I believe in you, John. You know that.
What do you do, love?
I work for a newspaper.
You look fresh off of the farm.
I've only had the job a few days.
You're green.
Tell the truth now, love. You ever been with a woman?
John Brown, I sentence you to be hanged in public...
on Friday the second of December.
Will you be coming back?
I'd like to come back, Mary.
Then make it happen.
I've come to ask you not to leave, John.
It's no time for you to be going up north.
There's gonna be a fight.
Three of us side by side. Ain't nobody can lick us.
I'll never wear that uniform.
Well, that makes you a traitor.
What was the sentiment in your county...
as to secession or no?
I don't know about the county...
but I have three brothers who can't wait to fight for the Confederacy.
Should it come to war...
were I you, I'd look to my talent for the solution.
Your talent suggests the role of artist-correspondent.
File right.
You see the stone bridge where the turnpike crosses Bull Run?
If I were an artist lookin' for a battle...
I'd start lookin' right here.
I thought I'd make such a great soldier.
So far, so good.
I wet my pants!
Help!
Oh, help me!
Get in here! Help these men!
For as much as Jonas and Mary have consented together in holy wedlock...
I pronounce that they are husband and wife.
- Are you all right? - Flying glass just cut my finger.
Your breast.
Look at me. There's no wound. I'm fine.
You'll never bring me harm, my darling.
What you bring me...
is happiness.
You was runnin' away, wasn't you?
So was I.
Guess they'd shoot us just for runnin' away.
Hell, they'd be glad to shoot us just for not shootin' each other.
Right now we're above enemy artillery.
Five hundred feet on down is the danger zone.
They'll make it plenty hot for us.
Mooney was dead before he was pinned to the tree.
This don't have much to do with the war. This is murder.
The killer wants us to know it's murder.
What happened?
Their gunboat shelled the Kelpy...
sank her.
Something pressing down...
on my chest.
He needs a hospital right away.
Have you forgotten our plans, Lester?
Remember what you said? "We're gonna have it all."
Everyone to their own ward during bombardment. It's an order.
We'll talk again. I'll see you tomorrow.
Rock-a-bye, baby
On the treetop
When the wind blows
The cradle will rock
"May 1863"
Last night's coffee? At least let me warm it.
It's fine, Mary.
Saw that sergeant of yours.
Your leave's been cancelled, hasn't it?
Sergeant's saddling my horse. I have to report to headquarters now.
- Drat! - Watch your language, Mary.
Rebels.
Jeb Stuart's cavalry has cut off the B&O Railroad at Sykesville.
The Rebs have cut all the rail lines in this area, even the Gettysburg line.
Lee's armies are moving.
You're worried?
I am.
There's a big battle brewing. I can feel it.
- If we're caught without supply lines... - I understand, Jonas.
There's something else, Mary.
Stuart's cavalry has been spotted around Westminster.
That means the Rebs aren't too far from here. Listen.
If you hear the sound of cavalry or gunfire...
I want you to lock all the doors and go down to the cellar.
Take plenty of food and water, make sure that...
you don't come out until it's safe.
Promise?
I won't be too far away. Don't cry.
I'm trying.
It's just...
I love you so much.
I bet ya I love you more.
Captain Steele to see General Meade.
- Captain Steele to see General Meade. - Thank you, Corporal.
General Meade, Captain Steele to see you, sir.
Thank you.
General.
A battle's inevitable, Captain.
We lock horns with the Rebs tomorrow.
- Where, sir? - It's building up around Gettysburg.
Our supply lines are a shambles.
Yes, sir, I know.
There's a gleam of hope.
The Western Maryland Railroad. It's just a spur.
It runs between Baltimore and Westminster.
But isn't that a single track? I don't know if it can handle the traffic.
Neither do I, but General Haupt does.
He's a genius with railroads, Captain.
Find Haupt and report to him. He has a job for you.
- Yes, sir. - And remember this:
That 29 miles of single track...
may be the key to the battle.
Yes, sir.
Major, where can I find General Haupt?
