Gods and Generals

Blair: Allow me to get to the point, sir. I have been authorized by President Lincoln himself, with the full blessing of the War Department, to offer you full command of the Army with the rank of major general, this army being raised to quell this rebellion, and of course to preserve the Union. Lee: I assume this army is to be used to invade those areas to eliminate the rebellion by force? Blair: Yes, sir. The federal government has been challenged by these rebels, who have been most effective in changing the sentiments of various state legislatures, challenging our Constitution, and challenging our central government. The attack on Fort Sumter cannot be ignored. Lee: General, my home is right there across the Potomac; why, you can see Arlington House from your front door. My family is spread all over this part of Virginia. If you invade the South, your enemy territory will be there right across that river. Blair: Well, sir, there is no great outcry for secession in Virginia. It's not

Gods and Generals (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Jackson: I understand from your record that you are West Point, class of '54. Served since in the cavalry, Fort Clark, Texas. Operations against Apache, Comanche. Most impressive, you are a native Virginian. Stuart: Fought with Longstreet and Ewell, sir. Nasty business. Merciless climate. Glad to be home, sir. The Apache were defending their homes, as we will be defending ours. If we fight as well as the Apache, I pity the Yankee invader. Jackson: Colonel Stuart, if I had my way, we would show no quarter to the enemy, no more than the redskins showed your troopers. The black flag, sir. If the North triumphs, it is not alone the destruction of our property; it is the prelude to anarchy, infidelity, the ultimate loss of free and responsible government on this continent. It is the triumph of commerce - the banks, factories. We should meet the Federal invader on the outer verge of just and right defense, and raise at once the black flag. No quarter to the violators of our homes and firesid

Gods and Generals (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Kilrain: Mornin' to ya, sir. Colonel Ames sent me to get ya. Thought you'd be needin' a drop o' this. [offers Chamberlain a mug of coffee] Chamberlain: [gratefully] Oh, thank you. Uh... Kilrain: Kilrain, sir, Sergeant Kilrain. Glad to be of service. You know, Colonel...the boys, well...we've been watchin' you, sir. That we have. You've learned fast. It's becomin' a pleasure to serve under ya. Chamberlain: Yes, well, thank you. Are you a veteran, Sergeant? Kilrain: Aye, sir. I suppose you could say that. Did me duty in the regular army for a while. Did the great long walk with General Scott down south of the Rio Grande. Chamberlain: Some of the men you fought with in Mexico are on the other side. Almost all of their generals. Kilrain: Oh, it gets worse than generals, Colonel. Some o' the lads that I left Ireland with are on the other side as well. Imagine that. We left together to escape a tyranny... and end up shootin' at one another in the land of the free. Chamberlain: I, too, have f

Gods and Generals (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Confederate soldier: Hey, Billy Yank! That's a mighty nice song. Union soldier: Pleased you find it so agreeable. Confederate soldier: I'd like it even more if I had some coffee to wash it down. You want some 'baccy? Union soldier: Sure, Johnny. Have you got a lame horse? Confederate soldier: ...What'd you be wantin' to trade for a lame horse? Union solider: Would you take General Burnside? Confederate soldier: [laughs] No, I guess I'll keep the horsehide. C'mon and get your 'baccy.

Gods and Generals (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Couch: Excuse us, General Burnside, General Hancock has some information you may find useful. Burnside: Yes, General Hancock, a pleasure. Sumner, come, we have visitors! Couch: Sir, General Hancock reports the river can be forded a short way up stream. There'd be no difficulty crossing. With your permission, we can move right away. Burnside: General Hancock, I certainly appreciate your efforts at reconnaissance, but this possibility has been considered... and rejected. The pontoons will be here any time now, and then we'll be able to cross not only the men, but the wagons and supplies as well. It would be foolhardy to send the men without the wagons, without the big guns- Hancock: Excuse me, General, but am I correct in my observation that there's little force opposing us across the river? Burnside: Yes, General, you are absolutely correct. For once, we seem to have caught old Bobby Lee by surprise. Hancock: Well then, sir, if I may suggest...isn't it possible General Lee's moving this

Gods and Generals (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Hancock: They've occupied all the buildings along the riverfront. Our boys will be lining up those pontoon bridges under a hail of lead. Once across, the rebs are sure to make us pay for every block. Beyond the town is the canal, which cuts across this open field - a field we'll have to cross to reach their entrenchments on Marye's Heights. [sarcastically] Another difficult obstacle in the face of artillery fire. Couch: Down to our left, we could push through. Turn Jackson's lines, push him back, trap Longstreet on top of the hill, surround him. It's possible. Hancock: Turn Jackson's lines? No, General, we'll meet them head-on...and it'll be a bloody mess. We'll march up to that hill over there, and we'll eat their artillery fire all the way across this field. Hancock: [moves away from the table, sits down and pulls out a cigar] But the important thing is, we'll be able to look at ourselves in the mirror and say, "We're good soldiers. We did what we were told." And if we're not success

Gods and Generals (film), CC BY-SA 4.0