Original subtitles

(mellow music)

- [Adult Jed] My name is Jedidiah Cooper,

I was born a slave.

Don't know exactly when.

But I was half way between a boy and a man

when I first heard the guns of Mr. Lincoln's war

in 1861.

For days we couldn't see any union soldiers.

But we slaves knew they had come

to set us free.

My best friend was a dog named Jack.

There used to be no coon or deer

could outrun Jack, until Master

got some hounds.

Old Jack was tied to that fence winter and summer.

Never to chase a rabbit again.

(rooster crows)

Master let me get five of his eggs every morning.

Didn't let no other slave do that.

But I didn't dare tell him that the eggs

were for my Pa.

- One of Master Lincoln's soldiers

came by last night looking for some food.

- Well he told me, meet him down by

the creek side, he supposed to

let us join the army.

- We gonna look after his horses.

- Look, you wanna come, Jed?

- Come on, Jed.

- Got to take care of Pa.

- Go on back to your pappy then.

- [Adult Jed] Master Cooper said we'd

be eating grass like mules if we went

into the Yankee army.

But I didn't believe that.

We knew that any slave that attempted

to join the union army would pay with

their lives if they were caught.

- What's all the fuss about?

Have a piece of bread.

- Mommy, where's Pa?

- [Adult Jed] Master often whipped my Pa

for no reason I could see.

My Pa was gettin' so sick, he couldn't

go out and work no more.

- Pa, I want to take you with the Yankees

so you'll never get whipped again.

- No, son.

I's worn out.

- I'll carry you if I have to.

Mama, you and Shadow can come, too.

- I can't be running off with no Yankee's, child.

I got Shadow to look after.

And besides, Yankee's cut off little

colored boys ears.

- [Kirk] Jed, get out here and fall in.

- [Sarah] Better go see what he wants.

- I already know what he wants.

(Jack whines)

- [Adult Jed] I belonged to Master's son, Kirk.

I did all Kirk's chores, carried his books to school,

fanned the flies when he ate, and drilled

with him every morning.

Kirk wanted to join the Southern army

and prove himself to a father that didn't

think very much of his own son.

- You did better last week.

- [Adult Jed] Being that he was a hero

from the Mexican war, Master expected

the General's commission any day

from Robert E. Lee.

I knew if Kirk joined the army,

I would be right at his side.

- Where are you going, Pa?

- Willie here says that two of our slaves

ran off to join the Yankees this morning.

I'm going to go catch them.

And you tell your father that he needs

to work today, if he wants me to feed him.

- Yes, Sir.

- I found him in the barn just now, drying tobacco.

- [Kirk] I'm going to make my daddy proud.

Kill ourselves a Yankee.

- [Adult Jed] Master Cooper warned his son

to stay away from the guns from the Mexican war

he kept in his study.

But Kirk was eager to prove himself and got

a gun for each of us.

To find a union soldier to kill.

- Maybe we should bring Jack along.

- He might protect us.

Jack ain't a dog for war.

- Please, Master Kirk.

- My Pa wants to whip me for untying Jack,

I'm going to say it was you.

(Jack barks)

(mellow music)

(Jack barks)

(gunfire)

- Oh boy, look at them Yankees run.

- Down boys, behind you.

- Six shooter.

They don't give the Southern army no pistols.

- Kirk, it ain't right taking the hat

off a dead man.

- But I ain't got no more Yanks to shoot at.

So I'll pretend this here is a real Yank.

Come on.

Why are you so scared, huh?

- The last time I went bear hunting,

your daddy said next time he catch me with

a gun again, he gonna use it on me.

- He wouldn't hurt you, Jed.

You know that.

Come on, show your stuff.

Now say, did, Yankee, die.

(gunfire)

(Jack barks)

- [Soldier] Water. (coughing)

Water.

- I'm not giving him no water.

- Water please.

- What are you doing?

That's the enemy.

- Come on, my pappy can doctor you.

- Leave me here, son.

- No, we can't do that, you's helping us.

Come on, Kirk, he's dying.

- [Adult Jed] My Pa had a reputation

for doctoring us slaves.

He was the only hope for that wounded Yankee.

But we knew the price my Pa would pay

if Master discovered a union soldier

in his tobacco barn.

- Lord have mercy, Jed.

Get off now, this ain't no place for you, Kirk.

- You have a name, son?

- Name's Jed, Sir.

- I never could snuggle up next to my pappy

like that.

Today I set Jed free.

I give him my gun.

- He's my slave boy.

- Go on, do what I say.

- What's your name?

- Name's Nathaniel.

He's a good son, isn't he?

- Your pappy say the same.

- Not if you hear him talk.

- Don't say that.

- I have this letter that I wrote to him.

But he never writes back.

(tranquil piano music)

- Reverend A.S. Stewart.

153 Pennsylvania Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

- Can you get that letter to him?

Promise me.

- I'll try.

♪ Heaven, Heaven ♪

♪ I'm goin' to shout all over God's Heaven ♪

♪ You got-a wings, I got-a wings ♪

♪ All o' God's children got-a wings ♪

- [Adult Jed] We slaves knew

we weren't allowed to be around no Yankees.

Say nothing of a Yankee soldier.

But nothing would've stopped us

from praying and watching over Nathaniel that night.

The Lord knew best though.

And took that soldier home with him

the next morning.

(horse whinnies)

- [Eli] It was a happy day for the South.

Happy day for the South.

We did a hard days work.

- [Adult Jed] Master Cooper once told us slaves

that none of us would ever see another day

if we tried to run from him.

When I saw Amos and Tempe shot dead and slung

over the back of a horse, I knew Master

might do the same thing to my Pa.

Kirk tried to lie an said we'd been down

by the swimming hole.

But Master saw the blood on Kirk's shirt.

And made him tell how he got that blood

from the Yankee soldier.

- What's that I see on your shirt, son?

Somebody get hurt?

(intense music)

- Eli, what are you going to do

about those slaves harboring the enemy?

You got to do something or all the slaves

will be running off like they did

at the Johnson plantation.

- Give me my whip.