He left during the night. He's down at the other end of the line.
How do I get there? Is there a train this morning?
How would I know?
We haven't got a telegraph.
If you want to make time, ride. Get a fresh horse in Reistertown.
Thanks.
Wait a minute.
Will you take a message to General Haupt?
What is it?
Tell him I'm down here with a hundred wagons, waitin' for supplies.
And I've got nothin' to give 'em. Nothin'. Tell him.
I'll tell him.
There are no sidings...
no way for trains to pass each other or to be turned around.
For the return trip, a train has to back up.
- Round trip takes eight hours. - That's only three trains a day.
Yeah, but I'm gonna send trains in convoy, Captain.
Five trains at a time. That's fifteen trains a day.
That's different.
You're gonna take this work train up the track just ahead of the convoy.
I'll give you a dozen railroad construction men who can fix anything.
There's one more thing.
Maryland is a slave state.
There are rebel sympathizers around.
I've had reports of armed bands of irregulars.
Watch out for them...
'cause they could blow the tracks or bury it in a landslide.
Also, there's a couple of small bridges they could wreck.
I understand, General.
You have a reputation for getting things done.
- Live up to it. - Yes, sir.
We'll get closer, then we'll put out the fire.
Move quickly and stay low.
Stay down!
Get the buckets!
Hurry! Hurry!
Over there.
Who's there?
Put down your gun, soldier.
A woman?
I know you can't see.
Water.
Please.
Let me hold it.
A woman's hand.
I wish I could see you.
Jonas.
Give me a hand here.
Move him easy.
Easy.
Help me over here, quickly.
Move 'em out!
Move 'em along now.
Let's go!
- What's the matter? - I don't know.
Something's wrong.
Report back to headquarters. I'll see you down the road.
Mary.
Forgive me, Mary.
You keep this...
until I join you.
And may I join you soon.
God shall wipe away all tears from your eyes...
and there shall be no more sorrow, nor pain, nor death.
Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Let not your heart be troubled.
If you believe in God, believe also in Me.
My Father's house has many mansions.
If it were not so, I would have told you.
I go to prepare a place for you, but My soul really told you.
I am the resurrection and the life.
He that believeth in Me shall never die.
He that believeth and liveth in Me shall never die.
The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.
He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul.
He leadeth me in the path of righteousness for His name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death...
I will fear no evil for Thou art with me.
Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.
Thou anointest my head with oil. My cup runneth over.
Fourscore and seven years ago...
our fathers brought forth on this continent...
a new nation...
conceived in liberty...
and dedicated to the proposition...
that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged...
in a great civil war...
testing...
whether that nation...
or any nation so conceived and so dedicated...
can long endure.
We are met on a great battlefield of that war.
We've come to dedicate a portion of that field...
as a final resting place...
for those who here gave their lives...
that that nation might live.
It is altogether fitting and proper...
that we should do this.
But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate...
we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground.
The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here...
have consecrated it...
far above our poor power to add or detract.
The world will little note nor long remember what we say here...
but it can never forget...
what they did here.
It is for us, the living, rather, to be dedicated here...
to the unfinished work...
which they who fought here...
have thus far so nobly advanced.
It is rather for us to be here...
dedicated to the great task remaining before us...
that from these honored dead...
we take increased devotion...
to that cause for which they gave...
the last full measure of devotion.
That we here...
highly resolve...
that these dead shall not have died in vain...
that this nation, under God...
shall have a new birth of freedom...
and that government of the people...
by the people...
for the people...
shall not perish...
from the Earth.
Number one, fire!
Number two, fire!
Number three, fire!
Number one, fire!
Number two, fire!
Number three, fire!
Number four, fire!
Cease fire!
What's up, Lieutenant? Sounds like a general cease-fire.
Well, it is, for an hour. Shelling stops three times a day.
The men have to eat.
The rest of the time we lob explosives into that city night and day.
- How long has it been goin' on? - Over a month now.
Did you know Vicksburg's full of women and children...
surrounded...
starving...
in a city that's being blown apart?
