Glory 1989 quotes

Col. Montgomery

That wouldn't have been necessary if that secession woman hadn't started it. They never learn. You see secession has to be cleared away by the hand of God like the Jews of old. Now I will have to burn this town.

Cpl. Thomas Searles

It's not true is it? I mean about not being allowed to fight. The men are living for that day. I know I am.

I can knock something down with this!

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.

Sgt. Maj. John Rawlins

That's right, Hines. Ain't no dream. We runaway slaves but we come back fightin' men. Go tell your folks how kingdom come in the year of jubilee!

'Shaw: [points at the flag bearer] If this man should fall, who will lift the flag and carry on?

Searles

I will.

I'll see you in the fort, Thomas.

Heard the latest?

What's that?

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.

What?

Well, maybe not the ones in the border states or somethin', I don't know, but he's gonna free some of 'em, anyway.

My God.

Yeah, he said he would have done it sooner, only he was waiting on a big victory, which is, I guess what this is.

Sergeant Major!

Sir!

At ease, Sergeant.

Sir.

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.

The boy's your friend, is he?

We grew up together, yes.

Let him grow up some more.

Trip, isn't it?

Trip

Yes, sir.

You fought very well yesterday, Trip. Sergeant Rawlins has recommended that you receive a commendation.

Trip

Yes, sir.

Yes, and I think you should bear the regimental colors.

Trip

Well...

It's considered quite an honor. Why not?

Trip

Well, I'm...wanting to say somethin', sir, but I...

Go ahead.

Trip

All right. See, um...I ain't fightin' this war for you, sir.

I see.

Trip

I mean, what's the point? Ain't nobody gonna win. It's just gonna go on and on.

Can't go on forever.

Trip

Yeah, but ain't nobody gonna win, sir.

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?

Well, you won't get anything if we lose. What do you want to do?

Trip

I don't know, sir.

It stinks, I suppose.

Trip

Yeah, it stinks bad. And we all covered up in it. I mean, ain't nobody clean. Be nice to get clean though.

How do we do that?

Trip

We ante up and kick in, sir. But I still don't want to carry your flag.

You're a good shot, private.

Thank you, sir. Squirrel hunting.

You ever killed a man?

No, sir.

But you're handy with a gun.

Yes, sir.

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?

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!! [fires] DO IT! [fires] DO IT! [fires] [Sharts fumbles with his weapon, and stares at Shaw, shaken. Shaw turns back to Major Forbes, and hands him back his pistol] Teach them...properly, Major.

Edward Pierce

Colonel Shaw. Edward Pierce, special assignment from Harper's Weekly.

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.

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

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

Thank you, sir.

Hip, hip, hooray! Hooray! Hooray!

Congratulations.

John Rawlins

I ain't sure I'm wanting this, Colonel.

I know exactly how you feel.

Forbes

Why do you treat the men this way, Robert?

How should I treat them?

Forbes

...Like men?

Robert. Governor Andrew, you know my son, Robert.

Yes, good to see you again, Robert.

Governor Andrew.

Robert, have you met Frederick Douglass?

Mr. Douglass.

I understand you were Antietam.

Yes.

A great and a terrible day. Well, I could use your help, Robert.

The governor is proposing to raise a regiment of negro soldiers.

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.

Colored soldiers, Robert. Just think of it.

Wonderful.

I've submitted your name, Robert, to be commissioned colonel of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry.

Thank you, governor, that's...It's a wonderful idea.

General Charles Harker

Ah, Shaw. Sit down. [Shaw remains standing] Well, Colonel, what can I do for you?

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.

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

Colonel Montgomery, would you bring that ashtray over here?

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 bales of cotton smuggled through the lines with payment to parties unknown, except by you. False quartermaster requisitions. Major Forbes here has seen the copies.

Major Cabot Forbes

Yes, indeed. Along with confiscated valuables shipped north as personal baggage.

Shall I go on?

General Charles Harker

Can you?

I can report you to the War Department. Oh, yes. I can do that.

General Charles Harker

Let you take your regiment out to fight. That's what you want, isn't it? Show what they can do.

When?

General Charles Harker

You are bright-eyed, aren't you?

When?

General Charles Harker

Just as soon as I can write the orders.

Morning, colonel. Change your mind about that bottle?

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!

I don't have any.

Not for **** you don't!

Not for anybody.

I see. I'll just look around to see if you haven't misplaced them!

HEY!

You son of a bitch!

Goddamn it, you can't...!

Can't I? I'm a colonel, you nasty little cuss! You think you can keep 700 Union soldiers without proper shoes because you think it's funny? Now, where would that power come from?