right?" "Yes." "It's all right." "Robert, darling, there's someone who wishes to meet you." "General Hunter rounded up a bunch of slaves from the fields.." "..called them contraband and put them in camps, like cattle." "Then the War Department decided.." "..to issue them pikes rather than guns." "Of course they deserted." "So would I." "Robert." "Governor, you know my son, Robert." " Yes." "lt's good to see you again, Robert." "Governor Andrew." "Robert, have you met Frederick Douglas?" "Mr. Douglas." "I understand you were at Antietam." " Yes." "A great and a terrible day." "I could use your help, Robert." "The governor's proposing to raise a regiment of Negro soldiers." "No, no, no it was not lust my idea." "Mr. Douglas has" "We'll offer pride and dignity to those who've known only degradation." "Coloured soldiers, Rob." "Just think of it!" "Wonde_ul." "I've submitted your name, Robert, to be commissioned.." "..colonel of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry." "Thank you, governor, that's.." "So wonde_ul idea." "Excuse me." "Well done, Shaw." " Bravo." " Well done." "Splendid iob, young man." "Bravo, Robert." "What's the matter, Chester?" "Too much punch?" "I mean, I know how much you'd like to be a colonel.." "..but a coloured regiment?" "You know how unpopular that would be.." "..handing out guns to a thousand coloureds?" "Hey, Robert, what's wrong?" "I'm going to do it." "You're not serious?" " Yeah." "I want you to come with me." "Me?" "And you?" "Can you picture me in charge of a regiment?" "Picture me in charge of anything?" "I would be honoured to have you." "Then you're an idiot." "Rob, is it true?" "There's to be a coloured regiment?" "So it seems." "Then I am your first volunteer." "Present arms!" "How do we look, colonel?" "We're gonna work for success?" "Hey, boss, when do we get the blue suit?" " Yeah, blue suit." "Ready to whup them Rebs." "When we gonna get to fight?" "Really don't need the backroom shine." "Attention!" "Attention!" "Good morning." "Morning." "Good morning, gentlemen." "I am Colonel Robert Gould Shaw." "I am your commanding officer." "It is a great pleasure to see you all here today." "It is my hope that the same courage.." "..spirit and honour.." "..which is brought us together.." "..will one day restore this union." "May God bless us all." "Form companies?" "We'll commence with forming companies." "Company officers, take charge.." "You recruits will report to your respective officers.." "..by the letter of your company in alphabetical order.." "..which is in the top Ieft-hand corner.." "..of your muster sheet." "Hey, there goes.." "is that a great, big book, brother?" "Yes, it is, actually." "Name's Searles." "Thomas Searles." "Jupiter Sharts, sir." "What it about, that book?" "It's a collection of essays actually." "Fourier, Emerson.." "..all the transcendentalists." "It got pictures?" " No." "Teach me?" "Yes, I'd be happy to." "Just look at what's walking in here." "Look at them." "Go on." "I'd rather have a hog than a nigger." "Wish you could eat the hog." "Branch off, dance, nigger boys!" "Sergeant of the guard!" "Post your sentry!" "Yes, sir!" "Right there." "Show late, halt." "Right down, right march!" "Wait, now see that's my space, nigger." "I sleeps better close up on that door." "Of course if you don't mind, I'd prefer the more.." "..a space with more sufficient reading light." "Oh, I like it when niggers talk good as white folk." "I'd be happy to teach you." "It would be my pleasure." "Hey, look here, snomlake.." "..I ain't got nuttin to learn from no house nigger here." "I am a free man, as was my father before me." "Oh, you free, nigger uh?" " Yes." "Oh good, why don't you move your free black ass on out of my space.." "..before I have to bust it up." " Hey, hold it up, pap." "Hey, nobody said nutting to you, pap." "It's all right." "I'll be fine over here." "Excuse me." "W w wonder when they gonna give us the blue suit?" "They ain't giving blue suits to no black soldiers.." "..only blue suits for white soldiers." "Well, we soldiers now." "Where're you from, field hand?" "South Carolina." " South Carolina." "Well, you ought to know better than that, boy." "Hey, would you quit that--?" "Hey, boy, quit that drumming." "Hey, hey." "What's your name, boy?" " l said, what's your name, wot?" "Can't you see that he's mute?" "He what?" "He's mute." "You mean this child can't talk?" "Here, come over here, hon." "Dummies and field hands." "Ain't that about a bitch!" "What about you there, boy?" "Where abouts you from?" "Yeah, I'm from around Tennessee." "I ran away when I was twelve years old. I ain't never looked back." "W, what you doing since then?" "I run for President." "I didn't win though." "Boy!" "Can you give us some more, man." " Take it from me more, now." "Maior?" "Forbes, that's you." "Thomas." " Hello, how are you?" "You know Charlie Morse." " Charlie." "Thomas Searles." " How're you?" " Hullo." "Captain." "So how was your meal?" "The rémoulade was a trifle tart.." "..but the soufflé for dessert more than made up for it." "And your