Quotes

Other

[praying aloud] Tomorrow we goes into battle. So Lordy, let me fight with the rifle in one hand and the Good Book in the other. So that if I may die at the muzzle of the rifle...die on water, or on land, I may know that you blessed Jesus almighty are with me...and I have no fear. Amen.

Other

Give'em hell 54th!

Dialogue

Army Surgeon: Heard the latest? Captain Robert G. Shaw: What's that? Army Surgeon: Well, I heard it from a friend who's a dispatch rider, who got it from a friend of his who's one of Stanton's clerks in the War Office. He says Lincoln is gonna issue an Emancipation Proclamation. Gonna free the slaves. Captain Robert G. Shaw: What? Army Surgeon: Well, maybe not the ones in the border states or somethin', I don't know, but he's gonna free some of 'em, anyway. Captain Robert G. Shaw: My God. Army Surgeon: Yeah, he said he would have done it sooner, only he was waiting on a big victory, which is, I guess what this is.

Dialogue

Francis Shaw: Robert. Governor Andrew, you know my son, Robert. Governor John Andrew: [shakes Robert's hand] Yes, good to see you again, Robert. Captain Robert G. Shaw: Governor Andrew. Francis Shaw: [gestures to Douglass] Robert, have you met Frederick Douglass? Captain Robert G. Shaw: Mr. Douglass. Governor John Andrew: I understand you were Antietam. Captain Robert G. Shaw: Yes. Governor John Andrew: A great and a terrible day. Well, I could use your help, Robert. Francis Shaw: The governor is proposing to raise a regiment of negro soldiers. Governor John Andrew: No, no, no, it was not just my idea. Mr. Douglass and some of us... Frederick Douglass: We will offer pride and dignity to those who have known only degradation. Sarah Shaw: Colored soldiers, Robert. Just think of it. Captain Robert G. Shaw: Wonderful. Governor John Andrew: I've submitted your name, Robert, to be commissioned colonel of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry. Captain Robert G. Shaw: Thank you, governor, that's...I

Dialogue

Trip: Wait, no. That's my space, nigger. I sleep better close by the door. Thomas Searles: Well, if you don't mind, I'd prefer a space where there's more sufficient reading light. Trip: Oh, I like it when niggers talk good as white folk! Thomas Searles: I'd be happy to teach you. It would be my pleasure. Trip: Hey, listen here, snowflake, I ain't got nothin' to learn from no house nigger, you hear? Thomas Searles: I am a free man, as was my father before me. Trip: Oh, you free, huh? Then move your free black ass out my space, before I have to bust it up!

Dialogue

Sergeant Mulcahy: For God's sake, man! Do you not know your right from your left? Jupiter Sharts: [stammers] N-No, sir. Sergeant Mulcahy: How many here do not know right from left? [several men raise their hands] Jesus, have pity. [slaps Sharts on the chest] This is your front! [slaps him on the back] This is your rear! [stomps on Sharts' right foot] This is your right! And this- [Sharts raises his left foot as Mulcahy is about to stomp on it] Now you're learning, boy-o. Company! Forward, march!

Dialogue

Colonel Robert G. Shaw: Sergeant Major! Sergeant Mulcahy: Sir! Colonel Robert G. Shaw: At ease, Sergeant. Sergeant Mulcahy: Sir. Colonel Robert G. Shaw: I have no doubt you are a fair man, Mulcahy. I wonder if you are treating these men too hard. [Mulcahy hesitates to speak.] You disagree. You may speak freely. Sergeant Mulcahy: [referring to Searles] The boy's your friend, is he? Colonel Robert G. Shaw: We grew up together, yes. Sergeant Mulcahy: Let him grow up some more.

