Take me outside, Johnny. I'm sweatin' like a bull.
It's better out here.
More air, less people.
You said... You would have said I'm pretty...
if I didn't say it first to you?
You think I'm pretty?
If you was to kiss me...
I'd be mighty obliged.
Mouth's burnin'.
Shucks, I'm sorry, Johnny.
It's my chaw.
I bet you don't chaw tobacco, do you?
Here, this will fix it. It's good stuff.
I wish I was in Richmond Hurray, hurray
- In Richmond town I'll settle down - Who the hell are you?
Cat got his tongue?
Nah, it's Pappy's moonshine.
Step inside.
I wish I was in Richmond Hurray, hurray
In Richmond town I'll settle down To live and die in Richmond
Away, away, away down south in Richmond
What the hell are these Yankees doing here?
Who's responsible for this outrage? Step forward!
They're my kin, sir.
These two are my cousins, and that's my brother John. I brung 'em.
You invited the enemy behind our lines.
Don't you know you could be shot for that?
It was just for a bit of fun, sir.
Just for a bit of fun?
Sergeant.
Arrest these two Yanks. They're prisoners of war.
Don't do that, sir.
Why not, Private?
I gave 'em my word of honor I'd get 'em to their side of the river safely.
Bring the prisoners, Sergeant.
You gotta listen to me, sir!
I'm just a farm boy, but I'm a Southern farm boy.
I was raised to believe that a Southerner's word of honor...
can't never be broke.
If a Virginian's word of honor don't mean nothin' in the army...
then what the hell are we fightin' for, sir?
Sergeant.
Do you know this boy?
I do, Captain.
Luke's just a lad full of fun. The men love him.
If you're askin' my advice, sir...
I am, Boggs.
If you want your men behind you...
I'd back down, sir.
You two will be taken care of in the morning.
May God help you.
In the meantime...
get these damn Yankees back to where they belong!
Yes, sir.
I wish I was in Richmond
Hurray, hurray
In Richmond town I'll settle down
To live and die in Richmond
Watch your arm.
It's a dangerous war, Luke. Please take it seriously.
Sure, John.
Hey, Malachy.
What?
You see John�s face when Wanda Mae kissed him good-bye?
"John, you're so pretty!"
I wish I was in Richmond
There's nothin' in the book about invitin' the enemy...
to a barn dance.
That leaves the punishment up to me.
Thirty days fatigue duty.
Totin' garbage, digging latrines.
However...
I have a request from Major Fairbairn.
It seems the major needs two volunteers.
The duty is unique, to say the least...
and very risky.
If you two see fit to volunteer...
why, I'll suspend the 30-day sentence.
- What kind of duty is it, sir? - Major Fairbairn.
Which of you is Private Grundy?
I've been told that you know the peninsula like the back of your hand.
- Born and raised here, Major. - Good.
Do either of you know anything about balloons?
I've seen a couple of fed balloons, that's all.
Well, the fed balloons have given the enemy an edge.
We've been workin' on a countermeasure.
I'm asking you to volunteer...
for the Confederate balloon corps.
We all have a balloon corps?
Well, we have a start.
We have one balloon.
It was made in Savannah, inflated at the Richmond Gasworks...
and transported here by rail.
- We get to go up in it? - More than likely.
Volunteers reportin' for duty, sir.
I'm glad to have you, men.
Is our balloon a big son of a gun like the Yankee one?
Bigger, I think, and much, much prettier.
- Where's Major Fairbairn? - Upstairs, sir.
Havin' a look-see at the battle.
There's a column of Yank cavalry...
retreatin'...
toward Bosun's Swamp.
Yank infantry runnin' through fields...
away from Gaines Mill.
- Show me. - Right there.
Yankee supply wagon...
on this road headin' east.
What's it look like to you, Luke?
Like we're pinnin' their ears back, sir.
Exactly. Porter's retreatin'.
Send signal... bring us down. This can't wait.
Let's get 'em down.
Come on.
Peaceful up here.
I kind of hate to go back down.
Right now we're above enemy artillery.
Five hundred feet on down is the danger zone.
They'll make it plenty hot for us.
There weren't no shootin' on the way up.