comrades?" "Charming." "Extraordinary conversationalists, every one." "Maior Forbes." "A word, please." "Ah, excuse me, Thomas." "Emburus, bring along your coat and string." "Yes Robert." "I won't permit that kind of fraternization." "It's only Thomas." "He's an enlisted man." "You're right, of course." "I've sent for help." "These men need a proper teacher." "For God's sake, men, you march.." "..like a bunch of crippled old goats Teaching them, Christ!" "We're going to be here day and night till we get this right." "A one, one." "Company, halt." "About face." "You are ugly Mexican" " African fucking whores!" "We're going to work on this day and night, gentlemen." "Forward at the half step, march!" "One!" "You half-wit black bastard." "Do they truly cut your balls off at birth?" "I'm gonna work on you, you bastard, till I get you broken in." "Company, halt!" "For God's sake, man!" "Do you not know your right from your left?" "No, no, no sir." "How many here do not know right from left?" "Jesus, have pity!" "This is your front." "This is your rear." "This is your right and this" "Now you're learning, boyo." "Company, forward march." "A one, one, one." "Two." "One, two, One, two, One, two, One, two, One, two, one, two.." "You...... !" "Get it right." "Stop." "Start it again." "In each rank." "Go." "Left, left, left, right, left." "Right forward, march!" "Left, left, l" "Get your goddamn hands out of your pocket, ..soldier!" "Left, left, right, left." "Oh, look at this, bonnie Prince Charlie, are you a gentleman?" "Are you a member of Congress or something?" "Or are you the bloody prince of Africa?" "Now, don't look at me." "Look right ahead." "Look straight ahead." "I'll leash your ass up, boyo." "You know the Irish are not noted for their fondness for the coloureds." "What about the uniforms?" "Still no word." ", The rifles?" " Left, left, left right, left." " See to it." "Oh, you're a big buck, aren't you." "You've got a lot to learn." "You haven't had no master like me." "Dear Mother, the men learn very quickly.." ".. faster than white troops, it seems to me." "They're almost grave and sedate under instruction." "And they restrain themselves." "But the moment they are dismissed from drill.." ".. every tongue is relaxed and every ivory tooth is visible." "And you would not know from the sound of it that this is an Army camp." "They must've had to learn this.." "..from long hours of meaningless and inhuman work." "To set their minds free so quickly.." ".. it gives them great energy." "And there is no doubt we'll leave this state.." "..as fine a regiment as any that has marched." "As ever, Your son, Robert." "They've done it." "Assemble the men." "Attention!" "In accordance with President Lincoln's wishes.." "..you men are advised that the Confederate Congress.." "..has issued a proclamation." "It reads:" ""Any Negro taken in arms against the Confederacy.." "..will immediately be returned to a state of slavery." "Any Negro taken in federal uniform.." "..will be summarily put to death." "Any white officer taken in command of Negro troops.." "..shall be deemed as inciting servile insurrection.." "..and shall likewise be put to death."" "Full discharges will be granted in the morning.." "..to all those who apply." "Dismissed." "Dismissed." "Dismissed." "If you're not here in the morning.." "..I understand." "Still want that blue suit, nigger?" "Good morning, maior." "Sir!" "Formed and ready, sir!" "How many are left?" "Attention!" "Attire!" "Glory, halleluiah!" "One, two, one, one, one." "Company, halt." "You're not dismissed, boyo." "Get up." "You'll fall out when I say and not before." "You understand?" "I said, get up!" "Sergeant maior." "Sir." "At ease, sergeant." "Great run." "Go up." "I have no doubt that you are a fair man, Mulcahy." "I wonder if you are treating these men too hard." "You disagree." "You may speak freely." "The boy's your friend, is he?" "We grew up together." "Yes." "Let him grow up some more." "l see." "Will that be all, sir?" " Yes." "Dismissed." " Let's go forward, company." "Forward." "Forward." "Fifty-seven caliber Enfield rifle musket." "Best in the world here, boy." "Sharts?" "One, one, nine, one, one." "Think you can handle that, boss?" "l can knock something down with this." "Trip?" "One, two, one, nine, two." "Beautiful." "Otman?" "One, two, one, eight, six." "Jefferson?" "Yes, sir." " One, two, one." "Robert.." "Finally." "There's a rumour going around that.." "..we're going to be used only for manual labour." "You can't believe the kind of things we hear." "It's not true, is it?" "I mean, about not being allowed to fight?" "The men are all living for that day. I know I am." "Don't bother about him." "He's just ignorant." "Excuse me." "For God's sake, come on!" "Damn it, he did it." "Do that again." "Here, give him me your weapon." "Give me." "See that shot." " Do that again." "One dime, he can't do it." "Dime, A dime on each of you." " l don't have money." "That's a bet." "Go on, boy." "Go ahead." "Go ahead." "Go ahead, Sharts." "That's a dime, that's a dime on each of you." "Double or