EXT. UNION CAMP -- DAY
Two Union SOLDIERS warm at a campfire in a railway depot yard near a sign saying CHATTANOOGA STATION. Other SOLDIERS move grimly about.
FIRST SOLDIER
What they gonna do, let us sit here in Chattanooga and starve?
SECOND SOLDIER
Them damn generals thought they was so smart when we took the city real easy. We was gonna chase the Rebs all the way through Georgia.
FIRST SOLDIER
Yeah, but they was awaiting for us down in Chickamauga. Damn near wiped us out. Never saw so many men get killed.
SECOND SOLDIER
Now we're trapped here. No food. Can't get out. Can't get no food in.
FIRST SOLDIER
The Rebs sit on top of Lookout Mountain, Signal Mountain and . . .
He pauses at the sound of distant cannon fire, waits until there is an explosion of a shell landing some distance away in the city.
FIRST SOLDIER (Cont'd)
. . . Missionary Ridge dropping shells down on us, shooting anybody tries to get in or out. We're trapped and I'm damned hungry.
SECOND SOLDIER
Once in a while one of them mule trains manages to sneak across Signal Mountain at night, or a small barge gets up the Tennessee River from Wauhatchie. But that ain't enough.
FIRST SOLDIER
Wonder what we'll do when we run out of horse and mule meat. You 'et any roast dog yet?
SECOND SOLDIER
It won't be any worse than that big rat I cooked the other night.
A scrawny cat ambles into view. The soldiers look at each other, then chase the fleeing animal.
FIRST SOLDIER
Come on! Dinner time.
INT. GRANT'S TENT -- NIGHT
Generals GRANT, HOOKER, Sherman and Geary confer over maps spread out on a lamplit table. Grant and Sherman are alike in their crumpled uniforms. Other officers are well dressed. The camp is near Chattanooga.
GRANT
Have a drink, gentlemen. Maybe it'll warm away some of this damp Tennessee night. Makes my bones ache.
The others pour drinks. John shakes his head.
SHERMAN
Still the teetotaler, John?
JOHN
You know I never touch it, general.
Grant looks closely at John.
GRANT
Some people say a man who won't drink is scared of himself, Geary. They think he's hiding something and is afraid the whisky will let it out.
JOHN
(stiffly)
I don't want anything dulling my wits, especially not now.
GRANT
No matter. Drunk or sober, we're going into a fight we have to win. The war isn't going well. A lot of people in the North want us to pull out. It remains to be seen if Mister Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation will help or hurt us.
HOOKER
I read about the riots in New York. Freed black men being hung from lamposts.
GRANT
Chattanooga is the gateway to the South. Without it, we can't get into Georgia from here.
HOOKER
Rosencrans is taking it hard after Bragg tore him up at Chickamauga.
GRANT
Like Lincoln says, he acts like a duck that got hit in the head and don't know which way is up.
JOHN
General Thomas is holding up well under the siege since you put him in command in Chattanooga.
GRANT
That's a helluva soldier. Says he'll hold the city until they all starve.
HOOKER
We're only a few miles away from the city, but we can't even get food and supplies into them.
SHERMAN
The Rebs control the city from the mountain tops. Lookout Mountain stands two thousand feet above the city. It can't be taken.
JOHN
My White Star division can take it.
Sherman laughs sarcastically, as does Hooker.
SHERMAN
I know your troops are so scared of you they would try to walk across the river if you order them to. But they can't fly. It'll take a bird to get to the top of Lookout Mountain.
HOOKER
Your White Star boys from Pennsylvania did well at Gettysburg and other battles, Geary. But your casualty list was higher than others.
SHERMAN
You don't think they love you enough to climb that mountain, do you?
JOHN
I don't know anything about love. All I know is they'll do what they have to do--or face me.
SHERMAN
It's certain death.
JOHN
The Union is worth dying for.
Grant has been watching the exchange, shakes his head gloomily.
GRANT
Losing you at Lookout Mountain would hurt our campaign, not just here but in public confidence. You've become something of a celebrity back home, I hear.
JOHN
We won't fail, general. Give the White Star division a chance.
GRANT
Let me think about it. Now, if you gentlemen will excuse me, I want to relax and nurse these aching bones.
They leave and Grant uncorks a fresh whisky bottle.
EXT. SHERMAN'S COMPOUND -- DAY
Sherman and Devlin walk through the bivouac of troops. They speak in low tones.