What the devil makes them so stubborn?
Oh, I forgot.
You wanted to go down to the trenches, didn't you?
Now is the time, during the lull.
Hey, Yank!
What's on your mind, Reb?
Why you comin' at us with that new ditch?
That's a military secret.
Yeah, I know, I know, but you can tell us.
When we get it dug, we're gonna flood it.
Then we sail our gunboats down here and blow hell outta ya.
Do you mind if I talk to the Reb?
He's all yours.
Hey, Reb!
- Is that General Stevenson's division? - What of it?
I've gotta talk to Corporal Matthew Geyser, artilleryman.
He's with the Virginia battery.
Who wants Matt Geyser?
John Geyser, his brother.
Stay where you're at.
Get down, son.
Get your heads down, Rebs. We're openin' up.
Cease fire!
Hold your fire!
Hey, Yank!
Matt Geyser's ready.
John Geyser's ready!
- What goes? - Brothers.
Come lookin' for me? How come?
We're brothers.
Last time I saw you, I called you a traitor.
I remember.
- Have you seen Emma? - I seen her once in Vicksburg.
Went to her house a month back.
Since then, her husband got himself killed.
She's alone in that city, or what's left of it?
She's alone...
except for the baby.
She had a boy.
Jesse.
Jesse?
Probably starving with the rest of 'em.
Ain't nothin' I can do.
Spread out thin up here.
- Nobody leaves the front lines. - You remember the address?
18 Newlet Street. What do you want it for?
- I don't know yet. - You can do me a favor.
Saved some money to send to Ma and Pa.
They probably need it.
We're surrounded. Ain't no way I can get it to 'em.
I'll see it gets mailed.
We're holdin' up the war.
I'm glad I saw you, Matt.
I got somethin' on my mind, John.
Probably won't say it right.
I've seen a lot of Yanks die for what they believe.
Killed two of ‘em myself up close.
There weren't no hate in it.
I've grown up some, I reckon.
I've learned a couple of things.
To respect a man who stands up for what he thinks is right...
even if I think he's wrong.
What I'm trying to say...
That day back on the farm, I never should have called you a traitor.
You just took a different fork in the road.
But you're right.
We're still brothers.
Get your heads down, Rebs!
Hey, John. How 'bout a drink?
That's a good idea.
Listen, Fred, I've got some mail here, some sketches and a letter home.
Can you put them in the general's pouch?
Sure can.
Kind of spruced up there, aren't you?
Just came from staff headquarters. The news looks good.
Grant just got word that Vicksburg's on its last legs.
They're starving, down to mule meat.
Yesterday, they went on quarter rations. They only got enough for six days.
They're running low on water. There's no drugs.
You don't look exactly overjoyed.
No, I got a sister in Vicksburg.
I'm sorry. I didn't know that.
As of yesterday?
Where does Grant get his up-to-date information?
Our courier came by today.
- What courier? - He's a Vicksburg man.
Spy, courier, smuggler.
He runs back and forth on dark nights in a dory and peddles us information.
You know where he is now?
Yeah, there he is...
gettin' ready for the return trip.
His name's Lamar.
We pay him off with whiskey, flour, drugs.
He takes it to Vicksburg and sells it at extortionist's prices.
Go back and get the rest of that stuff, and hurry it up.
All right, that looks pretty good. You can take this one out again.
- Where are you going? - To make a deal with Lamar.
John, the man's a scoundrel. He probably works for both sides.
- He's a real blackguard. - I know.
That's just the man I want.
Get the other half of the money ready, mister.
I'm gonna let you out in a couple of minutes.
You go a quarter a mile yonder.
You come to a road, you turn right...
and it takes you into town.
Why here? Where do you land?
At the city wharf.
City wharf? What about the authorities?
As long as I'm smuggling food...
I got no problems.
But when it comes to spies, oh, that's another kettle of fish.
I'm not a spy.
I don't give a damn what you say you are, mister...
as long as I get this.
Now, git!
Here comes another one!
Horse meat.
Must be the last horse in Vicksburg.
