"Brother." "Oh, I'm sorry!" "Come on, Luke, quit fooling' around." "A little more spirit there, Matt." "We'll never get home for dinner." "Hey, Jonathan, you sent for me?" "You know I wouldn't do that." "Of course I figured you would see the smoke... and if'n you did you'd drop by and do me some more designs." "These are nice." "That's a good line." "What kind of design did you have in mind?" " Could you do me the bird again?" " Sure." "Nothing to it." "Ooh, that's new." " What a blue that is." " Yeah." "I made this here teapot special... for Miss Hattie." "I'll ask you a favor." "Could you take it up to the house for me?" "Take it yourself." "She don't want to get a present from me." "It's you she's sweet on." "John, your daddy says anything about me lately?" "I owe your daddy rent." "Seems like I can't even sell my wares no more." "There ain't no better pottery in Virginia." "It'll sell." "I don't know." "People around here never did like no free nigger in business for his self." "And now it's even worse." "People act like they're scared to even talk with me." "Storekeeper, he says it's kinda what happened down at Harper's Ferry." "John Brown's raid?" "They can't blame you for that." "Well, maybe not, but black men were involved... and black men carrying guns... that's the white folks' nightmare." "Evenin', Matt." "What you doin' here?" "Just visiting', Miss Hattie." "Just visiting'." "Just at suppertime." "Don't lie to me, Jonathan Henry." "You here for my lamb stew." "He can smell my cookin' clear down to his cabin." "You got no cause to say that." "I brought you somethin'." "It's the prettiest teapot ever." "Isn't that worth a plate of stew, Hattie?" "And a piece of pie." "Well, go on in there, Jonathan." "Go on now." "What'd you hear in town today, Emmy?" "Anything new about Harper's Ferry?" "Nobody's talkin' about anything else." "Come, child." "Tell us the news." "John Brown was wounded some... but they moved him and the rest of the jail to Charlestown." "Governor's called out umpteen-thousand militia to guard'em." "Why so many soldiers?" "What are they afeard of?" "All I know is what the sheriff said." "What'd he say?" "He said... that the nigger-lovin' abolitionists up north might start flapping' their lips... and march on Charlestown to free John Brown." "That possible, Pa?" "Not without startin' a small war, it ain't." " I don't believe it." " I don't either." "But Matt and I been thinkin' we oughta put some time in a militia." " Get some training', just in case." " In case of what?" " If this don't beat all." " What?" "Let me see it, Mark." "That's real good." "I think it's wonderful." "I know who's who even from a distance." "Here's Matt, here's Pa, here's Mark." "It's a damn insult." "Us sweating' out the day's work, and he's out there doin' nothin'... just watchin', like he's our lord and master." "I'm with Matt." "John ain't been pullin' his weight." "There ain't no room on a farm for a man who can't earn his keep." "That's not for you to decide, Mark." " Pa?" " It's true, Maggie." "When John works with us, he works hard." "I'll give him that." "But he ain't showed up much lately." "He's giving all his time to that hobby of his." "It's not a hobby, Pa." "The way I feel, it's a profession." " You mean make a livin' doing that?" " People do." "Look, Pa, I think I'm good... and I think I'll get better." "How much money you earned so far?" "Nothin', and I ain't gonna make nothin' around here." "You tryin' to tell us somethin', John?" "I figured I'd go up north to Gettysburg... ask Uncle Jacob to give me a start on his newspaper." "I don't figure that's your decision to make, son." "Then I'm askin' for your blessing, Pa." "Yours too, Mom." "That'd mean one less pair of hands to work the farm." "Might cost us." "Things are... well, I don't have to tell you, mighty lean around here." "I thought about that." "I could pull my weight by sending money home." " Countin' your chickens, ain't ya?" " Yeah, maybe I am." "Give me six months, Pa, a trial period." "If I don't get anywhere in six months, I'll come home ready to work." "Let him go, Pa." "He ain't no use around here anyways." "That's enough, Mark." "Ma?" "Always knowed that John was different from the rest of us." "He has a gift." "To me, a wondrous gift, and he didn't get it from us, Ben." "I figure when he makes a picture like this... it must be God is guiding' his hand." "Maybe God's guiding' him now." "All set?" "Here, take this." "I don't fancy totin' no gun, Pa." "I don't get it." "You're the best shot in the family." "But I ain't lookin' for trouble." "Trouble maybe come lookin' for you, son." " Pa, you don't have to..." " Come on, now." "You're gonna need that." "Much obliged." "You... take good care of yourself, son." "Well, can't stay around talkin'." "There's work to be done." "Work?" "I figured we'd just lie around and wait till John sends all that money." "Giddap." "What's all this?" "I'll look like a peddler." "Sling'em up behind the saddle, Luke." "One sack's got vittles for four days." "Enough to get you there, I reckon." " What's this, ballast?" " A ham." "Twenty-four pounder." "Best Virginia smoked." "Give that to my sister with love from your pa and me." "Well, you're set." "Write me about them fast Northern girls." "Wait up!" "I believe in you, John." "You know that." "But if things don't go just right... you know your way home." "John?" "Uncle Jacob." " Where did you come from?" " I just rode in." "It's a pleasure to see you, my boy." "Riding all that way from Virginia..." "You could use a shave and a bath." "And a job." "What kind of job?" "Artist." "Newspaper artist." "Ah, yes, you're the nephew that draws." "What made you think I'd give you a job?" "Well, the last time we came to visit, you said..." "Ah, yes, I remember." "A year ago last Thanksgiving." "No, sir." "Y'all visited us then." "It was the year before that." "Anyway, you said..." "I didn't promise you a job, did I?" "No, sir, but you said when the time comes..." "Oh, yes." "Spare me the details." "John, your uncle Jacob has a big mouth." "Sit down and I'll tell you the facts of life of small newspapers." "A paper of this sort operates at a loss." "Well, almost a loss." "We can't afford illustrations... unless I pick up a litho block cheap from New York." "That's where I plan to work eventually..." "New York." "You can forget about New York." "Harper's?" "No, they only hire top men." "Yes, sir." "If you'd just take a look..." "Where was I?" "Ah, yes." "The point is that, basically, we can't afford to employ a full-time artist." "I'm sorry, my boy." "I like you." "I hate to turn you down." "I only hope that you... that you understand." "I'm just asking for a start." "I'd work cheap." "Cheap?" "Three dollars a week?" "Yes, sir." "That's mighty generous." "Well, you are my nephew, and you deserve the job, John." "Your work is excellent." "Besides, I have something in mind." "What a first assignment." " George." " Sir?" "Press credentials." "John Geyser." "Artist-correspondent." "And George?" " Yes, sir?" " When's the trial?" "Twenty-seventh." "The day after tomorrow." "There's a train at about..." "Well, no need to waste train fare." "He's got transportation." "It's two days' ride." "Do it in a day and a half." " Yes, sir." " Here's expense money." "Well, account for every penny." "Yes, sir, I will, but..." "No buts." "You're a newspaperman now." " What trial am I goin' to?" " What trial?" "The trial!" "John Brown's trial in Charlestown." "I want a portrait of that fierce old goat." " Yes, sir." "I'll just go clean up..." " No, there's no time for that." "The young idiot." "Left without his credentials." "Mama sends her love." "What the devil?" "Wait a minute!" "What is this loathsome object?" "That's a 24-pound best Virginia smoked ham." "That's different." "Left." "Left." "Left, right, left." "Silence in the court." "Those here assembled will please rise." "His Honor, Judge Richard Parker." "Whereas the prisoner, John Brown, was yesterday found guilty of treason... conspiring with slaves and others to rebel... and of murder in the first degree..." "His Honor has charged me to direct a question at said prisoner." "Is there any reason why sentence should not now be pronounced upon you?" "I have, may it please the Court, a few words to say." "You may proceed." "In the first place..." "I deny everything... but that which I have all along admitted... a plan on my part... to free slaves." "I never did intend murder or treason... or the destruction of property... or to incite slaves to revolt... or make insurrection." "I have another objection." "That is... it is unjust... that I should suffer such a penalty." "Had I interfered in the manner which I admit... in behalf of the rich and powerful... it would've been all right... and every man in the court... would have deemed it an act worthy of reward... not of punishment." "I see a book kissed here... which I suppose to be the Bible... that teaches me... whatsoever I would men should do to me..." "I should do even so unto them." "It teaches me further... to remember them that are in bonds... as bonded with them." "I believe... that to have interfered as I have done... in behalf of His despised poor... was not wrong... but right." "Now... if it is necessary... that I should forfeit my life... and further mingle my blood with the blood of... my children... and with the blood of millions in this slave country... whose rights are disregarded by wicked, cruel... and unjust... enactments..." "I submit..." "let it be done." "I have listened to the words of the accused... but I find in them nothing that challenges the verdict... arrived at here by due process of law." "Nor do I find in my mind or in my heart... any reasonable doubt that the prisoner is guilty." "John Brown..." "I sentence you to be hanged in public... on Friday, the second of December." "May God forgive you." "Mind if I sit?" "My name is Jonas Steele." "I've been looking for you." "Want a drink?" "It's a lot better than this house swill." "You were making pictures in the courtroom earlier today... just before the old man walked in." "Mind if I have a look?" "Yeah, I thought so." "I thought I could feel your eyes boring down on me." "You sure got a devil of a way with a likeness." "I wouldn't want to see that in your newspaper." "Now, I'm not tellin' you." "I'm askin'." "I don't understand." "Well, I wish I could say more... but I can't." "All I can say is that..." "I'm in a business that it could cause me a lot of harm... if certain people knew that I was at John Brown's trial." "I realize that's a lot to ask a man for a favor, but..." "You want a favor?" "Your Aunt Rosie wouldn't know you now." "I'm much obliged." "Here's the money I owe you." "I'm Nell." "I got something for you, love." "Follow me upstairs." "Upstairs?" "You checked your wallet lately?" "Bolt the door." "Where'd you find it?" " In your pocket." " You stole it?" "I'm giving it back, ain't I?" "There's two dollars missing." "I owed the bartender." "You can take it out in trade." "For two dollars, you could stay all night." "Thank you kindly, but I really couldn't." "You shy or somethin'?" "Get undressed, love." "You can keep the two dollars." "I have to go." "It's already paid for." "Look at me." "Am I ugly or somethin'?" "Oh, no." "You're real good-lookin'." "It's not you, it's me." "You got a problem?" "Maybe Nell can fix it." "No, please." "I'm fine." "What do you do, love?" "I work for a newspaper." "You don't dress like a newspaperman." " You look fresh off the farm." " I've only had the job a few days." "You know what I think?" "You're green." "Tell the truth, love." "You ever been with a woman?" "It's true, ain't it?" "My God, you're blushing'." "I caught me a real virgin." "Well, you're in luck, love." "Nell has a cure for what ails you." "I think I should go." "Just stop worryin'... and leave everything to me." "I got enough experience for the both of us." "There are rumors that various guerilla forces may be headed this way... to liberate you." "I do not encourage any attempt to save my life." "I am not sure... but that it's best that I die at this time." "Might I ask you this, sir..." "Are you ready to die?" "I'm entirely ready." "I know that I and my fellow captives must die... but mark my prediction... our deaths will be the beginning of the end for slavery." "Do you see the southern states accepting any kind of compromise, sir?" "Do you envision the possibility of a peaceful solution?" "Peaceful solution?" "I am quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land... can never be purged away but with blood." "Sir?" "In everyday language, do you mean the North and the South are gonna fight?" "Is there gonna be war?" "I mean there will be wailing and lamentations in a million homes." "Grief and sorrow will sit with every family in the land." "Thank you, gentlemen." "Thank you, sir." "Squad... halt!" "Squad, front." "You ever see a man hang before?" "A man couldn't have asked for a prettier day." "Where you headed, Jonas?" "Pennsylvania." "Philly." "Hey, that's right on the way to Gettysburg." "I'll tell you what..." "we ride together as far as Gettysburg." "I guarantee you a good dinner, good company and a warm bed." "Sounds like the brandy talkin'." "Well, that's true." "However, I happen to agree with what it says." "Hey, Daddy!" "John's comin'!" "Mama, John's here." "Oh, good!" "Your cousin John's arriving." "Oh, no." "I'm not fit to be seen." " Come on in, John." " Hey, James." "Say hi to Jonas." " Good evening, Cousin John." " Well, evening, Mistress Annie." " May I present Mr. Jonas Steele." " My pleasure." "Good heavens!" "You're soaked!" "Aunt Evelyn, this is Jonas Steele." " How do you do?" " How do you do?" "We just rode in all the way from Charlestown, and I wondered if..." "Of course." "You'll stay for supper and a night's rest." "Thank you, ma'am." " Jonas, this is Jake." " Pleasure." "And this is Malachy." "Malachy, tend their horses." "Jake, find them something dry to wear." "To the kitchen, you two, before you flood the hall." "And take off those wet clothes." " John, my boy." " Sir?" "When you're dry, I want to see the sketches of the hanging." "Yes, sir." "And the pants?" "Well, yes, ma'am, but..." "Jonas, I am the mother of grown sons." "Yes, ma'am, but I ain't one of'em." "Well, I'll leave you be." "John, your uncle Jacob wants to see you." "Sorry." "Are you..." "I'm Jonas, John's friend." "I'm Mary, John's cousin." "Pleased to meet you." "I heard tell once that women don't wash their hair on rainy days... 