Original subtitles

[intense electronic music]

[dramatic music]

[bird squawking]

[dramatic orchestral music]

[ethereal singers vocalizing]

[gun firing]

- [John] When I was 12 years old,

my father was the Governor of Virginia.

And none of us knew it at that time,

but our world was about to explode

over the issue of slavery in America.

My father's heart had long since changed on the topic,

and one night, he took me to a place

that would forever change my own.

- Reading the Englishman again?

- Will I be shot for treason, Father?

- [laughs] Most likely.

Another one of those long titles, is it?

- "The Personal History, Adventures, Experience,

"Observation of David Copperfield,

"the Younger of Blunderstone Rookery."

- "Which He Never Meant to Publish on Any Account"

- You read it.

Guess that's why it's here.

- Suppose so.

Get your coat, John.

We're going to take a little ride.

- [John] I don't think I like

these surprise trips anymore, father.

- [Henry] 'Cause they're usually lessons in life?

- [John] Exactly.

- Well, tell me about the play your mother

took you to in Philadelphia.

- You mean "Uncle Tom's Cabin?"

- And why have we not talked about it?

- Because we'll disagree,

and disagreeing with you is so disagreeable.

- Your mother said you were not impressed by it.

- Think it's all made up,

by the people who don't like us.

- Yes, well,

there's lots of those in Philadelphia.

[chattering]

[train whistling]

- [Auctioneer] All right, ladies and gentlemen!

We are about to get started!

Step on up, step on up!

You're gonna love what we have in store tonight!

I'm holding at 275.

- A slave auction.

- Doubtless those people in Philadelphia

would not approve.

[chattering drowning out auctioneer speaking]

- [Auctioneer] So step right up?

- You're not coming?

- John, I have never known you to need help

making up your own mind.

[chattering drowning out auctioneer speaking]

- These slaves are trained

by some of our most respected citizens

in the central Virginia area.

Oyez, oyez!

Step on up, ladies and gentlemen!

Sale's about to begin!

A fine lot of slaves belonging to the estate

of the late Colonel William Jasper of Amelia,

sold in no fault, but to settle the estate!

We got all kinds.

Old ones, young ones,

men and women, gals and boys!

And as some of you may or may not know,

Colonel Jasper's plantation slaves

made him a pretty penny for the last 20 years!

Gentlemen, what we have to offer here is so damn good,

old Mr. Lumpkin even up and married one of 'em!

[laughing]

You won't find the mark of a whip on a one of 'em!

We're not talking some low-class

Louisiana branding-iron stock!

We got the best slave stock

from all of central Virginia here tonight!

Colonel Jasper's staff

represents the finest stock in the state!

This is the best group of dining room servants,

farmhands, cooks, milkers, seamstresses, washerwomen,

and the most promising group of sassy young females

just ready to breed.

Martha Ann is the favorite of the household!

Perfectly healthy, no blemish at all.

Look at that complexion.

I offer Martha Ann at a reduced price,

because it is the wish of all concerned

to keep them together.

Now, Israel here is not what you would

call an able-bodied man,

having broke his leg in the field,

which didn't exactly mend right,

but he can do all sorts of light work,

and you can have him and the young'uns mighty cheap!

- Masters, if you'll buy me,

the children and Martha Ann,

God knows I'll work myself to death.

- Come on, no bids at all?

[somber music]

400, do I hear 450?

Come on, people, 450!

Look at her, he can work!

This is one of the best slave lots

we're gonna see all night, ladies and gentlemen!

400 going once.

400 going twice, sold!

Will you take Israel and the young'uns with her?

- No, I'm lucky to be able to afford one as it is.

I don't need no more mouths to feed than hers.

- No, please!

No!

My babies!

[screaming]

No, no!

No, no, no!

My babies!

- You'll have more children, missy.

Come on!

- No, Israel!

No, please, no, Israel!

- This sort of thing's supposed to be expected.

Once again, we got a complement of

[speaking drowned out by music]

- [John] Five years later, the Civil War

began closing in on the Shenandoah Valley,

the place that was home to the military school

my father had sent me

when he became a general in the Confederate Army.

I was 17 years old and in my second year

at the Virginia Military Institute.

- Whoo, Johnny Wise!

Always in a hurry!

[laughing]

- You think he'll do?

He's a rabbit, a mouse.

- And he's perfect,

like he shipped straight from heaven.

Round up the boys.

- All right.

[tense music]

- Good morning, young sir.

Let me give you a hand to the barracks.

- But, sir, you're an upperclassman.

- This is true.

And one day, you will be magnificent yourself,

somehow find a way to repay my kindness.

[grunting]

Well, imagine this.

A welcoming committee.

Robert, come on in, meet some of the boys.

This here's Duck.

- Let's get you unpacked.

- Oh!

- And this is Jack Stanard,

a real soldier and a hard man, indeed.

You want to grow up and be a man,

you pay attention to him and not me.

- You looking for an easy ride,

you come to the wrong place.

- This handsome creature is our resident Jew.

His name is actually Moses,

and he's an artist.

He's got the best heart of the bunch

if you ever need to cry on somebody's shoulder.

- We'll start by me telling you all

about Sammy here so you can protect yourself.

- [chuckles] Could you do one of them,

but without the clothes?

[chuckles]

- Uh-oh.

What have we here?

- What's that?

- That looks like food to me, son.

Anybody tell you there's a war going on?

Concealed foodstuffs, that's contraband.

- Clear violation of Institute regulations.

Immediate dismissal.

- Might even be criminal.

Oh, Bobby, how could you?

Cadet Stanard, could you please fetch

the Officer of the Day?

- I don't know how it got there.

[dramatic music]

- This is Cadet Garland Jefferson,

Officer of the Day, whose jurisdiction covers this matter.