Get the others out of here.

- Son, let daddy handle this.

- No, Pa.

- No, you won't.

- I will.

- Go where it says on that soldier's letter.

Moses will show you where the start.

- I want to stay here with you, Pa.

- Promise me you'll run away, you hear?

- I promise.

Come on, Jack.

- [Kirk] You know it's not Will, father.

- [Eli] Don't tell me.

Can't even do a half days work no more.

(woeful music)

Are you a soldier or a coward, boy?

(Whip cracks)

(coughing)

Go take care of that dog.

- I'm sorry, Noah, but I'd put a white man down

for what you did today.

(crying)

- Don't leave him like that.

- Kid, you gotta get out of here now.

- [Eli] Jed, I'm not going to lay a hand on you.

- There's a creek that runs alongside Cooper woods.

You follow that until it runs into the river.

You go all the way to the end until you see

a white house.

Follow the sun, there's going to be a statue.

When you get to it, you go up and you knock

on that door three times and then two times more.

There's a lady there and she's a nice lady.

And she's going to help you catch a train

and she's going to take you to the north.

- No, don't let my baby go, no.

(crying)

- What should I do, mama?

- You got no place to go, Jed.

- I still got the letter from the soldier, mama.

- I'm so sorry, Jed.

- [Eli] Jed, I want to talk with you.

- Now you take this and here's some food for you.

I took it off of that dead soldier.

- Moses, bury my Pa and the soldier like

you did old Joe.

I love you so much, mama.

- I loves you too, son.

(crying)

Don't forget the Lord, son.

- I won't hurt you, Jed.

You're afraid but have I ever whipped you?

I've always taken up for you, Jed.

When I let you learn how to read now,

my neighbors threatened me.

But it didn't phase me none.

(intense music)

Go by the fence in case Jed comes

back for that dog.

(intense music)

(dog barking)

- [Adult Jed] I put my life on the line

that day for Dog Jack.

I pitied Jack, seeing him tied up to

that fence, his life no better than us slaves.

I wasn't about to go north without taking

Dog Jack with me.

- Master Kirk.

- Get back to work.

- Don't try to stop me.

You don't have a gun.

I can beat you if we fight.

(melancholy piano music)

(hunting dogs barking)

- [Eli] All right, spread out.

You won't be punished if you come right back, Jed.

I won't touch a hair on your head, son.

(horse whinnies)

I'm going in there alone.

(Jack whimpers)

Call it, boys.

(spiritual harmonizing music)

- [Adult Jed] The food Moses gave us

disappeared fast.

Jack found us some eggs and we ate berries

and raw corn along the way.

Sometimes we'd travel at night

if we heard there were slave catchers nearby.

I began to wonder if I was doing

the right thing by leaving my Ma and sister behind.

(Jack barks)

(knocking)

- Oh, my word.

You poor child.

(Jack whines)

Where you two headed?

Come on, don't be shy.

I know I'm a big lady

but I'm not going to bite you.

They got a train heading up to Pittsburgh

everyday at noon, but they'll never

let a black child get on it.

- Your ticket please.

Dogs are supposed to ride in the baggage car.

- Please sir, he won't make no trouble.

- Well, I just hope those bounty hunters

don't ask any questions when we get to Pittsburgh.

- [Adult Jed] I wish I could say our troubles were over

when Jack and I reached Pittsburgh.

But the fugitive slave law required

northern states to return runaway slaves

back to their masters.

Slave catchers were hated by the local people.

- That don't look too good, Jack.

- [Adult Jed] Those men hung around the trains

looking to get a fat reward for turning in

a runaway.

(intense music)

(Jack whines)

- Come on, boy.

Get you cleaned up here, boy.

Come on, boy.

(crowd chatter)

- [Adult Jed] Even though the bounty hunters

could lawfully return me to Master Cooper,

the people of Pittsburgh felt sorry for me

and made a way for me to cut loose.

(jack barks)

But as Jack and I were worth several hundred

dollars to those slave catchers, I knew

they wouldn't give up so soon.

- Father stop, he's trying to ask us something.

- Please, I'm looking for Reverend Stewart.

- He's in church now, next block, right up

Pennsylvania Avenue.

- Thank you.

- We're going in that direction if you'd--

I wouldn't go there if I was you.

He's different since his wife died.

- I have nothing against the colored race.

Many have gotten respectable jobs

here in Pittsburgh.

Is it worth shedding our blood

to set them free?

Mrs. Gardner, I ask you, if Christ were here

today, would he wage war to free the slaves?

- No.

- Excuse me, what can I do for you men?

- We have it here on good authority

that this here boy is a runaway.

- So, if he's a slave, federal law

says we take him in.

- I'm sorry, but Adam here is my altar boy

and his dog guards the church at night.

Adam, spot, take the collection plates

back to the narthex.

- I never heard of altar boys in a Presbyterian

Church, Pastor.

- Or a dog that serves communion.

- Gentleman, you may have picked

the lowest form of work next to prostitution,

but do it elsewhere would you?

(mellow piano music)

- You may hear from these men again.

They'll kill if they need to.

Best get out of town for awhile.

- What am I supposed to do with the boy?

- He'll come with us.

We're signed on with the Pittsburgh 102nd.

We're leaving for Washington tomorrow.

It might be the safest place for both of you.

- I don't believe in the war, Matt.

- I don't think you have a lot of choice, Reverend.

- Thank you, Reverend Stewart.

Maybe you saved my life.

- I just won't tolerate anyone

coming in my church and telling me what to do.

- I'm tired.

- Maybe they can spend the night here.

- - The Protestant Orphanage is an asylum.

They'll take him in for the night.

It's right down the street.

(children chatter)

- Quiet.

Quiet or I'll give you a taste of my hickory stick.

- Excuse me.

I need a place to stay for the night.

I'm joining the army tomorrow.

- Boy, my orphanage ain't no stop

on any underground railroad.

- Get in here.

The dog stays outside.

What's your name?

- Jed, Sir.

- You and Jack want to join the army?

- Yes, sir, I want to go back to Virginia

and set my mom and my sister free.