'cause it don't dry so well on rainy days." "That's true... but I wash mine on rainy days... because fresh rainwater makes it soft." "Then I dry it in front of the stove." "Oh, I'm sorry." "I'm in your way." "Come here." "There's room." "Warm whatever you were warming." "Did you get the stuff I sent by train, the trial sketches?" "Printed them two weeks ago." "Talk of the town, they were." "I got 14 new subscribers." "John, your portraits of John Brown are amazing." "It's the first time I felt I understood the man." "Supper's almost ready." "Jake has some dry clothes for you." "Why don't you put them on?" "Jacob, the boy is an artist." "He's a find, that's what he is." "My discovery." "You only pay your discovery three dollars a week." " Did he complain?" " John?" "Of course not." "Well, then don't meddle." "Women don't understand business." "Jacob, we're talking about my sister's son." "How can you take advantage of the boy?" "How can we ever look Maggie in the eye again?" "Well, there's that room over my office." "I'll let him live in it, rent-free." "The room rent-free, and five dollars a week." "So then I asked him, "Is there gonna be a war?"" "And old John Brown, he just turned to me..." "Bedtime, Annie." " You too, James." " Oh, Mother." "Let John finish." "You asked John Brown if there was gonna be a fight between the North and South." "Yeah, so old John Brown says..." ""There will be wailings and lamentations in a million homes... and grief and sorrow will sit with every family in the land."" "Then, not long after that, they put a noose around his neck." "Strung him up." "Did his head come off?" "That's enough." "Come." " Good night, everybody." " Good night." "Good night, James." "Good night, Annie." "Good night." " Jonas, you can use the back bedroom." " Thank you." "John, you stay with the boys." "Tired?" "I'll show you the way." " Good night, everybody." " Good night, Jonas." "If there was a war, John's family would be on one side and us on the other." "I find it hard to imagine." "If there's a war, I'll be the first to sign up." " I bet you I'm a born soldier." " I don't want any more talk about war." "It's not going to happen." "Too many wise heads in Washington." "Now, John, I want to raise a matter of business." " Should we leave?" " No." "Stay." "I'm proud to say this in front of my sons." "John, you've started out well." "Very well." "In recognition of that, I am giving you the room over the office rent-free." "And I hereby raise your salary to five dollars a week." "Free rent and five dollars a week?" "That's more than generous." "I've always made it a point to reward good work." "It's the American way." "I gather you're moving on tomorrow, Jonas." "Come sunup." "You haven't told me much about yourself." "There's not much to tell." "I'm sure that's not true." "But I won't ask questions." "Will you be coming back?" "To Gettysburg, I mean." "It could happen." "I'd like to come back, Mary." "Then make it happen." "It's important to me." "I hope you don't mind bold girls." "Pa!" "You're all dandied up, son." "You're all growed up too." "A year sure makes a difference." " You look fine, Pa, same as always." " I feel fine." " Is everybody here?" " Yep." "Matt and Mark come home yesterday." "They been spending time in the militia, learning to be soldiers." "Yeah, I heard, from Mama's letters." "And Emmy's fiancé, Lester Bedell, he's here too." "From Vicksburg, Mississippi." " You like him?" " Well, he's a businessman." "But not too bad of a fella." "We appreciate the money you sent." "It helped." "I'm sorry it couldn't have been more." "I was surprised you could send anything." "Jacob Hale was always tight with money." "Yeah, he is." "But I been sellin' work to other papers." "I even sold a couple in New York to Harper's Weekly." "That's fine, son, fine." "I'll give you a hand here." "Ma!" "John's home." "It is." "It is!" "Lester!" "John's home!" "Go on." "I'll take care of your horse." "It's so good to see you." "Look at you!" "Promise me you'll always come home for Christmas." "I'll sure try." " Congratulations." " Thank you." "Meet Lester Bedell." " And to you too." " Thank you, John." "It's freezing out here." "Shouldn't we be inside?" "I got coffee in the kitchen." "Cookies too." " Hi, John." "Welcome home." " Matthew." "Anybody else want some hot coffee?" "Anybody else want some hot coffee?" "Later, Mama." "I have somethin' to tell everybody." "All right, now, where are them cookies?" "I'll have some." "Take that hat off." "How many times have I told you?" "Ben, be quiet." "John has somethin' to tell us." "I rode through town just now." "There's news on the telegraph." "Bad news, I'm afraid." "South Carolina has seceded." "That's good news." "The rest of the deep South is set to follow soon..." "Alabama, Georgia, Florida." "What about Mississippi?" "Mississippi is certain to secede." "And us?" "When does Virginia secede?" "Not yet, if ever." ""If ever"?" "John, you been livin' up north too long." "Does it mean fighting'?" "Abe Lincoln takes office in a couple months, Mama." "It'll depend on him." "There'll be fightin', and I'm ready." " So am I." " Me too." "Not you, stupid." "You're too young." "Ma!" "Try to understand, Emmy." "My riverboats trade with the North." "If there's a war, it'll wipe out my income." "Well, what of it?" "I promised you... we'd soon be rich." "I promised you a big house and a carriage and slaves." "And that's what we'll have." "A lot of people make their fortunes in wartime." "And Vicksburg's right on the river, exposed." " It might be risky." " What are you leading' to?" "I'm givin' you the chance... to postpone the marriage." "Until I can deliver the things I promised." "Kiss me." "You want to wait?" "Ben, I'm all mixed up." "What about our Christmas Eve party?" "Well, the rest of the South's gonna be celebratin'." "Why not us?" " Celebratin' what?" " The war." "Celebratin' that we're gonna be free to live like we've always..." "We could have a son killed." "We could have sons killed." "Don't worry, Ma." "We'll chase them Yankee cowards." "Mr. Geyser, Emma and I have had a talk." "If there's war, my business is in jeopardy." "I have to leave for Vicksburg." " And I'm going with him." " It means getting married right away." "Married?" "Well, I'll tell you what." "We got the food, we got the neighbors all invited... so let's get ourselves a parson... and marry you two off on Christmas Eve!" " Thank you, sir." " How about that?" "It was a lovely wedding." "Lovely, wasn't it, John?" "Of course it was, Mama." "The bride was beautiful." "May I have this dance, Mrs. Bedell?" " With your permission." " Certainly." "Of course." "And I'll be the first to go, Lucy, on account of I'm already in uniform." "The first to fall... wounded in some great battle." "The last thing I'll remember as I die on the battlefield will be your kiss." "I never kissed you, Mark Geyser." "Well, I forgive you." "Mark, my reputation." "Well, the secret will die with me on the battlefield." "Promise?" "I promise." "Can I show you something?" "And there I'll be, lying' on some battlefield... dead as your Uncle Henry... and the last thing I'll remember... is your kiss." "Did you bring me out here to kiss me?" "Why didn't you say so?" "Evenin', Ben." "Sorry to bother you when you're partyin'." " You know the preacher Welles here." " Yeah, I know him." " Who are they?" " Them's the Gault brothers." "They make a livin' chasing' runaway slaves." "They been tracking' two of'em clean up from Georgia." " What's it got to do with me, Sheriff?" " Slaves is hiding' on your property." "They're hidin' in that cabin down there in the woods." "Least that's what the brothers tell me." "Jonathan's cabin?" "That's him." "Jonathan." "I been waitin' a long time to get that uppity nigger." "I'll check Jonathan's cabin first thing in the morning." "No, Ben." "Tonight." "You better stay here, Matt." "Help your mother keep the party happy." "Do as I say." "Eli... cover the back of that cabin." "You reckon he's got a gun in there?" "Evenin', Sheriff." "Evenin', Mr. Geyser." "There's talk you been hidin' runaway slaves, Jonathan." "Runaway slaves?" "No, sir, not me." "Search out that cabin." "Now, hold it." "I live here legal." "I pay rent." "Ask Mr. Geyser." "You can't bust in a man's place." "That's against the law." " Not for slaves, it ain't." " I'm a free man." "I got the papers to prove it." "Tell me." "You're not hidin' anyone, are you?" "Just as I thought!" "Here they are!" "Jonathan, my God!" "How could you be so stupid?" "They were starving... they were dog-weary, and they were black, that's how." "There." "You have your prisoners." "Go back to the horses and wait for us." "The rest of this here is a local matter." "Sheriff." "Go on." "Free man, are ya?" "Well, them two niggers is gonna live... because they is slaves... the way the good Lord intended for them to be." "Slaves is worth money... but you, free man... you ain't worth spit in the wind." "Hang him." "They got no right to hang him, Pa." "He's got his rights." "He's entitled to a trial." "Looks like you raised yourself a nigger lover, Ben." "Put that gun down, John." "Not when they're fixin' to hang him, I won't." "Let's hang this troublemaker, Ben." "I can't stop you, Welles... but there's nothin' says I have to help you either." "Hang him!" "I had to stop you, John." " Why?" " For the family." "We live here." "Your brother was right in hitting' you." "You was fixin' to get yourself in a lot of trouble." "It's not right, Pa." "It's not fair." "Just leave him be, Pa." "Come back to the house." "Please, Pa, just leave me alone." "Come on." "I buried him." "We come to ask you not to leave, John." "We know you liked Jonathan, and maybe he got more than what was comin' to him... but he done wrong helping' them runaways." "Anyways, it's no time for you to be goin' up north." "There's gon' be a fight." "You can smell it in the wind." "It's time to choose sides." "You belong here." "When time comes to enlist, Mark and I want you with us." "Three of us, side by side." "Ain't nobody can lick us." "I'll never wear that uniform." "Well, that makes you a traitor, John." " You didn't mean that." " No, I meant it." "The fightin's gonna be here, in the South." "You won't stay here and defend our home, our land?" "Our land." "Sacred soil." "A man was murdered on this soil last night... killed by some half-mad fanatic and a bully-boy of a sheriff... and you did nothin' to stop it, Pa." "You couldn't... 'cause the biggest crime around here is to side with a black man." "So Jonathan's dead." "My friend's hangin' from a tree!" "What's wrong with this land, it produces such a bitter crop?" "Don't ask me to fight for this handful of dust." "It's not sacred soil." "Not to me." "Not anymore." "Lunch." "The roast beef sandwiches Mother promised you." " There's enough for you too, George." " I thank you, Miss Mary." "Lincoln's train is headed to Washington." "It stops tomorrow a few miles from here." "Tell John I want a portrait of the new president." "I'll tell him." "Come in." "Sorry about the mess." "Wasn't expecting' company." "What are you trying to do, hibernate?" "So, how are you, Mary?" "You heard from Jonas?" "I refuse to discuss it." "Did you hear from him?" "Why don't you come to the house anymore?" "At least for a decent meal." "You can't live on biscuits and cheese forever." "I've been readin'." "You've been brooding, John... ever since the break with your family." "You've gotta put that aside, make yourself a life here." "You have a second family, if you'd just give us a chance." "I don't belong here any more than I did back home." "Pa was right." "There's a war comin'." "It's time to choose up sides." "You already made your choice." "I chose not to fight for the South... but I can't enlist up here either." "How could I carry a rifle for the North if I might have to use it on my brother?" "Then don't enlist." "The problem is, I'll be the only one my age... walking around Gettysburg in civilian clothes." "With a Virginia accent?" "We might as well get out the tar and feathers right now." "You won't solve your problem moping." "Tomorrow we'll get out the buckboard and go for a nice drive in the country." "No, thank you, Mary." "I have work to do." "It's an assignment, John." "You have no choice." "Ladies and gentlemen of Leaman Place..." "I want to express my pleasure at being here... and thank you for your friendly greeting'." "I appear not to make a speech." "I've not time to make'em at length... and not strength to make'em on every occasion." "Worse than all, I have none to make." "Furthermore, it's well known that the more a man speaks... the less he is understood." "I appear before you then... merely to see and be seen." "And as regards to the ladies, I have the best of the bargain." "No, you don't." "But as to the gentlemen..." "I cannot say as much." "Let's have a look at Mrs. Lincoln." "Ladies and gentlemen... since you seem so determined to meet Mrs. Lincoln..." "I concluded I'd best give you the long and the short of it." " You are?" " John Geyser, Gettysburg Chronicle." "Follow me." " Does this man have a clearance?" " The president wanted to see him." "Sorry, Colonel." "I have my orders." "Howdy, John." " I know this man." "I'll vouch for him." " If you say so." "I want to see that man, Jonas Steele." "Sorry, miss." "Nobody allowed inside." "Mr. John Geyser of the Gettysburg Chronicle." "Sit down, young man." " Is there a telegraph office here?" " Yes, sir." " See to that, please." " Yes, sir." "I saw you sketching outside." "It was my assumption you were making a sketch of Mrs. Lincoln and myself." "Well, as it happens, Mrs. Lincoln and I have never been photographed... nor sketched together, as far as I know." " I'm surprised by that, sir." " That's why I want to see your drawing." "Oh, yes, sir." "Of course." "No disrespect intended, sir." "It's from your joke." "Departure in five minutes, Mr. Lincoln." "I don't know as it would be prudent to show it to Mrs. Lincoln... but it sure tickles me." "Sir, could I make another sketch?" "More of a portrait?" "If you can make it a five-minute portrait, go to it." "That accent of yours..." "You're not originally from Gettysburg." "No, sir, I'm from Virginia." "My family has a small farm near Charlottesville." "You been back there recently?" "Yes, sir." "Two months ago." "What was the sentiment in your county as to secession or no?" "I don't know about the county... but I have three brothers that can't wait to fight for the Confederacy." "And what about you?" "No, sir, I'll not fight for the South." "Nor, I dare say, for the North." "How do you know that, sir?" "I made the presumption that you wouldn't bear arms against your brothers." "Yes, sir." "You're right about that." "I'm caught betwixt and between." "This war's the biggest thing of my generation, and I'll be left out of it." "Well, should it come to war... were I you, I'd look to my talent for the solution." "Your talent suggests the role of correspondent... artist-correspondent." "You'd be where history is being made, yet not obliged to carry a rifle." "Furthermore, your work could be a contribution." "Through it, the people back home would come to know the face of war." "You see more than do most men." "You'll make an able correspondent." "Thank you, sir." "Thank you." "All aboard!" " Mary!" " It's me!" "Why haven't you written?" "I apologize." "I'll explain when I see you!" " When will that be?" " Soon." "I promise!" "I promise, Mary!" "Soon!" "You look beautiful!" "John, come here." "You show Old Glory flying over Fort Sumter... and our lead news story is the surrender." "Five minutes." "I'll change Old Glory to the white flag of surrender." "Do you see Jake anywhere?" "Probably workin' at the bank, Mama." "Help me find Jake and Malachy." "Stop fretting, Mama." "They're old enough." "Friends, you all know me... as State Senator Phineas Wade." "And now you see me... in the role of warrior... sworn to destroy... with naked sword... the cowardly Southern traitors... those cowardly secessionists... who are out to bust up the noblest form of government on this Earth!" "President Lincoln... has just made that clarion call for volunteers." "I need hot-blooded young men." "I ask you to sign up for three months... for 90 days." "Ninety days of adventure... and educational travel... during which you will be paid the generous sum... of 11 dollars a month!" "So enlist now... and drive back the secessionists... to their alligator swamps... and then return to our beloved Gettysburg... wearing those medals that will mark you... as heroes." "I ask you... to observe that wagon with the pretty girls." "Those of you who want to be soldiers and heroes... just hop aboard." "And if those beautiful young ladies insist on kissing you... well, don't be surprised." "It's only natural... because everybody loves a soldier." "Young men... the rest is up to you!" "I'll only marry" "A boy in blue" "No civilian" " Will conquer my heart" " Come on up, soldier!" "There they are." "They're enlisting." "Mary, what'll I do?" "Be proud, Mama." "Your sons were the very first." "Yes, well, of course I'm proud." "We're all proud." "Aren't we?" "Where's James?" "For I'm bound to be" "A soldier's wife" "Or die" " You over 18?" " Yes, sir." " You over 18, lad?" " Darn near." "I'm 16 goin' on 17." " Sorry, lad." " An old maid" " You over 18?" " Yes, sir." "Up you go." "I'm your man." "Welcome, young man." "You're the first recruit we've had today." " Are you over 18?" " I sure am." "It's against the law to make a false statement." "I stand on my statement, sir." "All right." "I sign you up." " Your name." " James Hale." "Private James Hale." "I'm proud of you, one and all!" "Proud of you!" "All right, driver, take these fine young men down to the recruiting office... and sign'em up!" "Here you are, sir." "Perfect." "Perfect." "Here comes the rush." "Private." " Me?" " Me, sir." "You're senior man now." "Line up the recruits as they come in." "Form a line here in front of the captain's desk." "Okay, you men, move back there." "Mooney, the line's over there." "You don't fool me none, Jimmy Hale." "You're too young to be in the army." "You better shut up, or I'll have you shot at dawn." "Line up." " You must have lied." " Me?" "Lie?" "To my government?" "That'd be an insult to my uniform." "Form this line up." "On the double!" " Good work, Pvt. Hale." "Keep'em moving'." " Aye, aye, skipper." "Look sharp." "You're joining the army now." "You have some explaining to do, Captain Steele." "Here I am on the witness stand, ready to confess." "What were you doing on Lincoln's train?" "Bodyguard." "I used to be a private detective in Chicago." "I worked for the Pinkerton Agency." "Do you know him personally?" "The Pinkerton Agency handled security for the Illinois Central Railroad... and Lincoln was their lawyer." "I've known him for years." "I thought you hailed from Kansas." "Yeah." "Just a simple country feller." "How does a simple country feller get to be a detective in Chicago?" "Well, Pinkerton came to Kansas once." "I met him, he offered me the job." "John Brown introduced us." "The John Brown?" "I rode with him for a while." "All those months without a word from you." "Why didn't you write?" "May the witness have a little time to answer that?" "Do you remember the last time I saw you?" "Over a year ago." "A year and four months." "You led me upstairs and turned down the bed." "I remember because..." "I had one of my dreams that night... and you were in it." "We were lying in bed together." "We were awake." "It was like we were married." "And I remember there was a terrible storm outside." "Lightning