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1
00:00:01,502 --> 00:00:04,481
[dramatic music]
2
00:00:04,505 --> 00:00:11,488
♪ ♪
3
00:00:11,512 --> 00:00:14,866
‐ Ulysses S. Grant.
4
00:00:14,890 --> 00:00:16,534
This man's name
is U. S. Grant.
5
00:00:16,558 --> 00:00:19,204
‐ A military life
had no charms for me.
6
00:00:19,228 --> 00:00:22,332
‐ Grant, you know
the rules about drink.
7
00:00:22,356 --> 00:00:25,084
Resign or court‐martial.
8
00:00:25,108 --> 00:00:27,212
‐ I'm not asking you to speak.
9
00:00:27,236 --> 00:00:29,214
I'm asking you to lead.
10
00:00:29,238 --> 00:00:31,007
‐ There were
but two parties now,
11
00:00:31,031 --> 00:00:33,676
traitors and patriots.
12
00:00:33,700 --> 00:00:35,595
I believe
if I can take both forts,
13
00:00:35,619 --> 00:00:38,139
we can advance
as far as Nashville.
14
00:00:38,163 --> 00:00:40,808
‐ When I wish to consult you
on the subject,
15
00:00:40,832 --> 00:00:43,102
I will notify you.
16
00:00:43,126 --> 00:00:44,437
‐ General Buell's men?
17
00:00:44,461 --> 00:00:45,688
‐ They're three days out.
18
00:00:45,712 --> 00:00:47,732
‐ We'll move on Corinth
when he gets here.
19
00:00:47,756 --> 00:00:50,860
There is little doubt
that Corinth will fall easily.
20
00:00:50,884 --> 00:00:52,654
[gunshot]
21
00:00:52,678 --> 00:00:53,905
‐ Fire!
22
00:00:53,929 --> 00:00:57,158
[gunfire, soldiers clamoring]
23
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♪ ♪
24
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‐ Come on, now, boys, pitch in.
25
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I'm right behind you.
26
00:01:04,356 --> 00:01:05,875
[soldiers yelling]
27
00:01:05,899 --> 00:01:09,045
‐ Fire the cannon!
[cannon booms]
28
00:01:09,069 --> 00:01:16,076
♪ ♪
29
00:01:17,411 --> 00:01:22,141
‐ Very few people really know
who Ulysses S. Grant was.
30
00:01:22,165 --> 00:01:26,688
‐ Today there is this sense
that he's forgotten.
31
00:01:26,712 --> 00:01:29,941
‐ He's been called
so many things over the years.
32
00:01:29,965 --> 00:01:32,569
‐ The greatest general
of his time.
33
00:01:32,593 --> 00:01:34,779
‐ A military genius.
34
00:01:34,803 --> 00:01:36,614
‐ A bloody butcher.
35
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‐ A corrupt president.
36
00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:41,685
‐ A belligerent drunk
who got lucky.
37
00:01:42,477 --> 00:01:44,747
He didn't get lucky.
38
00:01:44,771 --> 00:01:47,709
‐ Ulysses S. Grant
is this perfectly average,
39
00:01:47,733 --> 00:01:51,671
humble individual from a poor,
hardscrabble background.
40
00:01:51,695 --> 00:01:54,924
‐ With a lot of hard times
and failures in his life.
41
00:01:54,948 --> 00:01:57,135
‐ But he's got
this dogged determination,
42
00:01:57,159 --> 00:01:59,804
this bulldog mentality.
43
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‐ This guy comes from nothing,
44
00:02:01,455 --> 00:02:02,765
rises to the highest ranks
45
00:02:02,789 --> 00:02:04,600
of the Union army.
46
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‐ Fights bloody,
terrible battles.
47
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‐ With indomitable will.
48
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‐ To save the Union.
49
00:02:11,048 --> 00:02:12,942
‐ To heal his country.
50
00:02:12,966 --> 00:02:16,988
‐ To lead the nation
towards justice for everybody.
51
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‐ He's the unheroic hero
52
00:02:19,473 --> 00:02:22,577
of our greatest national epic,
the American Civil War.
53
00:02:22,601 --> 00:02:25,079
‐ It's truly an American story
54
00:02:25,103 --> 00:02:27,498
not only of patriotism
to the nation
55
00:02:27,522 --> 00:02:29,542
but for the values, who we are,
56
00:02:29,566 --> 00:02:31,794
and who we aspire to be.
57
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♪ ♪
58
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♪ ♪
59
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‐ Dear Julia...
60
00:02:48,585 --> 00:02:50,897
the battle at this place
was the most desperate
61
00:02:50,921 --> 00:02:53,816
that has ever taken place
on the continent,
62
00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:56,819
and I don't look
for another like it.
63
00:02:56,843 --> 00:03:03,850
♪ ♪
64
00:03:13,694 --> 00:03:15,755
‐ The battle of Shiloh
is the bloodiest battle
65
00:03:15,779 --> 00:03:18,216
in American history
up to that time.
66
00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:19,342
The nation is shocked
67
00:03:19,366 --> 00:03:21,177
when the casualty reports
come out.
68
00:03:21,201 --> 00:03:23,888
♪ ♪
69
00:03:23,912 --> 00:03:27,225
‐ Grant doesn't come out
of Shiloh looking very good.
70
00:03:27,249 --> 00:03:29,685
You know, he was
"Unconditional Surrender" Grant
71
00:03:29,709 --> 00:03:31,062
at Fort Donelson,
72
00:03:31,086 --> 00:03:32,730
became a hero.
73
00:03:32,754 --> 00:03:34,982
And now all of a sudden,
people are asking,
74
00:03:35,006 --> 00:03:37,568
"What happened?"
75
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‐ The casualty list
and the fact that Grant
76
00:03:40,095 --> 00:03:42,949
was surprised on the first day
77
00:03:42,973 --> 00:03:46,327
overshadow the fact
of the victory.
78
00:03:46,351 --> 00:03:48,287
♪ ♪
79
00:03:48,311 --> 00:03:50,581
‐ Rumors start
reaching Washington
80
00:03:50,605 --> 00:03:52,959
that explain that surprise
as Grant must be
81
00:03:52,983 --> 00:03:54,710
on the bottle once again.
82
00:03:54,734 --> 00:03:56,754
But the president answered
83
00:03:56,778 --> 00:03:59,298
those critical of Grant
by saying,
84
00:03:59,322 --> 00:04:01,968
"I can't spare this man.
85
00:04:01,992 --> 00:04:03,928
He fights."
86
00:04:03,952 --> 00:04:11,001
♪ ♪
87
00:04:12,586 --> 00:04:15,648
[insects chirping]
88
00:04:15,672 --> 00:04:18,443
‐ After the bloodbath
of Shiloh...
89
00:04:18,467 --> 00:04:20,736
Grant's superior,
90
00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:22,613
Henry W. Halleck,
91
00:04:22,637 --> 00:04:25,575
removes Grant
from his army command...
92
00:04:25,599 --> 00:04:28,411
with no duties,
93
00:04:28,435 --> 00:04:30,455
no real authority, nothing.
94
00:04:30,479 --> 00:04:32,081
♪ ♪
95
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‐ Grant is so frustrated
by this.
96
00:04:35,317 --> 00:04:37,170
Halleck is not aggressive,
97
00:04:37,194 --> 00:04:38,463
and then you have
someone like Grant,
98
00:04:38,487 --> 00:04:39,922
who is very go‐get‐'em.
99
00:04:39,946 --> 00:04:42,300
He's ready to jump in,
grab the initiative.
100
00:04:42,324 --> 00:04:44,260
Grant wants to finish off
101
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what's left
of the Confederate army
102
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that attacked him at Shiloh
103
00:04:47,788 --> 00:04:50,308
but are having time
to reorganize themselves
104
00:04:50,332 --> 00:04:53,269
as they fall back into Corinth.
105
00:04:53,293 --> 00:04:56,856
♪ ♪
106
00:04:56,880 --> 00:04:59,901
‐ They're well defended.
107
00:04:59,925 --> 00:05:02,612
I would say quite active.
108
00:05:02,636 --> 00:05:04,947
They're preparing for battle.
109
00:05:04,971 --> 00:05:08,201
‐ Respectfully,
General Halleck, that smoke?
110
00:05:08,225 --> 00:05:11,454
It's plain.
They're burning supplies.
111
00:05:11,478 --> 00:05:14,207
It suggests they're preparing
to retreat, sir.
112
00:05:14,231 --> 00:05:17,108
[train horn blowing]
113
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‐ Hear that?
114
00:05:20,195 --> 00:05:22,131
I knew it.
115
00:05:22,155 --> 00:05:24,008
Trains coming in every day.
116
00:05:24,032 --> 00:05:25,885
They're reinforcing.
117
00:05:25,909 --> 00:05:29,680
‐ Again, sir, I differ.
This is a retreat.
118
00:05:29,704 --> 00:05:32,308
Our railroad men
have ears on the tracks.
119
00:05:32,332 --> 00:05:33,726
They say it's empty trains
coming in
120
00:05:33,750 --> 00:05:35,853
and loaded ones going out.
121
00:05:35,877 --> 00:05:38,481
They're withdrawing.
122
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Let's move on them now‐‐
123
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‐ Enough, Grant.
124
00:05:41,925 --> 00:05:46,489
After Shiloh, I'd have thought
you'd have learned your lesson.
125
00:05:46,513 --> 00:05:52,620
♪ ♪
126
00:05:52,644 --> 00:05:55,665
‐ Grant is like, "Speed,
tempo‐‐these are weapons
127
00:05:55,689 --> 00:05:58,292
that can be used for an
adversary that's on the run."
128
00:05:58,316 --> 00:05:59,585
♪ ♪
129
00:05:59,609 --> 00:06:02,505
Grant recognizes
there's an opportunity,
130
00:06:02,529 --> 00:06:04,257
but he also knows
the windows of opportunity
131
00:06:04,281 --> 00:06:05,842
are very small,
132
00:06:05,866 --> 00:06:07,051
and if you don't
take advantage of them,
133
00:06:07,075 --> 00:06:09,220
they'll pass you by.
134
00:06:09,244 --> 00:06:12,515
And Grant sees this
as a missed opportunity.
135
00:06:12,539 --> 00:06:14,350
♪ ♪
136
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‐ General.
137
00:06:16,334 --> 00:06:23,341
♪ ♪
138
00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:28,155
‐ Rebs are gone.
139
00:06:28,179 --> 00:06:30,366
Nothing but a bunch
of scarecrows.
140
00:06:30,390 --> 00:06:31,534
♪ ♪
141
00:06:31,558 --> 00:06:34,328
‐ Send a telegraph
to the president.
142
00:06:34,352 --> 00:06:36,664
Corinth is ours.
143
00:06:36,688 --> 00:06:39,750
It's a great Union victory.
144
00:06:39,774 --> 00:06:44,589
‐ The possession of Corinth
was of strategic importance,
145
00:06:44,613 --> 00:06:47,967
but the victory was barren
in every other particular.
146
00:06:47,991 --> 00:06:51,596
Corinth had already
been evacuated.
147
00:06:51,620 --> 00:06:54,599
A well‐directed attack
would at least have partially
148
00:06:54,623 --> 00:06:56,350
destroyed the defending army.
149
00:06:56,374 --> 00:07:00,187
♪ ♪
150
00:07:00,211 --> 00:07:02,064
‐ Corinth has fallen.
Grant is like,
151
00:07:02,088 --> 00:07:03,941
"Great, this is an opportunity
to strike out.
152
00:07:03,965 --> 00:07:05,776
We should go to Atlanta.
We should go to Vicksburg."
153
00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:07,820
And what happens?
Halleck sits tight.
154
00:07:07,844 --> 00:07:09,405
He disperses the army,
155
00:07:09,429 --> 00:07:11,574
and things slow down
in the western theater.
156
00:07:11,598 --> 00:07:13,284
♪ ♪
157
00:07:13,308 --> 00:07:16,287
‐ Keep in mind that
in the early years of the war,
158
00:07:16,311 --> 00:07:19,957
there are really
two distinct theaters.
159
00:07:19,981 --> 00:07:22,960
The west is where Grant is.
160
00:07:22,984 --> 00:07:25,212
And there's the eastern theater,
161
00:07:25,236 --> 00:07:28,174
and this is the fights
of the Union army
162
00:07:28,198 --> 00:07:32,094
against essentially the Army
of Northern Virginia of Lee.
163
00:07:32,118 --> 00:07:33,763
♪ ♪
164
00:07:33,787 --> 00:07:37,266
‐ So while Grant
has been demoted out west,
165
00:07:37,290 --> 00:07:39,018
in the east,
Robert E. Lee
166
00:07:39,042 --> 00:07:41,812
has taken over
the Army of Northern Virginia.
167
00:07:41,836 --> 00:07:43,689
And the average result
in the eastern theater
168
00:07:43,713 --> 00:07:46,359
is that the Union army loses
169
00:07:46,383 --> 00:07:49,487
to an undermanned
Confederate army.
170
00:07:49,511 --> 00:07:51,489
♪ ♪
171
00:07:51,513 --> 00:07:54,200
‐ In the east, Lincoln's
experience with his generals
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00:07:54,224 --> 00:07:59,163
had been bad, trending to worse.
173
00:07:59,187 --> 00:08:01,999
‐ Abraham Lincoln had seen
Robert E. Lee defeat
174
00:08:02,023 --> 00:08:04,669
an entire bench
of Union commanders.
175
00:08:04,693 --> 00:08:06,212
♪ ♪
176
00:08:06,236 --> 00:08:09,465
‐ By this time, Grant
is in a bad situation too.
177
00:08:09,489 --> 00:08:13,094
That second year of the war
is just not very good for him.
178
00:08:13,118 --> 00:08:14,804
In fact, he calls it, of course,
179
00:08:14,828 --> 00:08:16,305
the darkest days of the war.
180
00:08:16,329 --> 00:08:19,058
[soldiers clamoring]
181
00:08:19,082 --> 00:08:23,771
‐ Dear Julia,
I am no longer boss.
182
00:08:23,795 --> 00:08:26,816
What the next move is
or the part I am to take,
183
00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:28,651
I do not know.
184
00:08:28,675 --> 00:08:32,822
♪ ♪
185
00:08:32,846 --> 00:08:34,615
‐ What's going on?
186
00:08:34,639 --> 00:08:36,117
‐ I've had enough.
187
00:08:36,141 --> 00:08:37,326
♪ ♪
188
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I'm resigning.
189
00:08:38,601 --> 00:08:40,287
‐ Oh, for God's sake.
190
00:08:40,311 --> 00:08:42,331
‐ Look, I want to fight
and win this war,
191
00:08:42,355 --> 00:08:44,417
but if Halleck
has me sit it out,
192
00:08:44,441 --> 00:08:46,627
I might as well
sit it out at home.
193
00:08:46,651 --> 00:08:48,838
‐ You're not resigning.
194
00:08:48,862 --> 00:08:51,048
‐ If I can't fight,
well, then I'm useless.
195
00:08:51,072 --> 00:08:54,385
‐ Sam, you're the most useful
man we have.
196
00:08:54,409 --> 00:08:57,054
I know it. You know‐‐
By God, Lincoln?
197
00:08:57,078 --> 00:08:58,180
He knows it.
198
00:08:58,204 --> 00:09:01,851
♪ ♪
199
00:09:01,875 --> 00:09:02,852
‐ Look at this.
200
00:09:02,876 --> 00:09:06,063
♪ ♪
201
00:09:06,087 --> 00:09:08,941
It says I was drunk at Shiloh.
202
00:09:08,965 --> 00:09:10,234
‐ Oh, hell.
203
00:09:10,258 --> 00:09:12,069
Forget the papers.
204
00:09:12,093 --> 00:09:15,847
♪ ♪
205
00:09:18,433 --> 00:09:20,578
Listen.
206
00:09:20,602 --> 00:09:23,706
You know the next move
is Vicksburg.
207
00:09:23,730 --> 00:09:25,708
You can take Vicksburg.
208
00:09:25,732 --> 00:09:27,710
♪ ♪
209
00:09:27,734 --> 00:09:30,046
Who else can do it?
210
00:09:30,070 --> 00:09:32,048
Halleck?
211
00:09:32,072 --> 00:09:34,884
♪ ♪
212
00:09:34,908 --> 00:09:37,053
‐ Vicksburg.
213
00:09:37,077 --> 00:09:39,055
Lincoln was right.
214
00:09:39,079 --> 00:09:40,639
♪ ♪
215
00:09:40,663 --> 00:09:42,683
Vicksburg is the key.
216
00:09:42,707 --> 00:09:49,714
♪ ♪
217
00:09:50,507 --> 00:09:54,111
‐ Controlling Vicksburg
allowed food and other goods
218
00:09:54,135 --> 00:09:56,405
to move freely
across the Mississippi
219
00:09:56,429 --> 00:09:58,157
and get onto railcars
220
00:09:58,181 --> 00:10:01,160
and feed the Confederacy
in the east.
221
00:10:01,184 --> 00:10:06,207
Without it, the Confederacy
can be cut in two.
222
00:10:06,231 --> 00:10:07,750
But for any army in history,
223
00:10:07,774 --> 00:10:10,377
capturing Vicksburg
would be a daunting task.
224
00:10:10,401 --> 00:10:13,798
♪ ♪
225
00:10:13,822 --> 00:10:15,925
‐ The city of Vicksburg
is on the east bank
226
00:10:15,949 --> 00:10:18,135
of the Mississippi River.
227
00:10:18,159 --> 00:10:22,223
And it is nestled among bluffs
that tower 300 feet
228
00:10:22,247 --> 00:10:26,227
above a horseshoe‐shaped bend
of the Mississippi.
