Abraham Lincoln Page #4

Just a moment, Mary, please.

After all the trouble we had getting here,

I must say we've had a very short stay.

Mary, I've hung up my hat right here,

and here it stays till

they knock it off with a bayonet.

From now on, Mary,

I'm going to run this war.

March! Halt!

Headquarters,

Post Number Four.

Halt! Guard.

Forward March!

Counsel of the accused,

have you nothing further

to say in defense of the prisoner?

The court finds you guilty

and the sentence death.

- Just a minute.

- The President... attentin!

You must pardon me,

gentlemen, for this intrusin.

I overheard one of our soldiers

sentenced to death.

Yes, Mr. President.

A bad example of cowardice and desertin.

Well, young man, tell me about it.

I think the findings

of the court were just, sir.

That all you have to say?

Sire, it was our first big battle.

We were trying to take a stone wall.

We'd been trying,

it seems, for years...

Go on.

Finally, though, we got there.

I was fighting bayonets.

We were all crazy...

on top of the wall...

Yes?

There was my boyhood chum,

looking up at me from the ground.

Not alive,

we had killed him a long time ago,

but I knew him.

And then?

I guess I went really crazy, sir.

That's all.

The captain reports

that you threw your rifle away.

Yes, sir. That must be right, sir.

Making excuses, Colton?

No, sir only...

get it over with, quick!

Hanging, killing, blood.

I'm tired.

But my generals are right,

we must maintain discipline.

That's all.

Wait a minute.

Bring that young man back.

I have it!

- It's a leg case.

- I beg your pardon, sir?

Leg case... yes, yes,

my shelves are full of them,

but not quite like this one.

If the Lord Almighty

gives a man a cowardly pair of legs,

and that man gets frightened,

he can't help his legs

running away with him, can he?

Young man, I'm going to pardon you.

Go back and do your duty.

Oh, I will, sir! I will!

I'm trusting you.

Well, Senator?

Mr. President, my state of New York

is crying out

against this endless slaughter.

And mine, sir.

They're holding services here today

for those who were sacrificed,

as they are everywhere.

From the East to the West, sir.

It can't go on, sir.

New England,the West,

the entire country are in mourning

for this useless waste of lives.

Let the Southern States

go there wat, Mr. President,

and we will go ours.

But I tell you, Mr. President...

- ... out of the wilderness,-

- out of the wilderness. -

- Old Abe Lincoln-

- came out of the wilderness,-

down in lllinois. -

Daddy, mother won't let me stay up.

She wants me to go to bed,

and I don't want to.

Don't you think it's time

for little boys to be in bed, Tad?

- But I want to stay with you.

- But your mother?

If you say so, she can't make me.

You're the President.

You're the only person in the country

who thinks I should have any authority.

- Run along now.

- No.

I want to stay with you.

Please, can't I, daddy?

No, we're very busy here now, Tad.

Run along.

All right, daddy.

- Goodnight.

- Goodnight.

Sleep tight.

Goodnight...

Gentlemen,

don't you suppose my heart bleeds

for all the sorrows

this war has brought upon us?

Do you suppose there is a human being

who wants peace more than I do.

But we want lasting peace,

and we can have that only

by preserving the Unin.

And, gentlemen...

the Unin is going to be preserved!

- And by virtue of the power,-

- and for the purpose aforesaid,-

- I do order and declare-

- that all persons held as slaves -

- within said designated states-

- and parts of states-

- are henceforward-

- and forever shall be... -

free. -

Well, gentlemen, it is done.

- More bad news, Hay?

- I'm afraid there is.

Well, let's have it.

The Secret Service

reports that there are 600.000

pperheads in the North and under cath and arme

- To get me?

- Yes.

That many ought

to keep me dodging.

We're taking

every precautin to guard you.

Where are they mostly?

Ohio has one 100.000 armed men

ready to rise up and depose you.

lllionois, 135.000.

lllinois,

my old stamping ground...

That makes me feel badly.

You mustn't tell Mary.

But Mr. President,

we are worried about you.

Don't mind me, Hay.

Go on to bed, you're tired.

Lincoln, come on to bed.

I'm worried, Mary.

You can't win this war worrying and

walking around in your stocking feet.

I can't sleep.

Neither can I. At least we could sleep

in Springfield, couldn't we?

Did we ever sleep?

Now, stand still.

I've got it, Mary.

I've found the man to win this war

and his name is Grant.

I'm sorry, Mr. President, but smoking

is one of my most persistent habits.

And winning victories is another.

Thank you.

Then you do believe in me, Sir?

I sent for you.

General, the North is desperate.

We need you.

And, should I assume command,

there will be no interference?

None. I promise you that.

Grant,...

Lieutenant-General is

the highest army command

the President can bestow.

We haven't had one

since General Washington.

He was a fair sort of a soldier too.

Lieutenant-General Grant,...

my orders are:
Win the War.

I'll give my best, Mr. President.

I know you will.

Unfortunately many of us

have failed to recognize

a great Confederate Soldier.

Lee.

On the other hand, we have thus far

failed to take advantage

of a great Northern Soldier.

I hope I am not too late

in correcting the error.

Mr. President,

I think it only fair to warn you

that many people, don't approve of me.

Nor of me.

But rest assured

there will be no interference,

no intrusin.

Well, of all things!

Who locked this door?

My wife!

All right, Mary.

Land sakes!

Where did all the smoke come from?

Mary, meet General Grant. Mrs. Lincoln.

- It's a pleasure to meet the first lady.

- Thank you.

- I want to talk to you. Mr. Lincoln.

- But Mary, we...

I want to talk to you about discharging

some of the servants in this house.

I don't see how anybody

could talk in here with all this smoke.

Why don't you open the window?

I can't stand it!

Pardon me, General.

I'll have to talk to you later.

- I'm very sorry if...

- There no apoligies, General.

You've given me an idea.

I may take up smoking myself.

But to resume, General.

We will give you

all the help you need.

Every man capable

of bearing arms shall go.

We've got to win this war.

It is a duty we owe

the South as well as the North.

It's a big job, Mr. President...

a big job.

but thy will be done.

Thy will be done.

We're in a tight place now.

Yes, we generally are, Stanton.

Everything depends upon Sheridan.

He's a fighting Irishman.

Then why doesn't he fight?

- One divisin Sheridan's -

- army routed. -

Now trying to hold left flank. -

Oh, the blood it takes

to hold this Unin together.

It will undo everything

Grant has done. It's hopeless.

I don't think so...

Before each victory I've had

a visin of a ship with white sails.

That visin has just conic to me.

With all respect,

I'd rather trade your ship

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