And since his family are direct descendants

of Thomas Jefferson

and own the eighth-largest plantation in all--

- That'll do, Atwill.

- Now, if I take charge, this goes to the faculty,

which ends horribly for the boy.

- Oh, please, sir.

- Could we have Duck fetch John Wise?

Handle this within the barracks?

[clears throat]

Bobby, this is John Wise,

our unofficial Chief Magistrate.

Now, his father was once governor of this Commonwealth,

so he is as close to an aristocrat

as you can find in a democracy.

[grunting]

- Look me in the eye, son.

Tell me the truth as if your very life depended on it.

Did you do this?

- No, sir!

I swear on my father's soul.

- I believe this child.

I ask that we be allowed to settle this here.

- All right.

- You understand, son, if this gets out,

it could be bad for Cadet Jefferson.

Therefore, there must be

some evidence of punishment.

Will you submit to a caning?

- Yes, sir, and thank you for being so merciful.

[whip cracking]

- Take your shirt off.

[whip cracking]

[tense music]

- First-year cadets are known as rats.

You are a rat.

But you're a special rat, you understand?

You're my rat.

You're under my protection

and under the protection of all here.

Are you with us, Robert?

- Oh, yes.

Oh, yes, sir.

- I want you always to remember the horrible injustice

you thought was gonna befall you here today,

of one human using his authority over another

without decency or conscience

and of the need to assert a code of honor

that transcends the temptations of power.

I hereby raise you above the level of common rat.

You shall be known in this company

as Sir Rat.

[applauding]

[cheering]

Now put your shirt on, son,

before we find ourselves a healthier specimen.

- You hungry, boy?

- Oh, yes, sir.

- What do you gentlemen say

to a little midnight requisition?

- What?

- [Sam] Never mind, it's a tradition.

[whispering drowned out by music]

[shushing]

[laughing]

All right.

Help me with this doorknob.

- Ah, easy. - Easy!

[shushing]

- [Sam] Go ahead.

Oh, smells good.

- Oh, that does smell good!

[laughing]

There is some bread, boys. - Here we go, Johnny.

- That's pretty good right there.

- I could take it all night. - Could I have some?

- We got ourselves some. - That one's mine.

That one's mine. - I need me some of that.

[thudding]

[footsteps tapping]

- Well now, evening Judge.

[thudding]

- No need to be afraid of Old Judge, boy.

He's just a grumpy old slave.

- I may be the property of this Institute,

but I have the ear of the Superintendent

and the full trust and confidence of the Commandant.

I'm the master of this bakery!

- You also have a cleaver.

- There's nothing worse in a time of conflict

than a thief of food.

- [John] Tell the Judge why we're here, son.

- We're real hungry, Mr. Judge,

and those loaves smell awful good.

I'm new just today,

but Mr. Wise here tells me

that the bread is the best part of this school.

- Go on and get yourself one of these loaves, son.

I suppose I could spare three or four.

- Thank you, Judge.

Oh, that's good.

- Ooh!

[boys moaning]

- That's fresh right there.

- Now, I'm not here for a handout, Judge.

I'm here to negotiate a business arrangement.

Now, you seen the best of us on the shooting range.

- Jewish boy's the best, then you.

- We'll bring in some squirrel, rabbit and some possum,

harvest a fugitive chicken or two.

Your people share in the meat.

In return, we liberate some bread.

[chuckling]

- See, the terms of this arrangement

is a little more serious for some parties than others.

- If this comes crashing down, it will not fall on you.

[tense music]

- [Abraham] Tell me this one is different.

- [Assistant] We think so.

He's not afraid to take action.

It's a welcome change from your other generals.

- [Abraham] Some call Grant a butcher.

- Well, sir, that may be precisely what we need.

- General, congratulations on your victory and promotion.

Gentlemen, thank you.

They say you are the general the nation

has been praying for.

They also say you fight like a savage.

- Oh, I'd agree with both.

War is not opera nor theater, it is for winning.

Winning ends the death, ends the destruction,

begins the healing.

- And to win, brutality is required?

- Each game has its rules, Mr. President.

Are we to play chess or war?

- And if I were to name you General-in-Chief?

- I will attack our enemies at all times and all places.

I will take away his crops, his animals,

the food he has sheltered,

his railroads, his industry, his clothing,

his ammunition, his gunpowder,

his steel, his armament, his salt,

and I will take from him the flower of his youth.

I will destroy everything my enemy loves

and anything that might give him the means

or the hope to prevail.

Do you see me as a monster, Mr. President?

- I see you as a true general.

- [John] The only way back across the Blue Ridge

and into our flank,

through the New Market Gap,

and that's where Grant'll send 'em.

- No sir, General Lee does not believe

an attack will come this spring.

- Well, then, General Lee is dead wrong.

The Federals will come and soon.

Inform my brigade commanders to concentrate the army

and move at best speed towards New Market.

And I am going to need everything they got.

- Sir, you're asking me

to tell commander General Lee is wrong?

- Well, thank God you been listening.

I won't have to repeat myself.

If General Grant is the wolf and we are the lamb,

then New Market Gap is surely our throat,

and trust me, the wolf will come.

- [Drill Sergeant] Shoulder arms!

Order arms!

[guns rattling]

Shoulder arms!

[guns rattling]

Order arms!

[guns rattling]

Shoulder arms!

[guns rattling]

[heavy breathing]

[grunting]

- I'm okay, I'm okay.

- Order arms!

[guns rattling]

Shoulder arms!

[guns rattling]

[grunting]

- I got it, I'm good.

[groans]

- Sam, help me.

Come on, come on.

- Sir, the battalion is formed and ready!

All cadets are present or accounted for, sir!

[dramatic music]

- [Sam] Ladies, can you help us out?

- Can we, uh, thank you.

Whoa!

