Glory Page #4

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what happens when your men see action.

A million and one.

Well, you'll want to see this.

Attention, company!

Rawlins, front and centre.

Sir!

Mr. Rawlins, this regiment was formed

with the promise...

...that only white officers would be

commissioned to lead.

Nothing was mentioned, however,

about noncommissioned officers.

Therefore, in recognition of initiative

taken not only for yourself...

...but on behalf

of the entire regiment...

...you are hereby awarded

the rank of sergeant major.

Congratulations.

- Thanks.

- Hip, hip, hooray!

Congratulations.

l ain't sure l'm wanting this, colonel.

l know exactly how you feel.

That right, honeys.

Ain't no dream.

We run away slaves

but come back fighting men!

Go tell your folks how kingdom come

in the year of Jubilee!

Who are these ragamuffins?

Contrabands.

Right out the fields.

- Old man, where from?

- Massachusetts.

You a march better than we,

like the buckra soldier.

- Beg your pardon?

- Says we march like white soldiers.

Even talk like the buckra soldier.

- Where you from?

- Round about here.

We slaves in the field when

the Yankee-men come, say we soldiers.

How you like the Army?

We love it. We thank the Lord

for the vittles and beautiful clothes.

Tell true, this year,

every day like Christmas.

- Like what?

- Like Christmas.

My country, 'tis of thee

Sweet land of liberty

Of thee I sing

Land where my fathers died

Land of the pilgrim's pride

From every mountainside

Let freedom ring

Splendid.

They've been working for weeks,

anticipating your arrival.

We're all excited

to have you here, Shaw.

Thank you, sir.

Lincoln's idea.

Hired New Englanders to teach our

coloured how to read and write.

Just your sort of people,

l should think.

The regiment

should enjoy their stay here.

l'm sure

we'll have a fine time.

But that's not why we're here.

Well, l can't promise you much action.

Having the coloureds around has

scared the bejesus out of the Rebs.

- Colonel Shaw?

- Excuse me.

l'd like you to meet

some of our instructors.

Dr. Thorpe of Salem.

- lt's my pleasure, sir.

- Pleasure.

- Dr. Rogers of Philadelphia.

- l know and admire your parents.

You do, sir?

Why, thank you, sir.

Shaw.

Meet Colonel Montgomery.

He's your brigade commander.

- Colonel.

- Honoured, sir.

Colonel Montgomery's

a real Jayhawker from Kansas.

The contraband regiment

is his brainchild.

You didn't think yours were

the only coloureds around, did you?

l did, actually.

Well, l'm sure they'll do just fine.

Have they seen any mischief?

No, sir.

l'm hiking a company to

the Georgia coast in the morning.

We'll be foraging for supplies.

l could use a hand.

That is, if you think

your men are up to it.

They are indeed, sir.

Good. Very good!

lt's a pleasure.

Good night.

Beg to report, colonel, sir.

The troop is fed and bedded down, sir.

Very good, corporal.

Pass the word along to A company:

We're going into action

in the morning.

Very good, sir.

Your men march handsomely.

My compliments.

Thank you, sir.

l am surprised at

how well you handle them.

l'm from Kentucky originally

and we owned a few ourselves...

...so it comes naturally to me.

You are from Boston, are you not?

lt is impossible

to imagine Boston with slaves.

Town's clean, sir.

Ain't no Rebs here, just some women.

Well, all right.

You hear that, boys?

Let's clear her out.

What are you doing?

Liberating this town

in the name of the Republic.

The musket, master colonel,

never shoot it. Shoot now?

Yeah, l don't see why not.

Go ahead.

Shoot the lady, boys!

Don't shoot!

We ain't Secesh here.

That man's a civilian.

That man is Secesh.

And Secesh is all the same, son.

Look at them.

You really think anybody's gonna

put these boys into some real combat?

Do you?

They're little monkey children,

for God's sake.

And you just gotta know how

to control them.

Please!

You see what l mean? Children.

Animals!

Leave her alone!

Hey, boy, take your hands

off the white lady.

That wouldn't have been necessary

if that woman hadn't started it.

They'll never learn.

You see, Seceshes must be swept away

by God's hand like the Jews of old.

And now l'll have to burn this town.

N*gger soldiers!

N*gger soldiers!

Tell your men to set torches

to fire the buildings.

l will not.

That is an order.

You'll do it or face charges

for disobeying a superior officer.

lt's an immoral order. By the

Articles of War, l'm not bound to obey.

Well, you can just explain that

at your court-martial...

...after your men

are placed under my command.

First squad, second platoon...

Fall out to set torches.

Prepare to fire the town.

First squad, second platoon.

Fall out!

What you looking at?

You think you better than me?

You think you my judge?

You ain't nothing.

Dear Father:
I need your help.

Despite my many requests,

it's clear that we're to be used...

...only for manual labour.

Morale is low, the men's good humour

darkened by idleness and despair.

Why keep drilling,

if they'll never be given...

... the opportunity

to prove themselves?

I've written to Governor Andrew

and the general staff in Washington.

But I feel that only a letter

directly from you to Lincoln himself...

...can have the desired effect.

I can think of no other course.

I am sure you both pray, as I do...

... that all this

has not been in vain.

Hey, it look like

we're going the wrong way.

Hey, come on now.

Buck up, boys.

Hey, buck up, now.

Come on.

Someday they gonna

let the 54th get into it, see?

And all your troubles'll be over.

Come on, now, cheer up.

What'd you say, boy?

Boy?

Hey, let me tell you-

- Shut up, Trip.

- Would you get up off me, snowflake?

See, let me explain something to you.

See, the way l figure...

This war'll be

over a whole lot sooner...

...if you boys just turn around

back down that way...

...and let us go

where the fighting is.

There are men dying up that road.

lt wouldn't be nothing but Rebs dying

if they'd let the 54th in it.

Listen-

As you were, Trip.

As you were!

You men move on.

Stripes on a n*gger!

That's like tits on a bull.

You're looking at

a higher rank, corporal.

Now, you'll obey and you'll like it.

- Make me.

- l'll make you.

- What the hell is going on here?

- Attention!

You.

What's your name?

l'm putting you up on charges.

Ain't no calls for that, sir.

What's that, sergeant?

Well, l mean,

it's just a soldier's fight, sir.

All right, you men move along.

Move it!

You men get back to work.

Back to work!

Let's go!

We'll see you again.

Go dig a latrine.

Go strum a banjo, boy.

l've got the guard.

Let me use your looking glass.

Thank you.

Yeah, button up that collar.

Suck in that gut.

Tuck in them big black lips.

Lighten your skin.

Shrink up that nose.

l don't have to listen to this.

Where you going, boy?

- Let me by.

- Let you by?

Let you by.

Let me tell you something, boy.

You can march like the white man,

talk like him...

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