Gods and Generals

Welcome, Colonel Lee. Welcome to my home.

Make yourself comfortable there, colonel.

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, uh, rebellion and to preserve the Union.

I assume this Army is to be used to invade those areas. . .

. ..to eliminate the rebellion by force.

Yes, sir, the Federal government has been challenged by these rebels. . .

. ..who have been most effective in changing the sentiments of state legislatures...

. ..challenging our Constitution and challenging our central government.

The attack on Fort Sumter cannot be ignored.

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 right across that river.

Well, sir, there is no great outcry for secession in, uh, Virginia.

It's not a foregone conclusion that Virginia or Tennessee or Arkansas...

. ..or Kentucky will join the rebellion.

My friend, may I humbly submit that you're mistaken about Virginia.

As you know, the legislature is convening in Richmond this very day...

. ..to discuss the very issue of secession.

Now, perhaps you know their mind better than they themselves.

And I regret to say the president's hasty calling up of 75,000 volunteers. . .

. ..to subdue the rebellion in the cotton states. . .

. ..has done nothing to ameliorate the crisis. It has only deepened it.

I trust you're not being too hasty yourself, colonel.

This is a great opportunity for you to serve your country.

My country, Mr. Blair?

I never thought I'd see the day the president of the United States. . .

. ..would raise an army to invade his own country.

No, Mr. Blair, I cannot lead it. I will not lead it. No.

I'm sorry to hear you say that, sir.

I fear you're making a most dreadful mistake.

Sir, please convey my deep sense of honor and gratitude to the president...

. ..but I must decline his offer.

Please tell him.

Please be clear. I have never taken my duties lightly. . .

. ..but I have no greater duty than to my home, to Virginia.

Thank you, sir.

Gentlemen, if you are going to succeed at this institution...

...you have one common goal: To learn your lessons.

If you are placing your energies elsewhere...

...you will not succeed either with me or in your careers as military officers.

I had hoped you'd see that with a proper grasp of the artillery principles...

... I've laid before you today, you would learn to apply. . .

...these principles with great effectiveness in your field experiences.

But since you seem unable to grasp these principles...

... I'm forced to conclude I must repeat this lesson tomorrow, word for word.

Word for word.

Secession! Secession! Secession!

Hoist it! Hoist it up!

Major, listen to them. The leaders of our intellectual future...

...screaming for the destruction of our nation!

Sir, President Lincoln is raising the troops.

I....

I will not stay in a place where my students dishonor their country's flag.

Major, I'm leaving for Pennsylvania tomorrow.

War is the sum of all evils.

But if I know myself, all I am and all I have...

...is at the service of my home, my country.

Your country, Thomas?

Your country, my country. It's all one.

All one, Thomas. All one.

So that in the midst of the searching of souls and the gnashing of teeth...

...the delegates of this convention...

...harried by the actions of a belligerent usurper and the radicals of his party...

...have stumbled into secession.

Now God knows, I and many in this room have resisted it.

But how could there be union with a section of the country...

...that wants to impose its will through coercion?

Now that Virginia confronts the armed might of the United States...

...we Virginians have determined that not one spot of her sacred soil...

...be polluted by the foot of an invader.

God bless Virginia!

Now, in the memory of that great Virginian, George Washington...

...who was first in the hearts of his countrymen and calling also...

...upon the memory of his own gallant father, General Light-Horse Harry Lee...

...this convention now calls upon Robert Edward Lee to take command...

...of the armed forces of the Citizen Army of Virginia.

Mr. President, gentlemen of the convention...

... I'm profoundly impressed by the solemnity of the occasion...

...for which I must say I was not prepared.

I accept the position assigned me by your partiality.

I would have much preferred had your choice fallen on an abler man.

But trusting to Almighty God, an approving conscience...

...and the aid of my fellow citizens...

... I devote myself to the service of my native state...

...in whose behalf alone will I ever again draw my sword.

We must not fear the final result of this war, but many a loved one will fall...

...and many a heart throb with anguish...

...before we can breathe the exhilarating atmosphere of freedom...

...and feel the sweet assurance of safety and peace once more.

There's nothing in this life more dear to me than my children...

...except perhaps the memory of your wonderful father.