[bell ringing]

[knocking]

- Uh, we, uh.

- May we help you?

We, uh. - Order arms!

- Is he dead?

[girls laughing]

- What kind of thing is that to say?

- [Drill Sergeant] Shoulder arms!

- [Libby] We got company!

- [Moses] Sam, what happened?

- I don't know.

[knocking] [bell ringing]

Ma'am.

Uh, ma'am?

- Oh my goodness, he isn't dead, is he?

- No, ma'am, notwithstanding what that girl

decided to the contrary.

- Well, young man, that girl is my daughter,

and we're not from these parts,

and she has never seen a cadet before,

so she would not know what is normal

or not normal around here.

And the only thing she decided

is that there is an intellectually impaired cadet

at my doorstep with,

perhaps a drunken colleague, hm?

[groaning]

Well, bring him in.

Let's see what we can do.

- Let's go.

- All right.

[clears throat]

- You're not from around here?

- I should say not.

My aunt lives here.

We live up at New Market,

you know, up north where Jackson fought.

- Hm.

- So is this the best you can do?

At conversation?

- Well...

Um...

Yeah.

- Pleasure chatting with you.

- While I'm taking the main army south towards Richmond,

I'm sending General Sigel west to the Shenandoah Valley,

Lee's breadbasket.

If we take the Valley before the summer harvest,

we'll cut off Lee's food supply and end the war.

Excuse me, gentlemen.

This campaign is gonna be something of a family affair.

Our First Lady, Mary Todd Lincoln,

is a cousin to the Rebel general

we're gonna be facing in the Valley,

John C. Breckinridge.

You're wondering what the hell you're doing here.

- As a matter of fact, sir, I am.

- Well, Franz Sigel is a politician, not a soldier.

All he has to do is take the railroad,

but I'm not gonna take any chances.

I'm gonna attach you and your guns

and a regiment of Ohio boys.

[horse snorting]

- Ho!

Ah, is that your daily briefing from Mary?

- Ever since she turned 10,

the girl just won't let me run the war without her.

- Well, then, what does your daughter

say about New Market Gap?

- Hm!

She says that Grant has a big problem.

Yeah, the only sizable force

he has to throw at us is Franz Sigel, hm.

And she says Grant knows that Sigel's an idiot,

so he will surely send a real soldier along to help him out.

But she thinks Sigel is almost certain

to take offense and resist the help.

Smart girl, huh?

- So then at New Market--

- We will break Grant's back and save Lee's Army.

Jolly.

[clinking]

Unless, of course,

the soldiers I asked for don't arrive in time.

Which case, we'll lose the war.

It's my fault,

it's your fault,

and from the Union gallows next to you,

I will surely remark that I told you so.

[gun firing]

[knocking]

- We already got our delivery, son.

- This is from me.

This is extra.

- One slave to another? [chuckles]

- Not exactly.

I just thought, you know,

some families could use these.

- Of course I do.

This ain't about your people and the Pharaoh

and you feeling something them other boys can't feel, hm?

What's that you got there?

- Oh, oh, nothing.

- You let me be the judge of that.

[dramatic music]

- Well.

My my, look at this.

I thank you for these.

There are some children

who won't be hungry tonight.

And who's this?

- Someone who will go hungry.

- [Man] All right, sir, 18 credits.

- [Cadet] Thank you, sir.

- [Robert] How much are the sausages, sir?

- [Jack] Get behind, rat!

- Hey! - I said get behind!

- No, I was here first, sir.

[grunting]

- What's going on here?

This is my rat, hands off!

- Butt out, John, if you know what's good for you.

- You have no right to push a cadet out of your way.

- He just a rat.

Don't pretend to boss me around, Johnny.

Wasn't it your father, the governor,

who opposed secession?

The old fool.

- [Cadets] Whoa, whoa, whoa!

Hey, hey!

Oh!

Hey, hey!

- [Cadet] Come on, come on!

- Hey, come on!

[grunting]

- [Cadet] Hey, stop it!

[groaning]

- Down there, stand fast!

You're all under arrest!

[grunting]

- This ain't over, Johnny!

- You bet it ain't!

- [Robert] Come on, we gotta go!

- [Officer] Hey, hey!

- [Rider] Ho there.

- General Sigel, my respects.

I have the honor of providing artillery support

for your advance.

- Welcome, dear Captain DuPont.

You have been sent by General Grant to spy on us, huh?

- I wish only to provide

the best possible support for your command, sir.

Are there any maps of the route?

Any intelligence of the enemy's dispositions or intentions?

- General Grant is your patron.

Let him provide whatever you need.

[tense music]

- Libby, Miss Clinedinst, I need to tell you something.

When I first saw you,

your eyes, no, not your eyes, something else.

Your mouth.

All right, then I say, "Good evening."

She's gonna say, "Good evening."

She doesn't know my name. [laughs]

She doesn't know my name.

- [Libby] You need to come inside?

- Uh, well, I better not,

given my recent problems with conversation.

- A wise boy.

Shall I get you something?

- Conversation would be nice.

[door clattering]

[clears throat]

- Are you counting on an uncontrollable attraction

to the uniform?

- Wouldn't help.

You'd soon find out I'm not much of a soldier.

I didn't think that I believed

in anything enough to fight for it

until tonight.

- And what is that, mister--

- Sam.

Mr. Sam.

- What is it you believe in tonight?

- I believe in something more

than just sudden, superficial attraction.

Tonight, I believe in love at first sight.

[horse whinnying]

[Judge groaning] [whip cracking]

- [Man] Get him.

- [Man] That's what you get for giving away food!

- I think you should stick to drawing.

That's a woman's work.

I see how you could pick up on a local with that, nice.

[knocking]

- Well, what do we have here?

- I hope he's got warm bread.

[laughing]

[panting]

- It's Old Judge, sir!