229
00:10:26,251 --> 00:10:30,106
♪ ♪
230
00:10:30,130 --> 00:10:34,360
The line of defense
consisted of nine major forts
231
00:10:34,384 --> 00:10:38,072
connected by a continuous line
of trenches and rifle pits
232
00:10:38,096 --> 00:10:41,242
that stretched for more
than eight miles
233
00:10:41,266 --> 00:10:45,246
and then 172 big guns.
234
00:10:45,270 --> 00:10:48,124
♪ ♪
235
00:10:48,148 --> 00:10:50,793
‐ Back east, Abraham Lincoln
was at that moment
236
00:10:50,817 --> 00:10:54,380
about to rid himself
of his general and chief
237
00:10:54,404 --> 00:10:56,340
George McClellan,
238
00:10:56,364 --> 00:10:58,342
and the replacement
that he pitches upon
239
00:10:58,366 --> 00:11:00,761
is Henry Wager Halleck.
240
00:11:00,785 --> 00:11:03,848
He brings Halleck east.
241
00:11:03,872 --> 00:11:06,475
‐ And so finally,
the clouds part,
242
00:11:06,499 --> 00:11:09,145
and Halleck gives Grant
the authority
243
00:11:09,169 --> 00:11:11,647
to command as Grant sees fit,
244
00:11:11,671 --> 00:11:13,816
and the interesting thing is,
it takes Grant
245
00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:16,443
all of one day
246
00:11:16,467 --> 00:11:20,656
to start organizing
an offensive against Vicksburg.
247
00:11:20,680 --> 00:11:24,368
♪ ♪
248
00:11:24,392 --> 00:11:27,413
‐ I would call Grant's
Vicksburg campaign
249
00:11:27,437 --> 00:11:28,914
his masterpiece.
250
00:11:28,938 --> 00:11:30,875
It's the centerpiece of the war.
251
00:11:30,899 --> 00:11:32,585
♪ ♪
252
00:11:32,609 --> 00:11:37,006
But Vicksburg was incredibly
difficult to get at.
253
00:11:37,030 --> 00:11:39,925
♪ ♪
254
00:11:39,949 --> 00:11:42,261
‐ When Grant starts
this campaign,
255
00:11:42,285 --> 00:11:45,181
Grant is on the western side
of the river.
256
00:11:45,205 --> 00:11:47,391
Vicksburg, of course, is on
the eastern side of the river.
257
00:11:47,415 --> 00:11:49,185
♪ ♪
258
00:11:49,209 --> 00:11:54,690
‐ North of Vicksburg
was a great, gigantic swamp.
259
00:11:54,714 --> 00:11:57,860
He needs to put his troops
on open ground,
260
00:11:57,884 --> 00:12:02,072
but the only open ground
is below Vicksburg
261
00:12:02,096 --> 00:12:04,825
on the eastern side
of the river.
262
00:12:04,849 --> 00:12:09,371
Well, how are you going
to get troops below Vicksburg?
263
00:12:09,395 --> 00:12:13,083
You just can't send
transports and gunboats
264
00:12:13,107 --> 00:12:15,920
because they would have to run
the batteries at Vicksburg
265
00:12:15,944 --> 00:12:17,755
to get past the defenses.
266
00:12:17,779 --> 00:12:23,552
♪ ♪
267
00:12:23,576 --> 00:12:26,305
‐ Now, throughout the winter,
Grant will orchestrate
268
00:12:26,329 --> 00:12:29,350
a series of bayou campaigns,
as they were called.
269
00:12:29,374 --> 00:12:32,895
♪ ♪
270
00:12:32,919 --> 00:12:37,149
‐ Grant makes seven attempts
to get at Vicksburg.
271
00:12:37,173 --> 00:12:39,777
All of these are efforts
to get around the city
272
00:12:39,801 --> 00:12:42,154
without having to run
those batteries,
273
00:12:42,178 --> 00:12:44,490
which is their great fear.
274
00:12:44,514 --> 00:12:49,578
‐ Among the operations
is excavation of a canal.
275
00:12:49,602 --> 00:12:52,831
It enthralls Abraham Lincoln,
who almost on a daily basis
276
00:12:52,855 --> 00:12:54,917
would send Grant
a telegraph asking,
277
00:12:54,941 --> 00:12:58,295
"How's work on the canal
coming along?"
278
00:12:58,319 --> 00:13:01,257
And Grant would send back
these very rosy reports.
279
00:13:01,281 --> 00:13:04,009
But Sherman was
far more candid when he said,
280
00:13:04,033 --> 00:13:06,095
"The canal
don't amount to much."
281
00:13:06,119 --> 00:13:08,472
And by late March,
even Grant would realize
282
00:13:08,496 --> 00:13:11,016
that this canal was a bust.
283
00:13:11,040 --> 00:13:13,602
[rain pattering]
284
00:13:13,626 --> 00:13:15,104
And at this point in time,
285
00:13:15,128 --> 00:13:17,731
it's the rainy season
in Mississippi.
286
00:13:17,755 --> 00:13:19,275
[thunder rumbling]
287
00:13:19,299 --> 00:13:22,903
‐ The whole country
was covered with water.
288
00:13:22,927 --> 00:13:25,364
Troops could scarcely
find dry ground
289
00:13:25,388 --> 00:13:27,992
on which to pitch their tents.
290
00:13:28,016 --> 00:13:30,786
Malarial fevers
broke out among the men.
291
00:13:30,810 --> 00:13:32,621
♪ ♪
292
00:13:32,645 --> 00:13:35,916
‐ Vicksburg shows a number
of qualities of Grant.
293
00:13:35,940 --> 00:13:38,669
There's again a degree
of determination.
294
00:13:38,693 --> 00:13:42,464
He tries every which way
to come at Vicksburg,
295
00:13:42,488 --> 00:13:45,759
but on any battlefield
or in any campaign,
296
00:13:45,783 --> 00:13:47,845
results do matter.
297
00:13:47,869 --> 00:13:49,138
♪ ♪
298
00:13:49,162 --> 00:13:50,723
‐ Now, at this point in time,
299
00:13:50,747 --> 00:13:52,474
Lincoln changed his generals
300
00:13:52,498 --> 00:13:54,518
almost as frequently
as he changed his shirts.
301
00:13:54,542 --> 00:13:58,022
So Grant realized that
his time and his options
302
00:13:58,046 --> 00:14:00,232
were running out.
303
00:14:00,256 --> 00:14:04,194
[rain pattering,
thunder rumbling]
304
00:14:04,218 --> 00:14:07,489
[indistinct chatter]
305
00:14:07,513 --> 00:14:14,520
♪ ♪
306
00:14:19,859 --> 00:14:21,670
‐ General.
307
00:14:21,694 --> 00:14:28,701
♪ ♪
308
00:14:33,831 --> 00:14:36,018
‐ Have you heard?
309
00:14:36,042 --> 00:14:39,563
I'm stuck in the mud
in northern Mississippi.
310
00:14:39,587 --> 00:14:43,692
♪ ♪
311
00:14:43,716 --> 00:14:45,694
Vicksburg.
312
00:14:45,718 --> 00:14:48,113
♪ ♪
313
00:14:48,137 --> 00:14:51,241
We need to get out of this mud
and into the water.
314
00:14:51,265 --> 00:14:52,993
‐ What do you mean?
315
00:14:53,017 --> 00:14:55,204
‐ Use the river to advance.
316
00:14:55,228 --> 00:14:58,123
Move our men south.
317
00:14:58,147 --> 00:15:00,250
Ferry them across here.
318
00:15:00,274 --> 00:15:04,671
‐ But we'll need to get ships
south to transport our men.
319
00:15:04,695 --> 00:15:06,715
‐ If we move those ships
past the Vicksburg guns,
320
00:15:06,739 --> 00:15:10,177
they'll blow us
out of the water.
321
00:15:10,201 --> 00:15:11,386
‐ It's too risky.
322
00:15:11,410 --> 00:15:13,305
♪ ♪
323
00:15:13,329 --> 00:15:15,766
‐ There's no other way.
324
00:15:15,790 --> 00:15:17,726
It's time to take a risk.
325
00:15:17,750 --> 00:15:19,311
♪ ♪
326
00:15:19,335 --> 00:15:22,731
Gentlemen...
327
00:15:22,755 --> 00:15:27,236
♪ ♪
328
00:15:27,260 --> 00:15:29,238
I'm gonna run their guns.
329
00:15:29,262 --> 00:15:33,492
♪ ♪
330
00:15:33,516 --> 00:15:36,620
‐ This is thought
to be suicidal.
331
00:15:36,644 --> 00:15:39,081
Everybody believes
this is a losing proposition.
332
00:15:39,105 --> 00:15:42,626
♪ ♪
333
00:15:42,650 --> 00:15:45,254
‐ The gunboats
of the Mississippi squadron,
334
00:15:45,278 --> 00:15:47,297
although they are ironclad,
335
00:15:47,321 --> 00:15:49,258
the roofs of these gunboats
336
00:15:49,282 --> 00:15:52,261
are vulnerable
to a plunging fire.
337
00:15:52,285 --> 00:15:54,596
[guns firing]
338
00:15:54,620 --> 00:15:56,640
‐ Sherman cautions him
against it.
339
00:15:56,664 --> 00:15:59,143
Sherman says,
"I want this on paper
340
00:15:59,167 --> 00:16:01,019
that I'm against this."
341
00:16:01,043 --> 00:16:03,105
And Grant can live with that.
342
00:16:03,129 --> 00:16:04,773
♪ ♪
343
00:16:04,797 --> 00:16:08,694
‐ Grant had something to prove
during the Civil War.
344
00:16:08,718 --> 00:16:12,447
He must have known that
this was his chance to show
345
00:16:12,471 --> 00:16:14,074
what he had inside him.
346
00:16:14,098 --> 00:16:17,369
♪ ♪
347
00:16:17,393 --> 00:16:21,665
‐ The plan is, while the boats
will run the batteries,
348
00:16:21,689 --> 00:16:25,836
Grant will march his men down
the western side of the river.
349
00:16:25,860 --> 00:16:27,588
♪ ♪
350
00:16:27,612 --> 00:16:31,008
Ironclads provide protection
for his transports.
351
00:16:31,032 --> 00:16:32,593
The transports are there
because they are
352
00:16:32,617 --> 00:16:34,178
gonna move his troops
from one side
353
00:16:34,202 --> 00:16:36,054
of the river to the other
354
00:16:36,078 --> 00:16:37,681
and then run a land campaign
355
00:16:37,705 --> 00:16:39,683
to come in
from the eastern side.
356
00:16:39,707 --> 00:16:44,021
♪ ♪
357
00:16:44,045 --> 00:16:45,981
‐ In preparation,
all the gunboats
358
00:16:46,005 --> 00:16:47,733
are painted black.
359
00:16:47,757 --> 00:16:50,986
Bales of cotton,
bales of hay are stacked
360
00:16:51,010 --> 00:16:53,697
around the engines
to muffle the sounds,
361
00:16:53,721 --> 00:16:55,282
as well as out on the gun decks,
362
00:16:55,306 --> 00:16:58,118
to absorb incoming rounds
of Confederate ammunition.
363
00:16:58,142 --> 00:17:01,121
♪ ♪
364
00:17:01,145 --> 00:17:03,081
Around 11:00 at night,
365
00:17:03,105 --> 00:17:05,125
the gunboats
and transport vessels,
366
00:17:05,149 --> 00:17:07,669
in single‐file line,
will slowly drift
367
00:17:07,693 --> 00:17:09,671
with the current.
368
00:17:09,695 --> 00:17:15,552
♪ ♪
369
00:17:15,576 --> 00:17:17,346
‐ Sir, they've set fire
to the opposite shore
370
00:17:17,370 --> 00:17:18,388
so they can see us coming.
371
00:17:18,412 --> 00:17:25,461
♪ ♪
372
00:17:29,173 --> 00:17:32,134
[artillery firing]
373
00:17:36,055 --> 00:17:39,368
‐ There they go.
374
00:17:39,392 --> 00:17:42,829
‐ The enemy were evidently
expecting our fleet.
375
00:17:42,853 --> 00:17:45,040
♪ ♪
376
00:17:45,064 --> 00:17:48,544
The sight was magnificent...
377
00:17:48,568 --> 00:17:50,504
but terrible.
378
00:17:50,528 --> 00:17:53,632
♪ ♪
379
00:17:53,656 --> 00:17:55,884
‐ Now, on the night
of April the 16th,
380
00:17:55,908 --> 00:17:58,720
Admiral David Porter
pays very close attention
381
00:17:58,744 --> 00:18:02,933
as to where the shot and shell
are hitting his vessels.
382
00:18:02,957 --> 00:18:05,185
They are hitting
his smokestacks,
383
00:18:05,209 --> 00:18:08,564
but almost none are getting any
lower to where the vital parts
384
00:18:08,588 --> 00:18:10,023
of your boats are situated.
385
00:18:10,047 --> 00:18:12,734
♪ ♪
386
00:18:12,758 --> 00:18:15,237
And he realizes
the Confederates can't fire
387
00:18:15,261 --> 00:18:20,325
against the near bank
of the Mississippi.
388
00:18:20,349 --> 00:18:25,289
And so Porter orders all his
gunboats to hug the shoreline.
389
00:18:25,313 --> 00:18:28,000
So close did they come
that almost all
390
00:18:28,024 --> 00:18:32,045
the Confederate shots are now
flying harmlessly overhead.
391
00:18:32,069 --> 00:18:37,092
♪ ♪
392
00:18:37,116 --> 00:18:40,554
‐ They're getting through,
Rawlins.
393
00:18:40,578 --> 00:18:43,599
They're getting through.
394
00:18:43,623 --> 00:18:45,350
We're gonna take Vicksburg
in a few days.
395
00:18:45,374 --> 00:18:47,603
By God, at last.
396
00:18:47,627 --> 00:18:50,606
‐ We'll end this war now.
397
00:18:50,630 --> 00:18:53,275
‐ I think so too, John.
398
00:18:53,299 --> 00:18:55,527
Let's see where we stand
when the sun comes up.
399
00:18:55,551 --> 00:18:57,946
Get a message to Admiral Porter,
400
00:18:57,970 --> 00:19:01,783
see what condition the boats
and the men are in.
401
00:19:01,807 --> 00:19:04,328
‐ Sir.
402
00:19:04,352 --> 00:19:07,956
♪ ♪
403
00:19:07,980 --> 00:19:10,083
‐ Due to the success
of the passage
404
00:19:10,107 --> 00:19:12,753
on the night of April the 16th,
405
00:19:12,777 --> 00:19:15,797
Grant would transport
24,000 soldiers
406
00:19:15,821 --> 00:19:18,800
across the mighty river.
407
00:19:18,824 --> 00:19:20,636
‐ I think what we see
in Vicksburg
408
00:19:20,660 --> 00:19:23,680
is the maturity of Grant
409
00:19:23,704 --> 00:19:26,475
and the decisions that he makes.
410
00:19:26,499 --> 00:19:30,562
It's an extraordinary campaign
at the operational level.
411
00:19:30,586 --> 00:19:33,106
How do armies move
from point to point?
412
00:19:33,130 --> 00:19:35,484
How do they sustain themselves?
413
00:19:35,508 --> 00:19:38,779
And that's all separate
from battle itself.
414
00:19:38,803 --> 00:19:41,406
‐ Grant's decision
to run those batteries,
415
00:19:41,430 --> 00:19:43,617
the determination, the grit,
416
00:19:43,641 --> 00:19:45,994
this is utterly part
of his makeup.
417
00:19:46,018 --> 00:19:49,498
And the loss of ships running
Vicksburg batteries is one.
418
00:19:49,522 --> 00:19:52,292
♪ ♪
419
00:19:52,316 --> 00:19:54,127
‐ All the labors, hardships,
420
00:19:54,151 --> 00:19:56,338
and exposures were
for the accomplishment
421
00:19:56,362 --> 00:19:59,675
of this one object.
422
00:19:59,699 --> 00:20:02,010
I was on dry ground
423
00:20:02,034 --> 00:20:05,055
on the same side
of the river with the enemy.
424
00:20:05,079 --> 00:20:10,185
♪ ♪
425
00:20:10,209 --> 00:20:11,978
‐ So he's now run the batteries,
426
00:20:12,002 --> 00:20:14,022
he's crossed
over the Mississippi River,
427
00:20:14,046 --> 00:20:18,568
and Grant is now
making progress in the west.
428
00:20:18,592 --> 00:20:20,529
♪ ♪
429
00:20:20,553 --> 00:20:22,864
Meanwhile
in the eastern theater,
430
00:20:22,888 --> 00:20:25,659
it's not going well.
431
00:20:25,683 --> 00:20:27,202
‐ At one point, the Union army
432
00:20:27,226 --> 00:20:29,329
is losing something like
200 men a day
433
00:20:29,353 --> 00:20:31,373
to desertion in early 1863.
434
00:20:31,397 --> 00:20:34,042
So the army is literally
leaving the field.
435
00:20:34,066 --> 00:20:35,544
And then in May of 1863,
436
00:20:35,568 --> 00:20:37,504
you get Lee's greatest victory
of the war
437
00:20:37,528 --> 00:20:39,965
at Chancellorsville.
438
00:20:39,989 --> 00:20:41,717
‐ This is Robert E. Lee's
high point.
439
00:20:41,741 --> 00:20:44,052
Outnumbered two to one,
this is the whole idea
440
00:20:44,076 --> 00:20:46,388
of one Confederate could fight
three Union soldiers.
441
00:20:46,412 --> 00:20:48,432
Here he proves it.
442
00:20:48,456 --> 00:20:49,725
The Union public
is starting to feel like
443
00:20:49,749 --> 00:20:51,727
this is unwinnable.