nothing." "Attention, company!" "We got money on you." "Attention, company!" "As you were." "Front and centre." "You're a good shot, private." "Thank you, sir." "Sq.. squirrel hunting." "You ever killed a man?" "N.. no, sir." "But you're handy with a gun?" "Yes, sir." "Reload." "Faster." "Faster." "Faster!" "Discharge your weapon." "Discharge your weapon." "Do it!" "Now do it again." "Only this time, I want it done quickly!" "A good man can fire three aimed shots in a minute." "Maior Forbes, give me your Colt revolver." "What?" "Your gun." "Give it to me." "Faster." "Reload." "Quickly." "Faster!" "Faster!" "Load." "Faster." "Do it!" "Do it!" "Do it!" "Do it!" "Teach them properly, maior." "Yes, sir." "Attention, company!" "Ready!" "Aim!" "Fire!" "One, one, one, two, one." "One, one, one, two, one." "Good morning, maior." "You're up early." "I want to talk to you." "Certainly." "You wouldn't mind getting down from your horse?" "Better?" "Why do you treat the men this way, Robert?" "How should I treat them?" "Like men." "And what about Thomas?" "Why are you so hard on him?" "He's not a very good soldier." "I'm getting these men ready for battle." "Robert, they're already as good as the seventh ever was." "They march well." "They're disciplined." "No thanks to you." "l beg your pardon?" "You heard me." "Who do you think you are, acting the high-up colonel?" "You seem to forget I know you." "And so does Thomas." "Forbes!" "If you don't believe in what we're doing here.." "..maybe you shouldn't be a part of it." "A part of what, uh?" "" Left, right, left, right!" "?" "Little finger along the seams of your trousers!" "?"" "Marching is probably all they'll ever get to do, Robert." "It is my lob to get these men ready." "And I will." "They have risked their lives to be here." "They have given up their freedom." "I owe them as much as they have given. I owe them my freedom.." "..my life, if necessary." "Maybe so do you, Cabot." "I think you do." "Develop!" "Guard!" "Thrust!" "Develop!" "Guard!" "Thrust!" "Develop!" "Guard!" "You're not in dancing school, son." "Take his head off!" "Gus." "Develop!" "Guard!" "Jesus, Mary and Joseph!" "What have we here?" "Bonnie Prince Charlie and his little toy bayonet." "You're not reading your books now." "Go on, go on." "Get on." "Get on." "Now stab me." "What?" "Stab me." "Come on, stab, not tickle." "Hit me." "Come on." "You prissy little schoolgirl!" "You're the worst soldier in this whole company." "Now hit me!" "No shame, son." "Get up." "I said, get up!" "Nigger forgot to duck, that's all." "Sergeant, deal with that man." "I can tell you're very smart, son." "The only thing you have to learn to do is to keep your mouth shut." "Save it, son." "Save it." "Carry on, Sergeant Mulcahy." "First strike artillery, back to wall." "Robert, Robert, I'd like to speak to you for a moment in private.." "..if I may?" "Enlisted men wishing to speak to their commanding officer.." "..must first get permission." "You understand, private?" "Yes.." "..sir." "On guard, thrust, develop, recover." "Thrust, develop, recover." "Thrust, develop, recover." "On guard, thrust, develop, recover." "You better push some pulp in the night for you." "My, my!" "Some things never change." "I guess the whole world hate the nigger." "Boy, if you don't quit that drumming in here." "Honey, why don't you take your drum on outside and practice?" "Th, th, that Co, Colonel Shaw, he a hard man." "He a swell." "Just a nigger-beating swell." "But he in the same boat with us." "See, Seecesh come, take him, kill him too." "Not him." "He a swell." "He's lust a boy." " Yeah." "He a weak, white boy.." "..and beating on a nigger make him feel strong." "Ain't that right, snomlake?" "You know, he ain't never been in no West Point." "And, and, and." "The only reason he in charge is 'cause his mommy and daddy fixed it." "Ain't that so?" "Oh.." "You thought he was different, didn't you?" "What you think now?" "You lust thought you was so smart." "Didn't you, nigger?" "You in the real school now, though." "Ain't you?" "What you gonna do, cry?" "Yeah, he sure enough learning now, ain't he?" "Sergeant on your guard, post your sentry." "Yes sir." "Attention!" "Company." "Forward, march!" "Right flank." "Shit!" "Know a man says there's a farm here, about two, three miles from here." "Said the lady over there give him biscuits and gravy." "She said if he bring his friends, she'll feed them too." "Don't even think about it." "What you say, boy?" "Biscuits and gravy sound good to me." "Maybe I'll get myself some real shoes." "I'm telling you, boy." "They find out, they liable to shoot you." "Nigger, is you an old man or is you an old woman?" "I forget." "All right." "Collard greens." "Corn bread." "Come on, dream.." "..I'm waiting on you." "Dear Mother, news today of the defeat at Fredericksburg." "If things continue to go badly.." "..I wonder if I might not end my days as an outlaw leader.." ".. of a band of fugitive slaves." "Try as I may, I don't know these men.." ".. their music, their camaraderie.." ".. which is different from ours." "I am placed in