I went to the bakery to make our delivery,

and the soldiers were all in there with him!

- Dear God.

Do you know where they took him?

- To the faculty captain,

the one called Chinook.

- Get Jefferson.

[door creaking]

[metal jingling]

- Was it very bad?

- [Judge] Ain't gonna be nothing

compared to what the hanging's gonna be.

- This don't make no sense.

They need the Judge.

- [Judge] They can't need a slave, son.

- [John] But they can forgive one.

- Oh, yeah.

Captain Chinook's just

dripping with the honey of forgiveness.

- Y'all, it's time to go.

[chains jingling]

- Johnny.

It weren't your fault, sir.

Hungry got fed.

- I promised.

- Don't you know it's the other way around?

Old men make the promises

the young 'uns got to pay on.

That's war, ain't it?

- I'm coming back for you, Judge.

[door clattering]

- I'll stay.

- All right.

Let's go, boys.

[door clattering]

[keys jingling]

He fed people who were starving.

- And hanging is the consequence a slave

pays for stealing food.

- He didn't steal it.

I did, sir.

- No, Captain, it was I.

- I did it, sir.

- I as well.

- And I bring the confession of Moses Ezekiel,

so it's five gallows, then.

Shall I organize a detail to assist the hangman?

- You know very well you won't be hanged.

Are you so willing to end your careers?

- With all due respect, sir,

who would offer a career to five dishonorable men?

What kind of satisfaction could such a life bring?

You too, Colonna?

Jefferson?

- Honor is honor, sir.

It is the most precious quality in our profession.

- All for one, sir.

- That's the honor thing, sir.

[chuckles]

[somber music]

- Get out of my sight!

And don't be late for morning class.

And, Jack, looks like I'm gonna

get some baked bread this morning.

Get 'em out of here.

- [John] So Echols and Wharton are, what,

joining us on foot?

- 60 miles for Echols, 75 for Wharton.

- Gentlemen.

- They can make it.

- If they march through the night, don't eat,

kill most of their horses, maybe.

- Well, there is one more possible solution.

We have 250 trained troops and artillery

less than 50 miles from Staunton.

- Jesus, Charlie, schoolboys again?

- Cadets, just in reserve,

and only if Wharton and Echols are delayed.

- In reserve to fight.

And if we have to put those children in to fight,

then what kind of dire circumstances

will they find themselves in?

- Yes, they are young,

and, yes, you have told me on six occasions

in the last four days

that you will not permit them near the Gap.

- And I won't.

- But we do need them

in reserve.

Just in case, sir.

[dramatic music]

[door creaking]

- The Yankees burned his home.

[sighing]

- The mill's gone.

Everything's gone.

- His sister Margaret?

His baby brother?

[sobbing]

- No one knows.

That there's your Grant, Johnny.

That's how he is.

- You take me

where I can get revenge.

[sobbing]

- Son, I must speak to the superintendent.

We do not expect General Sigel's forces

to proceed south through the valley at best speed,

but if they do--

- I understand, of course.

[paper rustling]

Thank you, Major.

- 200-odd boys really gonna make the difference?

Is the situation really that dire?

- I am quite sure.

I have promised General Breckinridge

that you will be in Staunton by Thursday.

- That's 50 miles in two days.

Yes, sir.

- Battalion, fall in!

Quickly now!

I said fall in!

[thunder roaring]

Attention to orders!

The enemy in heavy force is advancing

up the Shenandoah Valley!

General Lee cannot spare forces

from the Army of Northern Virginia to meet this advance!

All available forces

from southwestern Virginia and elsewhere

are hereby ordered to assemble in Staunton

to defend the valley!

The battalion of cadets

of the Virginia Military Institute

is ordered to march with four companies of infantry

and one section of artillery by the Valley Pike!

All cadets will appear with canteen, blanket, and weapon

at 8:00 tomorrow morning prepared to march!

That is all!

- Yeah!

[cadets cheering]

- Dismissed!

- [Cadet] Yeah, we going!

- Revenge, Johnny, revenge.

- Scared?

- Are we really going to fight?

- [Johnny] They tell us no.

We're gonna be held back in reserve,

but you can't be sure.

- [Robert] Is that supposed to make me feel better?

- What makes you think I want you to feel better?

I want you to stay safe.

Whatever happens, you stay with me.

- I guess we should declare a truce.

- Of course.

- This ain't over, though.

- I'm still gonna whup you good.

[cheering]

[footsteps thudding] [chattering]

[silverware clattering]

- That boy is outside.

- Come to say goodbye, have you?

[door thudding]

- Absolutely.

I'm gonna miss this old house.

[somber music]

- Women's work,

darning socks,

mending uniforms,

packing food and blankets,

and of course,

pulling together medical supplies and bandages

for those who'll follow to help if needed.

- Well, I hope you're not gonna do that.

It's a war, not a party.

- Of course not.

Why would I go?

There's nothing I believe in enough to fight for it,

while you, on the other hand.

- Oh, yes, love at first sight.

[lips smacking]

[giggling]

[drums rattling]

- Let's go!

- Ready!

Quickly!

Fall in!

Fall in!

Battalion, fall in!

Order arms!

Eyes front!

Battalion of cadets,

Virginia Military Institute!

Forward, march!

[upbeat bugle music]

[crowd chattering]

[dramatic music]

- [Franz] Why is the answer no insufficient for you?

- [Henry] General, with all respect--

- There is no respect,

not in your face, your voice, your words!

There is no respect in you.

When I'm comfortable, then I will advance.

- Sir, if we do not reach New Market Gap

before Breckinridge gathers his troops,

it will be too late.

- If I advance before I'm comfortable,

that will be too early.

And early comes before late.

- Why would he do that, Sigel?

Just sit there?