They weren't ready for us.
You can bet your boots they'll be waitin' for us now.
They're under fire.
Hey, Yanks, who told you all you could shoot?
- Major, you hit? - It's nothin'.
The major's been hit.
I think you'll find everything you need on that map, General.
Excellent. Excellent work, Major.
Luke, you did fine. You're a good man.
Thank you, Major. You too, sir.
Judging from this map, I'd say that Porter's in retreat.
- What's your impression? - Looked to me like a big skedaddle.
Take this to General Lee's headquarters and tell him that from here...
it looks like a big skedaddle.
I am delighted.
Delighted.
This is Colonel Barker from cavalry headquarters.
The balloon has to make another observation flight immediately.
The strategic situation is this:
McClellan has fallen back...
probably to the James River.
If we can pinpoint the enemy...
we may be able to destroy the whole Union force.
I'll go tell Major Fairbairn.
His arm had to be amputated.
It's up to you to make the flight.
You're the only experienced men available.
Experienced, sir? Yesterday was my first time up.
Major Fairbairn sent you these.
Release the guide ropes!
Unlock the windlass!
Grab it!
We broke free somehow. We're driftin'.
- What do we do? - How should I know?
You're the man with experience.
Just tell me which way we're driftin', Bear.
Comin' up on Savage Station. We're headin' for the James River.
The major told me in case of emergency, pull the rope with the red handle.
Pull that for me.
- What's it do? - Lets go of the gas.
We gotta get down before we reach Yank territory.
Pull it!
It's the James.
- If we can just get across. - Well, we can't.
We're comin' back, Luke. We're pickin' up a breeze off the river.
- Damn, they're shootin' bullets! - Yeah, I know.
Bear, what is it?
I caught one.
You can't help me none.
I'm gut shot.
You run.
Run.
The Yanks won't find us. I'll get you back.
You'll get well. We'll have fun again.
Bear, what happened?
Your friend's dead. Get up, soldier.
What were you doing flying over this sector?
I was watching Yanks skedaddle.
Cocky little Reb, isn't he?
They'll beat that out of you, son, in prison camp.
Just two months ago, Mr. Seward...
you were advising the president not to proclaim the freedom of the slave...
not until after we gained a military victory.
I stand on that advice, sir.
It would be like a defeated government appealing to the Negroes for help.
Now we have what we've waited for...
the victory at Antietam.
I'm afraid it's hardly a victory for either side...
when almost 12,000 men from each army fall.
Lee has retreated across the Potomac.
The public perceives it as a victory.
The time is now, Mr. President.
Times like this...
I'm reminded of the story of the two young boys trompin' through the woods.
They run across a wild hog.
Hog kind of took a dislike to 'em and set out after 'em...
the boys runnin' lickety-split.
One shimmied up an elm tree just before the hog took out the seat of his pants.
The other one, to save his own skin, grabbed the hog by the tail...
and hang on for dear life.
As they chased 'round and 'round the tree...
he hollered up to his friend, "Come on down, Bill.
Help me leave go of this hog."
Mr. Seward, did you make the changes that we discussed this morning?
This is the altered paragraph, Mr. President.
"That on the first day of January in the year of our Lord...
1863...
all persons held as slaves...
within any state or designated part of a state...
people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States...
shall be then, thence forward and forever, free.
And the executive government of the United States...
including the military and naval authority thereof...
will recognize and maintain...
the freedom of such persons."
Bear me witness, gentlemen.
I hereby fulfill my promise to my country...
and to my Maker.
It is done.
Gentlemen, it is my hope that in givin' freedom to the slaves...
we assure...
freedom to the free...
and hasten the day when once more we shall be one nation.
Do you remember the last time we were in this foyer?
Indeed, I do. The interrupted kiss?
We're alone in the house, if you'd like to finish what we started.
- You look tired. - Yeah.
I just got in from Sharpsburg.
Sharps... Oh.
Of course.
That battle at Antietam.
I heard terrible things. It must have been awful.
When it was over, I walked across the battlefield.
I saw things...
that are so awful that my mind rejects 'em...
even though I looked right at 'em.
So you're all alone. Where's the senator?