flashing, thunder... like the roll of cannon... like some great battle was going on out there somewhere." "And then the room flashed... daylight bright... and you screamed." "And then another bolt of lightning splintered the window... flashed across the room, hit the opposite wall." "And I turned to you... and you were gone." "That's all I remember." "Scared me, Mary." " But it was only a dream." " I know." "But when I have dreams like that, they almost always come true." "I took it as a sign... a kind of warning... that we shouldn't let things get too serious between us." "I was worried that... if we did... some harm would come to you." "Do you think you have some kind of psychic gift?" "I don't know." "Maybe." "Whatever it is, I just figured you'd be safe if I stayed away from you." "So that was it?" "What made you change your mind?" "Well, when a feller's in love, he don't hardly have much willpower." "Do you realize what you just said?" "It just slipped out, I guess." "That night I took you upstairs..." "I asked you if you liked bold girls." "You didn't answer." "The bolder the better." "Good." "Jonas... promise me you'll never worry about that dream again." "I'll try." "On the way over here I rode through a nice little town down the road." "Hanover." "Saw a wonderful house there for sale, just right for a young couple." "Are we a couple?" "I think you just proposed." "Damn it." " Now we have to get married." " Oh, Jonas!" "Good-bye." "Hay foot, hay foot, hay foot, straw foot, hay foot." "Fight fire right." "March!" "Fight fire right." "March!" "Right shoulder shift." "Men, if you never learn nothin'else, you're gonna learn to load your rifle." "Remove one paper cartridge from your cartridge box." "Observe one round of ball ammunition." "What we call a mini-ball is contained in the top part of your cartridge." "Powder is down in the paper right here." "You're gonna bite off the tail, like so... place the cartridge in the muzzle so the powder goes down... tamp it down snug with your rammer." "Do not forget to remove the rammer from the barrel." "Half-cock the hammer." "Take one cap from your pouch." "Place the cap right here on the nipple and push it home, so." "Now, don't you do this next step." "But when I full-cock the hammer, she's ready to fire." "You leave it right there on half-cock where it's safe." "Now we're gonna step over to the range... where each one of you will get a chance to fire one round." "It's dangerous to move with a loaded weapon... so carry it with the muzzle up." " What's goin' on, Malachy?" " It's a cockroach race." " First one off the plate wins." " Who else wants to challenge the champ?" "Come on, little men, let's gamble." "Three dollars is bet." "Whoa." "Tiger says he can whip any cockroach in the army." "Got a half-dollar here that says my cockroach is faster than yours." "That's a bet, sonny." " Where's the challenger?" " Down by the guardhouse, training'." "I'll be back in a couple minutes." "Hey, Alvin, I need a match box." "I got more if you need'em." "What I need is a plate." "What's wrong, James?" "Screamers?" " I gotta go to the sink." " What?" " The latrine!" " Oh, the bog." "Heat this plate up and bring it to our tent." "And hurry." "Here he is!" "Come on." "You've kept us waitin' long enough." "You ready?" "He's still warming' up." "Anybody got a plate?" "Here." "Set it down, Mooney." " What's wrong with the plate we got?" " This is one ornery cockroach in here." "He'll fight on your plate, but if you want a race..." "All right, all right, we'll do it your way." "On your mark, get set... go!" "Come on, Tiger!" "Come on!" "Come on!" "You can move faster than that!" "Come on, Tiger, you beautiful beast!" "Come on, Tiger!" "All right!" "What happened?" "My money went up in smoke." "Tried to outfox me, did you, sonny?" "Too bad for you." "Give me that." "I'll take that." "Who wants to try again?" "Mooney, you are the most stupidest..." "First you're late, then you overheat the..." "Let's go." "Let's gamble one more time." "James, what's the matter?" "You got the screamers?" "It's bad, Malachy." "It's real bad." "Come on." "Do you happen to know Mr. Arbuthnot of Harper's Weekly?" "This way, please, sir." "Mr. Geyser, I assume." "Pleased to meet you, Mr. Arbuthnot." "I'm correspondent for Harper's stationed here in Washington." "I understand you've joined the fold." "Welcome, and what are you drinkin'?" "Brandy." "I've been instructed by New York to give you this." "You'll find credentials, information on where and how to send your stuff... nice little sheaf of expense money... and that's about it." "Be a good feller and pick up the bill, huh?" "Mr. Arbuthnot, is someone gonna show me the ropes?" "Not me." "I don't know anything about covering a war." "No doubt you'll learn." "Look at that." "Another regiment arriving." "We must have 50,000 troops in this city." "Seventy-five thousand, and every one of'em itching' to fight." "Have you been reading the New York Tribune?" " On to Richmond." " Correct." "The Rebel congress meets in Richmond on the 20th." "We must be there to prevent it." "You're a bunch of fools, the whole lot of you." " Really, Major." " Boasting about the troops you have." "I'll tell you how many you have..." "a handful." "The rest are 90-day enlistees." "They'll probably be on their way home before they learn how to fire a rifle." "I'll tell you what kind of army you have... an army of civilians." "Major, that's uncalled-for." "My men are soldiers, and they're ready." "What do you know?" "You're a civilian yourself." " Another brandy." "Make it two." " Yes, sir." "How long you been rich?" "Since I became a war artist for Harper's Weekly." "Congratulations." "What about you?" "You goin' down to West Virginia to join McClellan?" "No, they changed their mind." "They seem to think McDowell needs me more." "McDowell?" "What's his command?" "All the federal troops around Washington are under his command." " I'm assigned to him as an army scout." " What kind of work is that?" "Well, I ride ahead... until I locate the enemy." "Then when I find'em, I ask'em what they're up to." "When they tell me, I ride back and I tell McDowell." "Simple." "Could I ride with you?" "I'm afraid not." "An army scout has to be a loner." "Jonas, I have to cover the war." "I don't know what to do." "Please, show me where it is." "All right." "We'll ride south, and I guarantee you we'll find it." "May it be over soon." "We're lookin' for the Hale brothers." "Go down to the hospital tent." "James took sick." "Where?" "Evening, Captain." "We came to see James Hale." "I'm his cousin." " He's dying." " What are you doing for him?" "It's some kind of galloping dysentery." "I've tried tartar emetic, ipecac and epsom salts." "That's all I've got." "That's all I can do." "Excuse me." "Don't get up." "I'm glad you're here, John." "You too, Jonas." "It's me, Jake." " Jake?" " That's right, James." "Tell Mama to come upstairs." "Yeah." "Sure." "Right away." "Tell her..." "Tell her I feel poorly." "Captain." "I'm mighty busy, Captain." "It's about Private James Hale." "I'm his cousin." "Arrangements have been made." "How about letting one of his brothers escort the body?" "They already shipped the body home." "Forget it, men." "Nobody leaves camp." "We move out tomorrow morning." "Down the Warrington Turnpike?" "That's right, Captain." "Right through Fairfax Courthouse..." "Centerville... across Bull Run to Manassas... on to Richmond." "Colonel Wade's shouting' for you, sir." "Excuse me, gentlemen." "On to Richmond, hmm?" "Maybe." "General Beauregard is waiting right in here with 25,000 men." "General Johnson has 12,000 more Rebs waiting in here." "It'll be a fine old dust-up." "You see the stone bridge where the turnpike crosses Bull Run?" "If I were an artist lookin' for a battle..." "I'd start lookin' right here." "Looks peaceful enough." "It's probably mined." "Let's get some rest." "Army's got more campfires than the sky has stars." "Well, maybe it'll be a short war like everybody says." "What do you think?" "That psychic sense of yours told you anything?" "I had a dream the night young James died, but..." "I can't figure it." "Try it on me." "It's about an old lady." "She lived on a farm." "She was like that old lady who lived in a shoe." "Had so many children, she didn't know what to do." "Well, this old lady had more children than she could handle... and the children began feudin' over who was gonna inherit the land." "They split into two sides." "A house divided against itself." "But you know, it's the rest of the dream I can't understand." "Somebody killed the old lady." "Everybody was accusin' everybody else." "Then I was in the dream... and everybody was accusing me." "Then I was runnin'." "Runnin' through a forest of endless trees." "That's it?" "Campfires are blinking'." "What do you mean, blinking'?" "The men are passing back and forth in front of them." "The army's stirring'." "I'd better get over there." "Only three hours till daybreak." "Better use it to sleep." "All batteries, position yourselves by the river!" "Batteries one, two, three and four, over here!" "Prepare to load!" " Range?" " Two hundred yards!" "Number one, fire!" "Number two, fire!" "Fire!" "Number one, fire!" "Number two, fire!" "Number three, fire!" "Reload!" "Number one, fire!" "Number two, fire!" "Number three, fire!" "Reload!" "This is just a feint." "The main army's crossing' the river a few miles upstream." " Where?" " You stay with this outfit." "They'll be joinin' the battle soon enough." "Move it, move it, move it!" "Cease fire!" "Cease fire!" "We're movin' out!" " Who the devil are you?" " John Geyser, Harper's Weekly." "Who the devil are they?" "Those are most important people, Mr. Geyser." "Senators, congressmen and the like, with their womenfolk." "They rode all the way from Washington... to have a picnic and watch the fun." "Oh, I know what they deserve." "I just can't waste the ammunition." "Gentlemen, fire when you see their blue bellies!" "Here they come, Mark." "Steady now." "Take cover!" "Get set, boys!" "We gotta take that hill!" "We go straight up!" "No pauses... no turning back." "Forward!" "Hold your fire for my command!" "Steady!" "Steady!" "Ready!" "Fire!" "Steady!" "Do not fire!" "Ready!" "Fire!" "Everybody down!" "Fire!" "And I thought I'd make such a great soldier." "So far, so good." "I wet my pants." "Everybody will know." "They'll see." "No, they won't." "We just crossed the stream, didn't we?" "Everybody up!" "Forward!" "Fire!" "Hold!" "Ready!" "Aim!" "Fire!" "Circle right!" "Circle right!" "Load!" "Fire!" "Bugler, sound the charge!" "Battalion, charge!" "Adjust left!" "Ready!" "Fire!" "Fire!" "Hold your positions!" "Hold your positions!" "Use your bayonets!" "It's Jackson!" "Fall back to the fence!" "Fall back to the fence!" "Fall back!" "Kneel and fire!" "Let's go, boys!" "Men, what are you doin'?" "Take courage!" "Look, there's Jackson... standin' like a stone wall!" "Let us determine to die here, and we will conquer!" "Follow me!" "Victory, men of Virginia!" "Down, men, down!" "Charge!" "Charge!" "Charge!" "Charge!" "Charge!" "Bugler, sound the retreat!" "Fall back!" "Retreat!" "Run, you hellions... back to hell!" "Malachy!" "Malachy!" "Stop!" "Whoa, whoa!" "Help!" "Help!" "Help me!" "Help me!" "Get in here!" "Help these men!" " No, I can't!" " If you want a ride, get in there!" "Come on!" "Move it, move it, move it!" "God bless you, miss." "Give me a hand over here, please." "All right, all right, ease up." "Ease up." "You did well." "So did you." "You want a ride?" "Men... the army to which this regiment belongs... is now under the command of Major General George B. McClellan." "The mistakes of Bull Run... are being corrected." "Never again... will a half-trained civilian mob... be marched into battle." "When next you march... you will be soldiers." "When next you march... you will be part of General McClellan's new army... and you will march to victory." "Mark you well the lesson of this morning." "In this army... there will be no room for shirkers... and lay abouts... and certainly no room... for cowards." "By order of regimental court-martial..." "Private Lawrence Jones... having, by his own admission, fled from the battle of Bull Run... is declared guilty of desertion under fire... and in the face of the enemy... and is hereby sentenced... to be branded a coward... and dismissed from the army of the United States." "Corporal... carry out the sentence." "Dear God!" "No!" "Malachy's got the blues, John." "He's had'em real bad ever since Bull Run." "Says he's the one that should've been branded." "Bull Run was two months ago." "Why can't he get over it like everybody else?" "I don't know." "When we were kids, he fought our battles for us." "He was our soldier." "I don't know what's wrong with him." "Coffee?" "I heard this story about Bull Run." "This Confederate general... was ridin' up from the rear echelon, towards the fightin'... and he saw so many Rebs hightailin' it from the battle... he thought the South was licked." "See, thousands ran away that day... on both sides." "Why do you want to act like you lost the battle single-handed?" "Just leave me be." "Listen to me, cousin." "I think the problem is, you thought you'd be the best soldier in the army." "You even said so back in Gettysburg." "You said you were a born soldier." "Well, you're not." "Nobody is." "You went into your first battle untrained, and it scared you." "So what?" "It's not the end of the world." "It proves you're human, like the rest of us." "You don't have to be a hero." "You just have to do your share." "But that's important, because you're needed." "I'm needed?" "Yeah." "First of all, there's your brother Jake." "Jake's a banker." "He's a desk man." "This is gonna be a tough war." "He's not exactly cut out for it, is he?" "No, he isn't." "Well, he's gonna need your help." "Think about it." "You make lousy coffee, Jake." "From now on I'll do it." "Fine." "I had a little talk with our cousin, the artist." "Yes?" "You know, John's turning out all right." "Miss Kathy Reynolds?" "Your name, sir?" "Excuse me, sir." "Who is that young man?" "John Geyser, sir, from Harper's Weekly." "Always delighted to see the press." "Not at home, though." "All interviews are at my office." "Thank you, Senator, but actually I came to see Kathy." "You know my daughter?" "Yes, sir." "Are you sure?" "Where would Kathy have met a... journalist?" "As a matter of fact, it was at the battle of Bull Run, sir." "Oh, so you're that young man, eh?" "I expect you'd like a reward." "Accompany me to my office." "Excuse me, sir, I don't want an interview or a reward." "I just came to pay my respects to Kathy." "I don't suppose I can stop that." "Just don't make it a habit." "My daughter's in the parlor." "How nice to see you." "You're just in time to settle an argument." "Everyone, I'd like you to meet my friend, John Geyser." "How do you do?" "Dr. Bennett." "Count Von Ziller." " How do you do?" " The count is with the German embassy." "This is John Geyser." "He's the man that rescued me at Bull Run." "Ah, the journalist." "Why did you put Kathy in that ambulance and force her to tend those wounded men?" "They were not even officers." "That's what started this whole harebrained scheme." " Now she wants to become a nurse." " I told you there was an argument." "They're training a few women nurses at Georgetown Hospital... an experiment, and I thought I'd sign up." "Women nurses." "Do you realize, my dear, that you'd have to wash men's bodies... and carry away their... their waste products." "A lady, forced to look at naked men." "Naked enlisted men." "As you see, I have opposition." "What do you think?" "I saw you in action." "I think you'd make a wonderful nurse." "No gentleman would say that!" "She will not with the hospital sign." "I will not allow it." "I think it's up to Kathy." "What makes you think it's your decision?" "My fondest hope is that I and Kathy... in the spring... will be married." "You'll have to kill me first." "If necessary, Doctor." "Well, married or not, I still think it's up to Kathy." "You can't be serious." "I think John's right." "Where did you get your odd ideas?" "Did you say he's from the South?" "Virginia." "Well, what's a Southerner doing working for a New York publication?" "And attached to the Northern army?" "What side are you on?" "Why do you not fight for your homeland?" "I'm an observer." "It keeps me impartial." "Impartial." "It also keeps you out of the line of fire." "You calling me a coward?" " Take it as you wish." " Gentlemen, please." "I'm sorry, Kathy." "I've got to set this popinjay straight." "This what?" "Tell me something." "That day at Bull Run, you were Kathy's escort, weren't you?" "I was." "I was knocked unconscious." "When I recover..." "Kathy is gone." "That's a lie, Von Ziller." "Apologize." "Stop it, both of you." "You will apologize." "I'll kill you on the field... of honor." "Do go on." "Oh, I saw him that day in his fancy blue uniform." "He was far from unconscious." "I warn you..." "You were thrown from the carriage, all right... but you got up