- Oh, I'm sure it's a whole bunch of reasons,

cowardice near the top.

- And with General Wharton on the train.

- Yes, things would appear to be going better, Charlie.

Observe my elation.

- You won't have to use the boys.

- No.

They still on the way?

- Yes, sir.

- Attention, cadets! - Bye!

- [Sergeant] The young ladies of Staunton

have invited you to a welcoming social tonight!

Look sharp, boys!

- If you insist, sir.

Orders are orders.

[women cheering]

[boys cheering]

[dramatic music]

[metal clinking]

- Sorry, boys.

Down to just bread and dried beef.

- Thank you very much.

[cadets chattering]

- You think there's gonna be a lot of ladies at this dance?

- I hope there's more than one.

Otherwise, you boys are out of luck.

- [Jack] I know I'll be looking for one in particular.

- Do you think Captain Chinook

will let us rats go tonight?

- My goodness, I forgot to ask him

in our last intimate chat.

- Sorry, I won't be able to make it.

Got guard duty.

Looks like I'll be dancing with old Chinook instead.

- Oh, I hear old Chinook's known for his waltzing abilities.

- Ah, you could do far worse than Captain Chinook. [laughs]

- Be careful, Johnny.

He might just sweep you right off your feet.

- Well, now, that's making me mighty uncomfortable. [laughs]

- Hey, rat, you want to splash a little?

- Ah! - Yeah, Rat!

- Hey, come on now!

I'm in the middle of shaving, I just did my hair!

[laughing]

[upbeat music]

♪ I gotta move and get some food ♪

♪ I never meant to stay

♪ I gotta move and get some food ♪

[singing drowned out by crowd chattering]

♪ Hey

[singing drowned out by crowd chattering]

♪ Fix them to the light

♪ Grab a lute, some fiddles, sing ♪

♪ That's what I need now

- Hey.

♪ All's we need is a fiddle

[singing drowned out by crowd chattering]

[glass clinking]

♪ All's we need is a fiddle

[singing drowned out by crowd chattering]

♪ Hey

- Is it all right

that I don't have a uniform like you do?

- [laughs] Not to worry, Robert.

One day, you will be magnificent, remember?

And when you're an upperclassman,

you will have a coat just like this one.

But for tonight, you're perfect.

Now let's find you a lady.

Excuse me, miss,

I'd like you to meet a real Southern gentleman.

- Hi, I'm Robert.

- Cara.

- Go on enjoy yourselves.

Go on!

♪ Handsome time and an Irish shanty ♪

♪ Normally, I pay and cry

♪ Next time I'll be gentrified

- Well, welcome, soldier.

Can I persuade you to a dance?

- [sighs] No.

No, thank you.

- [sighs] I knew I should have worn the red dress.

- Miss, you are lovely in that dress,

and whoever dances with you is gonna be the envy of all.

- The hair, then?

I can take it down.

- Please, don't trouble yourself.

This is about a girl I left behind in Lexington.

♪ Barleycorn and me

- Oh.

Married, are you?

- Not yet.

Childhood sweethearts.

Been together as long as,

as long as I can remember.

- Mm.

- I just came here tonight

for the refreshments and music.

Do you know if all the other ladies have arrived already?

- I'm sure I wouldn't know.

- All right, of course.

Evening.

♪ Had my sheriff shoot out the pantry ♪

♪ Word don't get me wrong

♪ So far hard and rather stern

♪ Trying this big city

♪ All there is the river

♪ And down the golden gate

[singing drowned out by crowd chattering]

[crowd cheering]

[mellow, midtempo music]

[clears throat]

- [Libby] Would you just excuse me a moment?

[sighing]

- I hope I'm not interrupting anything.

[laughing]

I told you not to come.

- Yes, you did.

- Tomorrow.

- I know where you're going, to New Market.

I'm going, too.

You haven't seen the last of me.

Still not much at conversation.

- Or anything else.

- I'll be the judge of that.

[dramatic music]

You are absolutely right.

- Oh, Miss.

No way to talk to a soldier on the eve of battle.

Hmm.

- You'll be fine.

- That's the plan.

- For good luck.

[laughs]

[sniffs]

- So you won't forget me.

- No, Sam, this is the plan.

A farm, a shop, a trade.

Your choice.

Four babies, my choice.

[laughs]

- That'd be all?

- [laughs] We'll fight a good deal.

- We will, will we?

- I'm sure of that, even when we're old on a porch together

with nine grandchildren and our teeth falling out.

- [laughs] Well, we'll laugh some, too, I believe.

And there will be conversation.

- I do like conversation.

- You missed a good party.

Cadet Wise, I'm here to relieve you.

If you ask me, something big is coming.

Only one day's march from New Market by Saturday night.

The battle will begin the next day.

- You and Breckinridge figure it all out?

- Well, I have it from Grant himself, actually.

We shared a whiskey, foul cigar.

He said let's end this whole bloodstained mess

Sunday at New Market Gap.

I'm sure of it, actually.

It's an omen.

- [Johnny] How?

- Stonewall Jackson always fought on a Sunday.

I'm worried about you, John.

If you don't believe in

what you're fighting for,

you won't make it out of this valley.

- A man must believe his cause is just

in order to gladly die for it.

- Defending our homeland against strangers?

You know I come from a family of bankers.

We don't own slaves,

but the South's way of life's

depended on slaves for over 200 years.

You rip it to pieces all at once,

and you destroy the rest of us.

- We should not be fighting to keep people in chains.

- Will you or will you not defend Virginia?

- I will defend my family.

My friends are my family.

This school is my family, I will fight for that.

But if God grants us victory, we must change.

[somber music]

- Keep your thoughts to yourself, John.

The others, they may doubt your resolve.

- They would be fools if they did.

- Sir, Union Cavalry in force

approaching from the east,

just on the other side of that hill.