444
00:20:51,751 --> 00:20:54,563
And so there is
a ticking clock politically,
445
00:20:54,587 --> 00:20:56,398
and everyone is watching to see
446
00:20:56,422 --> 00:20:58,191
if Grant will be successful.
447
00:20:58,215 --> 00:21:02,738
♪ ♪
448
00:21:02,762 --> 00:21:05,365
‐ In May of 1863,
449
00:21:05,389 --> 00:21:09,202
Grant's on that open ground
below Vicksburg.
450
00:21:09,226 --> 00:21:10,579
Now that, mind you,
is only the beginning
451
00:21:10,603 --> 00:21:12,330
of his campaign, though.
452
00:21:12,354 --> 00:21:14,249
'Cause now, once on the ground,
453
00:21:14,273 --> 00:21:15,792
that's when the campaign really
454
00:21:15,816 --> 00:21:17,085
has to move into high gear.
455
00:21:17,109 --> 00:21:19,421
♪ ♪
456
00:21:19,445 --> 00:21:21,757
‐ Once on the Vicksburg side
of the river,
457
00:21:21,781 --> 00:21:23,425
most people would have
expected Grant
458
00:21:23,449 --> 00:21:25,635
to march north toward Vicksburg.
459
00:21:25,659 --> 00:21:29,264
And yet he doesn't
do anything like that.
460
00:21:29,288 --> 00:21:30,932
First of all, you don't attack
461
00:21:30,956 --> 00:21:32,642
where the enemy
expects you to attack,
462
00:21:32,666 --> 00:21:34,102
from the south.
463
00:21:34,126 --> 00:21:35,771
Second of all, in command
464
00:21:35,795 --> 00:21:37,689
of the roughly 30,000
troops of Vicksburg
465
00:21:37,713 --> 00:21:40,442
is John C. Pemberton.
466
00:21:40,466 --> 00:21:43,612
And Pemberton's fortifications
are wildly strong.
467
00:21:43,636 --> 00:21:47,032
♪ ♪
468
00:21:47,056 --> 00:21:50,035
‐ Rather than take
the direct road to Vicksburg,
469
00:21:50,059 --> 00:21:53,789
Grant opts to move
in a northeasterly direction,
470
00:21:53,813 --> 00:21:57,250
cut Pemberton's line
of supply and communication,
471
00:21:57,274 --> 00:22:00,086
isolate his opponent
in Vicksburg,
472
00:22:00,110 --> 00:22:02,756
and then move in for the kill.
473
00:22:02,780 --> 00:22:07,010
Over the next 17 days,
Grant's army will push deep
474
00:22:07,034 --> 00:22:11,473
into the interior
of the state of Mississippi.
475
00:22:11,497 --> 00:22:13,975
‐ However, in the state
capital of Jackson,
476
00:22:13,999 --> 00:22:17,103
another Confederate force
was beginning to organize
477
00:22:17,127 --> 00:22:19,815
under the command
of Joseph Johnston.
478
00:22:19,839 --> 00:22:23,819
So Grant was really facing two
separate Confederate armies
479
00:22:23,843 --> 00:22:25,570
deep in enemy territory
480
00:22:25,594 --> 00:22:29,282
with a extraordinarily
limited supply line.
481
00:22:29,306 --> 00:22:32,911
♪ ♪
482
00:22:32,935 --> 00:22:35,330
‐ There is actually
great risk for that moment.
483
00:22:35,354 --> 00:22:37,290
He turns his back
on Pemberton's army,
484
00:22:37,314 --> 00:22:39,167
nearly the same size of his own.
485
00:22:39,191 --> 00:22:41,878
♪ ♪
486
00:22:41,902 --> 00:22:43,505
A commander always
needs to know himself,
487
00:22:43,529 --> 00:22:46,341
know the environment,
know the enemy.
488
00:22:46,365 --> 00:22:48,343
He knows John Pemberton.
489
00:22:48,367 --> 00:22:50,303
He knows he's not aggressive,
490
00:22:50,327 --> 00:22:51,721
and he thinks,
491
00:22:51,745 --> 00:22:53,348
"If I strike quickly,
I can defeat them
492
00:22:53,372 --> 00:22:55,141
"in piecemeal before they join,
493
00:22:55,165 --> 00:22:56,393
"and therefore,
it's an advantage
494
00:22:56,417 --> 00:22:58,436
to have
this central position."
495
00:22:58,460 --> 00:22:59,855
And that's exactly what he does.
496
00:22:59,879 --> 00:23:03,024
He accepts risk by leaving
Pemberton in his rear,
497
00:23:03,048 --> 00:23:05,235
and he's gonna go ahead
and turn and attack Jackson.
498
00:23:05,259 --> 00:23:09,531
♪ ♪
499
00:23:09,555 --> 00:23:11,533
‐ And on May the 14th,
500
00:23:11,557 --> 00:23:13,743
Grant's armies
will drive Confederate forces
501
00:23:13,767 --> 00:23:15,370
out of Jackson
502
00:23:15,394 --> 00:23:19,416
and destroy Pemberton's line
of supply and communication.
503
00:23:19,440 --> 00:23:22,711
♪ ♪
504
00:23:22,735 --> 00:23:25,338
With Johnston's forces
scattered to the winds,
505
00:23:25,362 --> 00:23:27,591
Grant will turn west
toward Vicksburg.
506
00:23:27,615 --> 00:23:29,509
♪ ♪
507
00:23:29,533 --> 00:23:30,886
‐ Pemberton all of a sudden
508
00:23:30,910 --> 00:23:32,721
realizes Grant has turned west.
509
00:23:32,745 --> 00:23:34,723
And this is when
Pemberton decides,
510
00:23:34,747 --> 00:23:37,893
"I gotta stop
and give battle."
511
00:23:37,917 --> 00:23:40,186
The numbers are largely equal,
512
00:23:40,210 --> 00:23:43,273
somewhere less than
30,000 on each side.
513
00:23:43,297 --> 00:23:44,774
♪ ♪
514
00:23:44,798 --> 00:23:49,279
‐ If Ulysses S. Grant
loses a stand‐up fight,
515
00:23:49,303 --> 00:23:52,532
his army is in trouble.
516
00:23:52,556 --> 00:23:56,328
They have cast off
most of their logistics.
517
00:23:56,352 --> 00:23:58,872
They are
in Confederate territory.
518
00:23:58,896 --> 00:24:03,543
But if there is a way he can
beat the Confederate army
519
00:24:03,567 --> 00:24:06,546
without having
to storm Vicksburg,
520
00:24:06,570 --> 00:24:09,758
he is more than willing
to do it.
521
00:24:09,782 --> 00:24:12,636
♪ ♪
522
00:24:12,660 --> 00:24:15,013
‐ Champion Hill,
where Pemberton had chosen
523
00:24:15,037 --> 00:24:16,556
to receive us,
524
00:24:16,580 --> 00:24:19,434
was well selected.
525
00:24:19,458 --> 00:24:21,603
It is one of the highest points
526
00:24:21,627 --> 00:24:25,023
and commanded all the ground.
527
00:24:25,047 --> 00:24:29,361
[militaristic drum and fife
music playing]
528
00:24:29,385 --> 00:24:34,324
♪ ♪
529
00:24:34,348 --> 00:24:38,620
Tell General McClernand to have
his men advance quickly.
530
00:24:38,644 --> 00:24:40,413
Osterhaus and Carr
to push the center.
531
00:24:40,437 --> 00:24:43,249
Blair and Smith should advance
quickly on the left.
532
00:24:43,273 --> 00:24:46,962
[artillery firing]
533
00:24:46,986 --> 00:24:49,965
♪ ♪
534
00:24:49,989 --> 00:24:52,133
‐ Grant could feel
a battlefield.
535
00:24:52,157 --> 00:24:55,303
He could see it in his mind,
536
00:24:55,327 --> 00:24:56,930
not just in space,
because keep in mind
537
00:24:56,954 --> 00:24:59,599
it's not just
who's on the left, the right,
538
00:24:59,623 --> 00:25:03,061
the center, but in time...
539
00:25:03,085 --> 00:25:06,940
because it's sequencing
the different activities.
540
00:25:06,964 --> 00:25:09,609
And that is really
just short of genius.
541
00:25:09,633 --> 00:25:14,155
♪ ♪
542
00:25:14,179 --> 00:25:17,158
‐ I see a break
in Pemberton's line.
543
00:25:17,182 --> 00:25:18,618
Tell McPherson
to flank to the left
544
00:25:18,642 --> 00:25:21,121
and press them hard.
545
00:25:21,145 --> 00:25:24,124
[soldiers clamoring]
546
00:25:24,148 --> 00:25:27,127
[artillery firing]
547
00:25:27,151 --> 00:25:34,116
♪ ♪
548
00:25:55,846 --> 00:25:57,699
‐ The rebs are running, sir.
549
00:25:57,723 --> 00:26:00,368
‐ Hell, they're running
all the way to Vicksburg.
550
00:26:00,392 --> 00:26:03,621
‐ Send General Osterhaus
to follow them.
551
00:26:03,645 --> 00:26:05,373
I want to thin them out
before we face them again
552
00:26:05,397 --> 00:26:07,375
at Vicksburg.
553
00:26:07,399 --> 00:26:13,548
♪ ♪
554
00:26:13,572 --> 00:26:16,176
‐ An army on the move
is an army to be destroyed.
555
00:26:16,200 --> 00:26:17,677
And therefore,
he's gonna continue
556
00:26:17,701 --> 00:26:19,888
to push Pemberton's army.
557
00:26:19,912 --> 00:26:21,639
And this is gonna drive
the Confederates back
558
00:26:21,663 --> 00:26:24,392
into the defenses of Vicksburg.
559
00:26:24,416 --> 00:26:27,520
♪ ♪
560
00:26:27,544 --> 00:26:30,148
‐ Grant took enormous risk
when he went east
561
00:26:30,172 --> 00:26:33,401
rather than immediately
to Vicksburg.
562
00:26:33,425 --> 00:26:37,697
But he very deftly
defeats piecemeal
563
00:26:37,721 --> 00:26:39,908
the different Confederate forces
564
00:26:39,932 --> 00:26:43,203
that are trying to come
to reinforce Vicksburg,
565
00:26:43,227 --> 00:26:46,539
and essentially, it's a siege
from there on out.
566
00:26:46,563 --> 00:26:48,583
[indistinct chatter]
567
00:26:48,607 --> 00:26:51,419
‐ As long as we could hold
our position,
568
00:26:51,443 --> 00:26:54,255
the enemy was limited
in supplies of food,
569
00:26:54,279 --> 00:26:56,966
men, and ammunition.
570
00:26:56,990 --> 00:26:59,803
♪ ♪
571
00:26:59,827 --> 00:27:02,496
[gunshot]
572
00:27:04,581 --> 00:27:10,796
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
573
00:27:17,136 --> 00:27:19,197
‐ Keep these men digging,
Captain.
574
00:27:19,221 --> 00:27:21,616
Let's be done with this
by nightfall.
575
00:27:21,640 --> 00:27:24,452
‐ Yes, sir.
576
00:27:24,476 --> 00:27:25,995
‐ Ulysses S. Grant has now
577
00:27:26,019 --> 00:27:27,247
gone down the Mississippi River.
578
00:27:27,271 --> 00:27:30,834
He's in the midst
of the Vicksburg Campaign.
579
00:27:30,858 --> 00:27:33,378
In 17 days, Grant's army marched
580
00:27:33,402 --> 00:27:36,589
200 miles and won five battles.
581
00:27:36,613 --> 00:27:39,592
And now we are talking
about a siege.
582
00:27:39,616 --> 00:27:42,303
♪ ♪
583
00:27:42,327 --> 00:27:45,014
‐ When Grant first settles
into siege operations,
584
00:27:45,038 --> 00:27:47,725
he digs a line opposite
the Confederate ones,
585
00:27:47,749 --> 00:27:52,605
so you can cut off the key
routes of supply to the city.
586
00:27:52,629 --> 00:27:54,065
And then in case
a Confederate force
587
00:27:54,089 --> 00:27:56,359
came from his rear,
he then dug another
588
00:27:56,383 --> 00:27:58,778
series of entrenchments
facing the other way.
589
00:27:58,802 --> 00:28:00,405
♪ ♪
590
00:28:00,429 --> 00:28:03,658
And now he's gonna ring
Vicksburg with artillery.
591
00:28:03,682 --> 00:28:05,493
In fact, he's even gonna bring
592
00:28:05,517 --> 00:28:07,453
naval artillery off naval ships
593
00:28:07,477 --> 00:28:09,038
to bombard Vicksburg.
594
00:28:09,062 --> 00:28:11,457
We want to put them
under the maximum pressure
595
00:28:11,481 --> 00:28:13,209
so that they recognize
this sacrifice
596
00:28:13,233 --> 00:28:15,879
is no longer worth it.
597
00:28:15,903 --> 00:28:18,673
‐ And Grant ordered
his soldiers to begin sinking
598
00:28:18,697 --> 00:28:21,926
approaches toward
the Confederate works.
599
00:28:21,950 --> 00:28:23,928
And so you have Union engineers,
600
00:28:23,952 --> 00:28:25,430
and they'd be working
behind the protection
601
00:28:25,454 --> 00:28:28,099
of what was called a sap roller,
602
00:28:28,123 --> 00:28:30,768
normally a bundle
of cane and vine
603
00:28:30,792 --> 00:28:32,562
packed with dirt or cotton,
604
00:28:32,586 --> 00:28:34,397
anything that'll stop a bullet.
605
00:28:34,421 --> 00:28:36,774
And the whole object
is to get all the way
606
00:28:36,798 --> 00:28:39,068
up to the Confederate line.
607
00:28:39,092 --> 00:28:43,055
♪ ♪
608
00:28:46,099 --> 00:28:47,994
[gunfire]
609
00:28:48,018 --> 00:28:49,746
‐ Sharpshooters!
Get down!
610
00:28:49,770 --> 00:28:50,914
Sharpshooters!
611
00:28:50,938 --> 00:28:52,332
‐ Sharpshooters!
612
00:28:52,356 --> 00:28:54,417
‐ Get down!
Get down!
613
00:28:54,441 --> 00:28:55,877
‐ See them?
614
00:28:55,901 --> 00:28:57,879
Where are they?
[gunfire]
615
00:28:57,903 --> 00:29:00,632
‐ Get down!
Everybody get down!
616
00:29:00,656 --> 00:29:01,841
‐ We gotta move!
617
00:29:01,865 --> 00:29:08,830
♪ ♪
618
00:29:18,757 --> 00:29:21,444
[gunshot]
619
00:29:21,468 --> 00:29:23,571
‐ Cease fire!
620
00:29:23,595 --> 00:29:25,615
Hold your fire!
621
00:29:25,639 --> 00:29:26,741
‐ Hold fire!
622
00:29:26,765 --> 00:29:27,825
‐ They're gone!
623
00:29:27,849 --> 00:29:29,702
‐ Hold fire!
624
00:29:29,726 --> 00:29:35,875
♪ ♪
625
00:29:35,899 --> 00:29:37,877
‐ I'll take that.
626
00:29:37,901 --> 00:29:40,296
♪ ♪
627
00:29:40,320 --> 00:29:42,340
All right, everyone!
628
00:29:42,364 --> 00:29:44,342
All right, get back to work!
629
00:29:44,366 --> 00:29:45,593
Now!
630
00:29:45,617 --> 00:29:47,595
Get back to work!
631
00:29:47,619 --> 00:29:49,847
♪ ♪
632
00:29:49,871 --> 00:29:52,892
‐ When it has been made clear
that the Negro,
633
00:29:52,916 --> 00:29:54,727
as an independent laborer,
634
00:29:54,751 --> 00:29:57,146
can do these things well,
635
00:29:57,170 --> 00:30:00,233
it would be very easy
to put a musket in his hands
636
00:30:00,257 --> 00:30:02,068
and make a soldier of him.
637
00:30:02,092 --> 00:30:06,072
♪ ♪
638
00:30:06,096 --> 00:30:08,950
‐ Throughout the Civil War,
African‐Americans
639
00:30:08,974 --> 00:30:12,620
start to flee
to Union army encampments
640
00:30:12,644 --> 00:30:16,833
in hopes of finding
some mechanism for freedom.
641
00:30:16,857 --> 00:30:18,376
♪ ♪
642
00:30:18,400 --> 00:30:21,087
Essentially, what these
African‐Americans do
643
00:30:21,111 --> 00:30:23,631
is, they appeal
to the Union army and say,
644
00:30:23,655 --> 00:30:26,801
"Make use of me
in this conflict."
645
00:30:26,825 --> 00:30:31,264
‐ If the logic of war
is any resources,
646
00:30:31,288 --> 00:30:35,184
whether it be guns, you know,
cannon, fortifications,
647
00:30:35,208 --> 00:30:38,479
if the enemy is using something
to support their war effort,
648
00:30:38,503 --> 00:30:41,357
it can be legitimately
taken away.
649
00:30:41,381 --> 00:30:43,860
So by the end of the first
year of the war,
650
00:30:43,884 --> 00:30:45,653
Lincoln has come
to the conclusion
651
00:30:45,677 --> 00:30:49,323
that emancipation
is a necessary war angle.
652
00:30:49,347 --> 00:30:51,409
♪ ♪
653
00:30:51,433 --> 00:30:53,745
‐ In Grant's own personal life,
654
00:30:53,769 --> 00:30:56,080
the fact that he married
into a family
655
00:30:56,104 --> 00:30:59,834
that was dependent
on the system of slavery...
656
00:30:59,858 --> 00:31:04,338
his decision to grant
freedom to a slave...