Dialogue

Colonel Robert G. Shaw: You're a good shot, private. Jupiter Sharts: Thank you, sir. Squirrel hunting. Colonel Robert G. Shaw: You ever killed a man? Jupiter Sharts: No, sir. Colonel Robert G. Shaw: But you're handy with a gun. Jupiter Sharts: Yes, sir. Colonel Robert G. Shaw: Reload. [Sharts slowly starts to reload his rifle] Faster. [Sharts continues reloading] Faster. Faster! [Sharts finishes loading, and fumbles for a fuse cap] Discharge your weapon. Discharge your weapon. Do it! [Sharts takes aim, and fires] Now do it again, only this time, I want it done quickly! [to the other men] A good man can fire three aimed shots in a minute. Major Forbes, give me your Colt revolver. Major Cabot Forbes: What? Colonel Robert G. Shaw: Your gun. Give it to me. [Forbes hands Shaw his pistol, and he turns back to Sharts who is still reloading his rifle] Faster. [Sharts takes aim and fires again] Reload. Quickly! Faster! [Shaw fires the pistol] Faster! Load. [fires] Faster! [fires] Do it! DO IT!!

Dialogue

Major Cabot Forbes: Why do you treat the men this way, Robert? Colonel Robert G. Shaw: How should I treat them? Major Cabot Forbes: Like men? And what about Thomas? Why are you so hard on him? Colonel Robert G. Shaw: He's not a very good soldier. I'm getting these men ready for battle. Major Cabot Forbes: Robert. They're already good as the 7th ever was. They march well, they're disciplined. Colonel Robert G. Shaw: No thanks to you. Major Cabot Forbes: I beg your pardon? Colonel Robert G. Shaw: You heard me. Major Cabot Forbes: Who do you think you are, acting the high-up colonel?! You seem to forget, I know you. And so does Thomas. [starts to walk off] Colonel Robert G. Shaw: Forbes! If you don't believe in what we're doing here, maybe you shouldn't be part of it. Major Cabot Forbes: Part of what? Huh?! [imitating Mulcahy] "Left, right! Left, right! Little finger along the seams of yer trousers!" [normally] Marching is probably all they'll ever get to do, Robert. Colonel Robert G. Sha

Dialogue

Sergeant Mulcahy: Thrust! Develop! Guard! [walks past Jupiter Sharts] You're not a dancing school son, take his head off! Thrust! Develop! Guard! [walks to Thomas Searles] Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, what have here? Bonny Prince Charlie and his little toy bayonet. Your not reading your books now. Go on, go on, get over here, get over here. Now stab me. Thomas Searles: What? Sergeant Mulcahy: Stab. Me. [Searles half-heartedly prods with his bayonet. Mulcahey sweeps it aside disdainfully.] Stab, not tickle! Hit me! [Searles again lunges with the bayonet] Come on! You prissy little schoolgirl, you're the worst Soldier in this whole company, now hit me![Thomas lunges with his bayonet, Mulcahy deftly grabs his weapon and viciously knocks him to the ground with it.] No shame son, get up. [Searles lies on the ground crying] I said get up! Trip: Nigger forgot to duck, that's all. [a few other soldiers laugh] Colonel Robert G. Shaw: [points at Trip] Sergeant, deal with that man. Sergeant Mulcahy:

Dialogue

Colonel Robert G. Shaw: Mr. Rawlins...this morning, I...it would be a great help if I could talk to you from time to time about the men. That's all. [turns to leave] John Rawlins: Shoes, sir. [Shaw turns around] The men need shoes, Colonel. Colonel Robert G. Shaw: Yes, I've been after the quartermaster for some time. John Rawlins: No, sir. Now. That boy ran off to find him some shoes, Colonel. He wants to fight. Same as the rest of us. More, even.

Dialogue

Quartermaster Kendric: Good afternoon, Colonel. Change your mind about that bottle I was talking about? Colonel Robert G. Shaw: I want 600 pairs of shoes and 1200 pairs of socks...and anything else you've been holding out on us, you piece of rat filth. Quartermaster Kendric: I'd love to help you, Colonel, but we just don't have any. Colonel Robert G. Shaw: Not for niggers, you don't! Quartermaster Kendric: Not for anybody. Colonel Robert G. Shaw: I see. Pity. I'll just look around to see if you haven't misplaced them, hmm? [starts smashing up the place, throwing items off shelves and onto the floor] Quartermaster Kendric: HEY! Colonel Robert G. Shaw: [over the noise] Where are they, you son of a bitch?! [throws items off another shelf] Quartermaster Kendric: Damn it, you can't-! Colonel Robert G. Shaw: Can't I?! I'm a colonel, you nasty little cuss! You really think you can keep 700 Union soldiers without proper shoes because you think it's funny?! Now, where would that power come from

