The Horse Soldiers

I left my love, my love I left

A-sleeping in her bed

I turned my back on my true love

Went fighting Johnny Reb

I left my love a letter

In the holler of a tree

I told her she would find me

In the US Cavalry

Hi-ho, down they go

There's no such word as 'can't'

We'll ride clean down to hell and back

For Ulysses Simpson Grant

Hi-ho, down they go

There's no such word as 'can't'

We'll ride clean down to hell and back

For Ulysses Simpson Grant...

...? I left my love, my love I left...

...? A-sleeping in her bed

I turned my back on my true love

Went fighting Johnny Reb

I left my love a letter

In the holler of a tree

I told her she would find me

In the US Cavalry

In the US Cavalry

Hi-ho, down they go

There's no such word as 'can't'

We'll ride clean down to New Orleans

For Ulysses Simpson Grant

General Hurlburt, by appointment.

General Hurlburt and Colonel Marlowe.

- Steve, come in.

Hello, Sam. Colonel Marlowe.

(exchange of greetings)...

General Sherman, Colonel Marlowe.

- How do you do?

Marlowe, I've been anxious to meet you.

It's a privilege, sir.

- Sit down.

Is this your first look at Vicksburg?

- Yes, sir.

We've been looking at it

for ten months, and we don't like it.

Colonel, for your benefit, the war on

our side hasn't been going well at all.

Not in Washington,

not in the newspapers, not in the field.

To put it mildly, with less men

and less resources,

the South has whipped us to a standstill.

(cannon fire)

Now, if I could take Vicksburg...

...the whole picture would change,

but I'd have to do it this summer.

Or sit out here another year.

Which might cost us 100,000 men.

It might cost us a war.

Which brings this talk to their main source

of supply - and a thorn in our side.

Newton Station.

- Sam.

Marlowe has worked out the details

of your plan pretty thoroughly.

If I could get back to La Grange

right away, we could leave by Thursday.

Good. Who would your people be?

My own First Illinois with Secord's

First Michigan and Second Iowa.

We'd be culled down to a short brigade.

Cross at La Grange, down through Ripley,

New Albany, Houston...

Is there something wrong, sir?

- I know the map. Proceed.

Anyway, the main trick is

no fighting until we hit Newton Station.

How much track do you figure to destroy?

As much as I can. At least enough

to keep them busy for a couple of months.

Otherwise, the raid would

just be another horse ride.

All right, Colonel, go ahead. All the rails,

ties, buildings, bridges, rolling stock.

Sam, even if he should

get through to Newton Station,

he'd be 300 miles dead centre

in the Confederacy.

Have you thought how you'd get back?

- Have you, sir?

Well, I guess I asked for that.

But I hate to think of you sitting it out

in Andersonville Prison.

It's a hellhole.

- I'd think about that twice, too, sir.

Well, Colonel, your success.

THE UNION CAVALRY DEPO AT LA GRANGE, TENNESSEE

All right, here is La Grange.

We will make 35 miles a day, average.

- 35?

It will be the first day, Ned.

I intend to make twice that distance.

In an operation like this,

everything is stretched.

Now, just hold on a minute, John.

Cutting the men's rations

from five days to three...

They'll have to live off the land eventually.

They might as well get used to it.

They seem excited. There's a rumour

they're headed for Nashville and a parade.

That was a good rumour to spread,

with the help of the Sergeant Major.

Thank you, sir.

- And, gentlemen,

I'll have to admit they had me fooled too.

You see, I was going to use my leave

to do a little electioneering back home.

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