SHERMAN
Been a long time since San Francisco, Monk.
DEVLIN
Sure has, general.
SHERMAN
That Geary is a man on fire with ambition.
DEVLIN
Yeah. Made a lot of money on the way. But I'm as poor now as when we started.
SHERMAN
He hasn't rewarded you?
DEVLIN
I had some gambling debts once and asked him to loan me some money. Know what he did? Quoted me from Ben Franklin about loaning money to a friend and losing him. Said he wanted us to stay friends.
SHERMAN
That wasn't very friendly, was it?
DEVLIN
Hell! I didn't want friendship. I wanted money.
SHERMAN
I think Geary's thoughts are beyond making another million.
DEVLIN
Yeah. He's got his eye on politics after the war.
SHERMAN
Can you imagine "President Geary."
Devlin laughs derisively.
SHERMAN
The public doesn't really know what kind of man he is. But we know, don't we?
DEVLIN
(cautiously)
Yessir, we do.
SHERMAN
Do you think there's a chance of his division scaling Lookout Mountain?
DEVLIN
Like a snowball in hell. The troops had rather shoot him.
Sherman smiles.
SHERMAN
Now wouldn't that be a shame.
DEVLIN
Some of his own staff would take a shot, but they're afraid they might miss--and they know what he would do.
SHERMAN
You know Grant and I are close, going back to the Mexican campaign.
Sherman looks hard at Devlin, a flash of wildness in his eyes.
SHERMAN (Cont'd)
Some say it's cause he's a drunk and I'm crazy. You don't believe that, do you?
DEVLIN
(on guard)
No, sir!
SHERMAN
I do have his ear.
DEVLIN
So I've heard.
SHERMAN
Anybody does me a favor won't suffer for it--now and after the war. I reward loyalty.
DEVLIN
I'm at your service, general.
SHERMAN
Geary's going to get his chance at Lookout Mountain. I'm going to work on it. If he succeeds, the war will be shortened. If he fails . . .
Devlin nods his head.
EXT. GEARY CAMP -- NIGHT
Camped at WAUHATCHIE by the river, Geary's troops can see the LIGHTS of Confederate troops at varied elevations of Lookout Mountain in the background. Campfires burn in the Geary compound as John checks the perimeter accompanied by Eddie in a lieutenant's uniform.
JOHN
Have you heard from Mary?
EDDIE
Yes, two letters today.
JOHN
She's still angry with me--for taking you away, and Willie.
EDDIE
Was it necessary, father? Really necessary?
JOHN
Of course! What would people say if my own sons shirked their duty when our country's future is at stake.
EDDIE
I don't know anything about the future. I just know I don't like being here. I don't like shooting at people, or people shooting at me. I'm damned sick of soldiering.
JOHN
Don't you swear at me, Edward.
EDDIE
And you should be tired. Haven't you got enough glory? You ought to be home beside Mary-- a loving woman . . . who needs a man's love.
JOHN
What do you know of love, and a woman's needs?
EDDIE
I love Mary.
JOHN
Of course you do. She's been like a mother to you and Willie.
EDDIE
I . . .
JOHN
Son, you must see that this is a battle to preserve the Union and to free the black man from slavery.
EDDIE
I don't care anything about losing my life to save the Union or freeing all the black men everywhere. It's not my fight.
As they talk, a dark figure in the bushes holds a rifle aimed at John.
JOHN
That's treason. I won't hear of it.
EDDIE
You won't hear of anything you don't agree with. Remember what Hank Mebane said, leave the South alone and let them solve the slavery problem. They can have their slaves.
JOHN
While one man is a slave, no man is free.
EDDIE
Sounds like a campaign speech.
JOHN
You are being disrespectful.
EDDIE
I'm being honest. I believe what Hank said. They had the right to leave the Union.
JOHN
No one has the right to dissolve the Union.
EDDIE
Even if you have to kill every one of them.
JOHN
Even if I have to kill every one of them
Devlin, from his hiding place in the bushes, begins to tremble as he holds the rifle. He wipes the cold sweat from his forehead, reluctantly lowering the gun.
EDDIE
You act if this were your own personal war--to advance John Geary's career.
JOHN
Lieutenant Geary!
EDDIE
You've never cared for me, for my mother, for our family--and not for Mary, a wonderful woman who needs love.
JOHN
Lieutenant Geary! Return you your battery. If you were not . . .
