Gods and Generals Page #7

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and Ransom's division...

...along and below the ridge

of Marye's Heights...

...with Cobb's brigade dug in down

on the road behind that stone wall.

Now, to their right, is General McLaws...

...and further down in the woods

and to the right, Pickett and Hood.

General Hood is my right flank.

He's connected in those heavy trees

over there with General Jackson's left.

Up here on the Heights,

we have the Washington artillery...

...Colonel Alexander's batteries

and support.

It's a strong line, general.

Very well.

General Jackson, would you please extend

the line for us?

General A.P. Hill is on the left,

adjoining General Hood.

Position is supported by General Taliaferro

and General Early.

Now to the right flank and behind

is D.H. Hill.

We've built a road behind our lines

running the entire length.

We can move troops as is necessary.

If the enemy penetrates our lines

at any point...

...the reserves, Taliaferro and Early,

can move rapidly to a new position.

If the enemy attempts to cut our center...

...or if General Pickett is pressed,

we can change positions, sir.

Good, very good.

General Stuart, are you in a strong position

for protecting...

...General Jackson's flank?

Oh, yes, sir.

We're covering the enemy from the river,

as far out as our own lines.

If the Yankees move down river or

threaten to turn General Jackson's line...

...we can block their advance

until the line is moved.

Very well. Gentlemen,

these deployments are sound.

The rest is in God's hands.

- Amen.

- Amen.

In the Roman civil war...

...Julius Caesar knew he had

to march on Rome itself...

...which no legion was permitted to do.

Marcus Lucanus left us a chronicle

of what happened.

How swiftly Caesar had surmounted

the icy Alps...

...and in his mind conceived

immense upheavals, coming war.

When he reached the little Rubicon,

clearly through the murky night...

...appeared a mighty image

of his country in distress...

...grief in her face...

...her white hair streaming

from her tower-crowned head.

With tresses torn and shoulders bare,

she stood before him and sighing, said:

"Where further do you march? Where

do you take my standards, warriors?

If lawfully you come, if as citizens,

this far only is allowed."

Trembling struck his limbs.

And weakness checked his progress,

holding his feet at the river's edge.

At last he speaks.

Oh, thunderer...

...surveying great Rome's walls

from the Tarpeian rock.

Oh, Phrygian, house gods of lulus...

...clan and mysteries of Quirinus

who was carried off to heaven.

Oh, Jupiter of Latium, seated

in lofty Alba and hearths of Vesta.

Oh, Rome, equal to the highest deity,

favor my plans.

Not with impious weapons

do I pursue you.

Here am I, Caesar...

...conqueror of land and sea,

your own soldier everywhere...

...now too if I am permitted.

The man who makes me your enemy,

it is he will be the guilty one.

He broke the barriers of war

and through the swollen river...

...swiftly took his standards.

When Caesar crossed the flood

and reached the opposite bank...

...from Hesperia 's forbidden fields,

he took his stand and said:

"Here, I abandoned peace

and desecrated law.

Fortune, it is you I follow.

Farewell to treaties.

From now on, war is our judge."

Hail Caesar.

We who are about to die salute you.

General Zook!

Move your brigade forward!

Left wing, forward march!

Steady, boys, steady.

You'll soon be forward.

Is that to be

General Meagher's position?

He's enjoying the privilege of an officer.

Protecting the rear.

He's got a lame knee, for pity's sake.

Fair enough.

Someone's got to keep Burnside company.

Quiet in the ranks!

Shoulder arms!

Colonel.

Battalion! Shoulder arms!

Shoulder arms!

Left face!

High-file right...

...march!

Come on, boys! Show them the cold steel!

Irish brigade, move out!

Irish brigade, at the double-quick...

...forward march!

Front and center!

Double column, boys! Form up!

Forward!

Keep moving!

That's the Irish. What are those boys

doing fighting in blue?

Don't they know we're fighting

for our independence?

Did they learn nothing

at the hands of the English?

They're Reb Irishmen.

They're our brothers.

They've been misled to their fates.

Do your duty!

Steady, men! Steady!

Men, do your duty!

Battalion, halt!

Ready!

Aim!

Fire!

Load them up, boys, load them up!

Ready!

Aim!

Fire!

Load! Load! Load!

Ready!

Aim!

Fire!

Fall back! Fall back, men!

Now move! Move!

Go to hell! Go to hell and damnation!

Move, boys!

Lie down here!

Lie down and load!

Lie down and load!

Load!

Load and fire!

Quickly!

Blaze away, lads!

Do it, boys!

Fire, boys.

Keep firing, men! Keep firing!

Fall back!

Fall back, lads!

Every man for himself!

Fall back, men!

- Caldwell's brigade, forward! Now!

- Yes, sir!

At the double-quick! March!

- General Armistead.

- Afternoon, General Pickett.

See that last charge

by Meagher's brigade?

Those fellas deserved a better fate.

Their bravery is worthy of a better cause.

My heart stood still as I watched it.

I would not have believed

that mortal men...

...could march into the face

of such destruction.

General Longstreet...

...those people committing more

fresh divisions at your lines...

...their mounting numbers

may overwhelm our defense.

Sir, if they put every man they have

on the field to approach me...

...give me plenty of ammunition, I'll

kill them all before they reach my line.

Nevertheless,

we must be prudent, general.

We must never ignore the unknown

or the unpredictable.

Yes, sir. I'll take the necessary measures.

Orders!

Send orders to Ransom's Tar Heels

to advance his division...

...and to Kershaw to bring up his brigade

to support Cobb at the wall.

Yes, sir!

Forward, men!

Load! Five-second fuse!

She burst! The barrel burst!

- Stretcher!

- General Lee, you all right, sir?

- Sergeant! Call for the surgeon! Quickly!

- Here I go. Help me up, boys.

It's not yet our time, gentlemen.

Not yet our time.

Brigade, halt! Form by battalion!

Pass them forward.

Just load and pass them forward!

...halt!

It is not difficult to move from

line of battle into column of fours.

It is much 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 are under fire.

You understand how important it is that

these moves are learned so thoroughly...

...that the men can perform them

in their sleep.

Seems a terrible long distance up that hill.

It'll be shortened by those in the front.

Begging your pardon, sir.

The only thing that'll be shortened

by those in front is their lives.

God help us now.

- Colonel, take care of the right wing.

- Yes, sir. I'll watch them, sir.

Hail Caesar.

We who are about to die salute you.

- Forward!

- Forward!

- March!

- March!

By the right of companies,

to the front! March!

Right of companies to the front! March!

Form a line, boys! Form a line!

Form up a line! Form up a line!

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