Dialogue

Edward Pierce: Colonel Shaw. Edward Pierce, special assignment from Harper's Weekly. Colonel Robert G. Shaw: Harper's Weekly? Edward Pierce: Serving an entire nation. A million loyal readers want to know what happens when the men of the 54th see action. Colonel Robert G. Shaw: A million and one. Well, you'll want to see this. [gestures to Forbes] Major Cabot Forbes: Attention, company! [the men stand at attention] Rawlins, front and center. John Rawlins: [steps forward] Sir! Major Cabot Forbes: Mr. Rawlins, this regiment was formed with the promise that only white officers would be commissioned to lead it. 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. [hands Rawlins sword and insignia]] Congratulations. [shakes Rawlins' hand] John Rawlins: [salutes] Thank you, sir. Soldiers: Hip, hip, hooray! Hooray! Hooray! Colo

Dialogue

Sgt. Maj. John Rawlins: Town's clean, sir. Ain't no Rebs here, just some women. Colonel James M. Montgomery: Well, all right. You here that, boys? Let's clear her out! Colonel Robert G. Shaw: What are you doing? Colonel James M. Montgomery: Liberating this town in the name of the Republic. Soldier: The musket, master Colonel. Never shoot it. Shoot now? Colonel James M. Montgomery: Yeah, I don't see why not. Go ahead. Soldier: Shoot the lady, boys! [shoots at figurehead on hotel] Man: [runs out] Don't shoot! We ain't Secesh here! Colonel Robert G. Shaw: That man is a civilian! Colonel James M. Montgomery: That man is Secesh, and Secesh is all the same, son. [the soldiers fire at the man, who runs off] Look around you, look at 'em. You really think anybody's gonna put some boys into some real combat? Do you? I mean, they're little children for God's sake. Little monkey children. You just gotta learn how to control them. Evil Racist White Woman: [Demonstrates her impertinence and hits the

Dialogue

Trip: [to a group of Union soldiers marching up the road] Look like we goin' the wrong way. Hey. Hey, come on now, buck up boys! Hey, buck up now, come on! Be someday they gonna let the 54th get into it, see! And all your troubles would be over. Come on now, cheer up! 10th Connecticut Corporal: [stops to face Trip] What'd you say, boy? Trip: Boy? Hey, let me tell you... Thomas Searles: Shut up, Trip. Trip: [to Searles] Would you get up off me, snowflake? [to the 10th Connecticut Corporal] See, let me explain something to you. See, the way I figure, I figure this war would be over a whole lot sooner if you boys just turned right on around and headed back on down that way, and you let us head on up there where the real fighting is. Union Soldier: There are men dyin' up that road. Trip: And there wouldn't be nothing but Rebs dyin' if they'd let the 54th in it. Union Solder: Listen- Sgt. Maj. John Rawlins: Hold it! As you were, Trip! As you were! [to the Connecticut soldiers] You men move

Dialogue

Trip: Yeah, button up that collar. Suck in that gut. Tuck in them big black lips. Lighten your skin, shrink up that nose. Thomas Searles: I don't have to listen to this. [stands up to leave] Trip: [blocks his way] Where you goin', boy? Thomas Searles: Let me by. Trip: Let you by? Let you by. Let me tell you something boy. You can march like the white man. You can talk like him. You can learn his songs. You can even wear his suits. But you ain't never gonna be nothing to him but an ugly ass chimp in a blue suit. Oh, you don't like that, do you? Thomas Searles: No. Trip: Well, what we gonna do about it? Want to fight me, boy? Huh? What you gonna do about it? You want to fight me, don't you? Don't you? Come on, nig. John Rawlins: [stepping in] All right! All right! Trip: Hey, get your hands off me, gravedigger! John Rawlins: Goddamn it! Does the whole world gotta stomp on your face? Trip: Nigger, you better get your hands off me! John Rawlins: Ain't no niggers around here, you hear me? Tr