- So it is to be tomorrow.

Finally.

We'll have Wharton?

- Almost certainly.

- God damn it, Major!

Can you not speak plain English?

Is that half certain?

Is that more than certain?

- At least half.

We will win tomorrow, sir, because we have to.

- I didn't hear that, Charlie.

- I said--

- I do not want to hear

the language of losers from you, Charlie.

Victory will not come because we think it must.

- Well then, what is the language of the winners, sir?

- I will lose, and I will die,

and I will fail everything and everyone that I love

unless I find the way to win.

- [Assistant] The Confederates cannot sustain the losses.

- Is that what Grant says?

- [Assistant] The general doesn't speak in predictions.

- Nor in boasts.

- [Assistant] Mm.

- What news does he give of the Valley campaign?

- We're better fed, better supplied,

more experienced.

The report is that Breckinridge

has actually conscripted schoolboys,

cadets from the Virginia Military Institute,

he's so desperately shorthanded.

- So we've stooped to massacring schoolboys?

- Only if he chooses to use them, sir.

[woman screaming]

- Help me, please, somebody!

- Please, sir, can you spare a moment?

Can you help us, sir?

My sister, sir.

Help, her leg is stuck, please!

- Somebody help me! - Please, somebody help us.

- Help me!

Please!

- Please, sir, mister. - Help me!

- Anyone asks, I'll be right back.

Keep marching!

[woman crying]

- Please, sir, help us. - Somebody help me!

- [Johnny] We're gonna get you out of here!

- Help me, please!

- [Johnny] Go to the other side.

- Please, help me!

- Moses, let's go.

- [Moses] I got it.

[shouting]

- Come on!

- [Johnny] Ready, come on!

[groaning]

- [Trapped Woman] Help me!

- [Johnny] Come on, Moses!

[groaning]

- I think it's stuck on something.

[grunting]

- It's gonna be okay.

- Are you okay, Miss? - Are you okay?

- What are you doing here?

Don't break rank!

But you are, sir!

- Let him help.

- What are you doing, Jack?

- Somebody needs help, don't they?

Don't you worry.

We're gonna get you out.

- Jack, take this side.

- Yeah, pull her out!

- [Johnny] Ready, lift!

[groaning]

[thudding]

- It's okay.

You okay?

- Thank you.

- Of course.

- [Jack] You all right, darling?

- Okay.

- Don't you worry, we gonna send help.

- All right!

- You gonna be okay now. I promise.

All right, boys!

We got a battle to fight, remember?

Let's kill some Blues.

- [Moses] Let's go.

- Thank God!

Thought you had a sudden attack of humanity.

[whimpering]

[footsteps thudding]

- [John] Stand easy, men.

- Do you have time for this?

- If I might be asking them

to lay down their lives in the morning,

then I can surely make time.

- Oh, right. - Cut your toe off.

- Bet you you cut your toe off.

- [Moses] I'll grow it back.

[clears throat]

- Gentlemen.

John C. Breckinridge.

- John Wise, sir.

- Governor Wise's son?

- Yes, sir.

- I did not know you were out here.

I have the privilege of knowing your daddy.

He is an extraordinary man

and a very able general.

I'll send him a wire.

You have a message for him?

- That I love him.

- 'Course you do.

All right, stand easy, sit down.

Sit down.

Well, purpose of this little visit

is because it's my fault you're here.

In many ways, it's my fault that everyone

is here in this valley,

'cause when I was Vice President,

I tried to solve this problem, and I,

I could not.

And now good men of the North

and the South will die here,

and I will have some difficult decisions tomorrow,

some of which may involve you.

So I'd like to know what you think of the war,

what your plans are for afterwards.

Young man?

- We find ourselves invaded by a conquering army

whom I must consider foreign invaders.

Defending our homeland is an imperative,

and I can't understand anyone who thinks otherwise.

- [John] Who might you be, sir?

- I'm Thomas Garland Jefferson, sir.

- [John] Are you, indeed?

- Yes, sir.

- Well, my family's owned a plantation

for close to 150 years,

so I'm defending my heritage and my future,

but that ain't the whole of it.

I believe folks of a certain class

have a heavy responsibility.

We must use our position

to see that the common folk among us are cared for.

- Well, we common folks surely do appreciate that.

- I meant no offense, sir.

- None taken.

- Your good heart does you credit, soldier.

Who's next?

- Young man?

I think war is stupid and cruel

and nowhere near as necessary

as those leading the fighting like to tell themselves.

- I see.

- And do you think I could negotiate our way out

of this thing tomorrow?

- No, sir, not anymore.

We will stand with you and fight.

- And what of your future?

- All I know I really want

is to find the right woman,

settle down, provide somehow for her and our children.

- That sounds like a good plan.

- I will fight Grant's bullies, sir.

- I thank you.

- I tell everybody I'm going to be a farmer,

but if Mr. Wise would let me,

I'd like to help him be governor.

- Is that so?

[laughs]

You seem very quiet, young man.

- My family and my home were burned.

I'll kill as many Blues tomorrow as God permits, sir.

- Young man, I am truly sorry for your loss.

- This cadet here, his name is Moses, sir.

He's a genius artist.

You should see his portraits.

- I would like to try my hand at sculpture.

- It's a hard way to make a living.

- Yes, sir.

- Look, I know that you must be afraid,

and I know because I'm afraid.

We all are, but we must all take strength

from your teacher, Stonewall Jackson.

Do not take counsel of your fears,

to which I would add,

do not let anger ruin your lives.

This war will end,

I swear to you,

and you boys,

you are the future of this country.

And having met you,

the future is bright.

So you all sleep well,

and God bless you tomorrow.

God bless all of us.

- Duck, gather the boys.

- Yes, sir.

Company, at attention!