EDDIE
(finishing the sentence)
. . . John Geary's son.
JOHN
I will deal with you tomorrow.
Eddie snaps an angry salute, turns on his heel and leaves. Devlin eases out of the underbrush, his rifle over his arm.
DEVLIN
Sorry, general. Couldn't help overhearing. Young people just don't understand, do they?
JOHN
Thank God for someone like you at my side, Monk. You are my right arm.
DEVLIN
I'm rather be your left arm--closer to your pocketbook.
JOHN
I hate this waiting.
DEVLIN
You'll remedy that soon. I been doing some politicking. More'n likely General Grant's gonna give you that mountain to take.
John looks up at the looming, forbidding silhouette of Lookout Mountain in the moonlight.
JOHN
My mountain. You don't know how much it would mean to me, to take that mountain--the impossible assignment, the mountain they said couldn't be taken.
DEVLIN
I understand, general.
JOHN
You've been a wonderful friend, Monk. I can never thank you enough.
DEVLIN
Just being around you is all the thanks I need.
Devlin bows his head, hiding a smile.
EXT. NEAR GEARY'S CAMP -- NIGHT
A Rebel PATROL crawls through the woods near where John and Devlin are talking. They ease back to their own lines. They speak in whispers.
FIRST REB
I seen him. Seen him with my own eyes.
SECOND REB
Seen who?
FIRST REB
Geary. General Geary hisself--the one Jeff Davis says he wants to hang personally.
SECOND REB
You shoulda' shot him.
FIRST REB
We'll get him 'fore the night's over. We got 'em outnumbered.
EXT. NEAR GEARY CAMP -- LATER SAME NIGHT
Union SOLDIERS relax among the cannons as Eddie greets Devlin.
EDDIE
Monk, I'm so glad you came by. You're like family and I need somebody to talk to. I've never been able to talk to my father.
MONK
The general ain't an easy man to communicate with. You and me know that.
EDDIE
It's like he cares about nobody but himself. He sees himself as a pioneer--a Daniel Boone, a Davy Crockett--like he cares more about what history will say than being a husband and father.
DEVLIN
If he'd lived a thousand years ago, he'd a been in that King Arthur's court.
EDDIE
He's disappointed in me.
DEVLIN
He expects you to live up to his image.
EDDIE
He's not afraid of dying, like he thinks he has an invisible shield around him. I'm afraid. I don't want to die, not here in the muck of some Tennessee bottomland. I want to live, to see something of life. I want to . . .
There is the nearby sound of GUNFIRE and cannons. There are screams and shouts in the camp. REBEL YELLS ring out.
CHORUS OF UNION VOICES
The Rebs! The Rebs are attacking. Rebs everywhere! Retreat! Retreat!
Soldiers run in confusion. Devlin is frightened, but coaches Eddie.
DEVLIN
Now's your chance. You got to live up to your father's expectations. Go where danger is greatest. You're a Geary.
Eddie shouts to nearby soldiers.
EDDIE
Stand your ground! Fight! Fight!
Devlin slides away into the underbrush. Rifle balls whiz around. Cannon shells land explosively. One hits near Eddie. He clutches his throat and falls to the ground.
EXT. NEAR JOHN'S TENT -- SAME NIGHT
Pandemonium is all around. Gunfire comes in from the darkness, from a Rebel foe that isn't seen. Union soldiers trying to retreat are thrown back toward the line--some verbally, some bodily--by John.
JOHN
By the God in heaven, go back and fight or I'll kill you myself.
A group of frightened soldiers come out of the darkness running away from the battle. John SHOOTS the first soldier. The others stop in shock, looking at the massive figure barring their way.
JOHN
Do you want to face the Rebs--or me? Now go back to your lines. Fight! Fight, damn you. Fight with the fear of God in you.
They return to their lines. A CAPTAIN comes up followed by a MULETEER who stands back respectfully.
CAPTAIN
General, we're greatly outnumbered. We can't defend this position. We must retreat or we'll all be killed.
John looks coldly at him.
JOHN
Captain, are you a coward?
CAPTAIN
(indignant)
No, sir!
JOHN
Then get your ass back to your company. There is no retreat.
Sheepishly the captain salutes and leaves. The muleteer comes forward.
MULETEER
Excusing the general, sir, but my mules is a'going crazy with all the fighting. I want permission to turn 'em loose, sir. Stampede 'em away from the fighting.
