Field of Lost Shoes Page #5

What are you doing here?

Don't break rank!

But you are, sir!

Let him help. What are

you doing, Jack?

Somebody needs help,

don't they?

Don't you worry. We're

gonna get you out.

Jack, take this side. Yeah,

pull her out!

Ready? Lift!

You okay?

Thank you.

Of course.

You all right, darlin'? Okay.

Don't you worry. We

gonna send help.

All right.

You're gonna be okay now.

I promise.

All right, boys!

We got a battle to fight,

remember?

Let's kill some Blues!

Let's go.

Thank God! Thought you had a

sudden attack of humanity.

Ah, it's gonna be all right.

Stand easy, men.

Do you have time for this?

If I might be asking them to lay

down their lives in the morning,

then I can surely make time.

Oh, right.

Cut your toe off.

Bet you you cut your toe off.

I'll grow it back.

Ahem!

Gentlemen.

John C. Breckinridge.

John Wise, sir.

Governor Wise's son?

Yes, sir.

I did not know you

were out here.

I have the privilege of

knowing your daddy.

He is an extraordinary man

and a very able general.

I'll send him a wire.

You have a message for him?

That I love him.

'Course you do.

All right, stand easy.

Sit down.

Sit down.

Well, purpose of this

little visit

is because it's my

fault you're here.

In many ways, it's my fault that

everyone is here in this valley,

'cause when I was

Vice President,

I tried to solve this problem,

and I...

I could not.

And now good men of the North

and the South will die here,

and I will have some difficult

decisions tomorrow,

some of which may

involve you.

So I'd like to know what you

think of the war,

what your plans are

for afterwards.

Young man?

We find ourselves invaded by

a conquering army

whom I must consider

foreign invaders.

Defending our homeland is

an imperative,

and I can't understand anyone

who thinks otherwise.

Who might you be, sir?

I'm Thomas Garland Jefferson,

sir.

Are you, indeed? Yes, sir.

Well, my family's

owned a plantation

for close to 150 years,

so I'm defending my

heritage and my future,

but that ain't the whole of it.

I believe folks of a

certain class

have a heavy responsibility.

We must use our position

to see that the common folk

among us are cared for.

Well, we common folks surely

do appreciate that.

I meant no offense, sir.

None taken.

Your good heart does you

credit, soldier.

Who's next?

Young man?

I think war is stupid and cruel

and nowhere near as necessary

as those leading the fighting

like to tell themselves.

I see.

And do you think I

could negotiate

our way out of this

thing tomorrow?

No, sir, not any more.

We will stand with

you and fight.

And what of your future?

All I know I really want

is to find the right woman,

settle down, provide somehow

for her and our children.

That sounds like a good plan.

I will fight Grant's bullies,

sir.

I thank you.

I tell everybody I'm going

to be a farmer,

but if Mr. Wise would let me,

I'd like to help him

be governor.

Is that so?

You seem very quiet, young man.

My family and my home

were burned.

I'll kill as many

Blues tomorrow

as God permits, sir.

Young man, I am truly

sorry for your loss.

This cadet here, his name

is Moses, sir.

He's a genius artist.

You should see his portraits.

I would like to try my

hand at sculpture.

It's a hard way to

make a living.

Yes, sir.

Look, I know that you

must be afraid,

and I know because I'm afraid.

We all are, but we must

all take strength

from your teacher,

Stonewall Jackson.

Do not take counsel

of your fears,

to which I would add,

do not let anger

ruin your lives.

This war will end,

I swear to you,

and you boys,

you're the future of

this country.

And having met you,

the future is bright.

So you all sleep well,

and God bless you tomorrow.

God bless all of us.

Duck, gather the boys.

Yes, sir.

Company, at attention!

Fall in on me!

Don't make me say it again.

I'm tired!

Bow your heads, gentlemen.

Heavenly Father, this morning,

we march into the valley of

death as brothers in arms.

Help us to be strong.

Help us to do our duty

for our mothers,

for our fathers,

for our sisters and for

our brothers,

wherever they may be.

Amen.

Amen. Amen. Amen.

Form 'em up, and move 'em out.

Company, fall in on me!

Left! Left!

Left, right, left!

Looky here!

You boys are babes in

arms we got!

Looky here.

You little boys want a

sugar rag to suck on?

Hey, does your mommy

know you snuck out

so early in the morning?

Poor little boys,

little old boys!

Poor boys.

Confederate infantry already?

Sir, General

Breckinridge just arrived

with the units of the

Virginia Cavalry

forming just south of the

village of New Market.

Bring the 34th

Massachusetts forward,

back from their

defensive positions.

Get the cavalry to go east

toward that mountain!

Where is Echols?

He's getting into position.

Calvary probes?

Already commenced.

Reserve units?

All in position,

including the cadets.

I want those boys at

the very rear.

You understand me? And I

want 'em protected.

Of course they are.

Everybody ready?

Fire!

Wake up the Yankees.

Time for breakfast.

Fire!

Forward!

Lay down your colors, Virginia!

Slow down!

Six paces behind the colors!

Battalion...

halt!

Halt!

Drop excess gear,

and prepare to march!

Drop gear!

And prepare to move out!

Put that on the ground.

Captain! Captain,

shall we advance?

No. He wants us to commit.

We will not take the bait!

Send this to Sigel!

Facing large combined

rebel force!

Immediate

reinforcements required!

Commence fire!

Wharton's brigade is in

position on the west side, sir,

commanding from the

hills to the Pike.

I can see that,

but I do not see Echols.

He has arrived, sir.

He's filling in on the east

side of the Pike as we speak.

Commence fire!

Libby! Help me, please!

No matter how many bandages,

there will never be enough.

Colonel Wharton, you

move your brigade

from your current position down

the hill at best speed

into that depression below

the Union artillery.

You'll be protected there.

You see it?

Yeah.

And take the reserve with you.

The cadets will be in

last position.

Under no circumstances

can they engage.

Send orders to the reserves

to conform their

movements with mine.

Men, move out!

Drop in!

Gentlemen, as soon as we go

over the crest of this hill,

I want you to drive your men

straight down into the valley.

You run like hell.

Go! Go! Go! Go!

Company, forward!

Forward, march.

Hit the front side

of that hill!

They can't reach us here!

Where the hell are

the reserves?

My order was for them to

conform to my moves!

One piece of luck.

Load shells! 2,000 yards!

Give 'em everything you've got!

Fire! Fire!

Run!

This is not a parade!

My God, they're

holding formation.

March!

Get back!

Close up!

Close up, battalion!

Forward, march!

Forward, march!

Mark time, battalion!

I'll be damned.

If I didn't see it with

my own eyes...

We're losing 'em

behind the house!

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