a position.." ".. where if I were a man of real strength, I might do a great deal." "But I am afraid I shall show that I am not of much account." "I don't want to stand in their way because of my own weakness." "I miss Christmas on the Shawn Island and the smell of the sea." "Robert, it's Thomas." "I lust wanted to say.." "I wanted to say.." "Merry Christmas, Robert." "Merry Christmas, Thomas." "You're Shaw, aren't you?" "Merry Christmas." "Kendrick." "Division quartermaster." "And this sorry piece of work is Haggis." "He writes vouchers." "Pleasure." "Pleasure." "How's it going down there?" " Oh, very well." "Thank you." "It's all right." "Brass are all up to Division, planning the next disaster." "You're among friends now." "How much longer you figure they last?" "I hear they're deserting, ten at a time." "Oh, you're misinformed." "We haven't had a single incident." "See?" "I figure the nigs never had it so good." "Three square a day, a roof over their heads." "And they got to know that nobody's going to let them fight." "Am I right?" "Yes, of course." "Listen, if there's anything you need." "A bottle for the cold nights?" "Yes." "Actually, I've put in a requisition for some shoes .." "..two weeks ago and I haven't heard anything." "Well, provisionally speaking, we're extremely limited as to footwear." "I'm afraid that kind of item has to be reserved for those units.." "..whose fighting readiness.." "..supersede yours." "You understand, I'm sure." "Yes, I understand." "Excuse me." "Well, stop by tomorrow." "I've got my hands on the most delicious local jam." "Myrtle berry, isn't it?" "Blueberry." "Right." "Right." "Nice meeting you, Shaw." "Twit!" "Excuse me, sir." "What is it?" "We've caught a deserter." "Oh, Lordy!" "This is bad." "They ain't gonna go and shoot him, is they?" " No." "It'll be all right." "Won't it?" "Reform your ranks!" "Reform your ranks!" " Reform your ranks!" "Fall in." "Quiet in the ranks." "Quiet in the ranks!" "Wright, untie his hands and take off his coat." "The prisoner's in position, sir." "What is this?" "The prisoner is to be flogged before the entire regiment." "Robert, not with a whip." "Not on them." "Excuse us, Sergeant Mulcahy." "At your pleasure, colonel." "Never question my authority in front of others." "Well, I is sorry, massah." "You be the boss man now and all us children's.." "..must learn to obey " "Major Forbes!" "Stand at attention!" "Sergeant Mulcahy.." "..you may commence." "Proceed." "Attention!" "Mr. Rawlins.." "This morning I, I.." "It'd be a great help if I could talk to you about the men.." "..from time to time." "That's all." "Shoes, sir." "The men need shoes, colonel." "Yes, I know. I've been after the quartermaster for some time now." "No, sir." "Now." "The boy was off trying to find himself some shoes, colonel." "He wants to fight.." "..same as the rest of us.." "..mole even." "All of the men like this?" "Yes." "Most of them." "Good afternoon, colonel." "You change your mind about that bottle I was talking about?" "I want 600 pair of shoes and 1200 pair of socks.." "..and anything else you've been holding out on us.." "..you piece of rat filth." "I'd love to help you Colonel, but we just don't have any." "Not for niggers, you don't?" "Not for anybody." "I see." "Pity." "I'll lust have a look around.." "..lust see that you haven't misplaced them, um?" "Hey!" "Hey!" "Where are they, you son of a bitch?" "Goddamn it!" "You can't.." " Can't I?" "I'm a colonel, nasty little cuss." "You really think you can keep 700 Union soldiers.." "..without proper shoes because you think it's funny?" "Now where would that power come from?" "All right, all right." "Calm down." "Look, have a drink." "Hey, you barefooted mutts!" "Come on over here." "Step up over there, boy." "Shoes!" "Shoes, boy!" "Here, there's a pair." "Here." "There's a pair there." "Here's one pair." "One pair of shoes here." "Here, here's another pair." "Hey, one pair at a time." "Here's one more." "Steward?" "ls there anything you need?" "No, sir." "Keep me informed." "Yes, sir, I will." "Sir." "From the War Department." "Can anything be done?" "They've got families." "Protest this through channels later on." "Attention battalion." "Yes, sir." "Attention, battalion!" "You men enlisted in this regiment.." "..on the understanding that you would be paid.." "..the regular Army wage of 1 3 dollars a month." "This morning I have been notified.." "..that since you are a coloured regiment.." "..you'll be paid ten dollars a month." "That ain't fair, they said thirteen." "Regiment fall out by company to receive pay." "Where you going, boy?" "To get paid." "Ten dollar a lot of money." "Hey, pop, you fixing to lay down for this too?" "Fall in!" "Fall in!" "Hey, hey, hey come on, brother." "Where, where's your pride now?" "Make your mark right here." " Look, look, hey." "I can write my name." "What is it?" " Then do it." "They won't give us thirteen dollars, give us ten dollars." "You go for that?" "I mean, a coloured soldier stop a bullet just as good as a white one.." "..and for less money too!" "Yeah, old Uncle Abe