The Horse Soldiers

I left my love, my love I left

A-sleeping in her bed

I turned my back on my true love

Went fighting Johnny Reb

I left my love a letter

In the holler of a tree

I told her she would find me

In the US Cavalry

Hi-ho, down they go

There's no such word as 'can't'

We'll ride clean down to hell and back

For Ulysses Simpson Grant

Hi-ho, down they go

There's no such word as 'can't'

We'll ride clean down to hell and back

For Ulysses Simpson Grant...

...? I left my love, my love I left...

...? A-sleeping in her bed

I turned my back on my true love

Went fighting Johnny Reb

I left my love a letter

In the holler of a tree

I told her she would find me

In the US Cavalry

In the US Cavalry

Hi-ho, down they go

There's no such word as 'can't'

We'll ride clean down to New Orleans

For Ulysses Simpson Grant

General Hurlburt, by appointment.

General Hurlburt and Colonel Marlowe.

- Steve, come in.

Hello, Sam. Colonel Marlowe.

(exchange of greetings)...

General Sherman, Colonel Marlowe.

- How do you do?

Marlowe, I've been anxious to meet you.

It's a privilege, sir.

- Sit down.

Is this your first look at Vicksburg?

- Yes, sir.

We've been looking at it

for ten months, and we don't like it.

Colonel, for your benefit, the war on

our side hasn't been going well at all.

Not in Washington,

not in the newspapers, not in the field.

To put it mildly, with less men

and less resources,

the South has whipped us to a standstill.

(cannon fire)

Now, if I could take Vicksburg...

...the whole picture would change,

but I'd have to do it this summer.

Or sit out here another year.

Which might cost us 100,000 men.

It might cost us a war.

Which brings this talk to their main source

of supply - and a thorn in our side.

Newton Station.

- Sam.

Marlowe has worked out the details

of your plan pretty thoroughly.

If I could get back to La Grange

right away, we could leave by Thursday.

Good. Who would your people be?

My own First Illinois with Secord's

First Michigan and Second Iowa.

We'd be culled down to a short brigade.

Cross at La Grange, down through Ripley,

New Albany, Houston...

Is there something wrong, sir?

- I know the map. Proceed.

Anyway, the main trick is

no fighting until we hit Newton Station.

How much track do you figure to destroy?

As much as I can. At least enough

to keep them busy for a couple of months.

Otherwise, the raid would

just be another horse ride.

All right, Colonel, go ahead. All the rails,

ties, buildings, bridges, rolling stock.

Sam, even if he should

get through to Newton Station,

he'd be 300 miles dead centre

in the Confederacy.

Have you thought how you'd get back?

- Have you, sir?

Well, I guess I asked for that.

But I hate to think of you sitting it out

in Andersonville Prison.

It's a hellhole.

- I'd think about that twice, too, sir.

Well, Colonel, your success.

THE UNION CAVALRY DEPO AT LA GRANGE, TENNESSEE

All right, here is La Grange.

We will make 35 miles a day, average.

- 35?

It will be the first day, Ned.

I intend to make twice that distance.

In an operation like this,

everything is stretched.

Now, just hold on a minute, John.

Cutting the men's rations

from five days to three...

They'll have to live off the land eventually.

They might as well get used to it.

They seem excited. There's a rumour

they're headed for Nashville and a parade.

That was a good rumour to spread,

with the help of the Sergeant Major.

Thank you, sir.

- And, gentlemen,

I'll have to admit they had me fooled too.

You see, I was going to use my leave

to do a little electioneering back home.

You know, shake a few hands,

kiss a few babies.

You see,

I'm running for Congress this fall.

Well, there's 30,000 votes

at Andersonville, Phil.

I hope you don't get to shake

any of their hands.

Leaves are being cancelled, orders

to reshoe the whole blasted outfit,

and some of them shoes

ain't even shiny yet.

Yep.

I'm trying to figure out what's up. They've

been sitting under that tree all morning.

I heard some scuttlebutt about us being

pulled out for a big parade up North.

I figure we're heading for Nashville.

- That's to my liking.

A parade, and then leave.

Now this war is starting to shape up.

Where's the officers' conference?

- Over under that tree yonder, sir.

Thank you.

My apologies for being late.

- Understood.

Sit down, Major.

- I don't believe I know the Major.

I'm sorry.

Colonel Marlowe, Major Kendall.

How do you do?

- Glad to know you.

Major Kendall has just been

assigned to us by General Grant.

The Major seems to be out of uniform.

Where are your side arms, Kendall?

If you look in the book, you'll see

a surgeon doesn't carry them.

Surgeon? You cut out our artillery and

our wagons. Nothing to slow us down.

And now you saddle us

with a doctor and a medical unit?

Regulations, John. Kendall goes along.

Very well, sir. Any questions?

All I can say is I'm glad for some action.

- No glory hunting.

If anything knocks this into a cocked hat,

it'll be a firefight. Is that all, sir?

Logan, is Brady ready?

- Oh, a photograph.

Move away. Move back.

Are you ready for us, Brady?

Colonel. Sit down, Colonel.

Thank you very much.

- That's all right.

Sit down, Marlowe.

- No hats, please, gentlemen.

That's right. Nice and relaxed.

Now, roses are red, violets are blue,

the camera's looking straight at you.

Oh, I must have another one.

That man in the white coat moved.

That isn't all he'll be moving

before long. General, is that all?

That's all, gentlemen.

Thank you, Brady.

Thank you, General.

Thank you very much.

Sit down.

Colonel, I gather you're not too happy

about my going along.

I hadn't counted on you, that's all.

I can understand your reasons for trying

to avoid a fight, tactically speaking.

But you're going very deep

into enemy territory.

Tell me, what did you intend to do

about your wounded?

I intend to move, and move fast.

Those too badly shot up to carry on will

be left to the clemency of the enemy.

Civilian or military.

- Including yourself?

Naturally.

That's a pretty primitive attitude.

Medically speaking.

Well, Doctor,

war isn't exactly a civilised business.

Of course, I realise that it gives you

fellas a wider field of opportunity...

For experimenting, Colonel?

- I didn't say that.

Mitch.

- Yes, sir?

Give the doctor a full roster.

- Yes, sir.

Examine every man.

Throw out any man who - in your

unchallenged opinion, of course - is unfit.

Even those who might get sick

a week from today.

Look, I didn't ask

to be assigned to this mission.

I'm a military doctor. I've been ordered

to go and I'm going to do my job.

So get off my back.

Bugler.

- Yes, sir?

Get me Mitchell.

- Sergeant Major Mitchell's in the hospital.

How old are you?

- 32, sir.

Join that group.

Hang on, son. Here we go.

(yells)...

...(metal clanks)

This is going to hurt worse.

There. He'll be all right.

I got your sick list, Kendall.

- Good. I'm glad it's a short one.

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