- He was a fine Christian boy until he

fell in with the wrong crowd.

- Reverend Stewart, I met your son a few days ago.

And I've got something to give you.

(sighs)

- Listen, I had to say what I did

to those two bounty hunters.

But there'll be no more lying in this house

or talking about my son, do you hear?

Whatever happened to my boy, I'll wait

to hear about it from the United States army.

- Yes, Sir.

- My wife used to take such good care of that garden.

- Where's your wife?

- Dead, caught the fever from one of the runaways

she helped.

- Sorry, Sir.

- There's an extra blanket on the bed.

Be careful in here.

It's my son's room.

- Thank you, Sir.

(melancholy music)

(clattering)

- Have you seen a colored boy?

- I haven't seen him anywhere.

I bet that dog knows where he is.

- Now the Governor's asked Pennsylvanian's

to do more than its share.

As we did in April.

- Get your women's ticket, $2.00.

Leave me your address and make sure

you pay me (mumbles).

- Have you seen a colored boy?

- Maybe he went inside to sign up

for the war.

(mellow music)

- 2000 of our men just started in Manassas.

And you're worried about my leg.

- We disqualified you because

of that leg in April, Casey.

- Hey Reverend.

Me and the boys are signing up.

Want to join us?

- No.

Excuse me, you haven't seen a colored boy have you?

- Hold your horses, Reverend.

- He tore up my sons room and ran off.

- Will he be able to receive my letters

on the battlefield?

- [Officer] No guarantees, ma'am.

- Justin, you've gotta stay.

Don't go, I need you.

- [Justin] I want to help free the slaves, Mama.

(Jack whines)

(crowd chatter)

(Jack barking)

- [Jed] Reverend Stewart.

- Jed, is that you?

- Yes, Sir.

Thanks for helping me.

- I came to arrest you for trashing my sons room.

Is that how you pay me back?

- Those slave catchers did it.

Said they gonna kill you for getting

in their way.

- What's going on here?

- We have a rightful claim to the boy.

- Right now I have here with me a highly decorated

veteran of the Mexican war.

- He distinguished himself by slaying

13 Mexican soldiers with this here fish knife.

- And this dog here enjoys eating up anything

that's left over.

- We'll see you in church, Pastor.

- [Recruit] Yeah, we'll see if you make it there.

- Run along now.

- Listen, I need to get on that train.

I don't expect to be returning.

So I'm leaving you in possession of everything I own.

- [Recruiter] I, Jimmy Malloy.

- I, Jimmy Malloy.

- Age 14 years.

- Age 14 years.

- [Recruiter] And by occupation, a student

at Callie School

- And by occupation, a student at Callie School.

- Do hereby voluntarily enlist.

- [Jimmy] Do hereby voluntarily enlist.

- [Recruiter] In the United States army.

- In the United States army.

- [Recruiter] For a period of three years.

- For a period of three years.

- [Recruiter] Unless I should die before then.

- [Jimmy] Unless I should die before then.

- In three years you'll be big enough to fight, Jimmy.

(laughing)

- My father says I can fight when I'm 14.

- A change of heart about the war, Reverend?

We can't pay you unless you carry a gun.

- I don't want your money.

I'll be assisting Sergeant Sawyer.

- War ain't no place for chickens,

that ain't got their pin feathers.

- I suppose I could ask you why

you're not fighting in a war.

But I won't bother.

(train horn blows)

- [Conductor] All aboard!

(crowd chatter)

(train horn blows)

(steam hisses)

♪ Shouting the battle cry of freedom ♪

♪ From the hillside to the vale ♪

♪ We will rally once again ♪

♪ Shouting the battle cry of freedom ♪

♪ The Union forever ♪

♪ Hurrah, boys, hurrah ♪

♪ Down with the traitor ♪

♪ up with the star ♪

♪ While we rally round the flag ♪

♪ Boys, rally once again ♪

♪ Shouting the battle cry of freedom ♪

♪ The Union forever ♪

♪ Hurrah, boys, hurrah ♪

♪ Down with the traitor ♪

♪ Up with the star ♪

♪ While we rally round the flag ♪

♪ Boys, rally once again ♪

♪ Shouting the battle cry of freedom ♪

(train horn blows)

- So anyways, this band of Mexicans

all appears at once and rushes at me.

Now I don't have time to load and shoot

so I take my bayonet and I just start stabbing,

stabbing, anything that comes at me.

And I got them all.

(laughing)

You're looking at me funny now,

half you boys are going to run like sissy's

the first time you see a rebel gun.

- I ain't gonna run, Casey.

- We'll see about that, young boy.

You like my stories, young man?

I bet you can hardly wait to settle the score

with your old master.

- I don't know about someone covering my back

who's been taking orders from Rebs all his life.

- It sounds like your life story, Tennessee.

(melancholy piano music)

- [Adult Jed] Some of the boys signed on

to get the enlistment bonus.

Some wanted to quit school and carry a gun.

Casey just wanted to kill rebels.

And the Rev, I couldn't figure out why

he came at all.

Me, I wanted to set my Ma and sister free.

But there would come a time when you

find out war is mainly about one thing,

and that's dying.

(melancholy piano music)

That fall we were sent to Tennallytown

just outside Washington, to learn how to fight.

General Mcclellan was sure if we stayed out the winter,

the Rebs would get tired of waiting.

They'd give up the rebellion.

- Here's your rifle, here's your half dog tent.

- One canteen, one gun blanket.

- I hear Reverend Stewart has 300 greenbacks

in his tent.

If you took 100 I bet he wouldn't notice.

- I'm Captain Malloy.

No crucible ever tested metal as this war

will test your character.

- When do we see fighting, sir?

- When General Mcclellan determines that we're ready.

- Jesse, didn't they issue you an umbrella?

- An umbrella?

No.

- It's fraud.

Go demand your umbrella.

Go on.

- Where's your weapons store?

- I'll be working with the medical core, Sir.

I purchase food for myself and the boy.

- Um, Sir, excuse me, Sir.

Did you forget to issue me an umbrella, Sir?

