_Battlefield, the Southern Lines. Shells falling all around._
Characters
General Lee
General Gordon
General Gracie
General Stuart
Northern Prisoners
Soldiers
(_Enter squad of Soldiers with three Northern prisoners. One without a
cap._)
LEE--(_Addressing prisoner without cap._) Where is your cap? Did the
Rebels shoot it off?
PRISONER--(_Saluting._) No, General, but one of them took it off.
LEE--(_Noticing a blue cap on one of the Confederate soldiers._) Give
him back his cap, even if your own is ragged.
Men, you had better go farther to the rear, they are firing up here, and
you are exposing yourselves. (_Exeunt soldiers and prisoners._)
(_Enter General Gracie who places himself directly in front of General
Lee in the direction of the firing._)
LEE--Why General Gracie, you will certainly be killed.
GRACIE--It is better, General, that I should be killed than you. When
you go to the rear, I will.
(_Enter General Gordon with company of men._)
GORDON--General Lee, this is no place for you. Do go to the rear. These
are Virginians and Georgians, sir--men who have never failed--and they
will not fail now--Will you boys? Is it necessary for General Lee to
lead this charge.
SOLDIERS--No! no! General Lee to the rear. General Lee to the rear! We
will drive them back, if General Lee will only go to the rear.
GORDON--Forward! Charge! and remember your promise to General Lee.
(_Exeunt._)
GEN. STUART--General, this is no place for you, do go away at once to a
safe place.
LEE--I wish I knew where my place is on the battlefield: wherever I go
some one tells me it is not the place for me to be.
LEE--(_To soldiers._) Soldiers, I am more than satisfied with you.
Your country will thank you for the heroic conduct you have
displayed,--conduct worthy of men engaged in a cause so just and sacred,
and deserving a nation's gratitude and praise. Now you must go farther
back, you are exposing yourselves unnecessarily. (_As they pass back a
little, slowly and unwillingly, Lee goes farther forward, stoops down
and picks up something._)
FIRST SOLDIER--What is he doing?
SECOND SOLDIER--Why he's picking up a little bird that had fallen from
its nest.
FIRST SOLDIER--"He who heeds the sparrow's fall."
SECOND SOLDIER--I've heard of God, but here is General Lee!