got himself a real bargain here!" "Yeah, what you say, boy?" "That's right, slaves." "Step right up." "Lick your mug." "Get your slave wage." "Yeah, all you good coloured boys, go and sign up." "That's right." "Tear it up." "Tear it up!" "Tear it up!" "Tear it up!" " Back in line!" "Tear it up!" "Tear it up!" "Tear it up!" "If you men will take no pay.." "..then none of us will." " Yeah!" "Let's hear it for the colonel!" "Attention, battalion!" " Attention!" " Attention!" "Eyes right!" "Eyes front!" "Eyes right!" "Man!" "I forgot how hot it was down here." "Welcome home, boys." "Don't worry about it, buck." "Take a good look." "It's all a memory, now that the Northman come." "Now that we come." "Colonel Shaw?" "Edward Pierce." "Special assignment from Harper's Weekly." "Harper's Weekly?" "Serving an entire nation." "Million loyal readers want to know.." "..what happens when the men of the fifty fourth see action." "Million and one." "Well, you'll want to see this." "Attention, company!" "Rawlins, front and centre." "Sir!" "Mr. Rawlins, this regiment was formed with the promise.." "..that only white officers would be commissioned to lead it." "Nothing was mentioned, however, about noncommissioned officers." "Therefore, in recognition of initiative taken not only for yourself.." "..but on behalf of the entire regiment.." "..you are hereby awarded the rank of sergeant major." "Congratulations." "Thanks." "Hip, hip, hooray!" "Congratulations." "I ain't sure I'm wanting this, colonel." "I know exactly how you feel." "That right, honeys." "Ain't no dream." "We run away slaves but we come back fighting men!" "Go tell your folks how kingdom come in the year of Jubilee!" "All fight old man." "Who are these ragamuffins?" "Contrabands." "Right out of the fields." "Hey, hey old man, where from?" "Massachusetts." "You a march better than we, marching' like the buckra soldier." "l beg your pardon?" "Says we march like white soldiers." "Even talk like the buckra soldier." "Where you from?" " Oh round about here." "We slaves in the field when the Yankee-men come, say we soldiers." "How you like the Army, contraband?" "Oh, we love it." "We thank the Lord.." "..everyday for the good vittles and these beautiful clothes." "Tell true, old man, this year, every day like Christmas." "Like what?" "Like Christmas." " Oh." "My country, 'tis of thee" "Sweet land of liberty" "Of thee I sing" "Land where my fathers died" "Land of the pilgrim's pride" "From every mountainside" "Let freedom ring" "Splendid." "They've been working for weeks in anticipation of your arrival." "We're all very excited to have you here, Shaw." "Thank you, sir." "Lincoln's idea." "Hired a group of New Englanders.." "..to teach our coloured how to read and write." "Just your sort of people, I should think." "The regiment should enioy their stay here." "Yes, I'm sure we'll have a fine time." "But that's not why we're here." "Yes, well, can't promise you much action." "Just having the coloureds around.." "..seems to have scared the bajeezers out of the Rebs." "Colonel Shaw?" "Excuse me." "I'd like you to meet some of our instructors." "Dr. Thorpe of Salem." "lt's my pleasure, sir." "Pleasure." "Dr." "Rogers of Philadelphia. -l know and admire your parents." "You do, sir?" "Why, thank you, sir." "Shaw." "Meet Colonel Montgomery." "He's your brigade commander." "Colonel." " Honoured, sir." "Colonel Montgomery is a real Jayhawker from Kansas." "The contraband regiment is his brainchild." "You didn't think yours were the only coloureds around, did you, Colonel?" "I did, actually." "Well, I'm sure they'll do lust fine." "Have they seen any mischief?" "No, sir." "I'm hiking a company over to the Georgia coast in the morning." "We'll be foraging for supplies." "I could use a hand." "That is, if you think your men are up to it." "They are indeed, sir." "Good." "Very good!" "It's a pleasure." " Good night." "Beg to report, colonel, sir." "The troop is fed and bedded down for the night, sir." "Very good, corporal." "Pass the word along to a company." "They'll be going into action in the morning." "Very good, sir." "Your men march handsomely, Colonel." "My compliments." "Thank you, sir." "I am surprised at how well you handle them." "See, I'm from Kentucky originally and we owned a few ourselves.." "..so it comes naturally to me." "You are from Boston, are you not?" " Yes." "It is impossible to imagine Boston with slaves." "Halt!" "Hold your arms." "Town's clean, sir." "Ain't no Rebs here, just some women." "Well, all right." "You hear that, boys?" "Let's clear her out." "What are you doing?" "Liberating this town in the name of the Republic." "The musket, master colonel, never shoot it." "Shoot now?" "Yeah, I don't see why not." "Go ahead." "Shoot the lady, boys!" "Don't shoot!" "We ain't Secesh here." "That man is a a civilian." "That man is Secesh." "And Secesh is all the same, son." "Look around you, look at them." "You really think anybody's going.." "..to put these boys into some real combat?" "Do you?" "I mean, they're little children, for God's sake." "They're little monkey