“They rode for a while in silence, a tiny island in the smoky stream of marching men. Then Lee said slowly, in a strange, soft, slow tone of voice, "Soldiering has one great trap." Longstreet turned to see his face.… — Michael Shaara Copy Share Image
“The great white joker in the sky dooms us all to stupidity or poverty from birth. No two things on earth are equal or… — Michael Shaara Copy Share Image
“I tell you, Colonel, we got to win this war. What will happen, do you think, if we lose? Do you think the country will ever get back together again? Doubt it. Would it too deep. The differences. . .If they win there'll be two countries, like France and Germany in Europe, and the border will be armed. Then there'll… — Michael Shaara Copy Share
Perhaps it was only that when you try to put it into words you cannot express it truly, it never sounds as you dream… — Michael Shaara Copy Share Image
Pickett excused himself, watchful of Longstreet. Pickett was always saying something to irritate somebody, and he rarely knew why, so his method was simply… — Michael Shaara Copy Share Image
I've been a soldier all my life. I've fought from the ranks on up, you know my service. But sir, I must tell you now, I believe this attack will fail. No 15,000 men ever made could take that ridge. It's a distance of more than a mile, over open ground. When the men come out of the trees, they… — Michael Shaara Copy Share
“He bent down, scratched the black dirt into his fingers. He was beginning to warm to it; the words were beginning to flow. No one in front of him was moving. He said, "This is free ground. All the way from here to the Pacific Ocean. No man has to bow. No man born to royalty. Here we judge you… — Michael Shaara Copy Share
“The true rain came in a monster wind, and the storm broke in blackness over the hills and the bloody valley; the sky opened along the ridge, and the vast water thundered down, drowning the fires, flooding the red creeks, washing the rocks and the grass and the white bones of the dead, cleansing the earth and soaking it thick… — Michael Shaara Copy Share
“I'll wave no more flags for home. No tears for Mother. Nobody ever died for apple pie.” — Michael Shaara Copy Share Image
“To be a good soldier you must love the army. But to be a good officer you must be willing to order the death… — Michael Shaara Copy Share Image
“I don't really understand it. Never have. The more I think on it the more it horrifies me. How can they look in the… — Michael Shaara Copy Share Image
“He was one of those, like Stuart, who looked on war as God's greatest game.” — Michael Shaara Copy Share Image
“There is one thing you can do. You can resign now. You can refuse to lead it. But I cannot even do that. Cannot leave the man alone. Cannot leave him with that attack in the hands of Hill. Cannot leave because I disagree, because, as he says, it's all in the hands of God. And maybe God really wants… — Michael Shaara Copy Share