(men laughing)

- Quartermaster. - Sir.

- Hod did this boy get issued a rifle?

- I thought everybody's supposed to fight, Sir.

- Have you read this?

- No, Sir.

No negro should carry any kind of weapon,

offensive or defensive.

- Turn in his gear.

- I'll take this.

Excuse me, Reverend Stewart.

Could you tell me what time it is?

- I just had it--

- I hear ticking in here, father.

(Jack whines)

- I didn't take the watch.

- Come with me, boy.

- What are you going to do?

- Putting him on the next train back

to Pittsburgh.

- The bounty hunters will get him.

It's my watch.

I'll take care of it.

- Well I'm glad to hear that.

You can be responsible for him.

- Men, better watch our gear from now on.

(men groaning in pain)

- Water, please.

Water, please.

- [Reverend] Jed.

In here it doesn't matter what color

a man's uniform is.

Do you understand?

- [Drill Sergeant] Shoulder-arms!

Shoulder-arms!

Right shoulder=shift-arms.

Bring that rifle around, soldier.

Support-arms!

- Even my dog gets to be a soldier before I do.

- I couldn't do what you're doing

right now if my life depended on it.

Think you could be a soldier?

- Maybe I get used to it.

- When I was 14 and living in Laredo,

they told me I was too young to fight

in the Mexican war.

They had me cleaning latrines

and burying the dead horses.

You know what I did?

Grabbed a gun off a dead Mexican,

joined the Texas volunteers, got loaded

to the gills with knives and pistols

and I showed them.

I showed them how wrong they were.

- You got a six shooter?

- [Casey] You wanna try it?

See if you can hit one of these.

(gunfire)

(snickering)

You try.

What's the name of your master?

- Master Cooper.

Actually, General Cooper.

- General Cooper?

(scoffs)

Well, you just pretend

that's General Cooper over there.

Just line up that little piece

of metal there, with the target.

- I know.

- You know, huh?

- Uh huh.

(gunfire)

- The army's cutting off their nose

to spite their face by keeping you

from being a soldier, Jed.

- Casey!

Get your men back to work

or I'll put you up on charges.

- Yes, sir, come on, boys.

I gotta special job for you.

- I hope you like cleaning latrines

because that's going to be your job for the war.

- Not when I get to be a soldier.

(scoffs)

- They're never going to trust colored boy

with ah gun.

They'll let your dog march in the summer

before a colored man.

- I don't see you carrying a gun.

- My father says I can carry a gun

as soon as I turn 15.

(harmonica music)

I'm a pretty good pickpocket, aren't I?

- You took his watch, didn't you?

- Jimmy, I wouldn't bother with that boy

if I were you.

- Ah, Reverend, he's use to it.

Where did you pick up this sorry

looking mutt?

- His name is Jack.

And he'll sic you if you're bothering me.

Get him, Jack.

- Colored Jed, your dog's just like you.

Cowering to white people so long,

he can't stand up to no one.

(Jack yelps)

You're both gonna be running as soon

as you see a gray uniform.

- I just say the word, he go

straight for your throat.

- Try it.

- Cool off, Jed, it isn't worth it.

- Don't let him push you around, Jed.

(Jack yelps)

- I'm Captain Malloy's son, nobody ever

talks to me like that.

- You gonna let him do that?

You can take him, Jed.

- Get him Jed. - Jed, don't do this.

- Oh, here we go.

- Help, colored boys gonna kill me, father.

- Get him off.

Jed, don't do it.

- Get him off.

- I'm going to tell my father.

They'll court martial you and string you up

in colored people's jail.

- You're going to tell your father

that this little colored boy beat you?

What's he going to think of you?

- Jed, I know you didn't take the watch.

- Maybe I did.

- [Adult Jed] We heard rumors that we'd soon

march back to Virginia to track down

a group of Rebel soldiers called

The Fort Resolve Raiders were blowing up

Union railroad lines and ammunition dumps.

Master had often gone hunting with these men.

Their fort was close by to our plantation.

(laughing)

- Listen up!

Tomorrow we march into Virginia.

We're returning to Manassas.

(cheering)

- Men!

I'll carry any of your keepsakes for you

in case...

- In case we die?

- I think we should pray, Chaplain.

- Our chaplain doesn't pray.

(intense music)

- I can see them.

- They can see you, how do you feel about that?

- I can smell 'em.

(gunfire)

- [General] Boys up, fall in at the double clap.

Charge!

(gunfire)

(gunfire)

(horse whinnies)

(men yelling)

LIsten, we've almost got 'em licked.

There's a few snipers left.

Get in the woods and flank 'em.

- Into the woods and wait for me.

I've got to help some of these wounded.

(shouting)

(gunfire)

- Jed, try to keep this soldier alive.

- Here, try this on for size.

- What are you doin'?

- He needs a gun to protect himself.

- Jed, he's cold.

Give me a blanket.

- No, he's just a rebel, Sir.

- He's still a man, give me a blanket.

- Men like this killed his Pa.

- If he hates, he's just as bad as they are.

Give me a blanket.

Come on, Jimmy, Jesse.

We need help.

Go ahead and take care of yourself.

- I wouldn't blame ya if you want

to use it on him for any reason.

I never bothered the prisoners much.

(gunfire)

(men shouting)

(grunting)

- Haven't you ever seen a Reb up close before?

What's your name, boy?

- Jed.

- [Rebel] You a slave, Jed?

- Not no more.

- Who's your master?

- General Cooper.

- He's stationed over at Fort Resolve with his son

about 50 miles from here.

I'm sure he'd like to know you're here.

If General Cooper was here right now.

Would you kill him?

I know you wouldn't use that on me, my boy.

Hold your horses.

I'm just gettin' more comfortable.

(gunfire)

- Help, Casey.

- You stay away, boy.

- Hey!

- Casey! - Help him.

Help him.

- Casey never told the Captain his leg

got grazed while saving me

from that Rebel soldier that I was supposed

to guard.

Maybe Tennessee was right.

When you take orders from Rebs all your life,

it ain't so easy to fire a gun at them.