657
00:31:04,362 --> 00:31:08,217
the fact that during
his time in Missouri,
658
00:31:08,241 --> 00:31:11,220
he's tilling the soil
with enslaved people,
659
00:31:11,244 --> 00:31:13,556
I think illustrates how
660
00:31:13,580 --> 00:31:15,683
Grant's life is actually
an object lesson
661
00:31:15,707 --> 00:31:19,103
in the ways that a person
has to grapple
662
00:31:19,127 --> 00:31:22,398
with their position on equality.
663
00:31:22,422 --> 00:31:25,443
♪ ♪
664
00:31:25,467 --> 00:31:30,031
‐ And then Lincoln issues
the Emancipation Proclamation.
665
00:31:30,055 --> 00:31:34,577
This goes into effect
as both civil and military law
666
00:31:34,601 --> 00:31:38,706
on the 1st of January, 1863.
667
00:31:38,730 --> 00:31:41,709
‐ When Lincoln put out
the Emancipation Proclamation,
668
00:31:41,733 --> 00:31:44,879
it was an amazing thing.
669
00:31:44,903 --> 00:31:48,216
One out of every four
enslaved African‐Americans
670
00:31:48,240 --> 00:31:50,218
made their way to freedom.
671
00:31:50,242 --> 00:31:52,678
♪ ♪
672
00:31:52,702 --> 00:31:54,097
‐ The most important part
673
00:31:54,121 --> 00:31:55,348
of the Emancipation Proclamation
674
00:31:55,372 --> 00:31:57,850
is, that's the moment
where Lincoln first,
675
00:31:57,874 --> 00:32:00,895
you know, calls up black people
to fight in the armies
676
00:32:00,919 --> 00:32:01,896
of the country.
677
00:32:01,920 --> 00:32:03,898
That is significant.
678
00:32:03,922 --> 00:32:05,525
That is actually a huge,
huge deal
679
00:32:05,549 --> 00:32:08,903
and has, you know, great
implications on the North
680
00:32:08,927 --> 00:32:11,781
actually winning the war.
681
00:32:11,805 --> 00:32:13,825
♪ ♪
682
00:32:13,849 --> 00:32:16,410
‐ And so beginning in 1863,
683
00:32:16,434 --> 00:32:19,413
you have your first appearance
684
00:32:19,437 --> 00:32:22,875
of black soldiers
in blue uniforms.
685
00:32:22,899 --> 00:32:24,669
Their first engagement, in fact,
686
00:32:24,693 --> 00:32:27,296
occurs during
the Vicksburg campaign.
687
00:32:27,320 --> 00:32:30,883
♪ ♪
688
00:32:30,907 --> 00:32:32,844
‐ During the course
of the siege of Vicksburg,
689
00:32:32,868 --> 00:32:35,012
Grant had established
supply enclaves
690
00:32:35,036 --> 00:32:37,640
at places such
as Milliken's Bend.
691
00:32:37,664 --> 00:32:39,976
And most of these
supply enclaves
692
00:32:40,000 --> 00:32:43,271
were defended by recently
recruited black troops
693
00:32:43,295 --> 00:32:44,605
in Union blue.
694
00:32:44,629 --> 00:32:46,190
♪ ♪
695
00:32:46,214 --> 00:32:48,818
But at the same time,
Confederates west of Vicksburg
696
00:32:48,842 --> 00:32:50,736
were ordered to do
697
00:32:50,760 --> 00:32:54,699
"something on behalf
of the garrison of Vicksburg."
698
00:32:54,723 --> 00:32:57,618
And so on June the 7th,
a Confederate brigade
699
00:32:57,642 --> 00:33:02,123
would attack the supply
enclave at Milliken's Bend.
700
00:33:02,147 --> 00:33:04,834
‐ And it is at this moment
that two things
701
00:33:04,858 --> 00:33:06,210
become very clear:
702
00:33:06,234 --> 00:33:07,962
that they have not been given
703
00:33:07,986 --> 00:33:09,589
the best training,
704
00:33:09,613 --> 00:33:11,382
nor have they been given
the best weaponry
705
00:33:11,406 --> 00:33:14,886
to protect themselves.
706
00:33:14,910 --> 00:33:16,304
‐ The thing to recognize
about the colored troops
707
00:33:16,328 --> 00:33:19,515
is, expectations were so low.
708
00:33:19,539 --> 00:33:21,976
I mean, the idea
that black people
709
00:33:22,000 --> 00:33:24,061
would fight as soldiers...
710
00:33:24,085 --> 00:33:27,982
I mean, this was like
a man going to the moon.
711
00:33:28,006 --> 00:33:30,985
[soldiers clamoring]
712
00:33:31,009 --> 00:33:38,016
♪ ♪
713
00:34:02,082 --> 00:34:04,852
‐ [roaring]
714
00:34:04,876 --> 00:34:11,883
♪ ♪
715
00:34:13,218 --> 00:34:15,988
‐ This was the first important
engagement of the war
716
00:34:16,012 --> 00:34:19,492
in which colored troops
were under fire.
717
00:34:19,516 --> 00:34:21,535
These men were very raw,
718
00:34:21,559 --> 00:34:25,206
having all been enlisted since
the beginning of the siege,
719
00:34:25,230 --> 00:34:28,084
but they were most gallant,
and I doubt not
720
00:34:28,108 --> 00:34:30,878
they will make good troops.
721
00:34:30,902 --> 00:34:33,089
‐ There were 1,500
Confederates pitted against
722
00:34:33,113 --> 00:34:36,550
a little more than
1,000 Union troops.
723
00:34:36,574 --> 00:34:38,052
The Confederates
would drive them back
724
00:34:38,076 --> 00:34:39,553
from their fortifications,
725
00:34:39,577 --> 00:34:41,222
through their encampment,
726
00:34:41,246 --> 00:34:45,101
and all the way
to the Mississippi River.
727
00:34:45,125 --> 00:34:48,729
Black soldiers would lose
70% of their numbers,
728
00:34:48,753 --> 00:34:51,941
but they would successfully
hold on to the supply enclave
729
00:34:51,965 --> 00:34:53,234
at Milliken's Bend.
730
00:34:53,258 --> 00:34:55,695
♪ ♪
731
00:34:55,719 --> 00:34:58,948
‐ Lincoln says he can
no longer consider an idea
732
00:34:58,972 --> 00:35:01,742
of going back to things
being the way they were
733
00:35:01,766 --> 00:35:04,453
after black people have
actually died for the country.
734
00:35:04,477 --> 00:35:06,455
You can't restore those people
to slavery again.
735
00:35:06,479 --> 00:35:08,082
♪ ♪
736
00:35:08,106 --> 00:35:12,044
‐ And in fact,
by the end of the Civil War,
737
00:35:12,068 --> 00:35:15,006
almost 200,000
African‐Americans,
738
00:35:15,030 --> 00:35:18,259
you know,
fight on the Union side.
739
00:35:18,283 --> 00:35:20,886
‐ To His Excellency
A. Lincoln:
740
00:35:20,910 --> 00:35:25,641
Sir, by arming the Negro,
we have added a powerful ally.
741
00:35:25,665 --> 00:35:28,477
This, with the emancipation
of the Negro,
742
00:35:28,501 --> 00:35:32,005
is the heaviest blow
yet given the Confederacy.
743
00:35:34,132 --> 00:35:35,776
[indistinct chatter]
744
00:35:35,800 --> 00:35:37,945
[gunfire]
745
00:35:37,969 --> 00:35:44,934
♪ ♪
746
00:35:50,523 --> 00:35:53,502
‐ The primary strategy
of any siege
747
00:35:53,526 --> 00:35:58,257
is isolating the people
you are besieging inside,
748
00:35:58,281 --> 00:36:01,636
causing them to use up
both their military resources
749
00:36:01,660 --> 00:36:04,305
but especially their food
750
00:36:04,329 --> 00:36:07,975
to force them to capitulate.
751
00:36:07,999 --> 00:36:10,853
So the consequence of this
is, Grant's army will grow
752
00:36:10,877 --> 00:36:15,316
to over 70,000 troops
over time...
753
00:36:15,340 --> 00:36:17,902
and it's a ratcheting up
of military pressure.
754
00:36:17,926 --> 00:36:20,488
♪ ♪
755
00:36:20,512 --> 00:36:23,366
‐ Now, the Confederate
government in Richmond
756
00:36:23,390 --> 00:36:27,870
is rather concerned about
the situation at Vicksburg.
757
00:36:27,894 --> 00:36:30,998
And there has emerged
a group that believes
758
00:36:31,022 --> 00:36:33,167
that less focus needs
to be placed on the east,
759
00:36:33,191 --> 00:36:34,794
where things are going well,
760
00:36:34,818 --> 00:36:36,879
and more focus needs
to be put on the west,
761
00:36:36,903 --> 00:36:38,422
where things are not going well.
762
00:36:38,446 --> 00:36:39,882
♪ ♪
763
00:36:39,906 --> 00:36:42,343
Robert E. Lee's response is,
764
00:36:42,367 --> 00:36:44,345
"Even if I send troops
to Vicksburg,
765
00:36:44,369 --> 00:36:46,681
"by the time they got there,
766
00:36:46,705 --> 00:36:48,349
it might be over."
767
00:36:48,373 --> 00:36:51,227
And Lee decides to go north
768
00:36:51,251 --> 00:36:53,354
and try to seek
a decisive engagement
769
00:36:53,378 --> 00:36:57,400
with the federals
north of Pennsylvania.
770
00:36:57,424 --> 00:37:00,027
[gunshot]
771
00:37:00,051 --> 00:37:02,530
At the same time,
Grant keeps the pressure up
772
00:37:02,554 --> 00:37:05,366
at Vicksburg to end the siege.
773
00:37:05,390 --> 00:37:07,451
[gunshot]
774
00:37:07,475 --> 00:37:08,703
‐ By the end of June,
775
00:37:08,727 --> 00:37:10,454
the Confederate Army
of Vicksburg
776
00:37:10,478 --> 00:37:13,249
was subsisting
on a handful of peas and rice
777
00:37:13,273 --> 00:37:16,043
issued once a day per man.
778
00:37:16,067 --> 00:37:17,586
Even their water
would be rationed
779
00:37:17,610 --> 00:37:20,548
to one cup per man per day.
780
00:37:20,572 --> 00:37:22,758
♪ ♪
781
00:37:22,782 --> 00:37:24,260
‐ So now as the temperature
of the summer
782
00:37:24,284 --> 00:37:26,220
continues to get
hotter and hotter,
783
00:37:26,244 --> 00:37:27,680
Grant will dam up
784
00:37:27,704 --> 00:37:29,473
all the creeks
that are going in there.
785
00:37:29,497 --> 00:37:30,933
[cannon booms]
786
00:37:30,957 --> 00:37:33,936
Confederates are being shelled
by Union gunboats
787
00:37:33,960 --> 00:37:36,647
as well as Union batteries.
788
00:37:36,671 --> 00:37:40,234
[cannon booms]
789
00:37:40,258 --> 00:37:42,570
‐ But also,
throughout the siege,
790
00:37:42,594 --> 00:37:46,574
you have a civilian population
trapped in the city,
791
00:37:46,598 --> 00:37:49,785
estimated at about 2,000.
792
00:37:49,809 --> 00:37:52,329
And the citizens
lived underground
793
00:37:52,353 --> 00:37:56,125
in man‐made caves to escape
the constant bombardment
794
00:37:56,149 --> 00:37:59,253
of Union cannon
and heavy mortar.
795
00:37:59,277 --> 00:38:01,922
♪ ♪
796
00:38:01,946 --> 00:38:04,842
And about the only time
they came out of these caves
797
00:38:04,866 --> 00:38:06,761
is when the Union artillerymen
798
00:38:06,785 --> 00:38:09,930
ate their morning, noon,
and evening meals.
799
00:38:09,954 --> 00:38:11,390
♪ ♪
800
00:38:11,414 --> 00:38:13,601
‐ Grant knows full well
801
00:38:13,625 --> 00:38:17,605
the suffering of the civilians
in Vicksburg.
802
00:38:17,629 --> 00:38:19,774
He doesn't relish any of it,
803
00:38:19,798 --> 00:38:22,860
but I think he does believe
804
00:38:22,884 --> 00:38:26,447
without breaking the will
of the Southern people
805
00:38:26,471 --> 00:38:29,950
that this war is not
gonna come to an end.
806
00:38:29,974 --> 00:38:31,160
‐ These civilians at Vicksburg,
807
00:38:31,184 --> 00:38:32,787
who weeks earlier
were able to get
808
00:38:32,811 --> 00:38:35,956
all the food they needed,
were clearly starving.
809
00:38:35,980 --> 00:38:38,626
And they started eating
anything that moved,
810
00:38:38,650 --> 00:38:40,461
rats included.
811
00:38:40,485 --> 00:38:42,671
And by early July, it was clear
812
00:38:42,695 --> 00:38:45,716
that the Confederates were
near the end of their rope.
813
00:38:45,740 --> 00:38:50,638
♪ ♪
814
00:38:50,662 --> 00:38:53,516
‐ On July 3rd,
two persons were seen
815
00:38:53,540 --> 00:38:57,353
coming towards our lines
bearing a white flag.
816
00:38:57,377 --> 00:39:00,397
It was a glorious sight
to soldiers on the line.
817
00:39:00,421 --> 00:39:04,193
♪ ♪
818
00:39:04,217 --> 00:39:06,695
‐ On the hot afternoon
of July 3rd,
819
00:39:06,719 --> 00:39:08,823
at the very same time
Pickett's legions
820
00:39:08,847 --> 00:39:12,993
were storming over
the stone wall at Gettysburg,
821
00:39:13,017 --> 00:39:15,496
the Confederate commander
John Pemberton
822
00:39:15,520 --> 00:39:17,414
would ask Grant on what terms
823
00:39:17,438 --> 00:39:20,417
he would receive
the surrender of the city.
824
00:39:20,441 --> 00:39:23,653
♪ ♪
825
00:39:26,030 --> 00:39:27,341
‐ General Pemberton.
826
00:39:27,365 --> 00:39:34,455
♪ ♪
827
00:39:34,914 --> 00:39:36,559
‐ Your terms, General?
828
00:39:36,583 --> 00:39:37,601
Surprise me.
829
00:39:37,625 --> 00:39:39,728
♪ ♪
830
00:39:39,752 --> 00:39:43,357
I propose‐‐ ‐ No proposals.
831
00:39:43,381 --> 00:39:45,359
Terms won't change.
832
00:39:45,383 --> 00:39:47,778
Unconditional surrender.
833
00:39:47,802 --> 00:39:53,409
♪ ♪
834
00:39:53,433 --> 00:39:55,536
‐ Sir.
835
00:39:55,560 --> 00:39:58,414
Listen, we need to offer terms.
836
00:39:58,438 --> 00:39:59,540
‐ No.
837
00:39:59,564 --> 00:40:00,749
‐ Be practical.
838
00:40:00,773 --> 00:40:03,544
What are we gonna do
with 30,000 prisoners?
839
00:40:03,568 --> 00:40:05,546
Better offer terms,
don't you think?
840
00:40:05,570 --> 00:40:07,798
♪ ♪
841
00:40:07,822 --> 00:40:09,133
General.
842
00:40:09,157 --> 00:40:12,720
♪ ♪
843
00:40:12,744 --> 00:40:14,930
‐ I'm prepared
to accept the parole
844
00:40:14,954 --> 00:40:16,265
but only if my men walk away
845
00:40:16,289 --> 00:40:18,559
with all of their
personal property.
846
00:40:18,583 --> 00:40:20,895
♪ ♪
847
00:40:20,919 --> 00:40:24,231
‐ By personal property,
do you mean to include slaves?
848
00:40:24,255 --> 00:40:27,776
♪ ♪
849
00:40:27,800 --> 00:40:30,571
Sidearms, horses...
850
00:40:30,595 --> 00:40:33,240
no slaves.
851
00:40:33,264 --> 00:40:34,909
No slaves leave with you.
852
00:40:34,933 --> 00:40:37,745
♪ ♪
853
00:40:37,769 --> 00:40:41,790
You have until 10:00 tonight.
854
00:40:41,814 --> 00:40:43,751
Then we attack the city.
855
00:40:43,775 --> 00:40:50,823
♪ ♪
856
00:41:04,629 --> 00:41:07,608
[indistinct chatter]
857
00:41:07,632 --> 00:41:14,681
♪ ♪
858
00:41:19,811 --> 00:41:21,872
‐ Up to this point,
Grant's reputation
859
00:41:21,896 --> 00:41:24,500
is "Unconditional
Surrender" Grant.
860
00:41:24,524 --> 00:41:27,586
And yet here, he paroles
the men that are there,
861
00:41:27,610 --> 00:41:31,173
and it shows what
flexibility of mind he had.
862
00:41:31,197 --> 00:41:32,883
I think he makes the calculus
863
00:41:32,907 --> 00:41:34,969
of, "What if we send
these 30,000 scarecrows
864
00:41:34,993 --> 00:41:36,929
"back to their towns?
865
00:41:36,953 --> 00:41:38,681
"What are they gonna tell them?
866
00:41:38,705 --> 00:41:39,974
We just got whipped."
867
00:41:39,998 --> 00:41:42,851
[indistinct chatter]
868
00:41:42,875 --> 00:41:45,729
‐ See the corporal.
He'll sign your parole card.
869
00:41:45,753 --> 00:41:52,760
♪ ♪
870
00:42:12,280 --> 00:42:14,758
‐ General Grant.
871
00:42:14,782 --> 00:42:16,593
‐ Retain your sidearms, General.