children." "And you lust gotta know how to control them." "Please!" "Please let go!" "You see what I mean?" "Children." "Animals!" "Leave her alone!" "Hey, boy, take your hands off the white lady." "Now that wouldn't have been necessary.." "..if that Secesh woman hadn't started it." "They'll never learn." "You see, Seceshes must be swept away.." "..by the hand of God like the Jews of old." "And now I'll have to burn this town." "Nigger soldiers!" "Nigger soldiers!" "Tell your men to set torches and prepare to fire the buildings." "I will not." "That is an order." "You'll do it or you'll be brought.." "..up on charges for disobeying your superior officer." "It is an immoral order." "And by the Articles of War, I'm not bound to obey." "Well, you can lust explain that at your court-martial.." "..after your men are placed under my command." "First squad, second platoon.." "Fall out to set torches." "Prepare to fire the town." "First squad, second platoon." "Fall out!" "Forward salute." "Take down." "What you looking at, this kid e'en." "You think you better than me?" "You think you my iudge?" "You ain't nothing." "Dear Father.:" "I need your help." "Despite my many requests, it has become clear that we're to be used.." ".. only for manual labour." "Morale is low, the men's good humour darkened by idleness and despair." "Why keep drilling, if they're never be given.." ".. the opportunity to prove themselves?" "Attention!" "I've written to Governor Andrew.." "..as well as to the general staff in Washington." "But I feel that only a letter directly from you to Lincoln himself.." ".. can have the desired effect." "I can think of no other course." "I am sure you both pray, as I do.." ".. that all this has not been in vain." "Hey, it look like we're going the wrong way." "Hey, come on now." "Buck up, boys." "Hey, buck up, now." "Come on." "Someday they gonna let the 54th get into it, see?" "And all your troubles'll be over." "Come on, now, cheer up." "Hey!" "What'd you say, boy?" "Boy?" "Hey, let me tell you" "Shut up, Trip." "Would you get up off me, snomlake?" "See, let me explain you something." "See, the way I figure.." "I figure, this war'll be over a whole lot sooner.." "..if you boys lust turn around on now and head on back down that way.." "..and you let us head on up there where the real fighting is, um?" "There are men dying up that road." "And it wouldn't be nothing.." "..but we're to dying' if they'd let the S_th in it." "Listen." " Hold it, hold it!" "As you were, Trip." "As you were!" "You men move on." "Stripes on a nigger!" "Like tits on a bull." "You're looking at a higher rank, corporal." "Now, you'll obey and you'll like it." "Make me." " l'll make you." "What the hell is going on here?" "Attention!" " Attention!" "You." "Yes, you." "What's your name?" "I'm putting you up on charges." "Ain't no calls for that, sir." "What's that, sergeant?" "Well, I mean, lust a soldier's fight, sir." "All right, you men move along." "Right, step!" "Forward, march!" " Move it!" "You men get back to work." " We'll see you down there." "Back to work!" "Let's go!" "We'll see you again." "Go dig a latrine." "Go strum a banio, boy." " Come on." "I've got the guard." "Let me use your looking glass." "Thank you." "Yeah, button up that collar." "Suck in that gut." "Tuck in them big black lips." "Lighten your skin." "Shrink up that nose." "I don't have to listen to this." "Where you going, boy?" "Let me by." "Let you by?" "Let you by." "Let me tell you something, boy." "You can march like the white man, you can talk like him.." "..you can, you can learn his songs.." "..you Can, you Can even wear his suits." "But you ain't never gonna be nothing to him.." "..but a ugly-ass chimp in a blue suit." "Oh, you don't like that, do you?" " No." "Well, what we gonna do about it?" "You want to fight me, boy, huh?" "What you gonna do about it?" "You want to fight me, don't you?" "Don't you?" "Come on, nigger." "All right!" "Put your hands off me, gravedigger." " What's that damn it." "Does the whole world gotta stomp in your face?" "Nigger, you better get your hands off me!" "Ain't no niggers around here, you hear me?" "Oh I see, so the white man give you a couple of stripes.." "..next thing you know, you howling.." "..ordering at everybody around.." "..like you were the master hisself." "Nigger, you ain't nothing but the white man's dog!" "And what are you?" "So full of hate you lust want to go out and fight everybody.." ".