Get me a steak.
Lend me your knife after you're finished.
There's plenty left here for all of us.
Good morning, ma'am. Can I suggest you use the other side of the street?
What are you hiding, young man? Is that a dead horse?
Yes, ma'am. I'm afraid it's not a fit sight for the eyes of a lady.
Are you trying to do me out of my share?
- No, ma'am. I just thought... - Step aside.
Now, hold it, lady.
I'm gonna get me some of that meat.
On your feet, young man. You're not hit.
Do you have any wish to stay alive?
When you hear a shell coming at you...
would you please run away from it instead of toward it?
And if it bursts directly overhead, you stand still.
Yes, ma'am. I forgot.
A little panicky, I guess.
Did you follow me?
Well, I...
Really, I came to apologize.
After we were talkin' there by the dead horse...
I realized you were just trying to be polite.
I'm Mrs. Lovelace.
Is there anything I can do for you?
I'm lookin' for my sister on Newlet Street.
- Oh, what number? - Eighteen.
Come on.
That's 18, or what's left of it.
Jesse's.
What did you say your sister's name was?
Emma. She married a Vicksburg man.
Lester Bedell.
Emma Bedell.
I don't think I should trust you yet. What are you doing here?
You just arrived in Vicksburg, didn't you?
Just before the siege.
You didn't. You arrived yesterday or this morning.
You don't know how to dodge a shell.
You couldn't find your sister's house. You're new here.
Maybe you floated in on a log.
Others have done that.
So you ran the blockade, totin' that pack of food.
- Who said it was food? - I have a nose like a beagle.
If you starve for a little while, you can sniff food a mile away.
So you ran a blockade...
bearing food for your sister and her baby.
That's the way I see it.
Perhaps I should trust you, young man.
Will you give me your word as a Virginian...
that you are not a spy?
Miss Lovelace, I'm not a spy.
It's just as well. You couldn't fool a dead mule.
But you are a Virginian?
- You sniffed that out too? - I didn't have to.
Your accent is the same as Emma's, and she is a Virginian.
Yes.
I know Emma. I know everybody around here.
You know her? She's alive?
She's livin' in the caves.
You best eat that soup, child. It's all it is.
Do you have any food? We're desperate.
We'll pay anythin' you ask.
I have a little, but it's for my sister and her baby.
I understand.
Do you know her? Emma Bedell?
Three doors down.
Thank you.
- Emmy? - Who is it?
It's John.
Stay away from me!
How did you get here, blue belly?
We haven't surrendered.
Not yet.
Thank God for that.
How's Jesse?
He's fine.
I heard about your husband.
Lester?
Lester's dead.
- I'm sorry, Emma. - You're sorry?
You killed him! Get out!
Emma, don't you know who I am?
Oh, I recognize you all right. You're the enemy.
You killed my husband. You blew up my home.
You forced me to live underground like a stinkin' rat.
You're starvin' my child.
That's not true. Put the gun down.
- I brought food. - I won't take it.
There's milk for Jesse. It's fresh. It's just two days old.
- He'll die before I give it to him! - I'm not the enemy.
I haven't fired a shot against the South.
- Or against the North either. - That's true.
But that doesn't mean I killed your husband or blew up your house.
- Get out, traitor. - Not till I see my nephew.
You're gonna have to shoot me to stop me.
I brought a present for him.
You've had your way. Now, get out!
I declare.
Well, young man, it's good to see that you're able to do something well.
Did you find your sister?
Did you hear that terrible rumor?
Oh, it's true, Miss Lovelace. Vicksburg has surrendered.
- Oh, no! - They've stopped the shelling.
Well, we would never surrender.
Listen.
I just don't believe it.
Look at that shoreline. Makes your hair stand on end.
Yeah, that be the wilderness, mister.
That's the worst soil in Virginny.
Oh, a man can break his back tryin' to make a crop on it.
But nobody tries, not anymore.
Seventy square miles of it.
They call it "Satan's country."
You'll find a trail out there, if'n your eyes are good.
