I was one of the 120 mutineers that day it was being filmed. I was proud to do it. It took two days for these two scenes.

People: Tom Hanks is the most versatile actor in Hollywood! Jeff Daniels (who did this and "Dumb and Dumber): Hold my musket.

Jeff Daniels is one of the most underrated actors of our time.

I was in the scene where Chamberlain did his speech. Although I wasn't one of the "mutineers", they grabbed a bunch of us to fill in the scene. We were told "Jeff just wanted to work out a few lines", so we thought this would be a rehearsal. The camera roll, and Jeff Daniels began. After about a minute, we knew he wasn't going to stop; that this was going to be a serious take. And we all were riveted. I knew the general context of the speech, i read the book, but like most of us, we just read it and moved on. For my money, Joshua Chamberlain was right there in front of us. By the time he said the final lines, "we are fighting for each other", I was getting choked up. I thought, man, I'm such a pussy. They yelled "Cut!", and in a few moments a few of my friends who were Vietnam vets were sobbing. I can honestly say the unexpectedness of all this added to the drama of the moment. We all can say the greatest days of our lives were our weddings, or when our kids were born. But there are other moments in life, and this was one of them. The group of us walked away that afternoon knowing we were a part of something no one else would understand...

'...By what you do, not who your father was.' I feel this is a much needed virtue that is slipping away from us.

A good commander can make nearly any man face death. A great commander can convince men who've already faced death many times, to do it again.

Jeff Daniels should have nominated for a Academy Award for his portrayal of Chamberlain.

Not mentioned is the fact that Chamberlain had some special leverage with these folk. These men were not acting out of cowardice, but were angry about the Maine Companies they served in being disbanded and their expected transfer to forces under other states' commands. Chamberlain was not only entering the field leading a Maine regiment, but he was actually from the area of Maine where these men had been recruited from, and in fact knew some of the men personally from their childhoods. I have to think this made convincing them to get back in the fight a little easier.

"Soldiers usually win the battles and generals get the credit for them" Napoleon Bonaparte

As a former infantry marine, my opinion is that he is the greatest military officer in American history, God bless Colonel Chamberlain. He’s the epitome of American leadership

Caryl, here. This is my personal tribute to Jeff Daniels, for the way he portrayed Chamberlain. They were showing this movie on TNT around the time I had a mild stroke. I had been reading a book every day......I read the backs of cereal boxes, too........and this stroke kept me in a very dark place for awhile. I lost interest in everything, including reading. Then I watched GETTYSBURG and was fascinated by Joshua Chamberlain. I thought no one could be that noble or honorable, but Jeff Daniels nailed it. I became fascinated by Chamberlain because Jeff Daniels did his job so well. I decided to look up info on this hero and I couldn't put the books down. I was back!!! Thank you Mr. Daniels for what you do so well. I really give you 99 Percent of the credit for getting me "back" to normal. Knowing how to read and loving it is a real gift. Thank you again from my heart and God bless you, sir.

This movie caused me to go learn more about this great Teacher, Scholar, Leader and Soldier! He was seriously wounded on several occasions. I'm glad I did, he is very inspirational in every way.

This was the one moment of the movie that stock with me, ever since! A prime example of a great officer!

"We are an army out to set other men free"

Jeff Daniels is wonderful here. He was also tremendous as Washington in "The Crossing."

I live in the "heart of Dixie" but have nothing but great respect for Commander Chamberlain and the men from the great state of Maine, that was the turning point of the war.

Chamberlain does a good job with these prisoners. He gave them some food, water and listened to their concerns even if he couldn't do much about them at the time. We had this scene on Little Round Top written in our FM 22-100 Leadership manual used in the NCOES system. Chamberlain did most things right on Little Round Top. One suggestion here is to consider your ammunition, water and other critical supplies if your unit is out at the end of a flank or some other critical position. You have to be prepared for the eventuality of extended periods when no one can help you. It would have been a good idea to have had MORE MINIE BALLS, PERCUSSION CAPS for rifles or smoothbore muskets with extra buck and ball rounds for close quarters fighting. If you are told to go out on a limb or out on an exposed position remember to have extra water and extra ammo for your soldiers for extended periods of combat including medical supplies like bandages, tourniqets, morphine, plasma and the like so you can take care of your own problems for as long as possible.

How many units would hold together and keep fighting when they had lost 70% of their original number and continued to go into battles where they would lose 50% plus time and again? These men were made of much different stuff.

I love how he talks like an average every day person as opposed to a pompous actor. That's what makes Gettysburg flow so perfectly for me. Absolute masterpiece of a film. Right up there next to waterloo.

We stand on the shoulders of giant. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain was a giant...........

IMHO The Greatest Soldier of the Civil War. The epitome of honor, and the model for all US officers henceforth.

Great man! Great general! Great preacher! Hats off General Chamberlain! You were and still are a great man! 😍

This was a cool Jeff Daniels moment to put an idealistic view of this moment. The outcome is what is important. I am proud to be an American and our joint identity can point to this July 1863 event in our history as something we can point to as a reason to lift your head. We are worth it.