Dialogue

General Charles Harker: Ah, Shaw. Sit down. [Shaw remains standing] Well, Colonel, what can I do for you? Colonel Robert G. Shaw: You can give me and my regiment a transfer to combat command. General Charles Harker: Couldn't do it, Colonel. You're much too valuable to my operations here. Colonel Robert G. Shaw: [after a long pause] May I sit? [Harker motions for Shaw to sit.] Thank you. [to Major Forbes] Major. [Shaw and Forbes both sit down] I've written a letter to my father, asking him to press Governor Andrew and President Lincoln. But I don't have to wait for all that, do I? General Charles Harker: [to Colonel Montgomery] Colonel Montgomery, would you bring that ashtray over here? Colonel Robert G. Shaw: But valuable to your operations here, do you say? Your foraging, your depredations? Yes, I've become quite a student of your operations in this region. Thirty-four mansions, I think it was, pillaged and burned under Colonel Montgomery's expedition of the Combahee. Four thousand ba

Dialogue

Colonel Robert G. Shaw: Thomas! Thomas Searles: How do, Colonel? Colonel Robert G. Shaw: Hurts, doesn't it? [Searles nods] Well, I'm extremely jealous. You'll be back in Boston before me, stting by the fire, reading Hawthorne, decent cup of coffee. Thomas Searles: I'm not going back. Major Cabot Forbes: Thomas, listen to me. You're shot. You have to go back. Thomas Searles: Robert, promise me that you won't send me back. Promise me! Colonel Robert G. Shaw: All right. All right.

Dialogue

Colonel Robert G. Shaw: Trip, isn't it? Trip: Yes, sir. Colonel Robert G. Shaw: You fought very well yesterday, Trip. Sergeant Rawlins has recommended that you receive a commendation. Trip: Yes, sir. Colonel Robert G. Shaw: Yes, and I think you should bear the regimental colors. Trip: Well... Colonel Robert G. Shaw: It's considered quite an honor. Why not? Trip: Well, I'm...wanting to say somethin', sir, but I... Colonel Robert G. Shaw: Go ahead. Trip: All right. See, um...I ain't fightin' this war for you, sir. Colonel Robert G. Shaw: I see. Trip: I mean, what's the point? Ain't nobody gonna win. It's just gonna go on and on. Colonel Robert G. Shaw: Can't go on forever. Trip: Yeah, but ain't nobody gonna win, sir. Colonel Robert G. Shaw: Somebody's gonna win. Trip: Who? I mean, you get to go on back to Boston, big house and all that. What about us? What do we get? Colonel Robert G. Shaw: Well, you won't get anything if we lose. What do you want to do? Trip: I don't know, sir. Colonel

Dialogue

General George Strong: [addressing his officers] No one will ever take Charleston without first silencing the forts which protect its harbor. And the first one that must be taken is that: Fort Wagner. [points to Fort Wagner in the distance] Wagner mounts a 10-inch Columbiad, three smoothbore 32-pounders, a 42-pound carronade, a 10-inch coast mortar, and four 12-pound howitzers, plus a garrison of about a thousand men. As many of you gentlemen may be aware, over the last four days, our Navy has weakened Wagner with a constant barrage. Headquarters has determined a time for our attack. We will proceed with a direct frontal assault tomorrow at dusk. The problem, gentlemen, is the approach. The ocean and the marsh leave only a narrow strip of sand, a natural defile through which we can only send one regiment at a time. Now our best hope is that leading regiment can keep the Rebs occupied long enough for reinforcements to exploit the breach. Needless to say, casualties in the leading regime

Dialogue

Colonel Robert G. Shaw: Ought to be quite a show, Pierce. Edward Pierce: Best seat in the house. Colonel Robert G. Shaw: I was wondering if you might do something for me. [hands Pierce letters] I have some letters here. Personal things. Edward Pierce: Certainly, Colonel. Colonel Robert G. Shaw: Also, if I should fall... remember what you see here.

Dialogue

Colonel Robert G. Shaw: [points to the color-bearer] If this man should fall, who will lift the flag and carry on? Thomas Searles: [steps forward] I will. Soldiers: Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!! Colonel Robert G. Shaw: I'll see you in the fort, Thomas.

Dialogue

Colonel Robert G. Shaw: [last words] Come on, Fifty-fourth! [but is shot] Major Cabot Forbes: ROBERT! Trip: [gets up and take the flag from the dead Shaw] COME ON! [begins to carry the flag forward, but is shot and killed] Major Cabot Forbes: CHARGE!