And you'll come out at the Orange Turnpike.
Thank you.
"Satan's country," he said.
You're mighty gloomy, my friend.
I haven't heard more than a grunt out of you in days.
Look, Jonas, I understand.
It's been almost a year since Mary was killed.
Some wounds time just don't heal.
Easy, soldier, easy!
- Did you fire that shot? - No, sir.
It was Fergie, Private Ferguson, sir.
Please come with me.
- What were you doing here? - Picket duty, sir.
I heard Fergie scream. I was too late.
Saber wound.
Skull's damn near split down the middle.
Body tied to the tree just after the kill.
It's just like the murder on the peninsula.
When you found the body, did you hear anything?
I heard someone makin' tracks...
and he was whistlin', he was whistlin' a tune.
Was it this?
That's it, sir.
I know it's him.
I'm gonna be meetin' up with him soon. I can feel it.
It's gonna be one hate-filled animal against another, and I'm gonna kill him.
I swear to God, I'll kill him.
John, over here!
Get the horses.
How 'bout a nice, warm whiskey?
Jonas, you know Fred Harrison, General Grant's staff.
- We've met. - General Grant here?
He's back at the ford. I'm here as his liaison.
Why did he bring the whole damn army into this hellhole?
Excuse me, gentlemen.
Captain, it's a matter of overall strategy.
We're out to win the war this summer.
We're pressurin' the Rebs everywhere we can...
all the way from the Shenandoah to Mobile.
General Sherman's in Georgia, movin' down the slope.
Butler's on the south bank of the James, threatening Richmond.
And we, the grand old army of the Potomac...
our job is to engage General Lee and the army of Northern Virginia.
Here in the wilderness?
Nobody fights a battle in a jungle. We're just marching through.
Six miles further up, it's open territory.
That's where we'll crush Lee.
Major, for three years now, we've been trying to do just that.
Why will this time be any different?
Lee's short on manpower. We have more of everything than he does.
Except maybe brains.
Really, Captain?
How do you know that he'll be waiting for us in your nice, open territory?
Because we expect him to be there, Captain.
He has to stay between us and Richmond.
Just one flaw, Major.
When was the last time General Lee did what we expected him to do?
General Meade, is there anything I can...
Listen.
What is that, sir?
That's the sound of an army moving in strength.
Lee's men aren't getting much sleep tonight.
Forty rounds for every man, Corporal.
Word is the Rebs are gonna fight for it right here.
In this mess?
That's what we're paid for.
Were you scared, Malachy, when you was a greenhorn?
Yup.
How'd you get over it?
Well...
they gave me a promotion by mistake.
After that...
I was more scared of being scared than I was of being shot at.
Company, forward!
March!
What'd he do that for?
Would you want your mother to know you play cards?
Heck no. What's my mom got to do with it?
If you get killed, they send your personal stuff home.
Mark Geyser.
May God go with you today.
Rebels coming this way.
Into the bushes!
Take cover!
- First squad, take cover to the right. - Second squad to the left.
First squad, move it!
- Rebels up ahead. - Set up your piece right here.
- On the road, sir? - Where else?
There's nothin' on wheels gonna move in that underbrush.
Rebels are massing on Plank Road.
We'd better inform General Grant.
Good morning, Jonas. What's the word?
General Griffin reports he's encountered strength...
a force at least as big as his own.
What's more, the Rebs are being reinforced.
You were there, Jonas. What do you think?
Well, sir, I think Griffin's run into Ewell's entire corps.
General Meade?
You still think Lee's fightin' a rear-guard action?
No, General, he's chosen to fight here.
I say let's throw the whole army of the Potomac at him.
I concur. Cancel the movement south.
I'll order Hancock to double back on Plank Road.
Jonas, you tell Griffin I'm sending Sedgewick to bolster his ranks.
Sir.
And I'd better move Warren.
Excuse me, General.
Fire one round.
Hold your fire.
You see anyone over there?
Can't see anything.
Fix bayonets.
Move out, boys.
Back!
Fall back!
Take cover. Follow me.