If I were an actor, I would give anything for the part of Colonel Chamberlain. Even being from Texas, this is my favorite General in all of American history. I bought his book from the gift shop at Gettysburg and have read it several times. He was a man's man and someone to be respected. I remember how I felt at the end credits of the movie and read where he won the Medal of Honor. He was promoted to General on the spot by General Grant, and had his troops salute Conf. General John Gordons troops, while General Gordon returned the same during the days of the surrender. Both did this as a show of respect and is one of the better stories of the Civil War.

This always reminds me of those who fought for justice and freedom. Only those who have truly lost their freedom can understand the selfless and noble qualities that these people have. Respect from China.

Joshua Chamberlain is one Yankee I can respect with my Northern Ancestor that was at Shiloh with my Southern Ancestors fighting each other what they believed in. Chamberlain respected the Southern Soldier. A Confederate Soldier spared his life at Little Round Top. The morning of Fredericksburg Chamberlain quoted Julius Ceasar's speech to his Army before they crossed the Rubicon to war with his own country. Chamberlain never forgot that the Southern Soldier was fighting to defend their homes from a invader. As the war was winding down Chamberlain wrote about the Confederate Soldiers. He wrote about they were so famished their clothes were falling off their bodies. He wrote how they still out marched the Union Army and how they fought like demons. Chamberlain started the Salute of the Confederates as they surrendered. He was asked why he did that. He said they are our countrymen again and they fought well. Great man Chamberlain.

“I said you are **relieved**, Captain.” Love his delivery.

I think he was one of our greatest Commanders. Not necessarily because he won a lot of battles but because of where he came from. He was the true citizen soldier no military training before the war. He’s a common citizen from a small town in Maine and helps leads the country to victory in the most important battle not just of the war but maybe of all time in our countries history. That’s why people both north and south love him. He’s the number one example of what america stands for. Despite your birth status you can rise to greatness.

"A man does not have himself killed for a half-pence a day or for a petty distinction. You must speak to the soul in order to electrify him." - Napoleon Bonaparte

Four times a year I pass Chamberlain's statue in Brewer Maine near Bangor on the way to route 9. Just another American accomplishing extraordinary things.

You edited out way too much of this. To go from taking responsibility of the mutineers to making an inspiring speech ignores his immediate efforts to build rapport with these men by first insuring they were properly fed and cared for, then hearing their grievances. THAT is leadership.

He had the ability to see the essence of a situation and put in terms that inspire men in battle - incredible.

They couldn’t pour pee out of a boot if the instructions were written on the heal. I love that line. I use it a lot.

"In the end we're fighting for each other"

This scene still brings me to tears. Beautiful.

Jeff Daniels did an incredible job portraying one of America’s most revered military figures, with this speech the highlight of the entire movie. Delivered with incredible sincerity and honestly you can believe that such a man could lead a regiment with empty muskets into a charge and they would follow him

Have never seen this scene. I'm ready to sign up now!

I recall an account by a Confederate POW who was captured at Gettysburg. He stated the fighting men who captured him treated him with dignity and humanity, but when under the prison guards who never fought, he was treated horribly.

Imagine if Chamberlain didn’t convince these men to join him? It’s likely that the 20th Maine would not have prevailed on Little Round Top.

What Chamberlain did has inspired his regiment and played a big role at Gettysburg.

Chamberlain was a great man, this speech is the best one I have ever heard in my life. He was a true man and a good human being. I admire his use of knowledge and his vision, progress in human's development.

probably the greatest role Mr. Daniels ever had, and to think Col. Chamberlain was a teacher at bowdon? college before the war, and then went back and ended up teaching almost every course they offered, he was even an ambassador at one time

First heard of Joshua Chamberlain in "Civil War" TV doco series. A good man and a great leader who lived to a ripe old age. Given the chance, he probably would have made an excellent president of those United States.

​To the many nominations of Jeff Daniels of the Oscar for Best Actor: At the very least, he should have shared it with Richard Jordan as Armistead. There were so many outstanding performances here. And the re-enactors, who portrayed most of the men, and who brought their own arms, costumes, and accoutrements for no more than travel and food expenses, if that, should have en masse received Oscars for Supporting Actors.

Brilliant speech from Daniels so inspirational and memorable!🙂🇺🇸

By all accounts, Chamberlain was a hell of a man. Intellectual, highly moral, courageous, and humble- all the things a commander should be. I believe he was a teacher or professor in civilian life. Been too many years since i watched the movie. Time to watch it again.

The lost art of persuasion.

That’s a real leader. You follow him out of respect for his character

Can you imagine the talks Nathan Bedford Forrest have to his men being out numbered at every battle. At Brices Crossroads he was outnumbered at the beginning of the battle almost six to one in Cavalry and 4 to 1 in Infantry. 30 percent of Sturgis's troops had New repeating and cartridge rifles and they still.got routed by Forrest. Forrest captured 187 wagons of supplies and hospital wagons. I grew days earlier Forrest routed another Union Army at Tullihoma. The Union Army fled and doctors left their wounded. Forrest found a Union Soldier with a saw still in his leg and suffering. Forrest gave the soldier Ether to knock him out and had his surgeon finish the surgery on the Union Soldier. Forrest captured more supplies and prisoners than any other General during the war. He was always in the Hospital Tents after battles consoling the wounded and it didn't matter the color of their uniforms.

