Gods and Generals Page #4

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...was willing for you to take

whatever course you thought best...

...and was ready to help you

in it with all her heart?

"Little wife."

How could I ever have called you that?

Your spirit is vaster than oceans.

Then you wrote back.

And I have never forgotten what you said.

You said, "Well, dear, she is willing...

...and she feels that you know better

about the matter than she does."

But now...

...I never think I know better than you.

I couldn't bear for you to feel that you

must forever remain at a stand...

...just because you're married.

I always want to help you on

in your excelsior striving.

But I had a dream about you, Lawrence.

Last night.

While you were away,

offering your services to the governor.

I saw you in my dream.

There were boys in blue marching past.

Some of the boys that we know.

And there you were...

...riding ahead of them

on a great, white horse.

Fanny, my love, I felt I had to go.

I offered the governor my services,

wherever he wanted to place me.

I thought he'd probably order me

to an officer.

Speeches, administration.

Lawrence...

...I know you. When you do a thing,

you do it I'outrance.

So? He gave you

a commission, didn't he?

They need serving officers.

Five new regiments are being formed now.

Maine has already sent 15.

How could I refuse?

Poor Lawrence, damn you,

you'll be good at it too.

You'll be good at soldiering just like

you're good at everything else. So go.

Go do your duty to your country's flag...

...go on and get your medals for bravery,

go and get yourself killed.

That poem of Lovelace.

That beautiful, horrible, damnable,

lovely, sad poem.

I think that you recited it in my dream.

Lovelace. "Off to the English Civil War"?

I would not dare presume to quote it now.

Tell me not, sweet, I am unkind

That from the nunnery

Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind

To warlike arms I fly.

True, a new mistress now I serve

The first foe in the field

And with a sterner faith embrace

The sword, a horse, a shield.

Yet this inconstancy is such

As thou too shalt adore.

I could not love thee, dear, so much

Loved I not honor more.

You will be wounded.

You will be changed by the horrors of it.

But you will come home.

I believe that, my love.

You will come home.

Come in.

You must be Mr. Lewis.

There's some that calls me Uncle Jim.

Some calls me Big Jim.

Some folks just calls me Jim.

I don't suppose you've heard

any of the names I get called?

I heard Stonewall once.

That name properly belongs to the

- They were the ones who earned it.

- Some folks says otherwise.

Folks say men can't fight without

nobody up front to lead them on.

- I'm told you're a first-rate cook.

- Yes, sir.

They wasn't lying, told you that.

Whatever you likes to eat, I can cook it.

Pan-fry, griddle, boil, bake. Roasted.

And I understand you're

from Lexington.

You come highly recommended

to me, Jim.

Lexington is my home, general.

Same as yours.

If I could do my share

in defending my home...

...I'd be doing the same as you.

I heard it was Napoleon hisself said:

"An army can't march

but on its stomach."

Well...

If you love your country...

...fear the Lord...

...and have no trouble getting up at

Yous got yourself a deal, general.

Sir.

My darling esposita.

Welcome to Winchester.

Thomas.

- Come in out of the cold.

- Why, thank you.

I have been thinking, Thomas...

...that it may have been a blessing

the Battle of Manassas...

...was fought on my birthday.

Why is that?

In our old age, you will never forget it.

I will forget my own

before I ever forget yours.

Oh, Anna.

Anna.

What is it, Tom?

What?

Everything in this life seems so fragile.

So temporary.

When we are separated, I fear...

...I will never see you again.

I fear we may never have a child.

I fear I may lose you

if we dare to have a child.

I know I should trust in the Lord...

...but then I see the face

of my dear mama...

...of my first wife, dead and cold.

With our dead daughter.

Dead before she could draw

her first breath in this world.

And I am afraid.

And I am afraid to feel happiness.

Afraid to hope for it again.

I am afraid of God's judgment.

We serve a loving God, Thomas.

We are in each other's arms.

We are together,

and we are happy together.

And is our love not proof of his?

We must not fear, Thomas.

We will survive this war.

And we will have a child.

So help us, God.

This is a hell of a regiment.

Men of the 20th Maine Regiment

of Volunteers...

...this is your commanding officer,

Colonel Adelbert Ames.

Quiet! Quiet!

You do not cheer an officer.

You salute him.

for the enthusiasm...

...that has made you volunteer

for service in Lincoln's Army.

I can see that many of you

are strong and fit.

We Maine men know that

life in the woods of Maine...

...toughens the muscles

and stretches the sinews.

I've no doubt many of you

have become good shots by hunting deer.

But tough muscles and skillful shooting

are not enough to make a soldier.

That requires discipline.

Major Gilmore tells me you are in the habit

of holding discussions with your officers.

That will cease from now.

An officer's orders are to be obeyed

instantly and without question.

This regiment must learn

to move as one man.

Otherwise we will all be killed.

Sergeant Tom Chamberlain

reporting for duty, sir.

Tom, what on earth...?

What are you doing?

I signed up, Lawrence, I'm in this

regiment. I'm coming with you.

Did Father approve?

How will he run the farm?

Once he heard you were colonel,

he couldn't say no.

Besides, you know him,

he'll be all right. They both will.

I'm giving them one less thing to cuss at.

Mama said so many prayers for the both

of us, we got nothing to worry about.

Well, I guess I have one more

responsibility. I have to look after you.

Me?

Lawrence, Mama told me

to watch after you.

Line of battle consists of two lines

of men, one behind the other...

...so that while one line fires,

the other reloads.

Behind them is a line of file closers.

Lieutenants and sergeants.

But two lines make a regiment

unwieldy on the move...

...so we need to switch

to column of fours.

We need to be able to change from

column of fours to line of battle...

...and back again quickly.

It is not difficult to move from line

of battle into column of fours.

It is harder to move from

column of fours into line of battle...

...and if we're called to make that move,

it will be when we're under fire.

You understand how important it is that

these moves are learned so thoroughly...

...that the men can perform them

in their sleep.

Company...

...halt!

Company, front!

Order arms!

Well done, colonel. That's a beginning.

But that move must be practiced

and practiced and practiced.

Another month and we'll be ready.

But we leave for Washington tomorrow.

Shoulder arms!

Company, forward march!

Morning to you, sir.

Colonel Ames sent me to get you.

- Said you might be needing a drop of this.

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