He's back in Boston for a few weeks. I don't travel with him anymore.
'Cause of your work?
That is a nurse's uniform, isn't it?
Yes.
I signed up.
I'm a full-time nurse at Georgetown Hospital.
I dress wounds...
empty bedpans...
give the men sponge baths...
all the things young ladies are not supposed to do.
My friends are in a state of shock, except for you.
Well, I saw you at Bull Run.
I like to think I gave you your start.
You did.
And I'm really grateful.
I'm surprised the senator permitted you.
I don't let Dad tell me what to do, not anymore.
I'm 21 years old.
Hello?
- I'm sorry. I'm exhausted. - Here.
Do you have a place to stay?
- No, I'll find some place. - Well, you've found it.
I'm gonna take you upstairs and put you to bed in the guest bedroom.
You need the sleep.
And tomorrow, over breakfast, we could talk.
Yes, Nurse.
Stop, no!
Stop!
It's all right.
Scared.
We have to fight
Although we have to die
We've got to hold it up until we die
I'm telling you we are soldiers
In the army
We've got to fight although we have to die
We've got to hold up the bloodstained banner
We've got to hold it up
Till we die
We just after a little lovin', honey.
You give it to us nice, and you won't get hurt.
Let me down, blue belly!
Don't get ornery, or I'm just gonna put this cigar out on your black...
Carry on, men. I just want to get a quick sketch.
You're not gonna rape her? What about my drawing?
Who are you, mister?
I'm a correspondent for Harper's Weekly.
It's funny. We were just discussin' rape last evenin' at dinner.
- And General Oakes said... - General Oakes?
Yes, sir, he said his troops wouldn't dare commit rape.
He's gonna eat his words when I tell him about this.
Thanks, mister.
- What's your name? - Luanna.
What are you doing out here alone?
We're runnin' out of clothes, so I sneaked back.
Found some, but they all dirty.
Figured I'd wash 'em. Water in the swamp's all muddy.
You're hidin' in the swamps?
Why are you hidin'?
Northern soldiers can get mean, like you saw.
South's got raiders.
They steal and murder.
We move anyplace, we get whupped for bein' runaways.
- How many with you? - Maybe 50.
I want you to take me to the swamp. I have some important news.
I don't know.
I'm on your side. This is the only weapon I carry.
Idelia, help me with this basket.
Luanna, how come you brought that white man?
He got news for us, Idelia. It's all right.
News?
What's this... emancipation?
It means "to set someone free."
- That your wife? - No, she's a friend.
- Close friend. - I can see that.
How do I know that this here is true?
It says so in the newspaper, doesn't it?
Abe Lincoln signed that himself...
in the White House.
Abe Lincoln did this for us?
Gather 'round, everybody!
- What is it? - Gather 'round!
Got us here a letter from the White House...
from the president of the United States...
Abe Lincoln.
It's in government language.
I'm gonna translate it.
Come next January...
all us slaves in the South...
we gonna be free!
Free! Free forever! Free!
It says after that...
that the whole United States government...
with all the sailors and soldiers...
they gonna help us stay free!
Praise old Abe Lincoln.
Bless him for the gift he done sent us today.
Freedom.
Now, we've been slaves in chains.
We've seen our people bruised and whipped.
We've seen our wives and daughters sold...
and our families busted apart.
But God gave the president wisdom.
- He's made us free. - Praise the Lord!
Yes, the day of Jubilo is a-comin'!
Amen!
Yeah, amen.
What do you think, my friend?
What does this emancipation really mean?
You understand, it doesn't mean a thing till Lincoln's armies win the war.
And I don't know how long it'll be till your people are treated as free.
But, by law, they are free.
It's a turnin' point.
Listen to 'em.
Thank God for
- Freedom after all - Thank you, Lord
- Freedom after all - Yeah
There's one thing for sure.
They got something now that they didn't have this morning.
They got hope.
Excuse me, Miss Bedell.
A soldier, he say he your brother Matthew.
Matthew!
I heard you were pregnant.
- Heck, you must be due any minute. - Couple more weeks, the doctor says.
I've been picturing you in Virginia. What are you doing in Mississippi?