Fall in on me!

Don't make me say it again, I'm tired!

Bow your heads, gentlemen.

- Heavenly Father, this morning,

we march into the valley of death as brothers in arms.

Help us to be strong.

Help us to do our duty for our mothers,

for our fathers,

for our sisters and for our brothers,

wherever they may be.

Amen.

- Amen. - Amen.

[dramatic music]

- Form 'em up, and move 'em out.

- Company, fall in on me!

[chattering]

- [Man] All right, shake a leg.

Shake a leg, come on.

- [Drill Sergeant] Left, left!

Left, right, left!

- Lookie here!

You boys are babes in arms, we got!

- [Man] Lookie here!

You little boys want a sugar rag to suck on? [laughs]

- [Man] Hey, does your mommy know you snuck out

so early in the morning?

[men jeering]

- Poor little boys, little old boys!

- [Man] Poor boys.

[rain splattering]

[horse hooves clopping]

[soft chattering]

[metal clinking]

[men chattering]

- [Man] Johnny Reb.

- Confederate infantry already?

- Sir, General Breckinridge just arrived

with the units of the Virginia Cavalry

forming just south of the village of New Market.

- Bring the 34th Massachusetts forward,

back from their defensive positions.

Get the cavalry to go east toward that mountain!

- Where is Echols?

- He's getting into position.

- [John] Calvary probe?

- [Charles] Already commenced.

- Reserve units?

All in position, including the cadets.

- I want those boys at the very rear.

You understand me, and I want 'em protected.

- Of course they are.

[dramatic music]

[wagon rattling]

[metal clinking]

- Everybody ready?

Fire!

[cannon roaring]

Wake up the Yankees.

Time for breakfast.

Fire!

[cannons roaring]

[men chattering]

- [Soldier] Forward!

[drumming]

- [Man] Slow down your colors, Virginia!

- [Man] Slow down!

Six paces behind the colors!

Battalion

halt!

- [Soldiers] Halt!

- Drop off excess gear,

and prepare to march!

- [Drill Sergeant] Drop gear!

- [Chinook] And prepare to move out!

[metal clanking]

- [Cadet] Put it on the ground.

- Captain, Captain, shall we advance?

No. He wants us to commit.

We will not take the bait!

Send this to Sigel!

Facing large combined rebel force!

Immediate reinforcements required!

[guns firing]

Commence fire!

[cannons roaring]

- Wharton's brigade is in position on the west side, sir,

commanding from the hills to the Pike.

- I can see that,

but I do not see Echols.

- He has arrived, sir.

He's filling in on the east side of the Pike as we speak.

- Commence fire!

[man screaming]

[women shouting]

[cannon roaring] [women screaming]

- Libby, help me, please!

[sighs]

No matter how many bandages,

there will never be enough.

[fabric tearing] [grunting]

- Colonel Wharton, you move your brigade

from your current position down the hill at best speed

into that depression below the Union artillery.

You'll be protected there, you see it?

- [Gabriel] Yeah.

- And take the reserve with you.

The cadets will be in last position.

Under no circumstances can they engage.

[guns firing]

- Send orders to the reserves

to conform their movements with mine.

- Men, move out!

- Drop in!

Drop in!

- Gentlemen, as soon as we go over the crest of this hill,

I want you to drive your men straight down into the valley.

You run like hell!

Go, go, go!

[men shouting]

- Company!

- Forward!

- Forward, march!

[dramatic music]

[men shouting] [guns firing]

- [Man] Move around here!

[men shouting]

[guns firing]

- Hit the front side of that hill!

[cannons roaring]

- They can't reach us here!

Where the hell are the reserves?

[dramatic drumming]

My order was for them to conform to my moves!

- One piece of luck.

[guns firing]

Load shells, 2,000 yards!

Give 'em everything you've got!

Fire, fire!

[metal clanking] [cannon roaring]

- Run!

This is not a parade!

- My God, they're holding formations.

[shouting]

- [Man] Get back up!

- March!

Get back, get back!

Close up!

Close up, battalion!

- Close up, battalion! - Go right!

- Close up!

- Close back, go three!

[cannons roaring]

- Forward, march!

- Forward, march!

- Mark time, battalion!

- I'll be damned.

- If I didn't see it with my own eyes.

[cannons roaring]

- [Henry] We're losing them behind the house!

- Aren't they trapped there now, sir?

- Only till they decide to charge.

- [Man] But we're vulnerable here, Captain!

- We defend this hill for as long as we can!

- [Chinook] And halt!

- Did y'all see that?

Even the rats held up under fire.

- We showed those old boys, didn't we?

Sugar rag, is it?

- I can't believe it.

You two actually smiling at each other.

- Get ready!

He'll be coming along Bushong's farm!

We'll give him an Ohio hello!

[cannon roaring]

- Follow me,

but keep at least 300 yards back, well to the rear!

Do you understand, Captain?

- Yes, sir!

- [Gabriel] Virginians, forward!

- Come on, boys, hustle up! - Let's go!

- [Man] Come on, come on, boys!

- Hustle up.

Battalion, prepare to advance!

Come on now.

[men shouting]

[cannons roaring]

- First and second rank, ready!

Steady, steady!

Wait for my command!

Fire, fire, fire!

[guns firing] [men shouting]

- God bless those Pennsylvania boys.

Holding fast!

- Reload, reload!

Now, now, now, now!

Aim!

Fire!

- Fire, fire!

[screaming]

- They've torn a hole in the center of our line!

- If we can see it, so can the Blues.

- Sir, you must put in the reserves to restore the line.

When the Union forces regroup and counterattack,

that line will divide in two.

They'll pull right through the hole in the center.

Sir, you must put in the cadets.

- Send the boys in.

May God forgive me.

- Sir.

[dramatic music]

- Battalion, forward to the line!