- Dear soldier, I just saw your ad

in the Waverly Magazine.

You appear to be a very fine gentleman

and I would enjoy writing to you.

Yours truly, Hannah Frye.

- Whew in another week--

(all groan)

- Yeah you will.

- More mail, guys.

Emerson.

Got a package for you, Jesse.

Tennessee, oh, that's right.

You don't know how to read.

- I haven't heard from Molly.

Don't know if everything's all right at home.

- Babies like to come late, man,

don't fret so much.

- Hey, listen to this, boys.

Pittsburgh Inquirer.

The southern rebellion is on its last legs.

(laughing)

Nearly all it's supplies are cut off.

In a very brief period, the south will thus

be forced to submit.

(laughing)

- Why in tarnation do they print this

in the papers anyway?

- If they the truth, nobody's going to

support this war.

- Look what we've got here, boys.

(cheering)

- [Casey] Oh, condensed milk.

Needles and thread, we got a company seamstress, boys.

(cheering)

- She just never sends me anything

that's made in a southern factory.

(soldiers groan)

- Give me my skunk back.

- You don't eat that anyhow.

- Got a letter from a girl in Virginny.

(men cheer)

- Jed, you're a better soldier than I am.

I don't really care much for those old camp songs.

They make me feel homesick.

I prefer the old standards like

"Old Rugged Cross" and "By the River".

- They're all right.

I just don't sing 'em anymore.

- Yeah.

Matt said that we were near your home.

Jed, are you all right?

- He's out there.

- Who's out there?

- Master Cooper.

Maybe I'll see him tomorrow.

- You can stay in the back,

with Chaplain Stewart and me.

- No, I want to stay on the frontline.

- All right then.

I'll be on the frontline then with you.

You stick by me.

- Something's troubling you, boy, what is it?

- [Adult Jed] On May 31st in the woods

near Leavens Mill, an unknown band of Rebel sharpshooters

attacked us in great force.

By noon, some of our own pickers broke and ran.

- Yellow bellies!

- I say we get out of here while we can.

- We don't retreat until we're ordered

to retreat.

- Fears or orders.

It's time to get out of here.

- Matt, where's your sense of fight?

- He's got a baby on the way.

- There's at least four battery of cannon out there.

- Jack, come back.

Jack!

Come back.

- Get back here.

- Jack!

Jack!

Jack!

fodder guns.

They aint' got nothing but a bunch of logs

painted up to fool us.

- You've got a vivid imagination, boy.

- That ain't no log.

- There are only a few Johnny Rebs shootin' at us.

- You want to go out there and finish them off?

- Quaker guns.

They don't have the numbers we do.

They're trying to scare us with these

painted logs.

- It don't look like no painted gun to me.

- Jed might be right.

Firing's coming from over there.

Maybe we can take 'em.

- Yeah, there's men firing up there all right.

- I bet it's just a handful of them sharpshooters

like Jed said.

- Hey there, boys.

They want us to focus off raiders.

Why do they give us such a hard time?

Good boy, Jack.

- Jack, I told you not to go out there.

They shot my dog.

- Jack's just grazed a little, that's all.

- They killed my father.

I'm going to make them pay.

Casey, give me a gun.

I ain't going to sit here no more.

- Don't do it.

Remember that Reb he was supposed

to keep an eye on?

- Does he look like the same boy to you now?

- I want to go with Jed, Casey.

And Jimmy, too, if he's not too scared.

- I'm not scared.

- Casey, they're just children.

- If we don't take those snipers now,

they'll send twice the men by tonight.

- You'll burn in hell for this.

- You always talk that way to your son, Reverend.

Ever wonder why he joined the army?

- Jed, for God's sake, you'll take

these boys to their death.

- Casey, I'm going to sneak up behind them.

Catch them off guard.

- I'm going with them, father.

- You're not ready, boy.

- I'm not a boy anymore.

- Take care of my dog, Reverend Stewart.

He's bleeding badly.

- All right boys, let's give Jed some cover.

(eerie ambience)

(gunfire in distance)

(gunfire)

(gunfire)

- I order you to surrender.

- [Rebel Soldier] Drop your gun, boys.

- Don't move.

- I don't want to get hurt.

We all just want to go home, don't we?

I know I do.

See my little girl.

I order you to surrender to the confederacy.

- You've only got enough lead in there

to kill one person.

- I guess I'll aim at you, colored boy.

(gunfire)

(grunts in pain)

- You tried to kill me, Sir.

- You know who you're up against now, boy.

Fort Resolve Raiders.

That young man will pay for this?

- He's an officer.

The sharpshooters must be close by.

- Let's go get them then.

- Must be five of them up there.

- I can take 'em.

- No, you don't have to do anything.

I'll go.

- No, Jesse, it's my job.

- I'm going, Jed.

It's about time I fought.

Jimmy, go around that way and cover him.

(groaning in pain)

- All this spilt blood.

It's going to mean something some day,

isn't it?

- I hope so, Jesse.

- Can you promise me something?

Promise me you'll tell my mom

that I was a brave boy.

- I'll tell her.

I promise to kill every Rebel

I lay my hands on.

- Jed, I'm scared Jed.

There's bullets flying everywhere.

We're going to find 'em aren't we?

- Shh, stay here.

You'll be safe.

(intense music)

(gunshot)

(moaning in pain)

(intense music)

(gunshot)

That's for Jesse.

- Jed got the snipers.

Every single one of 'em.

(men cheer)

- He's going to be all right.

- Where's Jesse?

- He's dead.

♪ I shall not want ♪

♪ He makes me down to lie ♪

♪ In pastures green ♪

♪ He leadeth me ♪

♪ The quiet waters by ♪

- A greater love hath no man than this.

He lay down his life for his friend.

But what am I supposed to say now, God?

That we trust this boy to your steadfast care?

This boy who never hated until someone

taught him to.

- [Jed] That's not true.

He didn't hate nobody.

All he wanted to do was set the slaves free,

that's all.

- [Adult Jed] I thought about Jesse

and how he laid down his life for me that day.