JOHN
Turn my mules loose? By heavens, man, I'll . . . (he pauses, thinking) Yes. Turn them loose. Stampede them. But toward the Rebels. Not away.
MULETEER
Sir? That's crazy . . . Excuse me, general.
JOHN
You have your orders.
The man salutes and hurries away.
EXT. REBEL AREA -- SAME NIGHT
The Rebel CAPTAIN hears the NOISE of the oncoming MULES and the shouts of Union soldiers following. The BUGLER stands at his side.
BUGLER
They got reinforcements, captain.
CAPTAIN
Sounds like Grant's sent his whole damn Union army.
BUGLER
What do we do, captain?
CAPTAIN
Sound retreat, bugler. Back to the mountain.
The bugler blows RETREAT.
EXT. JOHN'S HQ SITE -- SAME NIGHT
Sounds of retreating Rebels and fading gunshots are in the distance. John is beaming when a LIEUTENANT approaches.
LIEUTENANT
General! Sir, I . . .
JOHN
Did you ever see anything like it, lieutenant?
LIEUTENANT
General Geary, it's your . . .
JOHN
Rebels defeated by a bunch of animals. Animals against animals.
LIEUTENANT
General! It's your son!
JOHN
My son? Eddie . . . Lieutenant Geary?
LIEUTENANT
He's been hit, sir. He's--dying.
John's face shows disbelief.
EXT. EDDIE'S BATTERY -- SAME NIGHT
John, followed by Devlin, arrives to see Eddie lying on blood soaked blankets. A SURGEON hovers over him helplessly, Other SOLDIERS stand at a respectful distance in the area lit by lamps and campfires. Debris of battle is strewn around. Eddie tries to raise his head when he sees John.
JOHN
Doctor, how is my son?.
SURGEON
(quietly to John)
He's dying.
John doesn't accept the surgeon's verdict. He bends over Eddie.
JOHN
You're going to be all right, my son. I won't allow anything to happen to you.
EDDIE
(weakly)
This is one situation you don't control, general. At least . . .
JOHN
Don't say anything, Edward. Rest. (to doctor) Do something!
The surgeon shakes his head.
EDDIE (Cont'd)
. . . at least you've got a son you won't be ashamed of. A martyr for your cause.
JOHN
No! Edward, please! You know you mean more to me than . . .
EDDIE
Don't lie to me or to yourself, father--not now. Maybe someday you'll . . .
John holds the bloody head and shoulders in his arms, realizing Eddie has died. John's eyes are red with fury, hot with tears that cannot come. Where he has knelt, Eddie's blood is on his trousers.
JOHN
By the God above I swear I'll never rest until every Rebel in this land has been punished for this night. They will pay again and again.
Devlin puts his hand on John's shoulder.
DEVLIN
We'll show 'em, general. No mercy.
JOHN
No mercy.
EXT. JOHN'S TENT -- LATER THAT NIGHT
John sits brooding in front of his tent, looking into the fire. Devlin watches him, his face a mask of emotions. A CAPTAIN brings young LIEUTENANT SPINDER to John. Spinder is a cocky young man in a colorful Union uniform.
CAPTAIN
General, I hate to bother you now, sir.
JOHN
(slowly)
What is it, captain?
CAPTAIN
It's lieutenant Spinder here, sir. He deserted his post when the battle broke. He ran away from his men.
JOHN
(anger rising)
Deserted? Left his post!
CAPTAIN
Yes, sir. We caught him about a mile back in the brush. You want me to put him under guard 'till we convene a court martial.
Spinder is bored by the conversation. John looks at him with wild anger rising.
JOHN
No! We're holding his court martial here. Now!
CAPTAIN
Sir?
JOHN
Is he guilty, captain?
CAPTAIN
Well, yes, sir, but . . .
SPINDER
Wait a minute. What the hell do you think you're doing? Do you know who my father is?
JOHN
I don't give a damn if your father is Abraham Lincoln. Cowardice must be punished quickly and swiftly. (to Devlin) Major Devlin, is he guilty?
DEVLIN
(smiling)
Guilty, general.
JOHN
And I vote guilty. Now I'll pass sentence, you coward. You aren't fit to wear the uniform of brave men, men like my dead son whose blood is still wet on the ground. Captain, strip this man down to his underwear . . .
SPINDER
Wait a minute. You can't do this to me. My father is congressman Spinder. He'll have you . . .
JOHN (Cont'd)
. . . and hang him before the whole division. I want every one to see.