872
00:42:16,617 --> 00:42:23,624
♪ ♪
873
00:42:29,130 --> 00:42:31,859
The enemy had been suffering,
874
00:42:31,883 --> 00:42:34,737
particularly towards the last.
875
00:42:34,761 --> 00:42:38,574
I saw our men taking bread
from their haversacks
876
00:42:38,598 --> 00:42:41,702
and giving it to the enemy
they had so recently
877
00:42:41,726 --> 00:42:44,705
been engaged in starving out.
878
00:42:44,729 --> 00:42:50,044
♪ ♪
879
00:42:50,068 --> 00:42:53,380
‐ Grant doesn't have
a hatred of Southern people.
880
00:42:53,404 --> 00:42:57,384
He sees them as Americans
that have gone astray.
881
00:42:57,408 --> 00:42:58,969
He doesn't agree
with their cause,
882
00:42:58,993 --> 00:43:01,472
but he cares
for the people themselves.
883
00:43:01,496 --> 00:43:05,726
That really colors the way
he deals with the Confederates
884
00:43:05,750 --> 00:43:08,896
throughout the Civil War.
885
00:43:08,920 --> 00:43:12,066
‐ Vicksburg surrenders,
and the Mississippi is open.
886
00:43:12,090 --> 00:43:13,567
And as Lincoln says,
887
00:43:13,591 --> 00:43:19,740
"The father of waters flows
again, unvexed, to the sea."
888
00:43:19,764 --> 00:43:21,158
♪ ♪
889
00:43:21,182 --> 00:43:23,952
And the great thing is
that the news comes to him
890
00:43:23,976 --> 00:43:27,581
the same weekend as the news
of the victory at Gettysburg.
891
00:43:27,605 --> 00:43:29,583
♪ ♪
892
00:43:29,607 --> 00:43:33,170
‐ My dear General,
when you first reached
893
00:43:33,194 --> 00:43:36,924
the vicinity of Vicksburg,
I never had any faith,
894
00:43:36,948 --> 00:43:42,012
except a general hope that
the expedition could succeed.
895
00:43:42,036 --> 00:43:44,807
I now wish to make
the personal acknowledgment
896
00:43:44,831 --> 00:43:47,684
that you were right
and I was wrong.
897
00:43:47,708 --> 00:43:51,105
Yours very truly,
A. Lincoln.
898
00:43:51,129 --> 00:43:53,273
♪ ♪
899
00:43:53,297 --> 00:43:57,611
‐ Grant and Lincoln
first meet as correspondents.
900
00:43:57,635 --> 00:44:00,155
And their correspondence
is quite wonderful.
901
00:44:00,179 --> 00:44:02,783
They are both men of the west,
902
00:44:02,807 --> 00:44:06,286
and I think they share
a certain philosophy
903
00:44:06,310 --> 00:44:09,123
and perhaps a certain attitude.
904
00:44:09,147 --> 00:44:10,958
And I think it really
set the terms
905
00:44:10,982 --> 00:44:12,960
for their future relationship.
906
00:44:12,984 --> 00:44:15,129
♪ ♪
907
00:44:15,153 --> 00:44:19,466
This victory was a culmination
of a very long campaign
908
00:44:19,490 --> 00:44:21,051
full of trial and error,
909
00:44:21,075 --> 00:44:25,013
full of Grant figuring out,
"How do I capture
910
00:44:25,037 --> 00:44:27,474
what seemed
an impregnable fort?"
911
00:44:27,498 --> 00:44:34,481
♪ ♪
912
00:44:34,505 --> 00:44:36,817
‐ The Vicksburg campaign
has been studied
913
00:44:36,841 --> 00:44:41,321
by military professionals
ever since July of 1863.
914
00:44:41,345 --> 00:44:42,990
♪ ♪
915
00:44:43,014 --> 00:44:46,160
In fact, in the army's
war‐fighting manual,
916
00:44:46,184 --> 00:44:48,162
it highlights
the Vicksburg campaign
917
00:44:48,186 --> 00:44:49,705
as the most brilliant campaign
918
00:44:49,729 --> 00:44:53,876
ever waged on American soil.
919
00:44:53,900 --> 00:44:55,711
And so whereas
the Civil War is often
920
00:44:55,735 --> 00:44:57,963
referred to as the last
of the old wars,
921
00:44:57,987 --> 00:44:59,673
first of the modern wars,
922
00:44:59,697 --> 00:45:04,928
Grant can be termed the first
modern American warrior.
923
00:45:04,952 --> 00:45:07,622
♪ ♪
924
00:45:09,040 --> 00:45:10,684
‐ With the success at Vicksburg,
925
00:45:10,708 --> 00:45:12,186
there's no question that Grant
926
00:45:12,210 --> 00:45:14,688
is one of the top
generals in the war.
927
00:45:14,712 --> 00:45:16,982
♪ ♪
928
00:45:17,006 --> 00:45:18,942
Lincoln said, "He'll be my man
929
00:45:18,966 --> 00:45:21,945
and I'll be his
the rest of the war."
930
00:45:21,969 --> 00:45:26,116
And so Grant is given command
of the entire western theater.
931
00:45:26,140 --> 00:45:27,743
♪ ♪
932
00:45:27,767 --> 00:45:31,205
Well, part of that
new command was Chattanooga.
933
00:45:31,229 --> 00:45:33,916
And in Chattanooga,
there was a Union army
934
00:45:33,940 --> 00:45:37,044
that was essentially trapped.
935
00:45:37,068 --> 00:45:40,214
‐ It's at this point
that Lincoln decides
936
00:45:40,238 --> 00:45:42,216
that he must call Grant in
for the situation.
937
00:45:42,240 --> 00:45:44,718
♪ ♪
938
00:45:44,742 --> 00:45:47,721
‐ The art of war
is simple enough.
939
00:45:47,745 --> 00:45:50,098
Find out where your enemy is,
940
00:45:50,122 --> 00:45:52,893
get at him as soon as you can,
941
00:45:52,917 --> 00:45:55,062
strike him as hard as you can,
942
00:45:55,086 --> 00:45:57,397
and keep moving on.
943
00:45:57,421 --> 00:45:58,923
♪ ♪
944
00:46:00,925 --> 00:46:07,890
♪ ♪
945
00:46:12,436 --> 00:46:14,748
‐ By the summer of 1863,
946
00:46:14,772 --> 00:46:17,584
the Union army had moved
all the way through Tennessee
947
00:46:17,608 --> 00:46:21,004
and captured Chattanooga.
948
00:46:21,028 --> 00:46:24,508
The Union army
then moved into Georgia,
949
00:46:24,532 --> 00:46:29,596
but the Confederates lashed
back and won a huge victory.
950
00:46:29,620 --> 00:46:32,975
The Union army retreated
back into Chattanooga.
951
00:46:32,999 --> 00:46:35,435
The Confederates followed,
occupying the heights
952
00:46:35,459 --> 00:46:37,604
around the city.
953
00:46:37,628 --> 00:46:39,398
And U. S. Grant is brought
into Chattanooga
954
00:46:39,422 --> 00:46:41,483
to do what he does best...
955
00:46:41,507 --> 00:46:43,443
win.
956
00:46:43,467 --> 00:46:45,779
♪ ♪
957
00:46:45,803 --> 00:46:49,408
‐ He's essentially being
brought in as a kind of fixer.
958
00:46:49,432 --> 00:46:53,287
Here's the guy who won
the campaign at Vicksburg,
959
00:46:53,311 --> 00:46:56,707
and he's being asked
to do it again.
960
00:46:56,731 --> 00:46:59,167
The Union Army
of the Cumberland is stuck
961
00:46:59,191 --> 00:47:01,003
down in this valley,
962
00:47:01,027 --> 00:47:05,299
trapped in a siege,
and starving.
963
00:47:05,323 --> 00:47:07,050
The Confederate army has set up
964
00:47:07,074 --> 00:47:09,720
a ring around the city
965
00:47:09,744 --> 00:47:12,889
that gives them a commanding
artillery position.
966
00:47:12,913 --> 00:47:17,686
♪ ♪
967
00:47:17,710 --> 00:47:20,647
It's incredibly high stakes.
968
00:47:20,671 --> 00:47:23,358
By holding Chattanooga,
you hold one of the most
969
00:47:23,382 --> 00:47:27,654
important rail networks
in Tennessee.
970
00:47:27,678 --> 00:47:30,240
Grant knew if you can
hold that rail hub,
971
00:47:30,264 --> 00:47:32,576
you can build up
a massive effort
972
00:47:32,600 --> 00:47:35,996
to invade the Deep South.
973
00:47:36,020 --> 00:47:37,414
The loss of Chattanooga
would've set
974
00:47:37,438 --> 00:47:39,333
the Union war effort
back months,
975
00:47:39,357 --> 00:47:40,667
if not years.
976
00:47:40,691 --> 00:47:42,669
♪ ♪
977
00:47:42,693 --> 00:47:45,672
‐ His first concern
is to feed his troops
978
00:47:45,696 --> 00:47:47,799
by winning a small engagement
on the Confederate side
979
00:47:47,823 --> 00:47:49,259
of the Tennessee River
980
00:47:49,283 --> 00:47:53,388
to open up his new supply line.
981
00:47:53,412 --> 00:47:55,140
Then, like any boss
that comes into a new company,
982
00:47:55,164 --> 00:47:57,517
Grant wants his people.
983
00:47:57,541 --> 00:48:00,020
And he immediately calls
the four divisions
984
00:48:00,044 --> 00:48:04,191
of William Tecumseh Sherman
to come to Chattanooga.
985
00:48:04,215 --> 00:48:06,485
‐ The intention then
is to seize the initiative
986
00:48:06,509 --> 00:48:08,236
and make an attack
against the Confederates
987
00:48:08,260 --> 00:48:10,197
and drive them
away from Chattanooga.
988
00:48:10,221 --> 00:48:15,035
♪ ♪
989
00:48:15,059 --> 00:48:17,037
‐ During the battle
of Chattanooga,
990
00:48:17,061 --> 00:48:20,499
Grant is commanding
multiple armies.
991
00:48:20,523 --> 00:48:23,085
He's got Sherman with
the Army of the Tennessee.
992
00:48:23,109 --> 00:48:26,046
He has George Thomas with
the Army of the Cumberland.
993
00:48:26,070 --> 00:48:27,631
He also has Joseph Hooker,
994
00:48:27,655 --> 00:48:30,258
who's coming in
from the eastern theater.
995
00:48:30,282 --> 00:48:32,803
‐ The idea was that
Hooker would flank
996
00:48:32,827 --> 00:48:35,097
the Confederate position
from the south,
997
00:48:35,121 --> 00:48:37,099
Sherman would bring his army
998
00:48:37,123 --> 00:48:38,892
to the northern flank,
999
00:48:38,916 --> 00:48:41,686
and George Thomas
would assault the center.
1000
00:48:41,710 --> 00:48:45,565
Three separate assaults
of one position.
1001
00:48:45,589 --> 00:48:48,568
[soldiers clamoring, gunfire]
1002
00:48:48,592 --> 00:48:55,575
♪ ♪
1003
00:48:55,599 --> 00:48:58,078
[soldier yelling indistinctly]
1004
00:48:58,102 --> 00:49:05,151
♪ ♪
1005
00:49:10,239 --> 00:49:11,574
‐ Sir.
1006
00:49:14,118 --> 00:49:16,346
From General Sherman
on Missionary Ridge.
1007
00:49:16,370 --> 00:49:19,933
♪ ♪
1008
00:49:19,957 --> 00:49:22,769
‐ At Chattanooga,
his battle plan doesn't work
1009
00:49:22,793 --> 00:49:24,604
the way he expected it to,
1010
00:49:24,628 --> 00:49:27,274
but he's got
the presence of mind
1011
00:49:27,298 --> 00:49:30,485
to process it and make decisions
1012
00:49:30,509 --> 00:49:34,448
and adapt to things that
he didn't expect to happen.
1013
00:49:34,472 --> 00:49:37,325
[gunfire]
1014
00:49:37,349 --> 00:49:38,785
‐ Sherman's stuck.
1015
00:49:38,809 --> 00:49:41,621
Send in Thomas' men.
1016
00:49:41,645 --> 00:49:45,333
Order them to attack the rifle
pits below Missionary Ridge.
1017
00:49:45,357 --> 00:49:48,295
Sherman needs our help‐‐ now.
1018
00:49:48,319 --> 00:49:51,339
♪ ♪
1019
00:49:51,363 --> 00:49:54,801
‐ George Thomas' army
had been much maligned
1020
00:49:54,825 --> 00:49:58,138
for having been trapped
in a siege,
1021
00:49:58,162 --> 00:50:00,807
and I think those men
were spoiling for a fight
1022
00:50:00,831 --> 00:50:02,976
as a result.
1023
00:50:03,000 --> 00:50:05,562
[soldiers clamoring, gunfire]
1024
00:50:05,586 --> 00:50:09,483
♪ ♪
1025
00:50:09,507 --> 00:50:12,152
‐ Grant gives the order
with the hope that that will
1026
00:50:12,176 --> 00:50:14,988
force the Confederates
to start moving troops
1027
00:50:15,012 --> 00:50:16,990
away from Sherman's path.
1028
00:50:17,014 --> 00:50:20,327
♪ ♪
1029
00:50:20,351 --> 00:50:23,330
The order was that once
they seized the rifle pits,
1030
00:50:23,354 --> 00:50:25,665
they should stop, reorganize,
1031
00:50:25,689 --> 00:50:30,212
and then attack the top
of Missionary Ridge.
1032
00:50:30,236 --> 00:50:33,173
But they don't stop.
1033
00:50:33,197 --> 00:50:40,180
♪ ♪
1034
00:50:40,204 --> 00:50:44,017
[soldiers yelling]
1035
00:50:44,041 --> 00:50:46,895
♪ ♪
1036
00:50:46,919 --> 00:50:49,356
‐ Without awaiting
further orders,
1037
00:50:49,380 --> 00:50:53,026
on our troops went
for the crest.
1038
00:50:53,050 --> 00:50:56,196
♪ ♪
1039
00:50:56,220 --> 00:50:59,324
The fire along
the rebel line was terrific.
1040
00:50:59,348 --> 00:51:03,703
Cannon and musket balls
filled the air.
1041
00:51:03,727 --> 00:51:06,873
The pursuit continued
until the crest was reached.
1042
00:51:06,897 --> 00:51:13,630
♪ ♪
1043
00:51:13,654 --> 00:51:16,925
‐ It was a fantastic
victory for Grant.
1044
00:51:16,949 --> 00:51:19,469
This is the battle
that really, I think, makes
1045
00:51:19,493 --> 00:51:24,808
the Republic respect Grant
as the possible savior.
1046
00:51:24,832 --> 00:51:27,352
♪ ♪
1047
00:51:27,376 --> 00:51:31,064
‐ News of this goes through
the North as a great triumph.
1048
00:51:31,088 --> 00:51:33,900
Grant is now clearly
and unambiguously
1049
00:51:33,924 --> 00:51:36,570
the general who looks like
1050
00:51:36,594 --> 00:51:38,905
finally the man
who can win this war.
1051
00:51:38,929 --> 00:51:41,032
♪ ♪
1052
00:51:41,056 --> 00:51:44,286
‐ Grant has eliminated two
Confederate armies via siege,
1053
00:51:44,310 --> 00:51:47,539
Fort Donelson and Vicksburg.
1054
00:51:47,563 --> 00:51:49,624
At Chattanooga, he combined
three disparate armies
1055
00:51:49,648 --> 00:51:51,084
into a single effort,
1056
00:51:51,108 --> 00:51:54,254
so his technical competencies
were beyond reproach.
1057
00:51:54,278 --> 00:51:55,630
♪ ♪
1058
00:51:55,654 --> 00:51:58,091
‐ At Chattanooga,
he reverses another
1059
00:51:58,115 --> 00:52:01,761
very desperate situation
for the Union forces.
1060
00:52:01,785 --> 00:52:04,598
That's what ultimately
then leads Lincoln
1061
00:52:04,622 --> 00:52:06,016
to bring Grant east.
1062
00:52:06,040 --> 00:52:08,310
♪ ♪
1063
00:52:08,334 --> 00:52:10,937
‐ By March of 1864,
1064
00:52:10,961 --> 00:52:12,939
Lincoln has found his man,
1065
00:52:12,963 --> 00:52:15,275
and Congress raises Grant
to the rank
1066
00:52:15,299 --> 00:52:17,777
of full lieutenant general,
1067
00:52:17,801 --> 00:52:20,488
the first general
since Washington
1068
00:52:20,512 --> 00:52:24,117
to hold the full rank
of lieutenant general.
1069
00:52:24,141 --> 00:52:25,535
♪ ♪
1070
00:52:25,559 --> 00:52:30,123
‐ He is to be in command
of all the Union armies.
1071
00:52:30,147 --> 00:52:32,667
This is novel.
1072
00:52:32,691 --> 00:52:35,503
‐ The bill restoring the grade
of lieutenant general
1073
00:52:35,527 --> 00:52:38,673
of the army had passed.
1074
00:52:38,697 --> 00:52:42,135
I was ordered to Washington
to receive my commission.
1075
00:52:42,159 --> 00:52:43,637
♪ ♪
1076
00:52:43,661 --> 00:52:45,847
‐ Grant and Lincoln never meet
each other face‐to‐face
1077
00:52:45,871 --> 00:52:48,058
until Grant shows up
in Washington
1078
00:52:48,082 --> 00:52:51,478
to be promoted
to lieutenant general...
1079
00:52:51,502 --> 00:52:53,313
but his ability
to advise Lincoln
1080
00:52:53,337 --> 00:52:55,315
and to guide
the whole nation's effort
1081
00:52:55,339 --> 00:52:57,233
to win the war...
