Field of Lost Shoes

Based on a true story.

Every year a parade is held at 1006

to honor cadets who gave their lives

at a turning point during the

American Civil War.

On May 15, 1864 seven friends marched

into the Battle of New Market

only four came out.

When I was 12 years old,

my father was the

Governor of Virginia.

And none of us knew it

at that time,

but our world was

about to explode

over the issue of

slavery in America.

My father's heart had long

since changed on the topic,

and one night, he took

me to a place

that would forever

change my own.

Reading theEnglishman again?

Will I be shot for treason,

Father?

Most likely.

Another one of those long

titles, is it?

"The Personal History,

Adventures, Experience,

"Observation of David

Copperfield,

the Younger of

Blunderstone Rookery... "

asdasdasd

You read it.

Guess that's why it's here.

Suppose so.

Get your coat, John.

We're going to take a

little ride.

I don't think I like these

surprise trips anymore, father.

'Cause they're usually

lessons in life?

Exactly.

Well, tell me about the play

your mother took you to

in Philadelphia.

You mean "Uncle Tom's Cabin"?

And why have we not

talked about it?

Because we'll disagree,

and disagreeing with you is

so disagreeable.

Your mother said you were

not impressed by it.

Think it's all made up

by the people who

don't like us.

Yes. Well,

there's lots of those

in Philadelphia.

All right, ladies

and gentlemen!

We are about to get started!

Step on up! Step on up!

You're gonna love what we have

in store tonight!

I'm holding at 275...

A slave auction.

Doubtless those people

in Philadelphia

would not approve.

Sold at $300.

You're not coming?

John, I have never known

you to need help

making up your own mind.

...for tonight's bidding.

These slaves are trained

by some of our most

respected citizens

in the central Virginia area.

Oyez! Oyez!

Step on up, ladies

and gentlemen!

Sale's about to begin!

A fine lot of slaves

belonging to the estate

of the late Colonel William

Jasper of Amelia,

sold in no fault, but to

sell the estate!

We got all kinds.

Old ones, young ones,

men and women, gals and boys!

And as some of you may

or may not know,

Colonel Jasper's

plantation slaves

made him a pretty penny for

the last 20 years!

Gentlemen, what we have to

offer here is so damn good,

old Mr. Lumpkin even up and

married one of 'em!

You won't find the mark of a

whip on a one of 'em!

We're not talking

some low-class

Louisiana branding-iron stock!

We got the best slave stock

from all of central

Virginia here tonight!

Colonel Jasper's staff represents

the finest stock in the state!

This is the best group of

dining room servants,

farmhands, cooks, milkers,

seamstresses, washerwomen,

and the most promising group of

sassy young females

just ready to breed.

Martha Ann is the favorite

of the household.

Perfectly healthy, no

blemish at all.

Look at that complexion.

I offer Martha Ann at a

reduced price,

because it is the wish

of all concerned

to keep them together. Now,

Israel here

is not what you would call

an able-bodied man,

having broke his leg

in the field,

which didn't

exactly mend right,

but he can do all sorts

of light work,

and you can have him and the

young'uns mighty cheap!

Masters, if you'll buy me,

the children and Martha Ann,

God knows I'll work

myself to death.

Come on.

No bids at all?

400. Do I hear 450?

Come on, people, 450!

Look at her! He can work!

This is one of the

best slave lots

we're gonna see all night,

ladies and gentlemen!

400 going once.

400 going twice. Sold!

Will you take Israel and the

young'uns with her?

No. I'm lucky to be able to

afford one as it is.

I don't need no more mouths

to feed than hers.

No, please!

No!

Don't leave me!

Don't take me!

You'll have more children,

missy.

Come on! No! Israel!

No! Israel!

Ladies and gentlemen...

Five years later, the Civil War

began closing in on the

Shenandoah Valley,

the place that was home to

the military school

my father had sent me

when he became a general in

the Confederate Army.

I was 17 years old and in

my second year

at the Virginia

Military Institute.

Whoo! Johnny Wise!

Always in a hurry!

You think he'll do?

He's a rabbit, a mouse.

And he's perfect,

like he shipped

straight from heaven.

Round up the boys.

All right.

Good morning, young sir.

Let me give you a hand

to the barracks.

But, sir, you're an

upperclassman.

This is true. One day,

you will be

magnificent yourself,

somehow find a way to

repay my kindness.

Well, imagine this.

A welcoming committee.

Robert, come on and meet

some of the boys.

This here's Duck.

Let's get you unpacked.

Oh...

And this is Jack Stanard,

a real soldier and a

hard man indeed.

You want to grow up

and be a man,

you pay attention to

him and not me.

You looking for an easy ride,

you come to the wrong place.

This handsome creature is

our resident Jew.

His name is actually Moses,

and he's an artist.

He's got the best

heart of the bunch

if you ever need to cry on

somebody's shoulder.

We'll start by me telling you

all about Sammy here so you

can protect yourself.

Couldn't

you do one of them,

but without the clothes?

Uh-oh. What have we here?

W-What's that?

Well, that looks like

food to me, son.

Anybody tell you there's

a war going on?

Concealed foodstuffs,

that's contraband.

Clear violation of

Institute regulations.

Immediate dismissal.

Might even be criminal.

Oh, Bobby, how could you?

Cadet Stanard, could

you please fetch

the Officer of the Day?

I-I don't know how

it got there.

This is Cadet

Garland Jefferson,

Officer of the Day,

whose jurisdiction

covers this matter.

And since his family are

direct descendants

of Thomas Jefferson and own the

eighth-largest plantation in all...

That'll do, Atwill.

Now, if I take charge, this

goes to the faculty,

which ends horribly

for the boy.

Oh, please, sir.

Could we have Duck

fetch John Wise?

Handle this within

the barracks?

Bobby, this is John Wise,

our unofficial

Chief Magistrate.

Now, his father was once

governor of this Commonwealth,

so he is as close to an aristocrat

as you can find in a democracy.

Look me in the eye, son.

Tell me the truth as if your

very life depended on it.

Did you do this?

No, sir.

I swear on my father's soul.

I believe this child.

I ask that we be allowed to

settle this here.

All right.

You understand, son,

if this gets out,

it could be bad for

Cadet Jefferson.

Therefore, there must be

some evidence of punishment.

Will you submit to a caning?

Yes, sir,

and thank you for

being so merciful.

Take your shirt off.

First-year cadets are

known as rats.

You are a rat.

But you're a special rat,

you understand?

You're my rat.

You're under my protection

and under the

protection of all here.

Are you with us, Robert?

O-Oh, yes.

Oh, yes, sir.

I want you always to remember

the horrible

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