# cause you've been whipped and chased by hounds." "Well that might not be living, but it sure as hell ain't dying." "And dying's what these white boys.." "..been doing for going on three years now." "Dying by the thousands." "Dying for you, fool!" "I know because I dug the graves." "And all the time I'm digging, I'm asking myself.." ""When, when oh Lord, is it going to be our time?"" "The time's coming when we gonna have to ante up.." "..ante up and kick in like men." "Like men!" "You watch who you call a " nigger."" "Any niggers around here, it's you." "Smart-mouth, stupid-ass, swamp-running nigger!" "If you ain't careful, that's all you ever going to be." "You men go on back to business." "Ah, Shaw." "Sit down." "Well, colonel, what can I do for you?" "You can give me and my regiment a transfer to combat command." "Couldn't do it, colonel." "You're much too valuable to my operations here." "May I sit?" "Thank you." "Maior." "I've written a letter to my father.." "..asking him to press Governor Andrew and President Lincoln." "But I don't have to wait for all that, do I?" "Colonel Montgomery, would you bring that ashtray over here?" "But "valuable to your operations here," do you say." "Your foraging?" "Your depredations?" "Yes, I've become quite a student of your operations in this region." "Thirty-four mansions, I think it was, pillaged and burnt under.." ".. Colonel Montgomery's expedition up the Combahee?" "Four-thousand balls of cotton smuggled through the lines.." "..with payment to parties unknown, except by you." "False quartermaster requisitions." "Maior Forbes here has seen the copies." "Yes, indeed." "Along with confiscated valuables shipped North as personal baggage." "Shall I go on?" "Can you?" "I can report you to the War Department." "Oh, yes. I can do that." "Let you take your regiment out to fight." "That's what you want, isn't it?" "Show what they can do?" "When?" "You are bright-eyed, aren't you?" "When?" "Just as soon as I can write the orders." "Maior." "By company in the line, double-quick!" "By company in the line, double-quick!" "All right, men, form the firing line!" "Over here." "Form the firing line right here." "Front line, kneel." "Steady, boys!" "Firing by battalion!" "Ready.." " ..aim.." "Charge!" "..fire!" "Cease fire!" "Recover." "Here they come!" "Reload." "Load it, load it!" "Ready!" "Aim!" "Get ready, get ready," "Fire!" "Reload!" "Fire at will!" " Fire at will!" " Fire at will!" "Pour it in." "Charge!" "Fire!" "They're bloody skirmishes, captain." "Thomas!" "Thomas!" "Squad, company!" "Thomas!" "How do, Colonel?" "Hurts, doesn't it?" "Well, I'm extremely iealous." "You'll be back in Boston before me.." "..sitting by the fire, reading Hamhorne, cup of decent coffee." "I'm not going back." "Thomas, listen to me.." "You're shot." "You have to go back." "Robert, promise me that you won't send me back." "Promise me!" "All right." "All right." "Colonel Shaw!" "What is all this?" "You haven't heard?" "Lee was turned back in Pennsylvania, Gettysburg." "Now Grant's taken Vicksburg." "And all on the Fourth of July." "My God!" " Yeah." "I know, looks like it'll all be over by Christmas." "So how did they do?" " Oh splendid." "Just splendid." "Any casualties?" "Forty-two." "Oh give me the details." "I'll wire it in." "I don't think we've got the prior of making the paper-- l'll talk to you later in your tent." "As you were." "Trip, isn't it?" "Yes." "You fought very well yesterday, Trip." "Sergeant Rawlins has recommended that you receive a commendation." "Yeah?" "Yes." "And I think you should bear the regimental colours." "No." "It's considered quite an honour." "Why not?" "Well, I'm.." "..wanting to say something, sir." "But I.." "Go ahead." "All right." "See.." "..I ain't fighting this war.." "..for you, sir." "I see." "I mean, what's the point?" "Ain't nobody going to win." "It'll just go on and on." "Can't go on forever." "Yeah, but ain't nobody gonna win, sir." "Somebody's gonna win." "Who?" "I mean, you.." "You get to go on back to Boston in a big house and all that." "What about us?" "What do we get?" "Well, you won't get anything if we lose." "What do you want to do?" "Don't know, sir." "Stinks, I suppose." "Yeah." "Stinks bad." "And we all covered up in it too." "I mean, ain't nobody clean." "Be nice to get clean, though." "How do we do that?" "We ante up and kick in, sir." "But I still don't want to carry your flag." "No one will ever take Charleston without first.." "..silencing the forts which protect its harbour." "And the first one that must be taken is that." "Fort Wagner." "Wagner mounts a 10-inch Columbiad.." "..three smooth-bore 32-pounders.." "..a 42-pound carronade.." "..a 10-inch coast mortar.." "..and four 12-pound howitzers." "Plus a garrison of about a thousand men." "As many of you gentlemen may be aware.." "..for the last four days, our Navy has weakened Wagner.." "..with a constant barrage." "Headquarters has determined it time for our attack." "We will proceed with a direct frontal assault, tomorrow at dusk." "The problem, gentlemen, the approach." "The ocean and the marsh leave only.." "..a narrow strip of sand, a natural defile.." "..through which we can only send one regiment at a time." "Now our best hope is that.." "..that leading regiment can keep the Rebs occupied.." "..long enough for reinforcements to exploit the breach." "Needless to say.." "..the casualties in the leading regiment may be extreme." "General Strong." "S_th Massachusetts.." "..requests the honour of leading the attack on Fort Wagner." "It's Colonel Shaw, isn't it?" "Yes, sir." "You and your men haven't slept for two days." "That's right, sir." "And you think they have the strength to lead this