unhurt... completely ignored Kathy, ran off like a frightened rabbit." "I hate duels." "They're stupid and they're dangerous." " Stop complaining, Jonas." " And they're going out of style." "He doesn't think so." "Good morning." "Good morning, General." "Good morning, Duke." "I am Mr. Geyser's second." " I am not a duke." " Then you're overdressed." "You'd better put that thing away before you cut yourself." "I believe we have the choice of weapons." "Correct." "That is by the book." "Pistols." "Pistols." "At my signal... take ten paces forward... turn and fire." "Do you understand?" "Ready?" "Now!" "One, two, three... four, five, six, seven..." "Nine, ten." "Stay where you are!" "Why does he not shoot?" " He doesn't want to kill an unarmed man." " He must shoot." "It is in the book." "I'll tell him." "What do you do in a case like this?" "Fritzie says you gotta shoot the clod." "It's in the book." " He'll kill me!" " Probably." "You move, and I'll kill you myself!" "Twenty paces." "I can't possibly miss him." "For five dollars?" "It's a bet." "Right on the mark." "You win." "You gamble on a duel?" "You have no respect for tradition." "Maybe not, Fritzie, but at least we don't cheat." "Fred, would you please drive down there?" "Yes, ma'am." "Buy you breakfast." "You have a visitor." "Are you going back to Washington?" " It's too far to walk." " Go ahead." "I'll take care of the horses." " Do you mind?" " Not at all." "To the victor belong the spoils." "Bye-bye." "You fired those 7 rounds in 28 seconds, Mr. President." "And the barrel remains cool." "Well, that's not too bad, is it, Jonas?" "It's good shooting, sir." "It's reloaded for you, Mr. President." "Let's set the board back further, back by the pine tree." "Now let's see what an expert can do, Jonas." "This'll be an excellent test of your invention, Mr. Spencer." "Capt. Steele here is an army scout attached to Gen. McClellan's staff... and one of the best shots in the army." "Ready, sir?" "Ready." "Fire." "Sixteen seconds." "Incredible." "That is, if you hit anything." "What do you think of it, Jonas?" "Well, she hefts well, sir." "Lever action is smooth." "Capability for rapid fire is amazing." "Looks like you missed one." "There'll have to be an official test, Mr. Spencer... but I'll recommend to the war department to evaluate your rifle right away." "You'll hear from them." "Oh, please keep that, Mr. President." "I had your initials put on the stock." "Why, thank you." "Thank you kindly." "Perhaps you'd like this as a memento of the occasion." "Indeed I would, sir." "Thank you, sir." "McClellan tells me you're to be married." "Yes, sir." "Soon?" "Well, the general promised me leave as soon as the work slacks up." "Does your bride-to-be know of the... dangers that go along with your army assignment?" "Yes, sir." "Jonas, we've been friends for a long time... and I'd sure like to give you a wedding present... but the gift I have in mind is one that your bride might consider... inappropriate." "Now, you explain to her... that any gift that might help you to survive... and bring you back to her safely... is appropriate." "I believe in you, John." "You know that." "What do you do, love?" "I work for a newspaper." "You look fresh off of the farm." "I've only had the job a few days." "You're green." "Tell the truth now, love." "You ever been with a woman?" "John Brown, I sentence you to be hanged in public... on Friday the second of December." "Will you be coming back?" " To Gettysburg, I mean." " It could happen." "I'd like to come back, Mary." "Then make it happen." "I've come to ask you not to leave, John." "It's no time for you to be going up north." "There's gonna be a fight." "Three of us side by side." "Ain't nobody can lick us." "I'll never wear that uniform." "Well, that makes you a traitor." "What was the sentiment in your county... as to secession or no?" "I don't know about the county... but I have three brothers who can't wait to fight for the Confederacy." "Should it come to war... were I you, I'd look to my talent for the solution." "Your talent suggests the role of artist-correspondent." "File right." "You see the stone bridge where the turnpike crosses Bull Run?" "If I were an artist lookin' for a battle..." "I'd start lookin' right here." "I thought I'd make such a great soldier." "So far, so good." "I wet my pants!" "Help!" "Help!" "Oh, help me!" "Get in here!" "Help these men!" "Signal Lieutenant Welles' battery to fire on the high road." "Corporal, they're coming." "They're heading down the main road." "Our guns are dead on." "Gunners to your post!" "Ready." "Number one, fire!" "Fire!" "Number three, fire!" "Number four, fire!" "Rest up, men." "It'll be a while 'fore they can knock out them Reb guns." "Hey, Sarge, where are we?" "Where are we goin'?" "Yeah, fill us in." "Well, do you remember bein' seasick?" " Yeah." " That boat brought you... from the Potomac... through Chesapeake Bay right here to Virginia." "This here's a peninsula we're on." "Yonder is Richmond." "All you gotta do is march 50 miles, take Richmond, and the war is over." "Any other questions?" "You're liable to see the elephant a few times before you get there." "What elephant?" "To see the elephant means to be in a battle." "Have you seen the elephant?" "Once... over my shoulder." "Major, this is Professor Thaddeus Lowe." "He'll go up in his balloon to direct your artillery fire." "I want those Reb guns silenced." "This civilian is going to direct my fire... from that balloon, sir?" "That's what I said, Major." "What will you do, point?" "No, no, no, Major." "My balloon is equipped with telegraph key, air-to-ground telegraph cable." " I send down the exact..." " Target locations." "Thank you, General." "Do you know how to plot artillery targets?" "I know little of guns." "I hate guns." "Professor Lowe will be flying with an expert observer." "Then all we need is an artilleryman crazy enough... to go up in that contraption." "Precisely why I sent for you, Major." "My God Almighty." "Stay here, young man." "Homer." "Take everything you've got and aim it at that sector." "What's the target?" "The devil's work is afoot in that field, my boy." "Father, what's the target?" "A balloon." "Balloon?" "Yes, my son." "Load!" "Raise 1,200 yards." "Three-quarters maximum elevation." "There she is!" "All yours, Lieutenant." "Ready!" "Number one, fire!" "Number two, fire!" "Number three, fire!" "Number four, fire!" "Damn!" "Load!" "Maximum elevation." "Ready, sir." "Cannon one, fire!" "Number two, fire!" "Number three, fire!" "Number four, fire!" "She's above our maximum elevation." "Hold your guns, Homer." "They've seen you." "Dig a hole behind number one." "Lower the gun trail two feet." "Don't you understand?" "They're directing fire from that balloon." "Move your guns or they're gonna blow this battery apart!" "Move it!" "Reload!" "We'll get one more shot." "Yes, sir." "Homer." "Put your trust in the Lord God Jehovah, my boy." "He's dead." "Stretcher!" "Mr. John Geyser calling." "Good news, Kathy." "Jonas finally got his leave." "The wedding can take place this weekend." "Hello, Senator." "I didn't expect you to be home." "Yes." "Mr. Geyser, I'm grateful that you rescued Kathy at Bull Run... and because of that, I permitted you to escort her several times." "But that, sir, does not mean that you can drop in unannounced..." "Father." "Would you like a cup of tea, John?" "No, thank you." "What was this about a wedding?" "My friend, Captain Jonas Steele, is being married this weekend... to my cousin, Mary Hale of Gettysburg." "Since Kathy knows Jonas, I thought she might like to attend." "I'd love it." "And where is this to take place?" "In Gettysburg." "Will you excuse us, Kathy?" " But, Father..." " Kathy." "Do I understand you want to travel to Pennsylvania for the weekend... with my daughter, alone?" "Yes, sir." "She would stay with my Aunt Evelyn and be properly chaperoned, of course." "It's quite impossible." "May I ask why?" "Mr. Geyser, may I be frank?" "My daughter has a social position to maintain." "She cannot possibly do that if she has been intimate... with an impecunious journalist." "Intimate?" "We haven't so much as kissed." "I'm damn glad to hear that." "William will show you to the door." "Now, this is so you don't go away mad." "I'm still mad." "Where are you?" "And, Mary, wilt though have this man to be thy wedded husband?" "Wilt thou love him and comfort him, honor and obey him... in sickness and health... and forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him... so long as you both shall live?" " I do." " The ring, please." "For as much as Jonas and Mary have consented together in holy wedlock..." "I pronounce that they are husband and wife." "Those whom God has joined together... let no man put asunder." "Amen." "That's for..." "Oops, sorry." "Didn't I just give you one, George?" "I drank that to the bride, Mr. Hale." "We mustn't forget the groom." " Do you like the silver?" " I do." " And the china?" " Yes." "I thought these would be for... when the war keeps you apart." "They're beautiful, John." "John, you must have read my heart." "Excuse me, Captain Steele." "Among other things, I am the society editor of the Gettysburg Chronicle." "It is my duty to write a story about this... your gallant venture into holy matrimony." "Why, George, you're tiddled." "Of course." "Am I not losing my boss's daughter?" "Get us all a refill, John." "The old goat's cut me off." "Excuse, Mary." "Let's see." "Where will you spend the honeymoon?" "Hanover." "You must mean Hanover, New Hampshire." "Lovely in the spring." "No, Hanover down the road." "We just bought a house there." "And it needs fixing." " It's been unoccupied for years." " It needs painting." "And Jonas only has seven days leave... so..." "Newlyweds to spend honeymoon... painting house." "So it's back to duty in seven days, huh, Captain?" "I report back on the 14th." "To General McClellan?" "Right." "Exclusive:" "Army of the Potomac... to march shortly after the 14th." "Come with me, George." "You're under arrest as a Confederate spy." "Was George right about the army moving out?" "They're coming!" " Good luck!" " Thank you." "Good-bye." "It's a good thing Mama sent over the table and chairs... and the bed upstairs." "That's about all the furniture we have." "It's a good start." "It sounds like somebody wants to come in." "Somebody or something." " Isn't this the bed where..." " Where you had the dream?" "Yes, it is." "I'll close the window." "Are you all right?" "Flying glass cut my finger." " It's nothing." " You're bleeding." "It's just blood from my finger." "Mary, your breast." "I'm all right, Jonas." "It's nothing." " But you've been hit." " Jonas!" "Look at me." "There's no wound." "I'm fine." "I'm sorry." "That dream still haunts you." "You'll never bring me harm, my darling." "What you bring me... is happiness." "What you bring me... is love." "Halt." "Who goes there?" "It's all right, Kitchell." "Let him through." "Evening, Captain." "A campfire, Sergeant?" "Rebs are on the other side of the creek, sir." "They know we're here." " How far to the creek?" " Quarter mile that way." "Pickets?" "I got pickets posted every 50 yards along the bank of the stream." " Password?" " Foxfire." "You planning' on goin' across the stream tonight, Captain?" "Good night, Sergeant." "Malachy." "Jake and Mooney drew picket duty tonight." "I'll look for 'em." "Lots of shooting' tomorrow if I read the signs right." "Mooney?" "Mooney, wake up." "Don't you know you..." "Easy, Jake." "Easy." " Kind of quick on the trigger." " I'll show you why." "It's his own bayonet." "His skull's damn near split in two." "Looks like a saber wound." "Mooney was dead before he was pinned to the tree." "Then the killer put his hat back on his head." "This don't have much to do with the war." "This is murder." "The killer wants us to know it's murder." "Why would he do that?" "Listen." "Report this to O'Toole." "A few last-minute reminders." " Y'all got 40 rounds?" " Yes, sir." " Caps?" " Yes, sir." "Don't forget, your rifle pulls up, so aim low at their knees." "Laddie." "I want to be proud of every one of you." "You all right, Malachy?" "I ain't planning on running away again, if that's what you mean." "Hey, Sarge, did we win?" "You ain't even seen the elephant yet, laddie." "The real battle is up ahead." "They built themselves a line of defense... right along that crest." "We can't take that, Sarge." "That's impossible." "Maybe." "Let's go up and find out." "Let's not be late for the ball, boys!" "Fall in!" "Right side here." "Forward, double quick time." "Hut!" "Hold your fire." "Fire!" "Maybe you and me oughta talk, Yank." "You was runnin' away, wasn't you?" "So was I." "Got lost." "How'd you know my gun was unloaded?" "If you was loaded, you'd have killed me." "Whose territory you reckon we in?" "Ours." "I think." "Your side was headin' this way." "Don't make no sense shooting' each other." "I mean... there's plenty of folks willing' to do it for us." "Guess they'd shoot us just for runnin' away." "Hell, they'd be glad to shoot us just for not shootin' each other." "And if we wanna get shot real quick... there's that battle over there." " Where you from?" " Pennsylvania." "Me, I'm Mississippi." "What's it like livin' down there?" "What's it like havin' slaves?" "Slaves?" "In that bitty little shack?" "Hell, we didn't have no slaves." "We didn't hardly even have shoes." "How we gonna get out of this mess, Yank?" "There is a way, but I don't know if you'll like it." "I'm listenin'." "We just keep out of sight until the battle's over... and then one of us surrenders to the other." "Which one you have in mind, Yank?" "That's gonna be decided by whoever wins the battle." "I mean, come end of day... you gray backs hold this territory, then I surrender to you." "And if the damn Yankees win, well, then it's "vicey-versy."" "Seems fair." "Is it a bargain?" "It's a bargain." "Message from Professor Lowe, sir." "Gentlemen, we've taken the ridge." "Congratulations, Colonel." "Yes, we'll rally 'round the flag, boys" "We'll rally once again" "Shouting the battle cry of freedom" "And we'll rally from the hillside" "We'll gather from the plain" "Shouting the battle cry of freedom" "The union forever" "Hurrah, boys, hurrah" "Down with the traitors and up with the stars" "While we rally 'round the flag, boys We'll rally once again" "Shouting the battle cry of freedom" "We'll rally 'round the flag, boys We'll rally once again" "You're my prisoner, Reb." "I should have known never to trust no white-livered, blue-bellied Yank!" "Why'd you say that?" "You loaded that gun on me, didn't you?" "We made a bargain." "I reckon I owe you an apology." "You lost the bet." "Hey, Yank." "Don't shoot." "Me and my men, we have to surrender." "We was fightin' the rear guard, got surrounded." "Half my squad's gonna die unless I get 'em a doctor." " Can they walk?" " Them as can't, we'll carry." "Glad to help, Sergeant." "Fall in." "On your feet, men." "Gentlemen, I give you an appropriate toast." "Gentlemen, I give you an appropriate toast." " On to Richmond." " Hear, hear." "Colonel." "Will you look over there, General?" "Lieutenant, relieve that soldier of his prisoners." "I want to talk to him." " I'll take over here, soldier." " They need medical attention." "I'll take care of them." "The general wants to see you." "Reb, what's your name?" "Johnny." "What's yours?" "Malachy." "Forward, march!" "Who are you, son?" "Private Malachy Hale, sir." "Twenty-third Pennsylvania." "Would you follow me, please?" "General, this is Private Hale." "How did you manage to take all those prisoners, Hale?" "Well, I sort of jumped on the first one by mistake, sir." "And I stumbled on the rest of'em in the woods." "It's all right, Colonel." "It isn't loaded." "He took ten Rebs with an unloaded rifle." "I'd hate to play poker with you, son." "Gentlemen, it's men like this... win battles for us." "Colonel, write this boy up for a citation... and give him a battlefield promotion." "Congratulations, Corporal Hale." "You've done a good day's work." "Thank you, sir." "Dismissed, Hale." "If I had some liquor" "I'd get drunker than a vicar" "Hey, Joe!" " Where the devil..." " It must have come from the Reb side!" "The sergeant says there's no one over there." "It's a swamp." "The sarge ain't always right." " Maybe it's some kind of bomb." " Hey, Yankees!" "Quiet, everybody!" "That there's a trading boat." "She's loaded with good Virginny tobacco." "Tobacco!" "Genuine smoking tobacco!" "What do you want from us, Reb?" " Coffee." " We got plenty." "I'll get some." "Ahoy, Reb!" "Coffee comin' over!" "You all the 23rd Pennsylvania?" " They ain't supposed to know that." " Who all told you, Reb?" "Abe Lincoln." "First decent smoke in weeks." "If I had some liquor" "I'd get drunker than a vicar" "You gonna send that into Harper's?" "Why not?" "I thought I'd call it "All's Well on the Chickahominy."" "I hope my Kathleen don't see it." "She'll think I'm runnin' around with a bunch of naked savages." " Come on." " Bring it in." "Hey, over here." "Okay." "What's this?" "What's it