Spinder realizes John means it. He's frightened.
SPINDER
Captain! Major Devlin--do something. He's gone crazy. General Geary has lost his mind. (looks around at other soldiers) Somebody stop him. Please . . . Please help me!
His voice trails off as the captain pulls him away, motioning to a group of nearby soldiers.
EXT. JOHN'S TENT AREA -- LATER SAME NIGHT
John sits alone near the fading campfire. The lieutenant's body, stripped to his underwear, hangs limply in a tree nearby. John looks quietly at the corpse without emotion and then back into the fire. For the first time, he notices Eddie's dried blood on his hands and tries to rub it off on his trousers leg.
EXT. GRANT'S HQ -- DAY
John, Sherman and Grant drink coffee at daybreak just outside Grant's tent. Lookout Mountain looms in the background with streams of Union soldiers moving in columns toward it. The division's White Star banner is prominent along with the Stars and Stripes. The peak of the mountain is enshrouded with fog. An occasional muffled fire of a cannon from the top is followed by smoke rising from the shell landing in Chattanooga in the distance.
GRANT
Sure you're up this, Geary, with your son's recent death.
SHERMAN
(quickly)
He's an avenging angel, general. God help any Rebs in his path.
JOHN
Before dawn tomorrow Lookout Mountain will fly the Stars and Stripes. Then we'll march across Georgia.
SHERMAN
(to Grant)
I told Geary of the plan last night, to put everything to the torch in Georgia. We'll burn a path of destruction so wide across that state they'll never think of disobeying the Union again.
GRANT
Yes--but first that damned mountain. We can't go anywhere without taking it.
SHERMAN
Intelligence reports say Jefferson Davis himself is in command of the defense.
GRANT
That's the best news I've heard. Davis was never a good tactician. Plenty guts and mouth, no military sense. He'll botch it.
JOHN
By your leave, general, I'd like to join my men.
GRANT
Maybe the future of the war, even the Union could be riding on what you do today, Geary. God speed.
John salutes and leaves.
SHERMAN
Sam, I wouldn't put too much stock in Geary getting to the top. That's a near impossible task.
GRANT
You recommended him for the job. Second thoughts?
SHERMAN
Oh, no, it's just that Geary's ambition and temper sometimes outweigh his common sense. You heard about him hanging congressman Spinder's son?
GRANT
There'll be hell to pay for that.
SHERMAN
If the Rebs don't get Geary, his own men might. Lots of his men--officers and enlisted--fear and hate him.
GRANT
But they'll fight for him. That man's got enough brass to put buttons on every man in the Union army. If we got one man who can scale Lookout Mountain, it's John Geary.
EXT. CHATTANOOGA ENCAMPMENT -- SAME MORNING
Early sunrise plays over Union soldiers trapped in the city watching the invasion snaking up the mountain in the distance. Two gaunt SOLDIERS, ragged and weary, scan the massive mountain hopefully. Clouds cover the peak. Far off SOUNDS of cannons and rifles are heard. Smoke rises from explosions of landing shells on the mountain slopes.
FIRST SOLDIER
That's ole Geary's division--the White Star. Them boys from Pennsylvania is tough as lightard knots, but nobody can get up that damned mountain.
SECOND SOLDIER
Better hope you're wrong, by God. If he don't make it, we'll be outta dog meat soon. That damned fat corporal's behind is beginning to look like a smoked ham to me.
First soldier shakes his head mournfully.
FIRST SOLDIER
Our boys'll never get off them lower slopes. It's straight up in places. From up on top them Rebs can just throw rocks down and stop an army. No way. No way.
SECOND SOLDIER
God! They gotta make it.
EXT. GRANT'S HQ -- SAME DAY
Late morning has Grant, Sherman and STAFF standing in front of his tent, some with field glasses watching the slow, bloody progress up Lookout Mountain.
GRANT
Cump, I was out of my mind to let Geary try this. We're going to lose his whole division, probably Geary, too. If I know him, he's right in front of the charge.
SHERMAN
Look at it this way, general, if he should lose his life he'll be a martyr for the whole Union army.
Grant looks at him quickly.
GRANT
I don't want martyrs. I want live heroes--and victories. That's what's going to win this war.