1082
00:52:57,257 --> 00:52:59,802
that was a question mark.
1083
00:53:01,720 --> 00:53:08,686
[knock ♪ ♪d oor]
1084
00:53:11,772 --> 00:53:13,816
‐ Mr. President.
1085
00:53:15,359 --> 00:53:18,296
‐ General Grant.
1086
00:53:18,320 --> 00:53:20,382
Come in.
1087
00:53:20,406 --> 00:53:23,093
Come in.
1088
00:53:23,117 --> 00:53:27,472
♪ ♪
1089
00:53:27,496 --> 00:53:29,891
I do not profess
to be a military man,
1090
00:53:29,915 --> 00:53:33,895
and I certainly would
never interfere, but...
1091
00:53:33,919 --> 00:53:35,814
♪ ♪
1092
00:53:35,838 --> 00:53:37,548
Here it is.
1093
00:53:42,261 --> 00:53:45,031
I've marked
our current placements.
1094
00:53:45,055 --> 00:53:46,449
Now...
1095
00:53:46,473 --> 00:53:47,992
if we move into Virginia
1096
00:53:48,016 --> 00:53:50,078
between the course
of these two rivers,
1097
00:53:50,102 --> 00:53:53,081
we can not only use them
to bring in supplies.
1098
00:53:53,105 --> 00:53:55,858
We might also protect
our flanks.
1099
00:53:57,276 --> 00:53:59,254
‐ I'll consider it, sir.
1100
00:53:59,278 --> 00:54:05,677
♪ ♪
1101
00:54:05,701 --> 00:54:09,389
‐ Of course.
1102
00:54:09,413 --> 00:54:11,433
But tell me...
1103
00:54:11,457 --> 00:54:13,727
♪ ♪
1104
00:54:13,751 --> 00:54:17,856
You'll go after Lee?
1105
00:54:17,880 --> 00:54:21,860
You'll go after him
until he's finished?
1106
00:54:21,884 --> 00:54:23,820
It all depends on you.
1107
00:54:23,844 --> 00:54:29,284
♪ ♪
1108
00:54:29,308 --> 00:54:32,162
‐ The president told me
that all he had ever wanted
1109
00:54:32,186 --> 00:54:34,831
was someone who would
take responsibility
1110
00:54:34,855 --> 00:54:36,166
and act.
1111
00:54:36,190 --> 00:54:41,713
♪ ♪
1112
00:54:41,737 --> 00:54:43,465
‐ Lincoln had gone
through about every other
1113
00:54:43,489 --> 00:54:45,425
senior general in the Union army
1114
00:54:45,449 --> 00:54:47,260
at this point in time.
1115
00:54:47,284 --> 00:54:49,387
And finally,
Lincoln finds his general,
1116
00:54:49,411 --> 00:54:52,182
a general who will
actually fight.
1117
00:54:52,206 --> 00:54:54,517
And Grant is truly
one of the great
1118
00:54:54,541 --> 00:54:58,021
battle captains of all time.
1119
00:54:58,045 --> 00:55:01,941
He is someone
who achieved brilliance,
1120
00:55:01,965 --> 00:55:04,652
tactically, operationally,
and strategically.
1121
00:55:04,676 --> 00:55:06,237
[artillery firing,
soldiers yelling]
1122
00:55:06,261 --> 00:55:08,948
At the tactical level,
this would be commanding
1123
00:55:08,972 --> 00:55:12,494
multiple brigades like
Fort Henry and Fort Donelson
1124
00:55:12,518 --> 00:55:14,996
in the early stages
of the war in the west.
1125
00:55:15,020 --> 00:55:18,333
[soldiers yelling]
1126
00:55:18,357 --> 00:55:21,544
Operationally, this is
multiple divisions now.
1127
00:55:21,568 --> 00:55:24,255
And, of course,
Vicksburg is an extraordinary
1128
00:55:24,279 --> 00:55:26,466
example of that.
1129
00:55:26,490 --> 00:55:28,176
And then strategically,
1130
00:55:28,200 --> 00:55:29,761
when he comes east,
1131
00:55:29,785 --> 00:55:32,805
he for the first time
then develops
1132
00:55:32,829 --> 00:55:36,684
a true strategic campaign
for all of the Union forces.
1133
00:55:36,708 --> 00:55:39,687
♪ ♪
1134
00:55:39,711 --> 00:55:42,023
‐ Grant's idea when
he becomes commanding general
1135
00:55:42,047 --> 00:55:46,486
is to get all of the Union
forces to act in harmony.
1136
00:55:46,510 --> 00:55:48,905
He wants to move on Mobile Bay,
1137
00:55:48,929 --> 00:55:51,324
one of the last
Confederate ports.
1138
00:55:51,348 --> 00:55:54,994
He wants Sherman
to advance on Atlanta.
1139
00:55:55,018 --> 00:55:56,746
♪ ♪
1140
00:55:56,770 --> 00:55:59,123
He wants Franz Sigel to go
down the Shenandoah Valley,
1141
00:55:59,147 --> 00:56:02,418
the breadbasket of
the Confederacy in the east.
1142
00:56:02,442 --> 00:56:04,462
Benjamin Butler will
come up the James River
1143
00:56:04,486 --> 00:56:06,089
and get at Richmond
from the south,
1144
00:56:06,113 --> 00:56:08,341
hopefully dividing
some of Lee's attention.
1145
00:56:08,365 --> 00:56:09,968
And then finally,
the Army of the Potomac
1146
00:56:09,992 --> 00:56:12,971
will head at Robert E. Lee
in Richmond.
1147
00:56:12,995 --> 00:56:15,557
It's those five pieces
acting in concert
1148
00:56:15,581 --> 00:56:17,517
that is his original vision
for how this war
1149
00:56:17,541 --> 00:56:19,227
should come to a close.
1150
00:56:19,251 --> 00:56:21,813
♪ ♪
1151
00:56:21,837 --> 00:56:23,565
‐ The South had become
very good,
1152
00:56:23,589 --> 00:56:25,650
with the smaller population,
1153
00:56:25,674 --> 00:56:28,069
at moving troops
from one place to another.
1154
00:56:28,093 --> 00:56:29,487
♪ ♪
1155
00:56:29,511 --> 00:56:31,322
What Grant realized was that
1156
00:56:31,346 --> 00:56:34,867
if you simultaneously attack
many Confederate positions,
1157
00:56:34,891 --> 00:56:36,911
they would not be able
to play this game.
1158
00:56:36,935 --> 00:56:38,371
♪ ♪
1159
00:56:38,395 --> 00:56:42,333
‐ Grant's strategic genius
was the ability to move
1160
00:56:42,357 --> 00:56:46,004
five different armies
simultaneously...
1161
00:56:46,028 --> 00:56:48,298
but also, Grant recognized,
1162
00:56:48,322 --> 00:56:51,050
the destruction
of Robert E. Lee's army,
1163
00:56:51,074 --> 00:56:53,469
the symbol
of Confederate nationalism,
1164
00:56:53,493 --> 00:56:57,098
was fundamental
to winning the war.
1165
00:56:57,122 --> 00:57:00,143
♪ ♪
1166
00:57:00,167 --> 00:57:02,395
‐ Robert E. Lee's army
had countless times
1167
00:57:02,419 --> 00:57:04,314
defeated Union armies
on the battlefield
1168
00:57:04,338 --> 00:57:06,774
with brilliant
tactical maneuvers,
1169
00:57:06,798 --> 00:57:09,652
so there was a confidence.
1170
00:57:09,676 --> 00:57:11,112
There was an esprit de corps
1171
00:57:11,136 --> 00:57:13,573
that bound that army together,
1172
00:57:13,597 --> 00:57:16,451
and spirits are high
and ready for an engagement.
1173
00:57:16,475 --> 00:57:19,287
♪ ♪
1174
00:57:19,311 --> 00:57:21,164
Robert E. Lee
is born the scion
1175
00:57:21,188 --> 00:57:24,250
to two of the oldest
elite families
1176
00:57:24,274 --> 00:57:25,585
of the state of Virginia.
1177
00:57:25,609 --> 00:57:27,128
♪ ♪
1178
00:57:27,152 --> 00:57:29,589
And in many ways,
Robert E. Lee becomes
1179
00:57:29,613 --> 00:57:31,049
the general most connected
1180
00:57:31,073 --> 00:57:32,842
with the institution of slavery
1181
00:57:32,866 --> 00:57:35,720
and protecting that institution.
1182
00:57:35,744 --> 00:57:38,848
‐ Grant had none
of that mystique.
1183
00:57:38,872 --> 00:57:41,643
There was no illusion of a guy,
1184
00:57:41,667 --> 00:57:45,146
you know, who was highborn
in the way that Lee was.
1185
00:57:45,170 --> 00:57:47,565
But, you know, when I see you
on the battlefield,
1186
00:57:47,589 --> 00:57:49,275
none of that matters.
1187
00:57:49,299 --> 00:57:51,903
It's just me and you.
1188
00:57:51,927 --> 00:57:53,696
‐ But all of Grant's
success had been
1189
00:57:53,720 --> 00:57:56,532
in the western theater.
1190
00:57:56,556 --> 00:57:59,661
And everybody would argue...
1191
00:57:59,685 --> 00:58:00,870
you're not out
in the western theater anymore.
1192
00:58:00,894 --> 00:58:03,456
You're fighting Robert E. Lee.
1193
00:58:03,480 --> 00:58:05,583
Of course, we could flip
that coin and say
1194
00:58:05,607 --> 00:58:09,837
Robert E. Lee is now
fighting Ulysses S. Grant.
1195
00:58:09,861 --> 00:58:14,884
♪ ♪
1196
00:58:14,908 --> 00:58:17,845
‐ Grant is gonna
personally attach himself
1197
00:58:17,869 --> 00:58:20,765
to George Gordon Meade's
Army the of Potomac,
1198
00:58:20,789 --> 00:58:23,184
which is gonna
latch on like a bulldog
1199
00:58:23,208 --> 00:58:26,729
to Robert E. Lee's
Army of Northern Virginia.
1200
00:58:26,753 --> 00:58:28,064
♪ ♪
1201
00:58:28,088 --> 00:58:29,774
‐ When Grant comes
down to Brandy Station
1202
00:58:29,798 --> 00:58:33,194
to visit the headquarters
of George Gordon Meade,
1203
00:58:33,218 --> 00:58:36,864
Meade's staff are surprised.
1204
00:58:36,888 --> 00:58:40,076
This was a slightly
ordinary figure
1205
00:58:40,100 --> 00:58:44,872
who looked like a merchant
who'd just come from a store.
1206
00:58:44,896 --> 00:58:47,375
But then you met his eye,
1207
00:58:47,399 --> 00:58:51,963
that icy cold eye that Grant
could somehow have,
1208
00:58:51,987 --> 00:58:53,464
and suddenly you knew this man
1209
00:58:53,488 --> 00:58:56,300
was totally in charge of things.
1210
00:58:56,324 --> 00:58:59,220
One clerk was advised,
1211
00:58:59,244 --> 00:59:02,598
"When Grant gives you
a straight order, obey it.
1212
00:59:02,622 --> 00:59:04,350
"When you have
information for Grant,
1213
00:59:04,374 --> 00:59:06,519
"give it to him straight.
1214
00:59:06,543 --> 00:59:11,566
"And above all,
don't say 'sir' too much.
1215
00:59:11,590 --> 00:59:13,568
Grant's not interested
in that."
1216
00:59:13,592 --> 00:59:16,779
♪ ♪
1217
00:59:16,803 --> 00:59:20,950
‐ Through most of the winter
of 1863 and 1864,
1218
00:59:20,974 --> 00:59:22,827
the Union army
and the Confederates
1219
00:59:22,851 --> 00:59:24,412
have been glaring at each other,
1220
00:59:24,436 --> 00:59:27,039
waiting for the spring to come
1221
00:59:27,063 --> 00:59:29,667
so that the new campaign
can begin.
1222
00:59:29,691 --> 00:59:32,754
Grant wants to get south
so he can engage
1223
00:59:32,778 --> 00:59:35,465
Confederates
in more open ground.
1224
00:59:35,489 --> 00:59:37,925
But before he does that,
he has to go across
1225
00:59:37,949 --> 00:59:40,720
the Rapidan River
and go through an area
1226
00:59:40,744 --> 00:59:44,640
deemed as almost Lee's hunting
ground for Union armies...
1227
00:59:44,664 --> 00:59:46,416
"The Wilderness."
1228
00:59:50,712 --> 00:59:54,192
‐ Gentlemen?
1229
00:59:54,216 --> 00:59:57,195
‐ Grant may have won
some victories in the west,
1230
00:59:57,219 --> 01:00:00,239
but this is Virginia.
1231
01:00:00,263 --> 01:00:02,074
‐ We're strong here, sir.
1232
01:00:02,098 --> 01:00:03,826
And if he attacks,
1233
01:00:03,850 --> 01:00:05,912
we can make a play
for Washington.
1234
01:00:05,936 --> 01:00:07,872
‐ And if he crosses the Rapidan,
1235
01:00:07,896 --> 01:00:10,666
he'd have to cut
through the Wilderness.
1236
01:00:10,690 --> 01:00:14,378
I can't imagine
he'd be fool enough.
1237
01:00:14,402 --> 01:00:16,506
We'd whip him but good.
1238
01:00:16,530 --> 01:00:18,382
♪ ♪
1239
01:00:18,406 --> 01:00:21,594
‐ General Longstreet?
1240
01:00:21,618 --> 01:00:25,264
♪ ♪
1241
01:00:25,288 --> 01:00:29,894
‐ I know Grant
from West Point and Mexico.
1242
01:00:29,918 --> 01:00:33,064
Do not underestimate him.
1243
01:00:33,088 --> 01:00:35,358
He will fight us every day
and every hour
1244
01:00:35,382 --> 01:00:37,819
till the end of this war.
1245
01:00:37,843 --> 01:00:39,946
♪ ♪
1246
01:00:39,970 --> 01:00:41,781
‐ There's sort of a sense
that, "Okay,
1247
01:00:41,805 --> 01:00:45,159
Robert E. Lee is the champion
of the eastern theater."
1248
01:00:45,183 --> 01:00:46,869
♪ ♪
1249
01:00:46,893 --> 01:00:49,038
"And we've tried challenger
after challenger
1250
01:00:49,062 --> 01:00:50,998
"after challenger.
1251
01:00:51,022 --> 01:00:54,168
But now we're bringing in
our best guy from the west."
1252
01:00:54,192 --> 01:00:56,295
♪ ♪
1253
01:00:56,319 --> 01:00:58,297
There's huge expectations.
1254
01:00:58,321 --> 01:00:59,966
♪ ♪
1255
01:00:59,990 --> 01:01:03,553
‐ I know Lee
as well as he knows himself.
1256
01:01:03,577 --> 01:01:05,805
I intend to attack
his weak points
1257
01:01:05,829 --> 01:01:07,807
and flank his strong ones.
1258
01:01:07,831 --> 01:01:10,584
♪ ♪
1259
01:01:12,794 --> 01:01:15,147
‐ We have two choices:
1260
01:01:15,171 --> 01:01:17,358
flank Lee and get to Richmond
from the west,
1261
01:01:17,382 --> 01:01:19,652
which leaves Washington exposed,
1262
01:01:19,676 --> 01:01:21,404
or head south,
1263
01:01:21,428 --> 01:01:23,030
get to Lee by going
through the Wilderness.
1264
01:01:23,054 --> 01:01:24,490
‐ The rebs know those woods.
1265
01:01:24,514 --> 01:01:26,367
Could be deadly for us
to go through there.
1266
01:01:26,391 --> 01:01:28,327
‐ We have to move quickly,
get out the other side,
1267
01:01:28,351 --> 01:01:29,829
meet him in the open.
‐ It's a trap.
1268
01:01:29,853 --> 01:01:32,248
We'd be leaving
Washington undefended.
1269
01:01:32,272 --> 01:01:33,583
‐ General Meade?
1270
01:01:33,607 --> 01:01:35,334
‐ I beat Lee at Gettysburg.
1271
01:01:35,358 --> 01:01:37,378
I'd like to finish the job.
1272
01:01:37,402 --> 01:01:39,505
‐ Then wherever he goes,
you'll follow.
1273
01:01:39,529 --> 01:01:44,176
♪ ♪
1274
01:01:44,200 --> 01:01:47,179
We'll cross the Rapidan
into the Wilderness.
1275
01:01:47,203 --> 01:01:52,685
♪ ♪
1276
01:01:52,709 --> 01:01:54,604
‐ General, our scouts
report he crossed
1277
01:01:54,628 --> 01:01:56,939
the Rapidan last night.
1278
01:01:56,963 --> 01:01:59,692
His army is twice ours, sir.
1279
01:01:59,716 --> 01:02:02,361
‐ We'll just have
to even the odds.
1280
01:02:02,385 --> 01:02:03,738
♪ ♪
1281
01:02:03,762 --> 01:02:06,365
Catch them before they
get through the Wilderness.
1282
01:02:06,389 --> 01:02:08,034
♪ ♪
1283
01:02:08,058 --> 01:02:11,579
Have General Hill advance
on the Orange Plank Road.
1284
01:02:11,603 --> 01:02:14,707
General Ewell, on the turnpike.
1285
01:02:14,731 --> 01:02:17,043
‐ Yes, sir.
1286
01:02:17,067 --> 01:02:24,008
♪ ♪
1287
01:02:24,032 --> 01:02:26,260
‐ The wilderness of Spotsylvania
1288
01:02:26,284 --> 01:02:31,807
was 70 square miles
of dense forest.
