Lt. Thomas Chamberlain quotes from Gettysburg (1993)

Lt. Thomas Chamberlain

The boys from the 2nd Maine are being fed, Lawrence.

Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain

Ye- Don't call me Lawrence.

Lt. Thomas Chamberlain

Darn it, Lawrence, I'm your brother.

Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain

Well, just be careful about the name business in front of the men, alright? Just because you're my brother- It looks like favoritism.

Lt. Thomas Chamberlain

God Almighty, General Meade's got his own son as his aide-de-camp.

Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain

Well, that's different. Generals can do anything. Nothing quite so much like God on Earth as a general on a battlefield.

Lt. Thomas Chamberlain

Well, what are you gonna do with 'em, huh, sir? Colonel, sir. You can't shoot 'em, you'll never go back to Maine if you do that.

Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain

I know that, I know that. I wonder if they do.
Your government will never ally itself with a Confederacy that had the institution of slavery. You know that, and so do I.

Lt. Thomas Chamberlain

Hello, men. What outfit you with?

Archer's Brigade, Heth's Division.

Lt. Thomas Chamberlain

Where you from?

Tennessee. How 'bout you?

Lt. Thomas Chamberlain

Maine. I never been to Tennessee.

I reckon I never been to Maine neither.

Lt. Thomas Chamberlain

I don't mean no disrespect to you fightin' men. But sometimes I can't help but figure, why you fightin' this war?

Why you fightin' it?

Lt. Thomas Chamberlain

Well, to free the slaves, of course. And to preserve the Union.

I don't know about some other folk but I ain't fightin' for no darkies, one way or the other. I'm fightin' for my rights [pronounced "rats"]. All of us that's what we're fightin' for.

Lt. Thomas Chamberlain

For your what?

For our rights. Why is it you folks can't just live the way you want to live, and let us live the way we do? Live and let live, I hear some folks say. Be a mite less fuss and bother if more folks took it to heart.

Lt. Thomas Chamberlain

Where'd you get captured?

Railroad cut just west of Gettysburg town. Wasn't a pretty sight. Many a good boy lost a young and promising life. Some were blue, some were grey. Seen enough of this war?

Lt. Thomas Chamberlain

I guess I have.

I guess I have, too. It looks like I'm gonna be sittin' out the rest of it.

Lt. Thomas Chamberlain

Well, I appreciate you talkin' to me.

See you in hell, Billy Yank.

Lt. Thomas Chamberlain

See you in hell, Johnny Reb.

I tell you, Lawrence... I sure was fond of that man.

Lt. Thomas Chamberlain

Lawrence. I just got back from the hospital. Godawful mess. They got no room. They got no shade, they got men lyin' everywhere! They're cuttin' off arms and legs right out there on front of everybody. They oughta not do that in public, Lawrence. Men oughta have some privacy at a time like that.

Col Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain

You see Kilrain?

Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain

Well, how is he?

Lt. Thomas Chamberlain

Well...Lawrence... he died. [takes off kepi] Yeah... He died this morning, 'fore I got there. A couple o' the fellows, they, they was with 'im. [looks at his brother] He said to tell you goodbye... And that he was sorry.

Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain

Yeah.

Lt. Thomas Chamberlain

I tell you, Lawrence... I sure was fond of that man.

Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain

Yeah.

Lt. Thomas Chamberlain

Sir. Sir!

Brig. Gen. Lewis Armistead

Will you help me up, please?

Lt. Thomas Chamberlain

Sir, could you tell me what your name is? Who you are?

Brig. Gen. Lewis Armistead

I would like to speak to General Hancock. Do you know... where... General Hancock may be found?

Lt. Thomas Chamberlain

I'm sorry, sir. The general is down. He's been hit.

Brig. Gen. Lewis Armistead

No! Not both of us... not all of us! Please, God!

Lt. Thomas Chamberlain

Sir, sir, we're having a surgeon come as quickly as we can.

Brig. Gen. Lewis Armistead

Can you hear me, son?

Lt. Thomas Chamberlain

Yes, sir. I can hear you.

Brig. Gen. Lewis Armistead

Will you tell General Hancock... that General Armistead sends his regrets? Will you tell him... how... very sorry I am?

Lt. Thomas Chamberlain

I will tell him, sir. I will tell him.