say, Rufe?" ""Please deliver to Malachy orJake Hale."" "Jake, Malachy." "Rebs sent this over." " Who could it be?" " Open it up." "Find out." "That's from Luke, my youngest brother." "Who else you know in the Reb army except my brothers?" "Even so, there's three of'em." "No, the childish handwriting, that's Luke." ""Dear cousins... meet me at 10:00 tonight at Munson's Landing." "It's most gosh-awful important." "Luke Geyser."" "A bit jumpy, ain't you, Jake?" "I was just thinkin' about the night when I found Mooney murdered." "There it is." "Should we show a light?" "Look, down there." " Is it?" " Yeah, it's Luke." "Say somethin'!" "Evenin', Jake." "Hey, Malachy, John." " Well, if this don't beat all!" " Not so loud." "Pretendin' you're dead?" "What's so funny?" "Everything's funny." "That way army life don't get you down." "We can talk now." " Yeah, slow down, Luke." " Can't slow down." "We're late." "Luke, Rebs don't like Yank soldiers on their side of the river." "My friends won't object." "I already told them you're kin." "What's up?" "Where are you taking us?" "The dance, of course." " Did he say "dance"?" " He did." "You see, we found this big old barn miles from nowhere." "We got some good musicians in the outfit... so what else could we do but throw a barn dance?" "Luke, you're taking us behind Confederate lines... to a barn dance?" " Right." " Our cousin's crazy." "Don't worry about it." "I'll get you to your side of the river before sunup." "It's a little risky, Luke." "Supposin' it is, look what you get for a little risk." "Music, whiskey, women." "Women?" "Wait till you meet 'em." "Belles from Richmond." "Local girls, pick of the crop." "Beauties every one of'em." "Why don't you take a little rest, let me row?" " How long you been in the army?" " Oh, 'bout a month." "Never had so much fun in all my life." "War's not a game, Luke." "It's serious." "It's deadly." "Well, not tonight, it ain't." "Come on, row." "I can smell them women over there." "Charlie, Luke done it." "He brung his kinfolk." "Luke's mad as a March hare." "I'll see you later, Wanda Mae." "Hey, Bear!" "Big Bear, Charlie, I want you all to meet my cousins, Jake and Malachy Hale." " Howdy, Yanks." " Where you all from?" " Gettysburg, Pennsylvania." " That's southern Pennsylvania." "This here's my brotherJohn." " Whose army are you in?" " Nobody's." "I'm a correspondent." " Let's get us some liquor." " Right!" "And some women." "Ain't those Yank uniforms?" "I didn't see no Yank uniforms, Stacey." "My mistake, Big Bear." "My mistake." "I've been savin' a special gal for you, John." "You just wait right here." "John, meet Mandy." "Sweet as sugar candy." "I want you to meet Wanda Mae." "Hey, Wanda Mae." "This here is Francine." "You see, Francine is all mine." "You're kinda pretty." "I was just gonna say the same thing about you, Wanda Mae." "Sweet talker, too, ain't you, Johnny?" "Do you wanna dance?" "Sure." "Help yourself." "Take me outside, Johnny." "I'm sweatin' like a bull." "It's better out here." "More air, less people." "You said..." "You would have said I'm pretty... if I didn't say it first to you?" "You think I'm pretty?" "If you was to kiss me..." "I'd be mighty obliged." "Mouth's burnin'." "Shucks, I'm sorry, Johnny." "It's my chaw." "I bet you don't chaw tobacco, do you?" "Here, this will fix it." "It's good stuff." "I wish I was in Richmond Hurray, hurray" " In Richmond town I'll settle down" " Who the hell are you?" "Cat got his tongue?" "Nah, it's Pappy's moonshine." "Step inside." "I wish I was in Richmond Hurray, hurray" "In Richmond town I'll settle down To live and die in Richmond" "Away, away, away down south in Richmond" "What the hell are these Yankees doing here?" "Who's responsible for this outrage?" "Step forward!" "They're my kin, sir." "These two are my cousins, and that's my brotherJohn." "I brung 'em." "You invited the enemy behind our lines." "Don't you know you could be shot for that?" "It was just for a bit of fun, sir." "Just for a bit of fun?" "Sergeant." "Arrest these two Yanks." "They're prisoners of war." "Don't do that, sir." "Why not, Private?" "I gave 'em my word of honor I'd get 'em to their side of the river safely." "Bring the prisoners, Sergeant." "You gotta listen to me, sir!" "I'm just a farm boy, but I'm a Southern farm boy." "I was raised to believe that a Southerner's word of honor... can't never be broke." "If a Virginian's word of honor don't mean nothin' in the army... then what the hell are we fightin' for, sir?" "Sergeant." "Do you know this boy?" "I do, Captain." "Luke's just a lad full of fun." "The men love him." "If you're askin' my advice, sir..." "I am, Boggs." "If you want your men behind you..." "I'd back down, sir." "You two will be taken care of in the morning." "May God help you." "In the meantime... get these damn Yankees back to where they belong!" "Yes, sir." "I wish I was in Richmond" "Hurray, hurray" "In Richmond town I'll settle down" "To live and die in Richmond" "Watch your arm." "It's a dangerous war, Luke." "Please take it seriously." "Sure, John." "Hey, Malachy." "What?" "You seeJohn's face when Wanda Mae kissed him good-bye?" ""John, you're so pretty!"" "I wish I was in Richmond" "There's nothin' in the book about inviting' the enemy... to a barn dance." "That leaves the punishment up to me." "Thirty days fatigue duty." "Totin' garbage, digging latrines." "However..." "I have a request from Major Fairbairn." "It seems the major needs two volunteers." "The duty is unique, to say the least... and very risky." "If you two see fit to volunteer... why, I'll suspend the 30-day sentence." " What kind of duty is it, sir?" " Major Fairbairn." "Which of you is Private Grundy?" "I've been told that you know the peninsula like the back of your hand." " Born and raised here, Major." " Good." "Do either of you know anything about balloons?" "I've seen a couple of fed balloons, that's all." "Well, the fed balloons have given the enemy an edge." "We've been workin' on a countermeasure." "I'm asking you to volunteer... for the Confederate balloon corps." "We all have a balloon corps?" "Well, we have a start." "We have one balloon." "It was made in Savannah, inflated at the Richmond Gasworks... and transported here by rail." " We get to go up in it?" " More than likely." "Volunteers reportin' for duty, sir." "I'm glad to have you, men." "Is our balloon a big son of a gun like the Yankee one?" "Bigger, I think, and much, much prettier." " Where's Major Fairbairn?" " Upstairs, sir." "Havin' a look-see at the battle." "There's a column of Yank cavalry... retreating'... toward Bosun's Swamp." "Yank infantry runnin' through fields... away from Gaines Mill." " Show me." " Right there." "Yankee supply wagon... on this road heading' east." "What's it look like to you, Luke?" "Like we're pinnin' their ears back, sir." "Exactly." "Porter's retreating'." "Send signal... bring us down." "This can't wait." "Let's get 'em down." "Come on." "Peaceful up here." "I kind of hate to go back down." "Right now we're above enemy artillery." "Five hundred feet on down is the danger zone." "They'll make it plenty hot for us." "There weren't no shootin' on the way up." "They weren't ready for us." "You can bet your boots they'll be waitin' for us now." "They're under fire." "Hey, Yanks, who told you all you could shoot?" " Major, you hit?" " It's nothin'." "The major's been hit." "I think you'll find everything you need on that map, General." "Excellent." "Excellent work, Major." "Luke, you did fine." "You're a good man." "Thank you, Major." "You too, sir." "Judging from this map, I'd say that Porter's in retreat." " What's your impression?" " Looked to me like a big skedaddle." "Take this to General Lee's headquarters and tell him that from here... it looks like a big skedaddle." "I am delighted." "Delighted." "This is Colonel Barker from cavalry headquarters." "The balloon has to make another observation flight immediately." "The strategic situation is this:" "McClellan has fallen back... probably to theJames River." "If we can pinpoint the enemy... we may be able to destroy the whole Union force." "I'll go tell Major Fairbairn." "His arm had to be amputated." "It's up to you to make the flight." "You're the only experienced men available." "Experienced, sir?" "Yesterday was my first time up." "Major Fairbairn sent you these." "Release the guide ropes!" "Unlock the windlass!" "Grab it!" "We broke free somehow." "We're driftin'." " What do we do?" " How should I know?" "You're the man with experience." "Just tell me which way we're driftin', Bear." "Comin' up on Savage Station." "We're headin' for theJames River." "The major told me in case of emergency, pull the rope with the red handle." "Pull that for me." " What's it do?" " Lets go of the gas." "We gotta get down before we reach Yank territory." "Pull it!" "It's theJames." " If we can just get across." " Well, we can't." "We're comin' back, Luke." "We're pickin' up a breeze off the river." " Damn, they're shootin' bullets!" " Yeah, I know." "Bear, what is it?" "I caught one." "You can't help me none." "I'm gut shot." "You run." "Run." "Run." "The Yanks won't find us." "I'll get you back." "You'll get well." "We'll have fun again." "Bear, what happened?" "Your friend's dead." "Get up, soldier." "What were you doing flying over this sector?" "I was watching Yanks skedaddle." "Cocky little Reb, isn't he?" "They'll beat that out of you, son, in prison camp." "Just two months ago, Mr. Seward... you were advising the president not to proclaim the freedom of the slave... not until after we gained a military victory." "I stand on that advice, sir." "It would be like a defeated government appealing to the Negroes for help." "Now we have what we've waited for... the victory at Antietam." "I'm afraid it's hardly a victory for either side... when almost 12,000 men from each army fall." "Lee has retreated across the Potomac." "The public perceives it as a victory." "The time is now, Mr. President." "Times like this..." "I'm reminded of the story of the two young boys tromping' through the woods." "They run across a wild hog." "Hog kind of took a dislike to 'em and set out after 'em... the boys runnin' lickety-split." "One shimmied up an elm tree just before the hog took out the seat of his pants." "The other one, to save his own skin, grabbed the hog by the tail... and hang on for dear life." "As they chased 'round and 'round the tree... he hollered up to his friend, "Come on down, Bill." "Help me leave go of this hog."" "Mr. Seward, did you make the changes that we discussed this morning?" "This is the altered paragraph, Mr. President." ""That on the first day ofJanuary in the year of our Lord... 1863... all persons held as slaves... within any state or designated part of a state... people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States... shall be then, thence forward and forever, free." "And the executive government of the United States... including the military and naval authority thereof... will recognize and maintain... the freedom of such persons."" "Bear me witness, gentlemen." "I hereby fulfill my promise to my country... and to my Maker." "It is done." "Gentlemen, it is my hope that in giving' freedom to the slaves... we assure... freedom to the free... and hasten the day when once more we shall be one nation." "Do you remember the last time we were in this foyer?" "Indeed, I do." "The interrupted kiss?" "We're alone in the house, if you'd like to finish what we started." " You look tired." " Yeah." "I just got in from Sharpsburg." "Sharps..." "Oh." "Of course." "That battle at Antietam." "I heard terrible things." "It must have been awful." "When it was over, I walked across the battlefield." "I saw things... that are so awful that my mind rejects 'em... even though I looked right at 'em." "So you're all alone." "Where's the senator?" "He's back in Boston for a few weeks." "I don't travel with him anymore." "'Cause of your work?" "That is a nurse's uniform, isn't it?" "Yes." "I signed up." "I'm a full-time nurse at Georgetown Hospital." "I dress wounds... empty bedpans... give the men sponge baths... all the things young ladies are not supposed to do." "My friends are in a state of shock, except for you." "Well, I saw you at Bull Run." "I like to think I gave you your start." "You did." "And I'm really grateful." "I'm surprised the senator permitted you." "I don't let Dad tell me what to do, not anymore." "I'm 21 years old." "Hello?" " I'm sorry." "I'm exhausted." " Here." "Do you have a place to stay?" " No, I'll find some place." " Well, you've found it." "I'm gonna take you upstairs and put you to bed in the guest bedroom." "You need the sleep." "And tomorrow, over breakfast, we could talk." "Yes, Nurse." "Stop, no!" "Stop!" "It's all right." "Scared." "We have to fight" "Although we have to die" "We've got to hold it up until we die" "I'm telling you we are soldiers" "In the army" "We've got to fight although we have to die" "We've got to hold up the bloodstained banner" "We've got to hold it up" "Till we die" "We just after a little lovin', honey." "You give it to us nice, and you won't get hurt." "Let me down, blue belly!" "Don't get ornery, or I'm just gonna put this cigar out on your black..." "Carry on, men." "I just want to get a quick sketch." "You're not gonna rape her?" "What about my drawing?" "Who are you, mister?" "I'm a correspondent for Harper's Weekly." "It's funny." "We were just discussin' rape last evenin' at dinner." " And General Oakes said..." " General Oakes?" "Yes, sir, he said his troops wouldn't dare commit rape." "He's gonna eat his words when I tell him about this." "Thanks, mister." " What's your name?" " Luanna." "What are you doing out here alone?" "We're runnin' out of clothes, so I sneaked back." "Found some, but they all dirty." "Figured I'd wash 'em." "Water in the swamp's all muddy." "You're hidin' in the swamps?" "Why are you hidin'?" "Northern soldiers can get mean, like you saw." "South's got raiders." "They steal and murder." "We move anyplace, we get whupped for bein' runaways." " How many with you?" " Maybe 50." "I want you to take me to the swamp." "I have some important news." "I don't know." "I'm on your side." "This is the only weapon I carry." "Idelia, help me with this basket." "Luanna, how come you brought that white man?" "He got news for us, Idelia." "It's all right." "News?" "What's this... emancipation?" "It means "to set someone free."" " That your wife?" " No, she's a friend." " Close friend." " I can see that." "How do I know that this here is true?" "It says so in the newspaper, doesn't it?" "Abe Lincoln signed that himself... in the White House." "Abe Lincoln did this for us?" "Gather 'round, everybody!" " What is it?" " Gather 'round!" "Got us here a letter from the White House... from the president of the United States..." "Abe Lincoln." "It's in government language." "I'm gonna translate it." "Come nextJanuary... all us slaves in the South... we gonna be free!" "Free!" "Free forever!" "Free!" "It says after that... that the whole United States government... with all the sailors and soldiers... they gonna help us stay free!" "Praise old Abe Lincoln." "Bless him for the gift he done sent us today." "Freedom." "Now, we've been slaves in chains." "We've seen our people bruised and whipped." "We've seen our wives and daughters sold... and our families busted apart." "But God gave the president wisdom." " He's made us free." " Praise the Lord!" "Yes, the day ofJubilo is a-comin'!" "Amen!" "Yeah, amen." "What do you think, my friend?" "What does this emancipation really mean?" "You understand, it doesn't mean a thing till Lincoln's armies win the war." "And I don't know how long it'll be till your people are treated as free." "But, by law, they are free." "It's a turnin' point." "Listen to 'em." "Thank God for" " Freedom after all" " Thank you, Lord" " Freedom after all" " Yeah" "There's one thing for sure." "They got something now that they didn't have this morning." "They got hope." "Excuse me, Miss Bedell." "A soldier, he say he your brother Matthew." "Matthew!" "I heard you were pregnant." " Heck, you must be due any minute." " Couple more weeks, the doctor says." "I've been picturing you in Virginia." "What are you doing in Mississippi?" "Outfit got transferred." "Needed artillery down here." "Military position ain't good, Emmy." "We've been taking some shells from across the river." " There's talk of a siege." " It's more than talk." "Could I fetch something for Mr. Matthew?" "Oh, are you hungry?" " Starving." " Have Berniece fix some food." "Soon as I eat, I have to go on... 