1289
01:02:31,831 --> 01:02:34,769
♪ ♪
1290
01:02:34,793 --> 01:02:37,229
It was difficult for mass groups
1291
01:02:37,253 --> 01:02:39,023
of soldiers to move through
1292
01:02:39,047 --> 01:02:41,067
this particular area
of Virginia.
1293
01:02:41,091 --> 01:02:43,402
♪ ♪
1294
01:02:43,426 --> 01:02:46,572
‐ A little further south
is Spotsylvania Courthouse.
1295
01:02:46,596 --> 01:02:49,158
The land around that area
is a lot more wide open.
1296
01:02:49,182 --> 01:02:52,411
So Grant says, "We need
to cross the Rapidan River
1297
01:02:52,435 --> 01:02:54,413
"and move through
the Wilderness,
1298
01:02:54,437 --> 01:02:57,583
"get to this wide‐open ground
closer to Richmond,
1299
01:02:57,607 --> 01:02:59,627
"and in doing so,
1300
01:02:59,651 --> 01:03:01,295
"Lee's gonna have
to come out and fight us
1301
01:03:01,319 --> 01:03:02,588
and on ground of our choosing."
1302
01:03:02,612 --> 01:03:05,424
♪ ♪
1303
01:03:05,448 --> 01:03:08,928
‐ Lee knew this ground.
He knew it well.
1304
01:03:08,952 --> 01:03:10,972
He was going to use every tree
1305
01:03:10,996 --> 01:03:16,602
and every bush to try
to delay Grant's actions.
1306
01:03:16,626 --> 01:03:18,437
‐ The great advantage
of the Union army
1307
01:03:18,461 --> 01:03:19,772
against
the Army of Northern Virginia
1308
01:03:19,796 --> 01:03:22,775
is in numbers and artillery.
1309
01:03:22,799 --> 01:03:26,112
In that choked vine forest,
1310
01:03:26,136 --> 01:03:27,780
numbers matter less,
1311
01:03:27,804 --> 01:03:31,575
and you cannot bring
your artillery to bear.
1312
01:03:31,599 --> 01:03:33,452
In fact, the Army of the Potomac
1313
01:03:33,476 --> 01:03:35,329
fought there
against Robert E. Lee
1314
01:03:35,353 --> 01:03:36,622
at the battle
of Chancellorsville
1315
01:03:36,646 --> 01:03:39,875
earlier in the war and had lost.
1316
01:03:39,899 --> 01:03:41,127
The battle of Chancellorsville
1317
01:03:41,151 --> 01:03:43,129
is Robert E. Lee's high point.
1318
01:03:43,153 --> 01:03:46,090
Lee is gonna violate all kind
of military principles,
1319
01:03:46,114 --> 01:03:48,634
divide his army in the face
of a larger enemy,
1320
01:03:48,658 --> 01:03:50,803
and, though outnumbered
two to one,
1321
01:03:50,827 --> 01:03:54,557
he will drive the Union army
back across the river.
1322
01:03:54,581 --> 01:03:58,144
This is the magic
of Robert E. Lee.
1323
01:03:58,168 --> 01:03:59,186
‐ The Chancellorsville
battlefield
1324
01:03:59,210 --> 01:04:00,813
and the Wilderness battlefield
1325
01:04:00,837 --> 01:04:04,942
are pretty much
right on top of each other.
1326
01:04:04,966 --> 01:04:08,904
And during the initial phase
of the Wilderness campaign,
1327
01:04:08,928 --> 01:04:10,656
when Grant
and the Army of the Potomac
1328
01:04:10,680 --> 01:04:14,160
cross the river,
they see the remains
1329
01:04:14,184 --> 01:04:17,079
of the battle
of the year before.
1330
01:04:17,103 --> 01:04:24,110
♪ ♪
1331
01:04:29,824 --> 01:04:32,678
‐ When Grant was traveling
with the Army of the Potomac,
1332
01:04:32,702 --> 01:04:34,680
he realized the extent
to which Lee
1333
01:04:34,704 --> 01:04:39,018
had gotten into the mind
of all of the officers.
1334
01:04:39,042 --> 01:04:42,897
And he knew that he had
to deal with the Lee mystique.
1335
01:04:42,921 --> 01:04:47,860
That was really one
of his major objectives.
1336
01:04:47,884 --> 01:04:50,112
‐ The natural disposition
of most people
1337
01:04:50,136 --> 01:04:52,490
is to clothe the commander
of a large army
1338
01:04:52,514 --> 01:04:54,200
whom they do not know
1339
01:04:54,224 --> 01:04:57,203
with almost
superhuman abilities.
1340
01:04:57,227 --> 01:05:00,039
But I had known
General Lee personally
1341
01:05:00,063 --> 01:05:03,292
and knew that he was mortal.
1342
01:05:03,316 --> 01:05:04,877
♪ ♪
1343
01:05:04,901 --> 01:05:08,214
‐ The Army of the Potomac
numbers about 120,000 men.
1344
01:05:08,238 --> 01:05:13,385
The Confederate army
numbers approximately 62,000.
1345
01:05:13,409 --> 01:05:15,096
Lee knows he's outnumbered,
1346
01:05:15,120 --> 01:05:17,640
but he knows if he can
bottle him up somewhere,
1347
01:05:17,664 --> 01:05:20,726
those superior numbers
won't account for anything.
1348
01:05:20,750 --> 01:05:22,895
♪ ♪
1349
01:05:22,919 --> 01:05:25,606
Both sides are confident.
1350
01:05:25,630 --> 01:05:27,733
The Confederates,
they've rebounded
1351
01:05:27,757 --> 01:05:29,902
since their defeat
from Gettysburg.
1352
01:05:29,926 --> 01:05:31,237
♪ ♪
1353
01:05:31,261 --> 01:05:33,030
And also,
the Union Army of the Potomac,
1354
01:05:33,054 --> 01:05:34,657
coming off that victory
at Gettysburg,
1355
01:05:34,681 --> 01:05:37,743
they're ready to keep
following up that success.
1356
01:05:37,767 --> 01:05:41,247
That mentality, I think,
explains the ferocity
1357
01:05:41,271 --> 01:05:42,581
of the fighting that follows.
1358
01:05:42,605 --> 01:05:44,959
♪ ♪
1359
01:05:44,983 --> 01:05:47,837
‐ We had to have hard fighting.
1360
01:05:47,861 --> 01:05:49,755
The two armies
now confronting each other
1361
01:05:49,779 --> 01:05:52,800
had been in deadly conflict
for so long
1362
01:05:52,824 --> 01:05:55,594
without any decisive result,
1363
01:05:55,618 --> 01:05:58,872
they hardly knew
which could whip the other.
1364
01:06:02,792 --> 01:06:09,841
♪ ♪
1365
01:06:45,627 --> 01:06:48,630
[gunfire, soldiers yelling]
1366
01:06:58,681 --> 01:07:05,021
♪ ♪
1367
01:07:07,607 --> 01:07:11,086
‐ So the first time that Grant
and Lee go into battle,
1368
01:07:11,110 --> 01:07:13,005
the two headliners of the war,
1369
01:07:13,029 --> 01:07:14,506
at the Battle of the Wilderness,
1370
01:07:14,530 --> 01:07:18,886
May of 1864,
Grant crosses into territory
1371
01:07:18,910 --> 01:07:22,097
where Lee has his army deployed,
1372
01:07:22,121 --> 01:07:24,683
and it's a pretty brutal fight.
1373
01:07:24,707 --> 01:07:27,228
‐ Lee was actually
moving very aggressively.
1374
01:07:27,252 --> 01:07:29,688
He wanted to attack Grant.
1375
01:07:29,712 --> 01:07:33,234
He wanted to push Grant
out of Virginia.
1376
01:07:33,258 --> 01:07:35,903
‐ Once Grant crosses the river,
1377
01:07:35,927 --> 01:07:39,698
you see two steely‐eyed
killers who go at each other.
1378
01:07:39,722 --> 01:07:41,450
It's relentless.
It's brutal.
1379
01:07:41,474 --> 01:07:43,535
It's nonstop.
It's exhausting.
1380
01:07:43,559 --> 01:07:46,288
♪ ♪
1381
01:07:46,312 --> 01:07:48,332
‐ General Grant,
1382
01:07:48,356 --> 01:07:50,251
Rebel forces are at
the Orange Turnpike
1383
01:07:50,275 --> 01:07:52,962
on the Plank Road.
1384
01:07:52,986 --> 01:07:54,129
‐ Pitch into them at the first‐‐
1385
01:07:54,153 --> 01:07:55,422
[explosion]
1386
01:07:55,446 --> 01:07:57,216
Pitch into them
at the first opportunity.
1387
01:07:57,240 --> 01:07:59,051
Call the battery and gun crews.
1388
01:07:59,075 --> 01:08:00,511
We'll hold this position.
1389
01:08:00,535 --> 01:08:02,429
‐ Grant is going to tell Meade,
1390
01:08:02,453 --> 01:08:04,139
"You do not wait
for them to attack you.
1391
01:08:04,163 --> 01:08:06,684
You attack them."
1392
01:08:06,708 --> 01:08:08,269
‐ Why does he do this?
1393
01:08:08,293 --> 01:08:10,396
Because his object
is to go ahead and fight
1394
01:08:10,420 --> 01:08:12,231
Robert E. Lee.
1395
01:08:12,255 --> 01:08:14,441
He takes tactical risk
fighting in the Wilderness
1396
01:08:14,465 --> 01:08:17,236
because there is a opportunity
1397
01:08:17,260 --> 01:08:19,238
to destroy parts of Lee's army.
1398
01:08:19,262 --> 01:08:20,990
♪ ♪
1399
01:08:21,014 --> 01:08:22,700
‐ It throws Lee for a loop,
1400
01:08:22,724 --> 01:08:25,703
because Lee thought
he had Grant pegged.
1401
01:08:25,727 --> 01:08:27,246
Lee's going off
the old rule book here,
1402
01:08:27,270 --> 01:08:29,873
Union army is not
gonna act aggressively,
1403
01:08:29,897 --> 01:08:31,625
and at the Wilderness,
1404
01:08:31,649 --> 01:08:33,585
that preconceived notion
that he had
1405
01:08:33,609 --> 01:08:36,588
really gets destroyed.
1406
01:08:36,612 --> 01:08:39,758
‐ Grant firmly believes that if
he can retain the initiative,
1407
01:08:39,782 --> 01:08:42,594
he can force the other army
to react to him.
1408
01:08:42,618 --> 01:08:43,971
He believes the Confederate army
1409
01:08:43,995 --> 01:08:45,222
should march to a Union drum.
1410
01:08:45,246 --> 01:08:47,891
♪ ♪
1411
01:08:47,915 --> 01:08:50,102
Therefore,
he's gonna continue to push
1412
01:08:50,126 --> 01:08:53,230
and drive those Confederates.
1413
01:08:53,254 --> 01:08:56,525
[artillery firing,
soldiers yelling]
1414
01:08:56,549 --> 01:08:58,610
This is not one of those
wide‐open battlefields
1415
01:08:58,634 --> 01:09:01,488
that you can see long lines
of clashing troops.
1416
01:09:01,512 --> 01:09:05,617
Visibility is less
than 20 yards.
1417
01:09:05,641 --> 01:09:07,494
Throw in the smoke
and noise of battle,
1418
01:09:07,518 --> 01:09:10,789
and now it's
even more confusing.
1419
01:09:10,813 --> 01:09:14,209
[soldiers yelling]
1420
01:09:14,233 --> 01:09:17,236
[both grunting]
1421
01:09:24,535 --> 01:09:31,584
♪ ♪
1422
01:09:36,381 --> 01:09:39,318
‐ It had been a very dry spring.
1423
01:09:39,342 --> 01:09:41,945
Now, if you think of men
firing their muskets,
1424
01:09:41,969 --> 01:09:44,365
there's gonna be
a flash of fire,
1425
01:09:44,389 --> 01:09:46,784
and all it takes is one spark.
1426
01:09:46,808 --> 01:09:48,410
[gunshot echoes]
1427
01:09:48,434 --> 01:09:52,164
And the real horrors
of the Wilderness begin.
1428
01:09:52,188 --> 01:09:54,833
The fires are gonna
grow in intensity.
1429
01:09:54,857 --> 01:09:58,045
[soldiers yelling]
1430
01:09:58,069 --> 01:10:05,118
♪ ♪
1431
01:10:14,752 --> 01:10:17,356
For the men who are wounded,
1432
01:10:17,380 --> 01:10:19,817
they can either crawl
to the enemy lines,
1433
01:10:19,841 --> 01:10:23,654
or they can always kill
themselves with a revolver.
1434
01:10:23,678 --> 01:10:26,615
For the living soldiers,
at the end of this fight,
1435
01:10:26,639 --> 01:10:29,410
they have to now listen
to men scream to death
1436
01:10:29,434 --> 01:10:32,121
as they're burned alive
in this fire,
1437
01:10:32,145 --> 01:10:34,081
and they now
have to smell their bodies
1438
01:10:34,105 --> 01:10:36,041
as its roasted
in the conflagration,
1439
01:10:36,065 --> 01:10:38,585
and that is something
that truly sticks with them
1440
01:10:38,609 --> 01:10:39,712
for the rest of their lives.
1441
01:10:39,736 --> 01:10:42,381
♪ ♪
1442
01:10:42,405 --> 01:10:45,175
‐ The Wilderness was a brutal,
bloody battle,
1443
01:10:45,199 --> 01:10:46,635
similar to the battle
they'd fought
1444
01:10:46,659 --> 01:10:48,220
at Chancellorsville
the year before,
1445
01:10:48,244 --> 01:10:50,389
almost in the exact same
location.
1446
01:10:50,413 --> 01:10:53,058
And that battle had ended
with the Union army
1447
01:10:53,082 --> 01:10:54,727
pulling back from the field
1448
01:10:54,751 --> 01:10:56,979
and trying to regenerate itself
1449
01:10:57,003 --> 01:11:00,607
and get itself
back into condition.
1450
01:11:00,631 --> 01:11:02,568
‐ Grant might have been,
like the other generals,
1451
01:11:02,592 --> 01:11:05,404
justified in breaking off
and pulling back to regroup.
1452
01:11:05,428 --> 01:11:11,225
♪ ♪
1453
01:11:21,861 --> 01:11:24,882
‐ General Grant.
1454
01:11:24,906 --> 01:11:26,741
Do you want
the casualty numbers?
1455
01:11:31,078 --> 01:11:33,539
‐ We'll be the first
to attack in the morning.
1456
01:11:34,874 --> 01:11:36,852
‐ Our men are exhausted.
1457
01:11:36,876 --> 01:11:38,711
‐ So are his.
1458
01:11:40,254 --> 01:11:42,733
We go forward.
1459
01:11:42,757 --> 01:11:45,569
Lee's still waiting
for reinforcements.
1460
01:11:45,593 --> 01:11:46,820
So if we're the first to attack,
1461
01:11:46,844 --> 01:11:48,304
we have our advantage.
1462
01:11:50,014 --> 01:11:51,200
‐ General.
1463
01:11:51,224 --> 01:11:52,725
‐ General Meade.
1464
01:11:54,352 --> 01:11:56,830
Don't forget.
1465
01:11:56,854 --> 01:11:59,440
We possess strengths
they do not have.
1466
01:12:00,942 --> 01:12:04,087
Our numbers...
1467
01:12:04,111 --> 01:12:06,089
and our purpose, Meade.
1468
01:12:06,113 --> 01:12:08,717
♪ ♪
1469
01:12:08,741 --> 01:12:10,677
Our purpose.
1470
01:12:10,701 --> 01:12:12,638
♪ ♪
1471
01:12:12,662 --> 01:12:15,015
‐ Right, sir.
1472
01:12:15,039 --> 01:12:22,088
♪ ♪
1473
01:12:31,889 --> 01:12:38,938
♪ ♪
1474
01:13:03,296 --> 01:13:05,566
‐ I was anxious that
the rebels should not take
1475
01:13:05,590 --> 01:13:07,776
the initiative in the morning
1476
01:13:07,800 --> 01:13:10,487
and therefore
ordered an assault.
1477
01:13:10,511 --> 01:13:12,614
♪ ♪
1478
01:13:12,638 --> 01:13:15,576
[gunfire echoing]
1479
01:13:15,600 --> 01:13:19,663
♪ ♪
1480
01:13:19,687 --> 01:13:23,208
[gunfire]
1481
01:13:23,232 --> 01:13:26,545
[soldiers yelling]
1482
01:13:26,569 --> 01:13:31,967
♪ ♪
1483
01:13:31,991 --> 01:13:34,720
‐ Union forces were successful
initially in the morning.
1484
01:13:34,744 --> 01:13:36,763
They catch
the Confederate 3rd Corps
1485
01:13:36,787 --> 01:13:38,807
under A. P. Hill
by surprise,
1486
01:13:38,831 --> 01:13:41,393
they push them a good mile,
1487
01:13:41,417 --> 01:13:45,188
and it looks like Lee's right
flank is about to cave in.
1488
01:13:45,212 --> 01:13:51,570
♪ ♪
1489
01:13:51,594 --> 01:13:53,947
‐ General.
‐ We're losing ground.
1490
01:13:53,971 --> 01:13:56,617
‐ But Longstreet's
moving in from the west...
1491
01:13:56,641 --> 01:13:58,327
With the Texas boys.
1492
01:13:58,351 --> 01:14:00,412
‐ And I'm glad of it.
1493
01:14:00,436 --> 01:14:03,415
Those Texas boys will
stand and fight all day.
1494
01:14:03,439 --> 01:14:09,504
♪ ♪
1495
01:14:09,528 --> 01:14:12,424
‐ Longstreet has arrived
with reinforcements.