I lost a lot of blood and I wish

I could die so I could go be with my friend.

- Don't be foolish, Chaplain,

he'll be dead by morning.

And his blood will be on your hands.

- [Adult Jed] The surgeon said he would

have to cut off my leg if I wanted to live.

I knew I couldn't be a soldier no more

and started to cry.

- You're a good man.

- [Adult Jed] Then Reverend Stewart

did something I never thought he would do before.

He started yelling at that surgeon

and said he'd use his saw on him

if he tried to cut off my leg.

- Thank you, Chaplain.

- You won't thank me if you die.

- Can you hand me my canteen?

(melancholy piano music)

- What did the solder look like

back at the plantation?

- He was tall, like you.

He had the same eyes.

And he said, his father never wrote back.

- Why didn't you give this to me earlier?

- You told me never to speak of your son, Sir.

Sir, your son would be here today except

he tried to save me.

- Say that again.

- Your son ran in front of those bullets

to get me and Kirk out of the way.

(sighs)

- [Adult Jed] Nathaniel wrote how sorry

he was for running away from home

and leaving his father all alone.

I believe the Reverend forgave his son

that day.

I hoped he'd do the same for me.

- [Jed] I'm thirsty.

- Why didn't God take that colored boy

instead of my son?

- [Jed] I'm thirsty.

Grandma Storey, give me some water.

- Have you forgotten what it's like to suffer?

- I haven't forgotten.

- Then help those boys, Reverend.

- Matt, go get the rest of the men.

We're going to pray.

- [Nat] You, pray?

- [Adult Jed] That night and the next day,

Reverend Stewart and the rest of the boys

prayed for me and Dog Jack.

It'll be the first time I've seen

our Chaplain pray since his wife died.

- [Reverend] My son kept his secret things in here.

I held onto it for him to give to his son

some day.

- I never had toys before.

- They're all yours.

Nate liked this the most.

- Your wife?

- Yes.

He loved her so.

- He left her, too.

- I never gave him a chance.

- You read his letter?

- In case, you know--

- In case I don't walk again.

- Would you like to come back

to Pittsburgh with me?

- I know I broke the rules, Sir.

- You saved my son's life, Jed.

I'm very grateful.

Those were the Fort Resolve Raiders you fought.

- My master's at Fort Resolve, Sir.

- Well we're going to take the fort.

When we do, you won't have to worry

about your master no more.

First, we have to cut their food supplies.

- Count me in, Captain Malloy.

- I've ordered Corporal Kaye station you

a musket, a full uniform, and a monthly stipend.

You can rejoin the company as soon as

you're up and around.

- I'm not so sure he'll be able to walk.

- We'll see about that.

I guess I won't be going back to Pittsburgh, Sir.

- You got to get even with Master Cooper then.

- Do you think I'll go to hell

for fighting in this war, Sir?

- I don't know, but hate can send

a man to hell even before he dies.

- But how can a man fight in this war

and not hate, Sir?

(melancholy music)

(men chattering)

- Molly gave birth to a baby girl today.

Details later.

Love, Mother.

I'm a father.

(cheering)

- [Adult Jed] My leg healed up during

that Summer.

I was old enough to fight but green enough

to think that smoking and playing cards

would make me a man.

We drilled and started to prepare

for the eventual raid on Fort Resolve.

Casey taught me how to hate Rebel soldiers.

And with all I'd been through,

that wasn't hard for me to learn.

(cannon fire)

(gunfire)

- [Captain] Seize fire!

I said seize fire.

- They're still out there.

- They're all dead.

- We need water, father.

I'll go if you let me.

- What kind of men are we if we can't

give some water to the dying?

- Then go.

- Thank you, Sir.

- I'm not going to let him go alone.

- See what happened to my hat?

- He's a kid, he's better off

by himself.

(Jack barks)

- Jack, get back here.

(somber music)

(men chattering)

- Hey!

- What Jim boy is this?

Huh, we're going to get some food.

You wanna come?

- Yeah, you wanna come?

- Is this expedition with or without

my father's orders?

- Well we'll sanction it after

we're successful.

(laughing)

- Yeah, yeah, come on.

- Yeah, you can be Captain tonight, Jimmy.

(laughing)

- That's right, hey, maybe we'll get some torches

and burn some barns.

♪ Here we go ♪

♪ All right. ♪

♪ All right ♪

♪ I once shoot a big ol' duck ♪

♪ Do tell 'er the hounds is out ♪

♪ Yeah you right ♪

♪ Ain't I right ♪

- What are you doing?

- We do this, one less rebel will march

on a full stomach.

- Why do we have to burn the barn?

The children won't have anything to eat.

- We burn down these barns,

the sooner the war will be over

and that boys daddy can come home.

They want to eat, let them surrender.

- Burn!

(fire crackles)

- [Adult Jed] When we burned down that barn,

we didn't figure those flames could be seen

by Fort Resolve Pickers several miles away.

They were outraged at our burning

their food supplies.

They came out to capture us.

Our men were so drunk with whiskey

they didn't fight back at all.

- Gotcha now.

(horse whinnies)

- Is that colored man in there?

- [Adult Jed] In 1862, Jefferson Davis

issued an order that gave southern

prisons the right to do pretty much

as they please with captured negro soldiers.

Unless I could be of some use to the southern army,

there wasn't much reason for them to keep me alive.

- The Army of the Confederate States of America

welcomes you.

And will be much obliged to have your cap.

Boots, straps, belts, coats, gentleman, everything.

What's that?

Boots, come on, everything.

(chuckling)

Shall we shoot him now, boys?

- [Several Men] Yeah.

- We get cash if we turn him in.

Who's your master?

Speak up, boy.

- I heard this dog was responsible

for spotting our sharpshooters

up at Leavens Mill.

- Leave Jack alone.

He was General Cooper's best hunting dog.

- [Rebel] Then I suppose you belong

to General Cooper as well?

- You don't belong to no General Cooper.

- [Rebel] If he's Cooper's slave then he should be

loyal to the Confederacy.

- Put it on.

Prove you're one of us.

Kill this Yankee saboteur.

