Part 5 (2/2)

(_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 grat.i.tude and praise. Now you must go farther back, you are exposing yourselves unnecessarily. (_As they pa.s.s 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 G.o.d, but here is General Lee!

SCENE III

_Outside Appomatox Courthouse during Lee's conference with Grant._

_Ragged Confederate soldiers on one side. Northern troops on the other._

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