1496
01:14:12,448 --> 01:14:13,926
Lee may counterattack.
1497
01:14:13,950 --> 01:14:15,844
‐ Let him.
1498
01:14:15,868 --> 01:14:17,346
We'll stick it out.
1499
01:14:17,370 --> 01:14:19,348
‐ Let's taken our land,
forced us out.
1500
01:14:19,372 --> 01:14:20,766
He's gonna advance.
1501
01:14:20,790 --> 01:14:24,519
‐ I'm tired of hearing
about what Lee is gonna do.
1502
01:14:24,543 --> 01:14:26,772
Some of you think he's gonna
turn a double somersault
1503
01:14:26,796 --> 01:14:30,651
and land in our rear and both
flanks at the same time.
1504
01:14:30,675 --> 01:14:32,361
Go back to your commands.
1505
01:14:32,385 --> 01:14:34,613
Think about what we're gonna do.
1506
01:14:34,637 --> 01:14:41,644
♪ ♪
1507
01:14:46,649 --> 01:14:51,129
‐ Longstreet arrives to save
the day in the nick of time.
1508
01:14:51,153 --> 01:14:52,381
♪ ♪
1509
01:14:52,405 --> 01:14:54,383
James Longstreet
had actually attended
1510
01:14:54,407 --> 01:14:57,469
Ulysses S. Grant's wedding.
1511
01:14:57,493 --> 01:14:59,429
And he is Lee's
most trusted subordinate.
1512
01:14:59,453 --> 01:15:00,973
He is the old warhorse.
1513
01:15:00,997 --> 01:15:03,725
♪ ♪
1514
01:15:03,749 --> 01:15:05,644
[gunfire, soldiers yelling]
1515
01:15:05,668 --> 01:15:09,731
‐ The Confederates
slam into Union lines...
1516
01:15:09,755 --> 01:15:12,150
but the Union
had bolstered their defenses.
1517
01:15:12,174 --> 01:15:14,611
♪ ♪
1518
01:15:14,635 --> 01:15:18,949
Ultimately,
the series of assaults fail.
1519
01:15:18,973 --> 01:15:21,868
‐ And James Longstreet
will be accidentally wounded
1520
01:15:21,892 --> 01:15:24,663
by his own men,
shot in the neck,
1521
01:15:24,687 --> 01:15:27,541
nearly choking to death
on his own blood
1522
01:15:27,565 --> 01:15:30,836
before he can be moved
from the field.
1523
01:15:30,860 --> 01:15:32,546
[gunfire]
1524
01:15:32,570 --> 01:15:35,549
The Wilderness is on fire.
1525
01:15:35,573 --> 01:15:42,621
♪ ♪
1526
01:15:44,290 --> 01:15:45,767
One soldier describes it
1527
01:15:45,791 --> 01:15:49,187
as a battle of invisibles
versus invisibles.
1528
01:15:49,211 --> 01:15:52,524
[soldiers yelling]
1529
01:15:52,548 --> 01:15:54,568
♪ ♪
1530
01:15:54,592 --> 01:15:57,696
They could not see
the enemy army.
1531
01:15:57,720 --> 01:16:02,325
♪ ♪
1532
01:16:02,349 --> 01:16:05,394
[gunfire]
1533
01:16:07,938 --> 01:16:10,208
Soldiers are trapped.
1534
01:16:10,232 --> 01:16:12,836
They cannot find their way out.
1535
01:16:12,860 --> 01:16:16,506
♪ ♪
1536
01:16:16,530 --> 01:16:18,383
[gunshot]
1537
01:16:18,407 --> 01:16:21,011
♪ ♪
1538
01:16:21,035 --> 01:16:24,473
[gunshot]
1539
01:16:24,497 --> 01:16:26,892
‐ [screaming]
1540
01:16:26,916 --> 01:16:29,227
♪ ♪
1541
01:16:29,251 --> 01:16:32,064
[gunfire]
1542
01:16:32,088 --> 01:16:35,067
[yelling]
1543
01:16:35,091 --> 01:16:42,098
♪ ♪
1544
01:16:47,103 --> 01:16:52,292
‐ The woods were set on fire
by the bursting shells.
1545
01:16:52,316 --> 01:16:54,961
The wounded,
who had not strength to move,
1546
01:16:54,985 --> 01:16:57,964
were either suffocated
or burned to death.
1547
01:16:57,988 --> 01:17:03,428
♪ ♪
1548
01:17:03,452 --> 01:17:05,097
‐ By the end
of two days of combat,
1549
01:17:05,121 --> 01:17:07,974
the Union army has sustained
about 17,000 men
1550
01:17:07,998 --> 01:17:10,602
killed, captured,
wounded, or missing.
1551
01:17:10,626 --> 01:17:13,355
Confederates are about 11,000.
1552
01:17:13,379 --> 01:17:16,608
Grant has lost now more men
in the two days at Wilderness
1553
01:17:16,632 --> 01:17:19,111
than he did
in the two days at Shiloh.
1554
01:17:19,135 --> 01:17:21,113
♪ ♪
1555
01:17:21,137 --> 01:17:24,825
‐ This was a particularly
horrifying battle...
1556
01:17:24,849 --> 01:17:27,119
not only because
of the number of casualties,
1557
01:17:27,143 --> 01:17:29,329
but the forest is burning.
1558
01:17:29,353 --> 01:17:32,999
What that meant was,
Grant went into his tent,
1559
01:17:33,023 --> 01:17:36,795
flung himself down on the cot.
1560
01:17:36,819 --> 01:17:38,296
There was a need for some
1561
01:17:38,320 --> 01:17:40,715
emotional release or catharsis,
1562
01:17:40,739 --> 01:17:43,009
and Grant had never
shown that side
1563
01:17:43,033 --> 01:17:46,304
of his character before.
1564
01:17:46,328 --> 01:17:49,516
[fire roaring, soldiers yelling]
1565
01:17:49,540 --> 01:17:53,645
‐ Our losses
in the Wilderness were severe.
1566
01:17:53,669 --> 01:17:56,690
We could claim no victory
over the enemy,
1567
01:17:56,714 --> 01:17:59,693
neither did they gain
a single advantage.
1568
01:17:59,717 --> 01:18:02,988
♪ ♪
1569
01:18:03,012 --> 01:18:06,015
[indistinct chatter]
1570
01:18:13,564 --> 01:18:17,002
‐ We have 'em hell, General Lee.
1571
01:18:17,026 --> 01:18:19,629
‐ They gave us the same.
1572
01:18:19,653 --> 01:18:21,655
‐ I'm told Longstreet
will survive.
1573
01:18:24,742 --> 01:18:27,179
Scouts say Grant's packing up.
1574
01:18:27,203 --> 01:18:29,014
Finally retreating, sir.
1575
01:18:29,038 --> 01:18:30,765
We won't see him here again.
1576
01:18:30,789 --> 01:18:32,934
‐ Tell me, Colonel...
1577
01:18:32,958 --> 01:18:35,854
have you ever met Grant?
1578
01:18:35,878 --> 01:18:37,606
‐ No, sir.
1579
01:18:37,630 --> 01:18:39,900
‐ No.
1580
01:18:39,924 --> 01:18:41,902
I didn't think so.
1581
01:18:41,926 --> 01:18:43,320
♪ ♪
1582
01:18:43,344 --> 01:18:45,989
If you had,
you know he's not retreating.
1583
01:18:46,013 --> 01:18:47,699
♪ ♪
1584
01:18:47,723 --> 01:18:50,202
He's not a retreating man.
1585
01:18:50,226 --> 01:18:56,732
♪ ♪
1586
01:19:02,988 --> 01:19:04,758
‐ I now felt the full weight
1587
01:19:04,782 --> 01:19:07,719
of responsibility
on my shoulders.
1588
01:19:07,743 --> 01:19:10,746
♪ ♪
1589
01:19:12,748 --> 01:19:18,271
♪ ♪
1590
01:19:18,295 --> 01:19:22,067
[soldier shrieking]
1591
01:19:22,091 --> 01:19:24,444
[soldiers yelling]
1592
01:19:24,468 --> 01:19:27,447
[fire crackling, soldier yells]
1593
01:19:27,471 --> 01:19:30,075
‐ You will go after Lee.
1594
01:19:30,099 --> 01:19:33,912
You will go after him
until he's finished.
1595
01:19:33,936 --> 01:19:35,580
‐ [yelling]
1596
01:19:35,604 --> 01:19:38,107
‐ It all depends on you.
1597
01:19:40,651 --> 01:19:41,962
‐ Gentlemen.
1598
01:19:41,986 --> 01:19:44,089
‐ Come on, boys!
Let's move out!
1599
01:19:44,113 --> 01:19:47,759
[bugle call playing]
1600
01:19:47,783 --> 01:19:51,263
‐ After two days
of the most brutal,
1601
01:19:51,287 --> 01:19:56,226
vicious fighting
in the Wilderness of Virginia,
1602
01:19:56,250 --> 01:19:58,228
soldiers
of the Army of the Potomac
1603
01:19:58,252 --> 01:20:00,146
and their opposite numbers
1604
01:20:00,170 --> 01:20:01,481
in the Army of Northern Virginia
1605
01:20:01,505 --> 01:20:04,985
had fought themselves
to a standstill.
1606
01:20:05,009 --> 01:20:07,445
Usually when a standstill
like that happened,
1607
01:20:07,469 --> 01:20:09,406
the result was that
the Union army
1608
01:20:09,430 --> 01:20:12,659
would pack its bags and go
back across the Rapidan River,
1609
01:20:12,683 --> 01:20:16,621
as it had happened
literally one year before
1610
01:20:16,645 --> 01:20:19,541
at the battle
of Chancellorsville.
1611
01:20:19,565 --> 01:20:22,419
The question in the minds
of these soldiers was,
1612
01:20:22,443 --> 01:20:24,170
"What direction is Ulysses Grant
1613
01:20:24,194 --> 01:20:25,547
going to take us?"
1614
01:20:25,571 --> 01:20:31,177
♪ ♪
1615
01:20:31,201 --> 01:20:36,224
‐ In war, anything
is better than indecision.
1616
01:20:36,248 --> 01:20:38,810
We must decide.
1617
01:20:38,834 --> 01:20:41,021
If I am wrong,
we shall soon find out
1618
01:20:41,045 --> 01:20:43,481
and can do the other thing.
1619
01:20:43,505 --> 01:20:47,485
Not to decide
may ruin everything.
1620
01:20:47,509 --> 01:20:52,157
♪ ♪
1621
01:20:52,181 --> 01:20:56,036
‐ And so Grant arrives
at the critical intersection
1622
01:20:56,060 --> 01:20:59,205
in the Wilderness if he was
going to move farther south
1623
01:20:59,229 --> 01:21:00,999
around Lee's flank,
1624
01:21:01,023 --> 01:21:03,877
seizing the strategic initiative
1625
01:21:03,901 --> 01:21:07,839
to threaten the Confederate
capital, Richmond.
1626
01:21:07,863 --> 01:21:11,217
♪ ♪
1627
01:21:11,241 --> 01:21:13,720
‐ The soldiers
were waiting to see,
1628
01:21:13,744 --> 01:21:17,015
"What direction
is he going to take?
1629
01:21:17,039 --> 01:21:19,100
"If he turns to the left,
1630
01:21:19,124 --> 01:21:21,394
"we're gonna be retreating
back across the river.
1631
01:21:21,418 --> 01:21:22,854
"If he turns right,
1632
01:21:22,878 --> 01:21:24,606
that means
we're heading south."
1633
01:21:24,630 --> 01:21:28,193
♪ ♪
1634
01:21:28,217 --> 01:21:29,861
‐ We're going south!
1635
01:21:29,885 --> 01:21:31,696
‐ Heading south?
‐ To Richmond.
1636
01:21:31,720 --> 01:21:34,032
‐ Richmond?
‐ To Richmond.
1637
01:21:34,056 --> 01:21:36,242
‐ We're heading south.
‐ We're headed south!
1638
01:21:36,266 --> 01:21:39,204
[soldiers yelling and cheering]
1639
01:21:39,228 --> 01:21:45,734
♪ ♪
1640
01:21:49,446 --> 01:21:51,383
‐ Suddenly,
to their astonishment,
1641
01:21:51,407 --> 01:21:54,552
they're all wheeling
around to the south.
1642
01:21:54,576 --> 01:21:57,055
And it took tremendous
courage and tremendous
1643
01:21:57,079 --> 01:22:00,100
personal fortitude
on Grant's part
1644
01:22:00,124 --> 01:22:03,603
because Union casualties
were higher at the Wilderness
1645
01:22:03,627 --> 01:22:06,856
than Confederate casualties...
1646
01:22:06,880 --> 01:22:10,944
but Grant always had this
ultimate faith in victory.
1647
01:22:10,968 --> 01:22:13,988
And I think that there are
certain generals in history,
1648
01:22:14,012 --> 01:22:15,698
when they have
that faith in victory,
1649
01:22:15,722 --> 01:22:18,243
it's something
that communicates itself
1650
01:22:18,267 --> 01:22:19,411
to the troops.
1651
01:22:19,435 --> 01:22:22,914
♪ ♪
1652
01:22:22,938 --> 01:22:26,418
‐ At Wilderness,
that is a tactical loss,
1653
01:22:26,442 --> 01:22:28,420
and yet Grant stands
at those crossroads
1654
01:22:28,444 --> 01:22:31,256
and goes, "This is not a loss.
1655
01:22:31,280 --> 01:22:33,758
This is the first step
to the end of the war."
1656
01:22:33,782 --> 01:22:36,010
♪ ♪
1657
01:22:36,034 --> 01:22:38,430
So as he heads south,
Grant will fight
1658
01:22:38,454 --> 01:22:42,642
in a scope and scale
beyond anybody's experience.
1659
01:22:42,666 --> 01:22:44,936
We actually see the changing
character of war here.
1660
01:22:44,960 --> 01:22:46,604
♪ ♪
1661
01:22:46,628 --> 01:22:48,440
Technology starts
to be a big part of it:
1662
01:22:48,464 --> 01:22:51,985
steam engines, ironclads,
1663
01:22:52,009 --> 01:22:55,447
railroads, telegraph.
1664
01:22:55,471 --> 01:22:59,284
However, there is this
unchanging nature of war.
1665
01:22:59,308 --> 01:23:01,119
It's still a clash of wills.
1666
01:23:01,143 --> 01:23:05,540
There's still fear and interest.
1667
01:23:05,564 --> 01:23:09,294
There's still hope
about what might happen.
1668
01:23:09,318 --> 01:23:14,174
♪ ♪
1669
01:23:14,198 --> 01:23:15,842
When you think
about the Civil War,
1670
01:23:15,866 --> 01:23:17,343
we say that
Confederates are fighting
1671
01:23:17,367 --> 01:23:19,345
for hearth and home
1672
01:23:19,369 --> 01:23:21,473
and for this cause
of a Southern way of life.
1673
01:23:21,497 --> 01:23:22,849
Well, look at what
the Northerners
1674
01:23:22,873 --> 01:23:26,144
are fighting for.
1675
01:23:26,168 --> 01:23:28,563
Think about all those people.
1676
01:23:28,587 --> 01:23:30,815
They're fighting for this idea.
1677
01:23:30,839 --> 01:23:32,442
The nation is new.
1678
01:23:32,466 --> 01:23:35,153
We're largely
made up of immigrants.
1679
01:23:35,177 --> 01:23:36,654
They have come here
because they've seen
1680
01:23:36,678 --> 01:23:38,698
what it's like in the Old World.
1681
01:23:38,722 --> 01:23:41,659
And that idea that
all men are created equal...
1682
01:23:41,683 --> 01:23:45,079
if it doesn't exist here,
it doesn't exist anywhere.
1683
01:23:45,103 --> 01:23:49,000
And therefore,
they're willing to fight.
1684
01:23:49,024 --> 01:23:52,003
[soldiers cheering]
1685
01:23:52,027 --> 01:23:56,466
♪ ♪
1686
01:23:56,490 --> 01:24:00,053
‐ The greatest enthusiasm
was inspired by the fact
1687
01:24:00,077 --> 01:24:02,055
that the movement was south.
1688
01:24:02,079 --> 01:24:03,932
‐ Headed to Richmond!
1689
01:24:03,956 --> 01:24:05,517
‐ We're going south, boys!
1690
01:24:05,541 --> 01:24:08,853
‐ It indicated to the men
that they had passed through
1691
01:24:08,877 --> 01:24:13,316
the beginning of the end.
1692
01:24:13,340 --> 01:24:16,361
There would be no turning back.
1693
01:24:16,385 --> 01:24:19,697
♪ ♪
1694
01:24:19,721 --> 01:24:22,075
‐ Advance!
1695
01:24:22,099 --> 01:24:24,869
‐ Hold on with a bulldog grip.
1696
01:24:24,893 --> 01:24:27,580
Chew and choke
as much as possible.
1697
01:24:27,604 --> 01:24:29,958
‐ We've got Lee
in a box, General.
1698
01:24:29,982 --> 01:24:31,417
‐ Go after him.
1699
01:24:31,441 --> 01:24:33,169
I regard it as my duty
1700
01:24:33,193 --> 01:24:35,088
by asking of you the surrender
1701
01:24:35,112 --> 01:24:37,298
of the Confederate States Army.
1702
01:24:37,322 --> 01:24:40,426
President Lincoln has been shot.
1703
01:24:40,450 --> 01:24:41,886
‐ The country
having just emerged
1704
01:24:41,910 --> 01:24:43,221
from a great rebellion,
1705
01:24:43,245 --> 01:24:45,723
I ask patient forbearance,
1706
01:24:45,747 --> 01:24:49,418
one toward another,
cementing a happy union.
129995
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