Do it or I'll drop you and your dog right now.

- You pull that trigger, Jed.

He'll kill you anyway.

- His name is Jedidiah Cooper.

He was my house slave back on the plantation.

- What are you doing, boy?

Sir, do I have permission to kill

this piece of trash for defiling the Confederacy?

- Well he might be a piece of trash

but he's actually my father's...

- That can't be.

- My father will deal with it.

(men chattering in distance)

- [Rebel] Come on!

Stay home with your mama.

(gunshot)

(mellow guitar music)

- Jack!

Jack!

(Jack barks)

- [Adult Jed] It was standard practice

for both northern and southern prisoners

not to hinder Chaplains who want to visit

their men.

But he was only able to take Jack that day.

Dog Jack was the only dog in history

that I knew of that was valuable enough

to be exchanged for an enemy prisoner.

(gentle piano music)

- Who are you?

- I'm Nathaniel.

- Why are you here?

(gentle piano music)

- Put this on.

You're going to see the General.

(mellow music)

- You know, my boys have a pretty savage

reputation, don't think much of killing

a Yankee prisoner.

Say nothing of a colored Yankee.

There's really not much I can do to keep you alive.

Unless I can give them a good reason

not to kill ya.

- Like what?

- I'd sure like to find out what your men

are planning on doing with the Fort.

I'll put you on double rations if you'll

snoop on your boys for me.

- No, Sir.

- Well, don't say I didn't give you a chance to live.

- Where's my dog?

- I gave your Chaplain a pass to come here

and get him.

He asked me to give this to you.

Dismissed.

He asked me if he could take you.

But I told him.

You can't take my colored boy.

He's my son.

Yep.

My son.

Jed.

I hate to see your eyes like that, Jed.

You know, some people say we've got

the same eyes.

Every wonder why they say that?

- I ain't got the same eyes as you.

(melancholy piano music)

- Oh, how I loved your mother.

(vomiting)

(intense ambience)

- Ready!

Aim!

Fire! - No!

(gunfire)

(mellow piano music)

- Okay, two minutes.

- What did they do to you?

- Probably trying to teach me a lesson.

I'm more concerned about you.

Listen, don't worry about Jack.

I exchanged a Rebel prisoner for him.

He's fine.

What's the matter, Jed.

- It's hard to say, Sir.

- Listen, we don't have much time.

So you get a message to Cooper.

Tell him you want to be put on work detail.

- I ain't no Judas.

- Listen that's not the plan.

We're going to bring in the important war dodgers.

So remember the plan.

- Hey, Jed.

I saved your life.

Don't you want to say thank you?

- How's my mama?

- She's all right.

After they beat her for running away.

- And Shadow?

- He's working in the fields now.

They both want to see you again, Jed.

I'd do what my father says if I was you.

- Kirk, is it true that General Cooper--

- Yeah.

- Can you get me out of here?

- I can't, Jed.

- Come on.

And you call yourself a soldier.

(laughing)

Yeah.

- It's Jed.

- Hey, Jed. - Jed.

Good to sed ya.

- Great to see you, buddy.

- How are ya?

- You're still alive, man, that's great.

- It's good to have you back.

(men chattering)

- I said break it up.

Get back to it.

- The signal is get back to work you corn dodgers.

- What are they planning?

(mellow guitar music)

- We haven't had a break all morning.

- All right, one minute.

(mellow guitar music)

Except you.

- Think he can get some water?

- Big guy over there's got one.

- Come on, what do you say?

- All right, let's get back to work.

Back to work, you corn dodgers.

- Run!

Run, go!

- I got your boy, general.

- Hold your fire, men, hold your fire.

- [Adult Jed] We'd heard rumors

that 10 miles from Fort Resolve, there was some freed

slaves who would help us cross over

to the union line.

♪ Live humble, humble ♪

♪ Humble yourself, the bell done rung ♪

♪ Live humble, humble ♪

♪ Humble yourself, the bell done rung ♪

♪ The bell done rung, the angel done sung ♪

♪ The Lord done brought our hearts and tongue ♪

♪ I wonder what-uh Satan keep a-grumglin' 'bout ♪

♪ He chain' in Hell uh-where he can't get out ♪

♪ The Lord come along about the birth a' day ♪

(gunfire)

- Get him.

- They got him.

- Gentlemen, what we have here

is Kirk Cooper.

Nice looking boy.

This is what he did to his former slave

when Jed was just six years old.

A brand so that no matter where he went

he's never be free.

Who wants to give this boy a taste of his own medicine?

No one wants justice tonight except me?

- Casey, you're drunk, go get some sleep.

- I'm giving you a chance to do what's right by this boy.

I gotta go get rid of some of this whiskey that's in me.

When I get back, I'll do it myself if you can't.

- Please, Jed, please let me live.

- Why?

- Things are different.

You can't blame me for what happened.

I never knew my daddy was gonna whip Noah so hard.

I'm sorry.

Jed, please, no.

- Die, rebel, die!

(gunfire)

Run before Casey gets back.

(whimsical music)

- Sergeant McGaw!

- Says you could be shot for sleeping on duty.

- Well, we ought to turn him in, boys, huh?

(laughing)

- Hey, fellas, you're just in time,

we've been given a furlough back

to Pittsburgh for Christmas.

(cheering)

- [Adult Jed] We spent that Fall camped

about 30 miles from Fort Resolve, waiting

for replacements so we could return to Pittsburgh.

The boys from my company learned a new game

with a ball and wooden stick.

Jack liked to play too, but he made up his own rules.

- Hey, what are you guys planning?

- Ned, give us a minute.

- Are you sure, because that--

- Quartermaster.

- Yes, sir.

- Jed, Casey informs me they took you through

a tunnel underneath the fort.

Do you remember?

- When they had me in the tunnel, I saw this gunpowder.

- Jed, that gunpowder has blown

our railroads, bridges, and men.

- One well placed charge and the whole fort will blow.

- When I was in the tunnel, I saw a hole.

That could have led out to an entrance.

- Jed, do you think you could find it?

- Master Cooper is in there.