'cause all I've got is a 12-hour pass, and I've used up most of it." " You heard from the folks?" " Got a letter from Ma a month ago." "She's fine." "Pa's fine." "Farm's gettin' by, just." "Luke's in a prison camp in Maryland." "And Mark's all right." "I saw him before I left Virginia." "Oh, well, that's it then." "So far, so good." "Family's surviving'." "Ain't we forgetting' someone?" "John's a traitor." "I don't count him as part of this family." "How's Lester?" "Busiest man in Vicksburg." "He's up river right now." "Business trip." "I thought the war wrecked his trade." "Oh, nothing stops Lester." "Not for long anyway." "He's doing just fine." "I gather." "Emmy, you say he's up river?" "Ain't nobody to trade with up river... except Yankees." "That's right." "Feds are buying up all the cotton they can get." "He's trading' with feds?" "He's a smuggler." "Some call him that." "You let your husband trade with the enemy?" "You, the big patriot?" "You're acting dumb, Matt." "Lester smuggles boat loads of cotton past the gunboats." "He sells it to Yankee wagon trains up Memphis way." "The money's used to buy medicines and stuff... which he smuggles back into Vicksburg." "Can you imagine this whole city without medicines?" "Lester's doing plenty for our cause." "Making hisself a nice profit." "Lester takes the risks." "Why shouldn't he get paid for it?" "Mr. Matthew's meal is served, ma'am." "Matt, you go ahead." "I'll be right in." "Lester!" "Bring him in here." "What happened?" "Their gunboat shelled the kelpy, sank her." "The boss was at the wheel and caught some Yankee metal in his chest." " The kelpy's gone?" " Gone forever, lady." "Thank you for bringing my husband home." "Some whiskey?" "Slowly, Lester." "Drink it slow." "Yes, dear." "I'm here." "You're home." "There's something pressing down... on my chest." "It's hard to breathe." " He needs a hospital right away." " Get the carriage immediately!" " Is it bad?" " Any chest wound's bad." "He's maybe bleeding to death inside." "Gently, gently." "Emma, wait!" "Thank you." "Please be gentle!" "Come on." "Miss Bedell, there's nothing you can do now except wait and pray." "Come on, I'll take you to the waiting room." "On second thought, maybe you'd better come in here." "Remarkable." "Really remarkable." "You're a very fortunate man, Mr. Bedell." "Here you were operated on two days ago... and you have a slight postoperative fever and everything else seems fine." "You can expect a complete recovery." " How long will it take?" " A week more here." "A month at home, loafing'." "The nurses have a surprise for you." "Since you're doin' so well, I've given my permission." "Nurse?" "May I present... your son." "Oh, he's beautiful." "He looks just like you." "His name's Jesse." "That's what you wanted, isn't it?" "Isn't it wonderful?" "In a few weeks you'll be well again, ready to get back to work." " No, no more trading." " Why not?" "For one thing, I lost the kelpy." "You can charter another boat." "It's gotten too risky." "Can y'all smile just for me?" "Have you forgotten our plans?" "Remember what you said?" ""We're gonna have it all."" "And, Lester, you want it all." " You want it all, as much as I do." " All right." "There's gonna be a siege." "It's already started." "The siege means shortages." "People will be desperate for food and medicine." "One cargo could be worth a fortune." "I just had a mighty close call, Emma." "Money's not that important." "It isn't just the money." "You'll be helpin' people to resist." "You'll be a hero!" "Everyone to their own ward during bombardment." "It's an order." "I'll have to take you back to Maternity, Miss Bedell." "We'll talk again." "I'll see you tomorrow." " They're all dead!" " All of'em?" "All of them." "Let's get 'em outta here." "Mrs. Bedell, get back in your wheelchair!" "Rock-a-bye, baby" "On the treetop" "When the wind blows" "The cradle will rock" "When the bough breaks" "The cradle will fall" ""To Be Continued"" "And down will come baby" "Cradle and all" "I believe in you, John." "You know that." "What do you do, love?" "I work for a newspaper." "You look fresh off of the farm." "I've only had the job a few days." "You're green." "Tell the truth now, love." "You ever been with a woman?" "John Brown, I sentence you to be hanged in public... on Friday the second of December." "Will you be coming back?" "I'd like to come back, Mary." "Then make it happen." "I've come to ask you not to leave, John." "It's no time for you to be going up north." "There's gonna be a fight." "Three of us side by side." "Ain't nobody can lick us." "I'll never wear that uniform." "Well, that makes you a traitor." "What was the sentiment in your county... as to secession or no?" "I don't know about the county... but I have three brothers who can't wait to fight for the Confederacy." "Should it come to war... were I you, I'd look to my talent for the solution." "Your talent suggests the role of artist-correspondent." "File right." "You see the stone bridge where the turnpike crosses Bull Run?" "If I were an artist lookin' for a battle..." "I'd start lookin' right here." "I thought I'd make such a great soldier." "So far, so good." "I wet my pants!" "Help!" "Oh, help me!" "Get in here!" "Help these men!" "For as much as Jonas and Mary have consented together in holy wedlock..." "I pronounce that they are husband and wife." " Are you all right?" " Flying glass just cut my finger." "Your breast." "Look at me." "There's no wound." "I'm fine." "You'll never bring me harm, my darling." "What you bring me... is happiness." "You was runnin' away, wasn't you?" "So was I." "Guess they'd shoot us just for runnin' away." "Hell, they'd be glad to shoot us just for not shootin' each other." "Right now we're above enemy artillery." "Five hundred feet on down is the danger zone." "They'll make it plenty hot for us." "Mooney was dead before he was pinned to the tree." "This don't have much to do with the war." "This is murder." "The killer wants us to know it's murder." "What happened?" "Their gunboat shelled the kelpy... sank her." "Something pressing down... on my chest." "He needs a hospital right away." "Have you forgotten our plans, Lester?" "Remember what you said?" ""We're gonna have it all."" "Everyone to their own ward during bombardment." "It's an order." "We'll talk again." "I'll see you tomorrow." "Rock-a-bye, baby" "On the treetop" "When the wind blows" "The cradle will rock" ""May 1863"" "Last night's coffee?" "At least let me warm it." "It's fine, Mary." "Saw that sergeant of yours." "Your leave's been cancelled, hasn't it?" "Sergeant's saddling my horse." "I have to report to headquarters now." " Drat!" " Watch your language, Mary." "Rebels." "Jeb Stuart's cavalry has cut off the BO Railroad at Sykesville." "The Rebs have cut all the rail lines in this area, even the Gettysburg line." "Lee's armies are moving." "You're worried?" "I am." "There's a big battle brewing." "I can feel it." " If we're caught without supply lines..." " I understand, Jonas." "There's something else, Mary." "Stuart's cavalry has been spotted around Westminster." "That means the Rebs aren't too far from here." "Listen." "If you hear the sound of cavalry or gunfire..." "I want you to lock all the doors and go down to the cellar." "Take plenty of food and water, make sure that... you don't come out until it's safe." "Promise?" "I won't be too far away." "Don't cry." "I'm trying." "It's just..." "I love you so much." "I bet ya I love you more." "Captain Steele to see General Meade." " Captain Steele to see General Meade." " Thank you, Corporal." "General Meade, Captain Steele to see you, sir." "Thank you." "General." "A battle's inevitable, Captain." "We lock horns with the Rebs tomorrow." " Where, sir?" " It's building up around Gettysburg." "Our supply lines are a shambles." "Yes, sir, I know." "There's a gleam of hope." "The Western Maryland Railroad." "It's just a spur." "It runs between Baltimore and Westminster." "But isn't that a single track?" "I don't know if it can handle the traffic." "Neither do I, but General Haupt does." "He's a genius with railroads, Captain." "Find Haupt and report to him." "He has a job for you." " Yes, sir." " And remember this:" "That 29 miles of single track... may be the key to the battle." "Yes, sir." "Major, where can I find General Haupt?" "He left during the night." "He's down at the other end of the line." "How do I get there?" "Is there a train this morning?" "How would I know?" "We haven't got a telegraph." "If you want to make time, ride." "Get a fresh horse in Reistertown." "Thanks." "Wait a minute." "Will you take a message to General Haupt?" "What is it?" "Tell him I'm down here with a hundred wagons, waitin' for supplies." "And I've got nothin' to give 'em." "Nothin'." "Tell him." "I'll tell him." "There are no sidings... no way for trains to pass each other or to be turned around." "For the return trip, a train has to back up." " Round trip takes eight hours." " That's only three trains a day." "Yeah, but I'm gonna send trains in convoy, Captain." "Five trains at a time." "That's fifteen trains a day." "That's different." "You're gonna take this work train up the track just ahead of the convoy." "I'll give you a dozen railroad construction men who can fix anything." "There's one more thing." "Maryland is a slave state." "There are rebel sympathizers around." "I've had reports of armed bands of irregulars." "Watch out for them... 'cause they could blow the tracks or bury it in a landslide." "Also, there's a couple of small bridges they could wreck." "I understand, General." "You have a reputation for getting things done." " Live up to it." " Yes, sir." "We'll get closer, then we'll put out the fire." "Move quickly and stay low." "Stay down!" "Get the buckets!" "Hurry!" "Hurry!" "Over there." "Who's there?" "Put down your gun, soldier." "A woman?" "I know you can't see." "Water." "Please." "Let me hold it." "A woman's hand." "I wish I could see you." "Jonas." "Give me a hand here." "Move him easy." "Easy." "Help me over here, quickly." "Move 'em out!" "Move 'em along now." "Let's go!" " What's the matter?" " I don't know." "Something's wrong." "Report back to headquarters." "I'll see you down the road." "Mary." "Forgive me, Mary." "You keep this... until I join you." "And may I join you soon." "God shall wipe away all tears from your eyes... and there shall be no more sorrow, nor pain, nor death." "Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." "Let not your heart be troubled." "If you believe in God, believe also in Me." "My Father's house has many mansions." "If it were not so, I would have told you." "I go to prepare a place for you, but My soul really told you." "I am the resurrection and the life." "He that believeth in Me shall never die." "He that believeth and liveth in Me shall never die." "The Lord is my shepherd." "I shall not want." "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures." "He leadeth me beside the still waters." "He restoreth my soul." "He leadeth me in the path of righteousness for His name's sake." "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death..." "I will fear no evil for Thou art with me." "Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me." "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies." "Thou anointest my head with oil." "My cup runneth over." "Fourscore and seven years ago... our fathers brought forth on this continent... a new nation... conceived in liberty... and dedicated to the proposition... that all men are created equal." "Now we are engaged... in a great civil war... testing... whether that nation... or any nation so conceived and so dedicated... can long endure." "We are met on a great battlefield of that war." "We've come to dedicate a portion of that field... as a final resting place... for those who here gave their lives... that that nation might live." "It is altogether fitting and proper... that we should do this." "But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate... we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground." "The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here... have consecrated it... far above our poor power to add or detract." "The world will little note nor long remember what we say here... but it can never forget... what they did here." "It is for us, the living, rather, to be dedicated here... to the unfinished work... which they who fought here... have thus far so nobly advanced." "It is rather for us to be here... dedicated to the great task remaining before us... that from these honored dead... we take increased devotion... to that cause for which they gave... the last full measure of devotion." "That we here... highly resolve... that these dead shall not have died in vain... that this nation, under God... shall have a new birth of freedom... and that government of the people... by the people... for the people... shall not perish... from the Earth." "Number one, fire!" "Number two, fire!" "Number three, fire!" "Number one, fire!" "Number two, fire!" "Number three, fire!" "Number four, fire!" "Cease fire!" "What's up, Lieutenant?" "Sounds like a general cease-fire." "Well, it is, for an hour." "Shelling stops three times a day." "The men have to eat." "The rest of the time we lob explosives into that city night and day." " How long has it been goin' on?" " Over a month now." "Did you know Vicksburg's full of women and children... surrounded... starving... in a city that's being blown apart?" "What the devil makes them so stubborn?" "Oh, I forgot." "You wanted to go down to the trenches, didn't you?" "Now is the time, during the lull." "Hey, Yank!" "What's on your mind, Reb?" "Why you comin' at us with that new ditch?" "That's a military secret." "Yeah, I know, I know, but you can tell us." "When we get it dug, we're gonna flood it." "Then we sail our gunboats down here and blow hell outta ya." "Do you mind if I talk to the Reb?" "He's all yours." "Hey, Reb!" " Is that General Stevenson's division?" " What of it?" "I've gotta talk to Corporal Matthew Geyser, artilleryman." "He's with the Virginia battery." "Who wants Matt Geyser?" "John Geyser, his brother." "Stay where you're at." "Get down, son." "Get your heads down, Rebs." "We're opening' up." "Cease fire!" "Hold your fire!" "Hey, Yank!" "Matt Geyser's ready." "John Geyser's ready!" " What goes?" " Brothers." "Come lookin' for me?" "How come?" "Come lookin' for me?" "How come?" "We're brothers." "Last time I saw you, I called you a traitor." "I remember." " Have you seen Emma?" " I seen her once in Vicksburg." "Went to her house a month back." "Since then, her husband got himself killed." "She's alone in that city, or what's left of it?" "She's alone... except for the baby." "She had a boy." "Jesse." "Jesse?" "Probably starving with the rest of'em." "Ain't nothin' I can do." "Spread out thin up here." " Nobody leaves the front lines." " You remember the address?" "18 Newlet Street." "What do you want it for?" " I don't know yet." " You can do me a favor." "Saved some money to send to Ma and Pa." "They probably need it." "We're surrounded." "Ain't no way I can get it to 'em." "I'll see it gets mailed." "We're holdin' up the war." "I'm glad I saw you, Matt." "I got somethin' on my mind, John." "Probably won't say it right." "I've seen a lot of Yanks die for what they believe." "Killed two of'em myself up close." "There weren't no hate in it." "I've grown up some, I reckon." "I've learned a couple of things." "To respect a man who stands up for what he thinks is right... even if I think he's wrong." "What I'm trying to say..." "That day back on the farm, I never should have called you a traitor." "You just took a different fork in the road." "But you're right." "We're still brothers." "Get your heads down, Rebs!" "Hey, John." "How 'bout a drink?" "That's a good idea." "Listen, Fred, I've got some mail here, some sketches and a letter home." "Can you put them in the general's pouch?" "Sure can." "Kind of spruced up there, aren't you?" "Just came from staff headquarters." "The news looks good." "Grant just got word that Vicksburg's on its last legs." "They're starving, down to mule meat." "Yesterday, they went on quarter rations." "They only got enough for six days." "They're running low on water." "There's no drugs." "You don't look exactly overjoyed." "No, I got a sister in Vicksburg." "I'm sorry." "I didn't know that." "As of yesterday?" "Where does Grant get his up-to-date information?" "Our courier came by today." " What courier?" " He's a Vicksburg man." "Spy, courier, smuggler." "He runs back and forth on dark nights in a dory and peddles us information." "You know where he is now?" "Yeah, there he is... gettin' ready for the return trip." "His name's Lamar." "We pay him off with whiskey, flour, drugs." "He takes it to Vicksburg and sells it at extortionist's prices." "Go back and get the rest of that stuff, and hurry it up." "All right, that looks pretty good." "You can take this one out again." " Where are you going?" " To make a deal with Lamar." "John, the man's a scoundrel." "He probably works for both sides." " He's a real blackguard." " I know." "That's just the man I want." "Get the other half of the money ready, mister." "I'm gonna let you out in a couple of minutes." "You go a quarter a mile yonder." "You come to a road, you turn right... and it takes you into town." "Why here?" "Where do you land?" "At the city wharf." "City wharf?" "What about the authorities?" "As long as I'm smuggling food..." "I got no problems." "But when it comes to spies, oh, that's another