- [Cadet] Forward to the line!

- [Johnny] Come on!

- [Chinook] Let's go, get to the fence!

To arms!

Let's go, get to the fence!

Get to the fence!

[grunting]

- Go, Go!

- Fire at will, fire at will!

- The cadets are filling the gap.

- Fire!

[guns firing]

Fire!

- Come on! - Keep shooting, boys!

- Johnny!

- I'm right here, Moses!

- Fire, fire!

[guns firing]

- We can't stay here!

Must be somewheres a little more useful.

- Gentlemen, what do you we say we charge those guns?

- I don't know, gentlemen.

I bet that sounds a bit dangerous.

- John Wise, that was what I was suggesting.

I was just being selfish.

- No sense in dying if we can't

figure out who takes the credit, right?

[laughing]

[men shouting]

- Sir, battalion is ready to attack!

- We don't have further orders!

- Sir, I don't suspect we'll get further orders!

The cadets are ready to charge, sir!

I suggest we attack and take those guns

before we get blown apart!

[cannon roaring]

- Fix bayonets! - Fix bayonets!

- [Cadet] Fix bayonets!

[shouting]

[guns firing]

[grunting]

[dramatic music]

- Fire!

[cannons roaring]

- Go get 'em, boys.

[groaning]

[shouting]

[screaming]

- What are you waiting for, march, go!

[men shouting]

Charge!

[shouting]

[men grunting]

[metal clanking]

[cannon roaring]

[screaming]

[grunting]

[screaming]

[grunting]

[screaming]

- But they're just a bunch of damn schoolboys.

Kill 'em!

- No!

[gun firing]

- [Soldier] Kill 'em all!

[thudding]

- Jack!

Jack!

[grunting]

- We showed them, didn't we, Johnny?

- Jack, stay with me!

[coughing]

You can't die.

I still gotta whup you good.

- I can't carry you forever, Johnny.

It's up to you now.

[groaning]

- Come on, Jack!

Jack, come on!

No!

[guns firing] [cannons roaring]

[Johnny shouting]

[grunting]

[groaning]

[explosion roaring]

- [Soldier] Retreat now, go!

[gun firing]

Whoa!

- Let's go, gentlemen!

Someone's gotta cover this godforsaken retreat!

Let's go, yah!

[gun firing]

[dramatic music]

- My God, sir, the cadets have taken Bushong Hill.

- Must be an illusion, Charlie.

Their general told them not to fight.

[coughing]

[man groaning]

[somber music]

- Yeah.

Where's Jack?

- He's dead, torn to pieces during the final charge.

- And Johnny?

- A shell exploded.

[coughing]

[wood creaking]

- Johnny?

Johnny?

Johnny.

Come on!

Here you are, here you are.

Hey, hey, hey, you come over here!

You got a stretcher, come on.

[groans] Come on.

It'll be all right!

Hey, hey.

[groans] Oh, God.

[wagons creaking]

[grunting]

- Johnny, can you hear me?

Here you go, here you go.

Can you hear me?

Hear me there?

[sighs] There you go.

There you go!

Johnny.

Johnny.

Can you hear me?

Johnny!

Hey, we won the battle,

all of us.

People gonna call us heroes.

They're the heroes.

Jack.

All of 'em.

[tense music]

[crowd chattering]

- Bring them inside!

[man groaning]

[grunting]

Look at that wound.

Take that young man to the back bedroom.

- Could I speak with Libby just for a minute?

- Oh son, Libby's not here.

She's up at the field with the older girls.

[man coughing]

- He's at the house.

That boy, he's wounded, but he's asking for you.

- [Libby] Thank you so much.

- Will he survive?

Bullet went through his chest and lodged in his back.

[metal clinking]

Is this your son?

- These are all my sons.

- Ma'am, Ma'am?

Do you got a New Testament?

- This is a Christian Bible.

I understand you're Jewish?

- I'm a Jew.

It's for my friend.

He requested it.

I do not believe my faith will object.

Thank you.

[man coughing] [crowd chattering]

- Oh! [groans]

- [Woman] Are you all right?

[dramatic music]

- From the 14th chapter of Saint John.

"Let not your heart be troubled.

"You believe in God,

"believe also in me.

"In my Father's house are many mansions.

"If it were not so,

"I would have told you."

"I go to prepare a place for you."

- Would you light me a candle?

- I don't want to listen in the dark.

[paper rustling]

- My, my, my.

Find me a man who knows how to set a fire.

Next time we go into that godforsaken valley,

we'll burn it to cinders.

- Thank you.

- Let's leave him, gentlemen.

[door clattering]

- We were gonna spend the rest of our lives together.

[sobs]

- Oh.

- Stand easy.

Mr. Wise, Mr. Colonna.

I am told that you cadets decided

to lead the charge of your own volition.

Is that so?

Are they not teaching you the value

of the chain of command at the Institute?

- I am sorry, sir.

- Are you, hm.

Then what in good God's name were you thinking?

- My father says the best thing

about doing what's right is it requires no thought,

no thought at all.

- Well, I guess I have to thank you

for not thinking.

Well done, Virginians.

Well done, men.

- Thank you, sir.

[wagon creaking]

[somber music]

♪ Ah, ah ah ah

♪ Ah, ah ah ah ah

♪ Ah ah, ah

♪ Ah, ah, ah

[dramatic music]

[gun clicking]

- Private Stanard died on the field of honor, sir!

- Private Jefferson died on the field of honor, sir!

- Corporal Atwill died on the field of honor, sir!

- Sergeant Cabell!

Private Crockett!

Private Hartsfield!

Private Haynes!

Private Jefferson!

Private Jones!

Private McDowell!

Private Stanard!

Private Wheelwright

died on the field of honor, sir!

[dramatic, somber music]