- We get them, Jed, or they get us,

it's as simple as that.

- No, I won't do it.

- Are you here to fight a war or play baseball?

- Why don't I show you where the hole is

and you go in?

- Think about Shadow.

- [Adult Jed] During the short time

we had in Pittsburgh, the wives and mothers

of our boys held a ball to raise money

for things like butter and sugar we hadn't

seen in the field for months.

I kept my promise to Jesse

that I'd tell his mom what kind of soldier

her son was when he died.

She was so proud of the sacrifice Jesse for all of us.

- Attention, please.

- Jed, come on up to the stage and bring Dog Jack with you.

(applause)

- On numerous occasions Jed and Dog Jack

have intervened on our behalf against our enemies.

- [Adult Jed] The boys returned most of the money

to the money to the widows, but saved

some and bought a beautiful silver collar for Dog Jack.

(applause)

- On behalf of the 102 regiment, Jed, we salute you.

- [All] Huzzah, huzzah, huzzah!

Huzzah, huzzah, huzzah!

- Would you like to have this dance with me?

(slow instrumental music)

- [Adult Jed] The men in my company were able

to find a little joy in the festivities that night.

But I was burdened with a job I had yet to do.

What price does a man pay for freedom,

the taking of a life.

- All these girls want to dance with you, Jed.

Which one do you want?

- That's okay, thanks.

- [Adult Jed] Master Cooper, my enemy, but the man

had taken up for me all my life.

If anyone tells you war is a clear cut thing,

don't believe them.

- Ladies and gentlemen, I'm sorry to announce

we won't be spending Christmas with you as planned.

It will be necessary to leave tomorrow

to reinforce Union troops who are laying

siege to Fort Resolve so that we can eventually take it.

♪ Still all my song shall be ♪

♪ Nearer, my God, to Thee ♪

♪ Nearer my God to Thee ♪

♪ Nearer to thee ♪

- Thank you, lord, for a good wife

and a healthy and beautiful baby daughter.

- I want to tell the lord that I'm impressed

that Jed let Kirk go free.

- My heart is heavy tonight, brothers.

We've been ordered to stage an attack

against Fort Resolve and try to take it at all cost.

It will be the toughest battle of the war.

Many of us will go to that place

where men's souls are sorted out for eternity.

Some of you came into this war no more than boys,

forced to become men overnight.

But if you died in my arms tomorrow,

would you know the state of your souls?

What I would never have asked of you at the beginning

of this war, I beg you to do now with all my heart.

To bow your heads with me and ask Christ

to cleanse you of your sins and to come into your hearts.

- I tried to ask God into my heart,

but I would have to forgive Master Cooper, wouldn't I?

- Yes.

- It's like a deal with God, isn't it?

It's not a fair deal.

How can I forgive him, he killed my father.

- He is your father, Jed.

- I dreamt about mama and Shadow last night.

They're in Master Cooper's garden, growing

their own food.

I just can't forget that dream.

Help me.

Please.

♪ Oh Lord ♪

♪ Oh cover me with your blood, Lord ♪

♪ For I have sin in my heart, Lord ♪

♪ Oh oh oh oh, oh ♪

- You want me to find another man to do this?

(flicks match)

(explosion)

(screaming)

(gunfire)

- [Jed] Jack, come back.

Jack!

Jack!

Jack!

Drop your gun.

- How dare you speak to me like that.

Son, give your daddy some water, Jed.

- General, throw your weapon down or we'll shoot.

- Daddy, put down your gun.

- He won't shoot.

- [Reverend] I will.

- Stay away, I want to talk to my boy.

- Put your guns down, I'm just giving him some water.

- Lower your weapons.

- I don't know whether you can believe this or not,

but it was always you I wanted next to

me fighting them Yankees.

Not Kirk.

Tell your men.

- [Stewart] Jed, move out of the way.

- They can do whatever they to with me now.

- [Stewart] He's gonna kill the boy.

- Don't shoot.

(gunfire)

- No, no!

- Are you sure you won't come with us, Jed?

It'll take a few hundred years for people

to start to treat you right, some will

even try to hurt you.

- I'm going with him, sir, make sure that doesn't happen.

- You take this, it's gonna be rough down there, Jed.

You might need to use it.

- I'll be all right.

- You take care, kid.

- Thanks for letting me and Jack

be a part of the 102nd, I'll never forget you.

(cheering)

- And you'll come and visit us, Jed, right?

- I promise, we'll all come back to Pittsburgh

someday and visit you all.

Reverend Stewart, I just want to tell you,

I did that deal with God we was talking about.

(train horn blows)

- [Conductor] All aboard!

- [Adult Jed] A month later and the war was over.

Jack and I didn't want to fight

no more wars after that.

But I guess we had to fight in that one.

Kirk and I were deeded some land from

the former Cooper estate.

Once bitter enemies, we now work side by side as friends.

I wish my father had been around to see us

build a new life together.

No crucible ever tests the human heart

as does a war.

I will never forget those walls hallowed

by the sufferings of our people.

Every inch, producing a painful memory.

But there was no more reason to keep on hating,

after all, I made a deal with God

to love my enemies and turn my life over to him.

My dear grandchildren, after you've listened

to this account, I believe you will agree with me

that there are few stories that stir

the human heart as does the story of Dog Jack.

I ask you to remember our story and pass

it on to your children and grandchildren.

The Lord gave that dog a heart

that didn't care about a person's age

or station in life.

Blind to the color of a man's uniform or his skin.

Ain't too many people like that, but I wanted

to be one of them, I wanted to be like Dog Jack.

(soft instrumental music)

♪ Oh, they tell me of a home far beyond the skies ♪

♪ Oh, they tell me of a home far beyond the skies ♪

♪ Oh, they tell me of a home far away ♪

♪ Oh, they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise ♪

♪ Oh, they tell me of an unclouded day ♪

♪ Oh, they tell me of a home far beyond the skies ♪

♪ Oh, they tell me of a home far away ♪

♪ Oh, they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise ♪

♪ Oh, they tell me of an unclouded day ♪

(mellow music)