kettle of fish." "I'm not a spy." "I don't give a damn what you say you are, mister... as long as I get this." "Now, git!" "Here comes another one!" "Horse meat." "Must be the last horse in Vicksburg." "Get me a steak." "Lend me your knife after you're finished." "There's plenty left here for all of us." "Good morning, ma'am." "Can I suggest you use the other side of the street?" "What are you hiding, young man?" "Is that a dead horse?" "Yes, ma'am." "I'm afraid it's not a fit sight for the eyes of a lady." "Are you trying to do me out of my share?" " No, ma'am." "I just thought..." " Step aside." "Now, hold it, lady." "I'm gonna get me some of that meat." "On your feet, young man." "You're not hit." "Do you have any wish to stay alive?" "When you hear a shell coming at you... would you please run away from it instead of toward it?" "And if it bursts directly overhead, you stand still." "Yes, ma'am." "I forgot." "A little panicky, I guess." "Did you follow me?" "Well, I..." "Really, I came to apologize." "After we were talkin' there by the dead horse..." "I realized you were just trying to be polite." "I'm Mrs. Lovelace." "Is there anything I can do for you?" "I'm lookin' for my sister on Newlet Street." " Oh, what number?" " Eighteen." "Come on." "That's 18, or what's left of it." "Jesse's." "What did you say your sister's name was?" "Emma." "She married a Vicksburg man." "Lester Bedell." "Emma Bedell." "I don't think I should trust you yet." "What are you doing here?" "You just arrived in Vicksburg, didn't you?" "Just before the siege." "You didn't." "You arrived yesterday or this morning." "You don't know how to dodge a shell." "You couldn't find your sister's house." "You're new here." "Maybe you floated in on a log." "Others have done that." "So you ran the blockade, totin' that pack of food." " Who said it was food?" " I have a nose like a beagle." "If you starve for a little while, you can sniff food a mile away." "So you ran a blockade... bearing food for your sister and her baby." "That's the way I see it." "Perhaps I should trust you, young man." "Will you give me your word as a Virginian... that you are not a spy?" "Miss Lovelace, I'm not a spy." "It's just as well." "You couldn't fool a dead mule." "But you are a Virginian?" " You sniffed that out too?" " I didn't have to." "Your accent is the same as Emma's, and she is a Virginian." "Yes." "I know Emma." "I know everybody around here." "You know her?" "She's alive?" "She's livin' in the caves." "You best eat that soup, child." "It's all it is." "Do you have any food?" "We're desperate." "We'll pay anything' you ask." "I have a little, but it's for my sister and her baby." "I understand." "Do you know her?" "Emma Bedell?" "Three doors down." "Thank you." " Emmy?" " Who is it?" "It's John." "Stay away from me!" "How did you get here, blue belly?" "We haven't surrendered." "Not yet." "Thank God for that." "How's Jesse?" "He's fine." "I heard about your husband." "Lester?" "Lester's dead." " I'm sorry, Emma." " You're sorry?" "You killed him!" "Get out!" "Emma, don't you know who I am?" "Oh, I recognize you all right." "You're the enemy." "You killed my husband." "You blew up my home." "You forced me to live underground like a stinkin' rat." "You're starvin' my child." "That's not true." "Put the gun down." " I brought food." " I won't take it." "There's milk forJesse." "It's fresh." "It's just two days old." " He'll die before I give it to him!" " I'm not the enemy." "I haven't fired a shot against the South." " Or against the North either." " That's true." "But that doesn't mean I killed your husband or blew up your house." " Get out, traitor." " Not till I see my nephew." "You're gonna have to shoot me to stop me." "I brought a present for him." "You've had your way." "Now, get out!" "I declare." "Well, young man, it's good to see that you're able to do something well." "Did you find your sister?" "Did you hear that terrible rumor?" "Oh, it's true, Miss Lovelace." "Vicksburg has surrendered." " Oh, no!" " They've stopped the shelling." "Well, we would never surrender." "Listen." "I just don't believe it." "Look at that shoreline." "Makes your hair stand on end." "Yeah, that be the wilderness, mister." "That's the worst soil in Virginny." "Oh, a man can break his back tryin' to make a crop on it." "But nobody tries, not anymore." "Seventy square miles of it." "They call it "Satan's country."" "You'll find a trail out there, if'n your eyes are good." "And you'll come out at the Orange Turnpike." "Thank you." ""Satan's country," he said." "You're mighty gloomy, my friend." "I haven't heard more than a grunt out of you in days." "Look, Jonas, I understand." "It's been almost a year since Mary was killed." "Some wounds time just don't heal." "Easy, soldier, easy!" " Did you fire that shot?" " No, sir." "It was Fergie, Private Ferguson, sir." "Please come with me." " What were you doing here?" " Picket duty, sir." "I heard Fergie scream." "I was too late." "Saber wound." "Skull's damn near split down the middle." "Body tied to the tree just after the kill." "It's just like the murder on the peninsula." "When you found the body, did you hear anything?" "I heard someone making' tracks... and he was whistling', he was whistling' a tune." "Was it this?" "That's it, sir." "I know it's him." "I'm gonna be meetin' up with him soon." "I can feel it." "It's gonna be one hate-filled animal against another, and I'm gonna kill him." "I swear to God, I'll kill him." "John, over here!" "Get the horses." "How 'bout a nice, warm whiskey?" "Jonas, you know Fred Harrison, General Grant's staff." " We've met." " General Grant here?" "He's back at the ford." "I'm here as his liaison." "Why did he bring the whole damn army into this hellhole?" "Excuse me, gentlemen." "Captain, it's a matter of overall strategy." "We're out to win the war this summer." "We're pressuring' the Rebs everywhere we can... all the way from the Shenandoah to Mobile." "General Sherman's in Georgia, movin' down the slope." "Butler's on the south bank of theJames, threatening Richmond." "And we, the grand old army of the Potomac... our job is to engage General Lee and the army of Northern Virginia." "Here in the wilderness?" "Nobody fights a battle in a jungle." "We're just marching through." "Six miles further up, it's open territory." "That's where we'll crush Lee." "Major, for three years now, we've been trying to do just that." "Why will this time be any different?" "Lee's short on manpower." "We have more of everything than he does." "Except maybe brains." "Really, Captain?" "How do you know that he'll be waiting for us in your nice, open territory?" "Because we expect him to be there, Captain." "He has to stay between us and Richmond." "Just one flaw, Major." "When was the last time General Lee did what we expected him to do?" "General Meade, is there anything I can..." "Listen." "What is that, sir?" "That's the sound of an army moving in strength." "Lee's men aren't getting much sleep tonight." "Forty rounds for every man, Corporal." "Word is the Rebs are gonna fight for it right here." "In this mess?" "That's what we're paid for." "Were you scared, Malachy, when you was a greenhorn?" "Yup." "How'd you get over it?" "Well... they gave me a promotion by mistake." "After that..." "I was more scared of being scared than I was of being shot at." "Company, forward!" "March!" "What'd he do that for?" "Would you want your mother to know you play cards?" "Heck no." "What's my mom got to do with it?" "If you get killed, they send your personal stuff home." "Mark Geyser." "May God go with you today." "Rebels coming this way." "Into the bushes!" "Take cover!" " First squad, take cover to the right." " Second squad to the left." "First squad, move it!" " Rebels up ahead." " Set up your piece right here." " On the road, sir?" " Where else?" "There's nothin' on wheels gonna move in that underbrush." "Rebels are massing on Plank Road." "We'd better inform General Grant." "Good morning, Jonas." "What's the word?" "General Griffin reports he's encountered strength... a force at least as big as his own." "What's more, the Rebs are being reinforced." "You were there, Jonas." "What do you think?" "Well, sir, I think Griffin's run into Ewell's entire corps." "General Meade?" "You still think Lee's fightin' a rear-guard action?" "No, General, he's chosen to fight here." "I say let's throw the whole army of the Potomac at him." "I concur." "Cancel the movement south." "I'll order Hancock to double back on Plank Road." "Jonas, you tell Griffin I'm sending Sedgewick to bolster his ranks." "Sir." "And I'd better move Warren." "Excuse me, General." "Fire one round." "Hold your fire." "Hold your fire." "You see anyone over there?" "Can't see anything." "Fix bayonets." "Move out, boys." "Back!" "Fall back!" "Take cover." "Follow me." "Where's the sarge?" "He caught one." "He's dead." "They got us outnumbered, Malachy." "We'd best skedaddle." "We'll stay put, Jake." "Can't stay out on the wings, Sarge." "The fire's burnin' my boots." "Let's go!" "Not yet." "Aim low." "Fire!" "Can you move?" "Fall back!" "Fall back!" "Come on." "Let's go!" "Thousands of men caught out there in that hellfire." "Lost men... huddled in pockets." "Brigades facing every which way." "Men afraid to move in the dark... 'cause the enemy's just a few steps away." "There's smoke everywhere." "Hangs low and stings your eyeballs." "Terrible smell of death." "Bodies burnin'." "The worst of all, cries of the wounded... the ones who can't move... screaming as the fire crawls towards them." "I've gotta go out there." "You can't do anything." "I'm gonna save at least one person." "John, both sides are so jittery, they shoot at anything that moves... even stretcher bearers." "Malachy's out there." "Jake and O'Toole." "I know, but you'll get yourself killed." "Well, I gotta go." "O'Toole would have headed west." "All right, we'll split up." "I'll try and catch up with you, but if I don't, I'll meet you back at the tent." "Oh, God." "Oh, God, where are you?" "Oh, God." "It hurts!" "Hey, Yank!" "I can't move." "In the name of mercy, Yank... put a bullet in my head." "For God's sakes, Yank, don't let me burn!" "Mark, it's me, John." "I took one in the chest." "I'm all broken up inside." "I'm a goner." "The only thing you can do for me... is shoot me." "I'll get my horse." "We'll get you to a doctor." "Hey, mister." "Some mad bastard, he's murdering' the wounded." "Get him." "Get him." "You gotta get him." "Look out!" "No bullet will stop the work of God!" "Post number one." "All's well!" "Post number two." "All's well!" "What's the matter?" "The matter, friend, is that you've seen one too many men die." "I don't know how you made it this far." "You bleed for both sides, John." "You care too much." "You hate too much." "Hate keeps me goin'." "Hate is my weapon." "Trouble with you is you've got nobody to hate." "You got no enemy." "Why don't you take a breather, John, go home?" "Your folks could probably use your help now." "The farm's less than a day's ride from here." "Why don't you just go home, forget the war for a while?" "I'm all right." "Your drawings don't say that." "What the hell?" "You're on your way to Fredericksburg for medical attention." "It's only a scratch." "No, it isn't." "It's infected." "You're full!" "New arrivals in the officers' ward." "Eleven so far this morning, all critical." "Do we have the beds for them, Miss Butler?" "We do." "Four more men died during the night." "Captain Steele..." "What's his first name?" "Here it is." "It's Jonas." "You know him?" "Yes." "He's John's..." "myJohn's best friend." "I told you aboutJonas, the tragedy with his wife." "Oh, yes, I remember." "Amputation, right arm above elbow... morbidity of the blood and general septicemia." "Doctor, how is he?" "On top of everything else, he has pneumonia." "Put a new dressing on his stump." "It's getting gamy." "I'm looking for Captain Steele, Jonas Steele." " Your name, please." " John Geyser." "You're Kathy's John, aren't you?" "Have a seat for a minute." "I'll take you to the ward myself." "Good morning, Jonas." "Mary?" "No, it's Kathy." "Kathy Reynolds." "Is it really you, Mary?" "Tell me that it's you." "Yes, Jonas, it's Mary." "You've come to take me with you." "No, Jonas, not yet." "You are so beautiful." "My lovely wife." "I've missed you." "I've waited for you." "I'm ready to come with you." "Not yet." "Not yet." "You still love me, don't you?" "It's because I love you that I've come." "Come closer." "You must get well, Jonas... for me." "But I don't want to live without you." "It's not our choice." "You're not leaving me again, are you?" "I must." "Kiss me." "Do you promise to go back to sleep... to rest?" "I promise." " Miss Butler, please stop him." " I don't think I should." "You know these parts, mister?" "Some." "We're looking for Carpenter's Ford." "River's over the next hill." "Ford's about five miles upstream." " Hey, John!" " Good to see you, Matt." "Where'd you get the limp?" "I caught one in the leg at Vicksburg right after I saw you that time." "Vicksburg was a year ago." "That should have healed by now." "She's healed, all right, an inch shorter than the other one." "The war is over for me." "So what's the word on Luke?" "Letter came last week." "He's in prison." "Point Lookout, Maryland." "Says it's mighty rough." "John, the news on Mark's worse." "He's listed missing at the wilderness." "He's dead, Matt." "I knew it somehow." "I knew it." "Pa, we have a visitor." "Who is it, Emma?" "A traitor." "How are you, Pa?" "You turned your back on this house, this land." " You don't belong here." " I won't stay long." "Why'd you have to come at all?" "To bring this." "Mark's dead." "He died in battle." "I was there." "The wilderness was on fire." "That's all I could bring." "Ashes from the funeral pyre." "Mark's ashes." "I'm gonna go see Mama." "No, John." "Don't tell your ma about Mark." "Not just yet." "She's already worried herself sick." "Pa!" "Ashes." "That's all we got." "Has the doctor been here yet?" "I don't need him." "Just the influenza or somethin'." "Seen your pa?" "He's still bitter." "Had a hard time after you left." "Folks got under his skin... askin' how come he raised a Yankee." "You know how they talk." "He's a proud man, John." "It hurt him bad." "Mark's listed missing', but..." "I know he'll show up again one of these days." "Sure, Mama." "I want this war to be over." "How long is it gonna last?" "Can't last much longer." "I live for the day when it'll be done... and Luke will come back from that prison..." "Mark will come stridin' up the road... and we'll... all be together again." "That'll be wonderful, won't it, Mama?" "You better get some rest now." "Influenza." "It's worth the risk." "Is it?" "I've got somethin' to show you." "That's a whole damn army on the march." "I can hear it." "Listen again, soldier." "That's cavalry." "Maybe." "That dust cloud, that's up around Clayton's store." "What's our cavalry doin' up here?" "Last I heard, Fitz Lee was down around Gordonsville." "That's a Yank cavalry, Matt." "I was close on 'em this morning." "If the Yankees are up thataway, our cavalry's down here..." "We could wind up, John, betwixt and between." "Confederate cavalry." "Open up!" " This is Geyser Hill?" " It is." "I'm Ben Geyser." " My son, Matthew." " Who else is in the house?" "My wife, my daughter, my grandson." " Who's that?" " He's my brother." "Sergeant, prepare to defend that wall... and find a safe place for the horses." "There are two regiments of Yank cavalry on the road to Louisa Courthouse." "Our main force is moving up to meet 'em." " Battle's gonna start anytime now." " That road's over a mile away." "It could still reach here 'fore it's over." "My orders are to protect our right flank." " That means holding' this hill." " I understand you, Lieutenant." " What can we do to help?" " You can get your family out of here." "This is our land." "We aim to defend it." "I reckon that's your privilege." "Evans!" "Three carbines, twenty rounds each." " At least get the women out." " The women stay!" "I don't have time to argue, miss." "Hide 'em in the cellar." "Here, this'll do you more good than that shotgun." " You do any soldiering?" " Two years in Virginia artillery." "Ammunition." "You want this?" "I'm a correspondent pledged not to bear arms against either side." "I don't have time for talk, mister." "You want it or not?" "John, you won't fight, not even now?" "You won't defend your own family?" "Get out of my sight." "Out of my sight!" "Or God forgive me, I'll shoot you!" "I don't see nothin', Lieutenant, but I can sure feel it... down there in those woods yonder." "What are they waitin' for?" "Mama, you hardly ate anything." "When the shootin' starts, we'll head to the back door." "We gotta get in and out fast." "When the Rebs hear shots behind 'em, they'll have to pull men outta the line." "Keep shooting as long as you can, then run for it." "George, set fire to the place on the way out." "Tom, you..." "Hold it!" "Form a line." "Commence fire!" "Go back inside!" "I'm taking your place on