Gods and Generals

Col. Porter Alexander:
No, sir, a chicken couldn't live on that field.

General Robert E. Lee:
It is well that war is so terrible... for we should grow too fond of it.

General Robert E. Lee:
He's lost his left arm. I've lost my right.

Gen. 'Stonewall' Jackson:
You are the first brigade!

Gen. 'Stonewall' Jackson:
In the Army of the Shenandoah, you were the First Brigade! In the Army of the Potomac you were the First Brigade! In the Second Corps of this Army, you are the First Brigade! You are the First Brigade in the affections of your general, and I hope by your future deeds and bearing you will be handed down the posterity as the First Brigade in this our Second War of Independence. Farewell!

Gen. 'Stonewall' Jackson:
Just as we would not send any of our soldiers to march in other states, and tyrannize other people... so will we never allow the armies of others to march into our states and tyrannize our people.

General Bernard Bee:
Look! There is Jackson standing like a Stonewall! Let us determine to die here today and we will conquer, Rally behind the Virginians!

Gen. 'Stonewall' Jackson:
...it appears the Virginia Military Institute will be heard from today.

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain:
Hail Caesar! We who are about to die, salute you!

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain:
In the Roman civil war, Julius Caesar knew he had to march on Rome, which no legion was permitted to do. Marcus Lucainius left us a chronicle of what happened. "How swiftly Caesar has smoted the mighty alps and in his mind conceived immense upheavals in the coming war. When he reached the water of the littler Rubicon, clearly to the leader through the murky night appeared a mighty image of his country in distress. Grief in her face, her white hair streaming from her tower crowned head. With tresses torn and shoulders bare, she stood before him and sighing said, "Where further do you march? Where do you take my standards warriors? If lawfully you come, if as citizens, this far only is allowed." Then trembling struck the leader's limbs, his hair grew stiff and weakness checked his progress, holding his feet at the rivers edge. At last he speaks, "Oh Thundere, surveying Rome's walls from the top hay and rock. Oh Fridgy and House gods of Ulysses, Clan and Mystery of Corinth who was carried off to heaven. Oh Jupiter of Latium seated in lofty Alda and House of Vespa. Oh Rome, equal to the highest deity, favor my plans! Not with envious weapons do I pursue you. Here am I, Caesar, your own soldier everywhere. Now too, if I am permitted, the man who makes ME your enemy, it is he who will be the guilty one." Then he broke the barrier of war and through the swollen river swiftly took his standards. Caesar crossed the flood and reached the opposite bank. From Hisparie's Forbidden Fields he took his standards said, "Here I abandoned peace and desecrated law; fortune it is you I follow. Farewell to treaties. From now on war is our judge!" Hail Caesar! We who are about to die salute you!

Brigadier General Lewis Armistead:
Their bravery is worthy of a better cause.

Irish soldier:
Is that to be General Meagher's position then?

Irish soldier:
He's takin' the privilege of an officer; defendin' the rear.

Irish soldier:
Fair enough. Somebody's got to keep General Burnside company.

Gen. 'Stonewall' Jackson:
General Hood, do you expect to survive to the end of this war?

General John Bell Hood:
Well, I don't know, General Jackson; but I like to think that I will. I do not know that I will survive unwounded however.

Gen. 'Stonewall' Jackson:
I do not expect to survive to the end of this war; and, failing victory, I do not know that I would choose to.

Lt. Gen. James Longstreet:
General Lee, if they put every man they have on this side of the Rappahannock; you give me enough ammunition and I'll kill every one of them.

Col. Tazewell Patton:
General Hood, we owe you Texas boys a debt of gratitude for putting on these shows for us.

General John Bell Hood:
Colonel Patton, any man that can't carry a tune ain't fit to carry a musket.

Gen. 'Stonewall' Jackson:
If you think so, sir; you had better not say it!

Capt. James Power Smith:
General Jackson, how is it you remain so calm in the midst of battle?

Gen. 'Stonewall' Jackson:
Mr. Smith, my religious faith teaches me that God has already fixed the time of my death; therefore, I think not of it. I am as calm in battle as I would be in my own parlor. God will come for me in his own time.

Sgt. Buster Kilrain:
Compared to what? The Scots at Culloden? The British at Bunker Hill? The French at Waterloo?

Sgt. Buster Kilrain:
Colonel Chamberlain? Colonel Ames sent me over; he thought you might be needin' a bit of help this mornin'.

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain:
Thank you, sergeant. Are you from the regular army?

Sgt. Buster Kilrain:
Aye, that I am, sir. I did my time in the old army. Made the long walk with General Scott in Mexico. Now a lot of those boys I made the walk with me are on the other side. Some of them are boys I came over from Ireland with. Doesn't hardly seem right, Colonel.