Outfit got transferred. Needed artillery down here.
Military position ain't good, Emmy.
We've been taking some shells from across the river.
- There's talk of a siege. - It's more than talk.
Could I fetch something for Mr. Matthew?
Oh, are you hungry?
- Starving. - Have Berniece fix some food.
Soon as I eat, I have to go on...
'cause all I've got is a 12-hour pass, and I've used up most of it.
- You heard from the folks? - Got a letter from Ma a month ago.
She's fine. Pa's fine.
Farm's gettin' by, just.
Luke's in a prison camp in Maryland.
And Mark's all right. I saw him before I left Virginia.
Oh, well, that's it then.
So far, so good.
Family's survivin'.
Ain't we forgettin' someone?
John's a traitor. I don't count him as part of this family.
How's Lester?
Busiest man in Vicksburg.
He's up river right now. Business trip.
I thought the war wrecked his trade.
Oh, nothing stops Lester.
Not for long anyway. He's doing just fine.
I gather.
Emmy, you say he's up river?
Ain't nobody to trade with up river...
except Yankees.
That's right. Feds are buying up all the cotton they can get.
He's tradin' with feds? He's a smuggler.
Some call him that.
You let your husband trade with the enemy?
You, the big patriot?
You're acting dumb, Matt.
Lester smuggles boat loads of cotton past the gunboats.
He sells it to Yankee wagon trains up Memphis way.
The money's used to buy medicines and stuff...
which he smuggles back into Vicksburg.
Can you imagine this whole city without medicines?
Lester's doing plenty for our cause.
Making hisself a nice profit.
Lester takes the risks. Why shouldn't he get paid for it?
Mr. Matthew's meal is served, ma'am.
Matt, you go ahead. I'll be right in.
Lester!
Bring him in here.
What happened?
Their gunboat shelled the Kelpy, sank her.
The boss was at the wheel and caught some Yankee metal in his chest.
- The Kelpy's gone? - Gone forever, lady.
Thank you for bringing my husband home.
Some whiskey?
Slowly, Lester.
Drink it slow.
Yes, dear. I'm here. You're home.
There's something pressing down...
on my chest.
It's hard to breathe.
- He needs a hospital right away. - Get the carriage immediately!
- Is it bad? - Any chest wound's bad.
He's maybe bleeding to death inside.
Gently, gently.
Emma, wait!
Thank you.
Please be gentle!
Come on.
Miss Bedell, there's nothing you can do now except wait and pray.
Come on, I'll take you to the waiting room.
On second thought, maybe you'd better come in here.
Remarkable.
Really remarkable.
You're a very fortunate man, Mr. Bedell.
Here you were operated on two days ago...
and you have a slight postoperative fever and everything else seems fine.
You can expect a complete recovery.
- How long will it take? - A week more here.
A month at home, loafin'.
The nurses have a surprise for you.
Since you're doin' so well, I've given my permission.
Nurse?
May I present...
your son.
Oh, he's beautiful.
He looks just like you.
His name's Jesse. That's what you wanted, isn't it?
Isn't it wonderful?
In a few weeks you'll be well again, ready to get back to work.
- No, no more trading. - Why not?
For one thing, I lost the Kelpy.
You can charter another boat.
It's gotten too risky.
Can y'all smile just for me?
Have you forgotten our plans?
Remember what you said?
"We're gonna have it all."
And, Lester, you want it all.
- You want it all, as much as I do. - All right.
There's gonna be a siege. It's already started.
The siege means shortages.
People will be desperate for food and medicine.
One cargo could be worth a fortune.
I just had a mighty close call, Emma.
Money's not that important.
It isn't just the money. You'll be helpin' people to resist.
You'll be a hero!
Everyone to their own ward during bombardment.
It's an order.
I'll have to take you back to Maternity, Miss Bedell.
We'll talk again. I'll see you tomorrow.
- They're all dead! - All of 'em?
All of them.
Let's get 'em outta here.
Mrs. Bedell, get back in your wheelchair!
Rock-a-bye, baby
On the treetop
When the wind blows
The cradle will rock
When the bough breaks
The cradle will fall
"To Be Continued"
And down will come baby