EXT. MOUNTAINSIDE -- SAME DAY
Early afternoon sun is high over the city in the valley but clouds still cover the peak. John struggles along with his MEN on the slopes. Scattered gun and cannon fire from above takes it toll. There are SCREAMS and MOANS of the hurt and dying. Men crawl over dead bodies, wounded comrades in the upward struggle. They fight their way up crude ladders, poles with steps tacked to them, up ropes and vines, trees and shrubbery. Occasionally, Rebel PICKETS repulse them, then retreat gradually. Near John are the STANDARD BEARERS, one carrying the White Star banner, the other, Stars and Stripes.
EXT. ANOTHER AREA MOUNTAIN -- SAME DAY
Drifting fog floats across Union TROOPS scaling the slope. THREE SOLDIERS fight brush and steep rocks to inch slowly upward. Cannon fire comes sporadically from above. Ricochet of rifle balls strike near them. Rocks and debris tumble down around them.
FIRST SOLDIER
How in hell did we wind up in that crazy Geary's White Star division?
SECOND SOLDIER
'Cause we're from Pennsylvania, that's why.
THIRD SOLDIER
Gripe all you want. When we're around other outfits, you brag about being with Geary.
FIRST SOLDIER
That's campfire talk. Ain't no way to get to the top of this damn mountain 'less you're an angel.
THIRD SOLDIER
That's what we gonna be before we get there. Angels.
Geary has climbed up along side the soldiers. They don't recognize him at first in the fog.
FIRST SOLDIER
Yeah, that ole bastard Geary's probably sitting down there somewhere sipping his coffee.
JOHN
No, soldier, I want my coffee on top of this mountain. Let's go get it.
They are startled, look at each other, then climb with renewed energy.
THIRD SOLDIER
Yeah, general! Let's go get it. I'm thirsty.
EXT. MOUNTAINSIDE -- THAT NIGHT
In dark and fog, different SOLDIERS crawl laboriously upward. Ragged gunfire from above hits an occasional soldier with SCREAMS of pain. Rocks tumble down from the Rebels, but resistance is weakening.
FIRST SOLDIER
Hell, all them Johnny Rebs got to do is drop rocks down on us and we can't go nowhere.
SECOND SOLDIER
(jokingly)
Hush! I think I heard something.
THIRD SOLDIER
(seriously)
What is it?
SECOND SOLDIER
I think we're too high. I hear harps playing hymns.
They laugh.
FIRST SOLDIER
You won't hear no harps. Just ole Geary poking you in the ass with his pitchfork.
SECOND SOLDIER
We gotta be high enough to hear harps playing. They're calling this the battle above the clouds.
EXT. MOUNTAINSIDE -- MORNING
Dawn nears as John overtakes a young CAPTAIN clawing upward. Firing gradually subsides into frightening silence, with only SHOUTS of encouragement among Union soldiers.
The captain looks up, squinting into the fog.
CAPTAIN
General! I think I see the top of the mountain.
JOHN
Keep pushing, captain. We aren't there yet.
EXT. MOUNTAIN TOP -- MORNING
Abandoned cannons and hurriedly left rifles and supplies litter the mountain top. John and the first of his MEN scale the last obstacle. They are on top alone. Rebels have fled. A SERGEANT looks mystified, turning to a CORPORAL.
SERGEANT
Why . . . they're gone. Ain't no Rebs here.
CORPORAL
They heard ole Geary's White Star was coming.
John looks around, wary at first, then pleased and relieved.
EXT. CHATTANOOGA ENCAMPMENT -- MORNING
Clouds still cover the mountain top. Encircled Union SOLDIERS in the city look upward with hope. A wind has come up, blowing across makeshift tents and facilities. Clouds atop the mountain move slowly. They disappear and a burst of sunlight blazes across the peak. The Stars and Stripes and the White Star banner flutter in the breeze. A wave of thousands of VOICES cheer across the valley.
EXT. GRANT'S HQ -- SAME MORNING
Grant and his officers see the flags indicating victory. They offer their cheers and the aide hands Grant and other officers cups of whisky.
GRANT
Gentlemen, let's drink a toast to General John White Geary--the man of the day.
SHERMAN
(mutters)
Yes--there'll be no stopping the sonuvabitch now.
GRANT
What say, Cump? A toast to your old comrade at arms?
SHERMAN
Of course, sir. I said there'll be no stopping Geary now.
They lift their cups.
GRANT
Now the South will be open for us. I want you to put Geary at your point. Crush the Rebels from here to the Atlantic Ocean.
SHERMAN
I'll have Geary where the fighting is thickest.