When you go to Richmond, and wherever this war takes you...

...you must not fear for us. We will be with you wherever you go.

Surely goodness and mercy have followed me all the days of my life.

Now be on your way, and God be with you.

Y'all be coming on back, you hear?

We'll be back, Martha.

[MARCHING BAND PLAYlNG UPBEAT MUSIC]

Mr. Wilkes, sir.

Would you be kind enough as to autograph my playbill?

I was never much interested in Shakespeare. ..

- Mm-hm. - ...until I saw you play Richard III.

"A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!"

Was ever woman in this humor wooed?

Was ever woman in this humor won?

Say, uh, haven't I seen you someplace?

Why, of course you have.

This here is Mr. Wilkes Booth, the finest actor in all of Richmond.

All the world's a stage...

...and we but its poor players.

What better role than a soldier's in defense of his home...

...his honor...

...and his beloved?

Good morning, major. This just arrived for you.

Cadet Norris, return to the lnstitute. My compliments to Colonel Smith.

I will be at his office within the half-hour.

Sir.

"You are ordered to report with the corps of cadets to camp instruction...

...to begin training and organization of the Provisional Army...

...for the defense of the Commonwealth of Virginia."

My esposita.

Come, before I leave, we must sit...

...read together, the verse.

Here.

Yes, here. Corinthians.. Second Corinthians, chapter five.

I have been thinking about this verse.

"For we know that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved...

...we have a building of God.

A house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."

O, Almighty God. . .

...grant that if it be thy will...

...thou wilt still avert the threatening danger and bring us peace.

Keep her whom I love in thy protected care.

And bring us all at last to the joy of thy eternal kingdom.

[MARCHING BAND PLAYING UPBEAT MUSIC]

Give them hell, sir!

Yeah, give them hell, men!

"The Lord is my light. My salvation. Whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the strength in my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?

When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes...

...came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.

Though unhost should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear.

Though war should rise up against me.

In this will I be comforted."

Secession is inexcusable.

Southerners and Northerners can still work together.

Slavery will eventually die of natural causes.

But the breakup of the Union will inaugurate wars...

...of a hundred generations in America...

...only to repeat the bloody history of Europe.

If Virginia adheres to the United States, I adhere.

Her determination must control mine. This is my understanding of patriotism.

And though I love the Union, I love Virginia more.

Private Jenkins, because of the high regard with which I hold your father...

...you are free to do as you please. You may return to his new home in Pennsylvania.

It is your decision. But, if you decide to stay with us...

...you may never again leave. If you do, you'll be treated as a deserter.

Colonel Jackson, sir. Father.

I am a soldier in the 4th Virginia.

And in the 4th Virginia I will stay.

And if needs be, die.

- Then I will take my leave. - No, sir.

It is I who will leave the two of you to have some time together on your own.

You may have this room for as long as you require it.

Thank you.

Farewell, colonel.

May we meet again in happier times.

And if not in this troubled world may we meet in. . . .

In heaven.

This train was on its way to Washington.

Its livestock's been requisitioned by the Confederate government.

There's enough damn beef in here to keep us fed for quite a while.

And as many steeds as would damn well meet our current needs.

With your permission, sir, we've made a selection of the more promising horses.

There's some damn fine ones here.

Mr. Harman, I fear you are a wicked man.

- This animal looks fit for the duty. - Then he's yours, sir.

That small horse over there, has he been assigned?

Well, it's a well-rounded sorrel, sir, but too small for you.

You'll have your feet dragging in the dust.

I was thinking of my wife, Anna.

He would make a fine present for her.

Well, that it would, sir. Shall I arrange for the purchase?

Leave the bill of the sale at my headquarters.

I will buy them both.

The Confederate Treasury is honored, sir.

And may you both sit well in the saddle.

What shall I call you?

- Good morning, sir. - Reverend Pendleton.

- How goes it with the artillery today? - You're just in time for a christening.

The men have decided to name the howitzers: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

I'm sure your men will spread the gospel wherever they encounter the enemy.

Has my son proven a worthy adjutant?

I'm certain Captain Pendleton will prove himself deserving of the family name.

Break! Guard! Charge!