the firing line, coward!" "Inside!" "Fall back!" "Help!" "No, no!" "Help!" "Help!" "Knock her out, will ya?" "Help Mama." "They're coming back!" "Commence fire!" "How does this work?" "How do you work this thing?" "Over the wall!" "Charge!" "Charge!" " Matt, no!" " Charge!" "Oh, God." "We drove 'em off, Pa." "We drove 'em right off our land." "I reckon we did, son." "All of us... together." "God!" "Unto Almighty God we commend the souls... of our brothers departed..." "Mark and Matthew." "We commit their bodies to the ground... earth to earth, ashes to ashes... dust to dust... in sure and certain hope of the resurrection... unto eternal life... through Jesus Christ, our Lord." "Amen." "We come to pay our last respects to your son, Matthew." "He was a brave soldier." "We buried two brave soldiers today, Lieutenant." "Another one of our sons, Mark, died at the wilderness." "Then may we honor them both with a volley, sir?" "Well, we're grateful, but the funeral is over." "Fire your volley, Lieutenant." "I'm sure the boys will hear it." "Ma'am." "Squad, halt." "Right turn." "Ready." "Aim." "Fire." "Howdy, Mr. Geyser." "I'm Jonas Steele, Mary's husband." "Oh, yeah." "I heard much about you, Jonas." "Mary was a fine woman." "A terrible loss." "Well, thank you, Mr. Geyser, but I don't reckon I lost her." "She came to visit me in the hospital several months ago." "I was sick." "I was pretty sick." "I was almost dying'." "As I was lying there in bed..." "I looked up... and there was Mary's beautiful face floating' right there above me." "She'd come to tell me that it wasn't my time yet." "She encouraged me to go on livin'." "Just before she left..." "I asked her for a kiss... somethin' to last until we met again." "Then she kissed me." "My lovely wife kissed me." "Then she was gone." "Wasn't that just like Mary?" "Right there just when I needed her." "Yeah, well, I'll see you at the house." " That was the kiss I saw?" " It was." "It was Mary I was kissing, John, and, of course, Kathy knew it." "You know where she is now?" "Georgetown Hospital." "At least she was a week ago when I checked out." " What am I gonna say to her?" " Plead insanity." "That's not far from the truth." "I was like a madman, Jonas." "Shootin', killin'." "At one point in the battle, I think I threw stones." "It was like a stone-age man defending his family cave." "How'd you feel when it was over?" "Upset, guilty." "Is that why you've been hidin' down here?" "I'm not hiding." "Matthew's dead." "Pa needs me." "Well, you could always pay for a hired hand." "Yeah, I suppose." "You know, John, you've tried to make it through this bloody war... acting like a saint." "You've given it a mighty good try, but it just wasn't in the cards." "What happened on this hill happened." "You didn't have any choice." "You fought back." "It just goes to prove you're human like the rest of us." "God help us humans." "God help us, indeed." "John, Luke's had an accident." "Jonas, so good to finally meet you." "Thank you, ma'am." "I heard that... the army gave you a very good job, made you a colonel." " No, ma'am." "Major." " That's funny." " Evelyn's letter..." " Maggie, tell him about Luke." "They were transferring' him by train to Elmira, New York." "Luke's train collided with a freight train near the prison." "Fifty of those prisoners were killed, one hundred injured." " Luke's listed with the injured." " Is he in the hospital?" "The mayor said they just loaded them into wagons and took 'em to the prison." "They'll get no doctoring' there." "From what I hear, Elmira is a hellhole." "Emmy's upstairs packing." "She's going to Elmira." "It's got into her head that somehow she can help Luke get out of there." "John, she can't make that trip alone." "And it wouldn't help anything anyway." "Would it?" "Well, it might." "I've got something in mind, but it's gonna take some planning." " May we..." " Yeah, step inside." "Don't worry, Mama." "He's a strange fella, thatJonas." "It's gonna be all right." "It's gonna be all right, sweetheart." "It's gonna be all right now." "Don't try to interfere." "I'm goin'." "It's gonna take more than you and a Yankee to stop me." "They never release a prisoner without an army order." " I'll find a way." " We have a way." "Emma, I have this new job in Washington." "The title's too long to remember." "He's Chief Investigator for theJoint Committee on the Conduct of the War." " What does that get us?" " Maybe an order to release Luke." " I think I can work it." " When, next year?" "No, after I get to Washington." "Two, three days." "That's time enough for Luke to die." "You expect me to put Luke's fate in the hands of this blue-belly colonel?" "Major." "Blue-belly major." " I won't stay here and do nothin'." " Nor am I." "You and I will go to Elmira whileJonas goes to Washington." "Our job is to keep Luke alive untilJonas gets the order." "We'll take food, medicine, blankets." "We'll make a list." " Are you willing to leave at dawn?" " Yup." "That's it then?" " Snippy little thing, ain't she?" " Headstrong." "And that temper." "Pretty though." "Fall in!" "Fall in." "Anybody sick?" "Report to the dispensary." "Now!" "Glad to see you're all so healthy." "Dismiss your men." "Break ranks!" "Any of you Rebs for the dispensary?" "How's Luke doing?" "Maybe we oughta take him to the dispensary." "I hear they got a doctor." "I reported sick once." "I heard the doctor bragging." "He said he'd killed more Rebs than any soldier at the front." "Leave Luke where he is." "It's better he die among friends than be murdered by enemies." "Oh, Captain Potts." "I just know you're gonna spare me a few moments." " Not now." "I'm a very busy man." " Oh, please, Captain." "I've been waitin' all day and all day yesterday." "Corporal, who is this little lady?" "Emma Geyser, sir, sister of a prisoner..." "Luke Geyser." "And what is it you want of me, Emma?" "I just want Luke to have this stuff we brought him." " And who's that?" " Prisoner's brother, sir." "I don't see any contraband here, Corporal." "No, sir." " So why have you kept Emma waiting?" " I was suspicious, sir." "She's a Reb from Virginia, and she tried to vamp me." "You?" " I thought..." " Imagine that." "Why don't you just put all this back in that box, Emma?" "And, Corporal, make certain that the prisoner gets his package." " Please." " Yes, sir." "Thank you, Captain." "Emma." "Let me know when it's ready." "Captain!" "What?" "Well." "It appears I've uncovered an escape plot." "Fetch the prisoner." "What's his name anyway?" "Luke Geyser." "Well, I want him here now." "And... you're both under arrest." "Get your tickets right here." "Fifteen cents a ticket." "Here you are, ladies and gentlemen." "Get your tickets." "All right, folks." "Step right up." "Let's keep the line moving." "Get your tickets to see the captured Rebs." "Climb the ladder and see theJohnny Rebs in the prison yard." "Keep the line moving." "Folks, let's keep the line moving." "It's only 15 cents to see theJohnny Rebs in captivity." "I'd suggest you answer me if you know what's good for you and this prisoner." "Who else is involved in this escape plot of yours?" "Good day to you, Captain." " Major." " Major Steele." "Washington, D.C. Chief Investigator, Joint Committee." "Captain, you have a rebel prisoner here... who happens to be my most important witness... in a highly sensitive government legal action." "Here is an order for his release... into my custody, of course." " Well, Major..." " Steele." "Steele." "I'd be glad to oblige you in this matter." "My corporal should be back any moment." "Why the nurse?" "Oh, just in case my witness needs medical attention." "Who are these people?" "Why the gun?" "They're Rebs under arrest." "The woman tried to smuggle this revolver into my prison earlier." "She did?" "Well, she must be a headstrong little fool." "Fortunately for us, she's stupid." "Yes, fortunately." "Where is that corporal of yours?" "Am I gonna have to wait here all day?" "I'm sorry, Major." "I can't imagine what's keeping him." "Here's your prisoner, sir." "Luke!" "Corporal, why are you carrying that filthy Reb?" "Only way I could bring him, sir." "You said now." "Luke, it's Emma!" " This doesn't happen to be Luke Geyser?" " The very one." "The one they were trying to smuggle this revolver to earlier." "Excellent work, Captain." "You've made my case." "Now I can prove conspiracy." "Put that man into the carriage." " But, Major..." " Captain." "Look at the release order." "He is the man I came for." "You heard what I said, Corporal." "Miss Reynolds." " Yes?" " Please keep my witness alive." " Yes, sir." " I'm taking these two as well." " Now, Major..." " Captain..." " Potts." " Captain Potts." "This release order is signed by two generals and one senator." "Yes, but it doesn't mention those two." "I only just arrested them." "How can I release them?" "Captain Potts." "You have nailed down an extremely important case." "You are going to impress a lot of extremely important people... especially when they read about it in my report." "Very important." "Into the carriage, Rebs." "Captain Potts." "Do you want this cesspool of a prison investigated?" " Well, no." " Then don't interfere." "Move!" "I almost messed it up, didn't I?" "You sure almost did." "What got into you anyway?" "I didn't believe you about the order." "I figured Luke's only hope was to escape." "Well, if you were my woman..." "Yes?" "I'd spank ya." "How bad is he?" "He has a decent pulse." "Kathy, Jonas explained about the kiss." "He said, "Plead insanity."" "I've suffered." "Good." "Kathy, will you marry me?" "Was that yes?" " John?" " Luke?" "You want me to step outside?" " Hello, John." " Jonas!" "Come on in." "Kathy's here." "Oh, good." "Kathy, we've got company." "I have news." "I just came from the war department." "Good morning!" "What news?" "Grant has captured Richmond." "Petersburg as well." "Lee's armies are moving westward." "They probably won't get too far." "The war is finally winding down." "The nightmare ends." " Thank God for that." " I'm leaving for Virginia." "I've wangled orders a bit." "I want to be there for the end." "I thought maybe you'd like to ride with me." "I don't know." "We're planning to be married soon." "Harper's has been begging you to go." "Now, Harper's can't complain." "I've given them hundreds of sketches." "It's an important body of work." "It really is." " But it oughta have an ending." " Yeah, I want to finish the portrait." "Go." "Those officers are on General Grant's staff." "I think we've finally found him." "Wait here." "I'll check." " Jonas." " Gentlemen." " Major Steele." " Hello, Van." "How are you?" " I thought you'd abandoned us." " No, I took a leave of absence." "We came back 'cause we heard the end is near." "The end is nearer than you think." "It's right there in that house." "Lee and Grant are in the parlor discussing the terms of surrender." "I'm gonna need a sketch of this." "Whose horse is that?" "That's Traveler." "Belongs to General Lee." " Where are we?" " Appomatox Courthouse." "Orderly." "Orderly!" "General, are we surrendered?" "Yes, my men." "You are surrendered." "Men, we have fought the war together." "And I have done the best I could for you." "You will all be paroled... and go home until exchanged." "The odds against us were too great." "Did you really surrender us, sir?" "We can keep on fightin'." " The South will never lose!" " Let's fight on, General." "We're all ready to die for the cause!" "I would not lead you to further fruitless slaughter." "Good-bye, my men." "Good-bye." "That artillery..." "is that our men celebrating'?" "Yes, sir." "A messenger spread the news an hour ago." " Something has occurred to me." " Yes?" "In view of your momentous accomplishments today..." "I thought perhaps you might like to send the news to Washington." "I knew there was somethin'." "Badeau." "Bring me my orderly book." "How's that?" "Excellent, sir." "Telegraph that to Stanton right away and add a copy of the surrender terms." "Yes, sir." " And, Badeau." " Sir?" "Tell our artillerymen to stop that racket." "The Southerners are now our fellow countrymen." "I see no point in humiliating them." "So what do you hear, Jonas?" "Is it all over?" "There's still some Rebs in the field..." "Johnston's army down in North Carolina." "But he's expected to surrender any day now." "No, Jonas." "Thanks." "I had enough at last night's celebration." "Jake?" "I'm thinking about those we've lost." "Young James dying in that hospital tent... before Bull Run... before the war even started." "And good old Sergeant O'Toole." "My brother Mark died in the wilderness... with O'Toole." "Matthew at Geyser Hill." "And Mary." "Many are the hearts that are weary tonight" "Wishing for the war to cease" "Many are the hearts" "Looking for the right" " To see the dawn of peace" " Let's sing to their memory." "Tenting tonight" "Tenting on the old campground" "We've been tenting tonight" "On the old campground" "Thinking of days gone by" "Of the loved ones at home" "That gave us a hand" "The dear that said good-bye" "Many are the hearts that are weary tonight" "Wishing for the war to cease" "Many are the hearts" "Looking for the right" "To see the dawn of peace" "Tenting tonight" "Tenting on the old campground" "Many are the hearts that are weary tonight" "Wishing for the war to cease" "Many are the hearts" "Looking for the right" "To see the dawn of peace" "We've received no news from the war department concerning North Carolina." "We've received no news from the war department concerning North Carolina." "Perhaps Mr. Stanton will have word for us, if and when he arrives." "I can't understand why you haven't heard from Sherman, General." " Doesn't that make you edgy?" " Yes, sir." "Calm your fears, gentlemen." "Last night I received a good omen." "I had a dream, one that I've had before a number of times." "The dream is always the same... and invariably precedes some great and important event of the war." "I expect, therefore, to get news ofJohnston's surrender very soon." "Just what was the nature of the dream, Mr. President?" "Well... it had to do with your element, Mr. Welles, the water." "I'm in a mysterious sort of vessel... moving rapidly forward across a dim, hazy sea... toward a dark, indefinite shore." "And that's all there is to it, except that I had this same dream... before our victories at Antietam, Stone River..." "Gettysburg and Vicksburg." "Stone River was no victory, Mr. President." "In fact, a few more such victories would have ruined us." "Well... you and I may differ on that point, General." "But I repeat, the dream has always preceded some great event." "Last night's dream must mean Johnston's surrender." "That's the only great event likely to occur." "Cigar, General?" "Thank you, sir." "Jonas, I'm glad you're awake." "Wake up." "Are you all right?" " Yeah." " Bad one, huh?" "It's that psychic gift." "Gift?" "It's a curse." "What was the dream?" "It's Lincoln." "He's in danger." "He's gotta be warned." " I have a message for the president." " He's not on the premises, sir." "Where is he?" "Reckon it's no secret." "The president and Mrs. Lincoln are at Ford's Theater." "Thanks." "Where is he?" "Where is he?" "Where have they taken my husband?" " What happened?" " Mr. Lincoln's been shot." "Why, John?" "Why am I warned, yet left powerless to act?" " Mr. Secretary." " Come with me." "I may need you." "What happened?" " How bad is it, Doctor?" " The wound is mortal." "All we can do is wait." "Oh, my God." "Mother." "Oh, my God!" "I have given my husband... to die." "The president is dead." "Pulse stopped at 7:22 and two seconds." "Now he belongs to the ages." "Luke, look what I got!" "Would you move over here, please?" "We're gonna take a picture." "All the Geysers and all the Hales, you've got to pose before you eat." "That means you too, Senator Reynolds." "Emma, you and Jesse sit right over here." "Annie, right over here." "Malachy, Jake, bring that bench over here, please." "Now, Luke, we need you and Mandy as well." " What's going on?" " John's gonna take a picture." " Of who?" " Of everybody." " It's gonna take hours." " No, a few seconds is all I need." "This is positively the latest in photographic cameras." "It's all the way from New York." "Parson, come here." "I need you." "This cap goes on the eye of the camera." "When I run in, take it off, count to five slowly... then put it back on." " You sure this is gonna work?" " Oh, yeah." " Get in there, Jonas." " No, I'm not..." "No, you're family." "Now get in there behind Emma." "All right." "Senator, smile." "All right." "Here we go." "Let me in, let me in." "What do we do?" "Nobody moves." "Sit up straight." " Wait till he tells you." " Open the eye now." "With malice toward none... with charity for all... with firmness in the right... as God gives us to see the right... let us strive on to finish the work we're in... to bind up the nation's wounds... to care for him who shall have borne the battle... and for his widow and his orphan... to do all which may achieve and cherish... a just and lasting peace... among ourselves... and with all nations."