charge?" "There's more to fighting than rest, sir." "There's character." "There's strength of heart." "You should have seen us in action two days ago." "We were a sight to see." "We'll be ready, sir." "When do you want us?" "Oh, my Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord" "He packed in the animals two by two" "The ox, the camel and a kangaroo" "Packed them in that ark so tight l couldn't get no sleep that night" "Noah's son's, Sheb and Ham" "Telling about God's master plan" "Oh, my Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord" "Oh, my Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord" "Tomorrow we go into battle." " Alright." "So Lordy, let me fight with the rifle in one hand.." "..and good book in the other." " Yeah." " Amen." "That if I should die at the muzzle of the rifle.." "..die on water or on land.." "..I may know that you, blessed Jesus Almighty.." "..are with me." " With me." " Bless you." " Bless you." "And I have no fear." "Amen." " Amen." " Amen." "Oh, my Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord" "Oh, my Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord" "Lord.." "..we stand before You this evening to say thank You." " Thank You." "We thank You, Father, for Your grace." " Oh yes." "..and Your many blessings." " Yes." "Now, I run off.." "..and left all my young'uns and my kinfolk in bondage." " Yeah." "So I'm standing here this evening, Heavenly Father." " Yeah." "..to ask Your blessings." " Yeah" "..on all of us." " Amen." "So that, if tomorrow is our great getting-up morning." " Yeah." "..if tomorrow we have to meet the Judgment Day." " Amen." "..Heavenly Father, we want You to let our folks know." " Yeah." "..that we died facing the enemy." "We want them to know that we went down standing up." " Yeah" "..amongst those that are fighting against our oppression." " Yeah." "We want them to know, Heavenly Father, that we died for freedom." " Yeah" "We ask these blessings in Jesus' name.." "Amen." " Amen." " Amen." " Amen." " Amen." " Amen." "Oh, my Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord" "Oh, my Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord" "Trip?" "Come on." "Hell, no, I ain't!" "Get your butt up there, boy!" "Just say what you think, say what you feel." "Go on." "Go on, now." "Go on, let it out." "Well, I ain't much about no praying, now." " Alright!" "I ain't never had no family or.." "Killed off my mama.." "It feel funny." " Come on." " Come on." "Come on. -lt's all right." "Come on, now." "You're doing fine." "Well, I lust.." "You know, you all is.." "You all is the only family I got." " Yeah." " That's all right" "And.." "I loves you, 54th." " All right." "Ain't much a matter what happens tomorrow.." "..because we men." "Ain't we?" " Yes sir." " Amen." "We men, ain't we?" " Yes." "Shit!" "Oh, my Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord" "Oh, my Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord" "Oh, my Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord" "Oh, my Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord" "Oh, my Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord" "Oh, my Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord" "Attention, company!" " Attention, company!" " Attention company!" "Attention company." "One, two, one." "Entire front." "We ready, colonel." "Left, left, left, left." "Left, left, left, left." "Left, left, left, left." "Left, left, left." "Give them hell, 54th!" "Give them hell, 54th!" "Ready!" "Fire!" "Ready!" "Fire!" "Ought to be quite a show, Pierce." "Best seat in the house." "I wonder if you might do something for me." "I have some letters here, personal things." "Certainly, colonel." "Also, if I should fall.." "..remember what you see here." "You men are relieved." "Report to the rear as stretcher-bearers." "Do it now!" " Right face." "Forward march!" "You go on, honey." "We be by directly." "Shaw!" "Shaw!" "If this man should fall.." "..who will lift the flag and carry on?" "I will." "Colonel Shaw!" "Colonel Shaw." "I'll see you in the fort, Thomas." "Fix." " Fix." "Bayonets." "Shoulder." " Shoulder." "Arms." "Charge!" " Charge!" "Bayonets." "At the quickstep." "Forward.." "..march!" "Double-quick time.." "..march!" "Steady, boys.." "Charge!" "Come on!" "Forward!" "Forward!" "Keep your ranks!" "Take cover in the dunes!" "Take cover!" "Company commanders.." "..we'll wait here and advance under cover of darkness." "..men." "Get down over there." "Get down." "Company commanders, order your men to wait here." "Sit down!" " Set on American charge." "Sit down." "Sergeant Rawlins." "Sir!" "Pass the word around." "Forward, on my command." "Forward, on my command." "Ready on the gunners, men." "Forward, on my command!" "Ready.." "Charge!" "Forward!" "Forward." "Forward, men!" "Come on, men." "Forward!" "Come on, you men!" "Come on." "Don't stop." "Get up there!" "Come on." "Come on, 54th!" "Robert..!" "Come on!" "Charge!" "Robert." "Robert." "Three down." "Form a firing line right here!" "Get out of here!" "Fire!" "Let's go." "Move!" "Move!" "Come on, come on!"