Every politician should have to recite this speech today before taking office (well the end part anyway) to REMEMBER that it is citizens of this country who OWN it - and they are not county, state Kings and Queens. And lobbying (corporate) needs to be made illegal. Politicians need to remember they are our FELLOW citizens - not our landlords!!!

This is a great movie, and a wonderful portrayal by Mr. Daniels. Side note, my wife and I graduated from Norwich, the birthplace of the ROTC concept.

On the other side - I love General Longstreet (thought Tom Berringer was equally brilliant in his portrayal of Confederate General James Longstreet) words as he addresses Pickett's Brigade Commanders before their charge. Chills go through me when he tells them "All of the men who have died in this war are with you here today. Gentlemen - I do believe this battle will decide the fate of our country." Martin Sheen was also terrific in his portrayal of Robert E. Lee. Richard Jordan was awesome as BG Lo Armistead. The speech he makes to English Lt Col Freemantle was pure brilliance - "You may tell them when your return to England that all of Virginia was here today." These men are NOT POWs. They are Union Soldiers who are under suspicion of Desertion.

I love his speech..What great commander

Chamberlain distilled "right and wrong". Jeff Daniels rocked this. But truth is truth. We all have value.

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate-we can not consecrate-we can not hallow-this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us-that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion-that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain-that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom-and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. - Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address, 19 November 1863 Between 46,000 and 51,000 soldiers (as well as over 3,000 horses) from both armies were casualties in the three-day battle, the most costly in US history. Never forget.

I saw Gettysburg in Gettysburg the week it premiered. I missed seeing Martin Sheen, dangit.

I have heard this speech several times and brings a lump to my throat every time... I have also heard people say that the Civil War was ‘really fought’ over ‘State’s Rights’ and that is, in a way, true as well... Only what those State’s Rights were amounted to the Right of the people in those States to ‘Keep and Maintain Slaves’... so you see? I would maintain that it really was about Slavery! All along, it was about the Right of some men to own other men. I also say this as someone who was born and raised... well, mostly raised in South Central Florida!

After Hearing His speech No more needs to Be Said as he had already Said everything, they needed too Hear. Gettysburg was A Great Film Accomplishment No Doubt about that. Thank You for Sharing.

I had ancestors on both sides of this terrible war. God Bless all the men who died for this war of tyranny.

When I think of Chamberlain, the Foo Fighters anthem "My Hero" comes to mind. He was as in the words of the song, "ordinary" but extraordinary at the same time. He also must've been incredibly tough: he survived a GSW to the private parts at the siege of Petersburg that left him with Urinary incontinence, impotence, and constant pain for the rest of his days (he survived the battle of Gettysburg by 50 years). They actually didn't operate on him at first because he was expected to die. When he woke up the next morning and found himself still alive, he got treatment for his wounds. Because his wound was invisible, and not an arm or a leg amputated , he didn't get a pension from the government that he fought so bravely and so well for in the Civil War, no matter how many times he applied. "Now we'll see how a professor fights", indeed.

Joshua Chamberlain is the real life Obi-Wan Kenobi

Jeff Daniel's mustache alone has killed 17 men in this scene

It is hard to comprehend the casualty rates of some of these units, many raised from contiguous rural areas at the start of the war. My g-g grandfather regiment was raised from two counties in Indiana in the summer of 1861. Nearly 1100 men. By the time of the Grand Review, 278 were left. That’s why you still see those obelisks in town centers all over the Midwest, sometime listing 100s of names. Often most of a generation from those places were dead or disabled from wounds or sickness.

Colonel Joshua Chamberlain was good leader, giving the men that deserted a chance reintegrated to union and fight for their honor. That is sign of a great Leader!

its unfortunate his wound he received in 1864 would cause him pain and life issues for 50 years after.. he is one of the greatest Americans who ever lived i would say. He was truly a patriot.

Im from Maine, and we are very proud of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain and the 20th Maine. This is the scene that clearly shows how intelligent and decent a man he was. He was a professor of Rhetoric, and he was very skilled at it. But we can not forget that he truly believed in what America stood for.

That was a Great speech for all mankind. ❤️

When we go to Gettysburg, often the first monument we visit is the 20th Maine. You do not have Pickett's Charge if it were not for Chamberlain and the 20th Maine and the 2nd Minnesota at Cemetery Ridge.

Nobody and I mean nobody knows what a man will do under the duress of combat. I'm a drafted, disabled, and a Republic of Vietnam combat veteran (1968). After 50 years and I start telling people about Vietnam, people don't want to hear it. I'm talking knock down bloody descriptions. My gg grandfather guarded conscripted Union Troops' headed south. He was paid $300.00 to join the Union Army out of Michigan. I've heard accounts from my grandmother. My other gg grandfather was in the Tennessee Confederate Army, fought at Chickamauga, and was captured near Macon by Sherman. I've heard accounts from my grandmother too, about his service, as he told her. Eaglegards 🦅 ...

I was involved in the production of this epic. Financed by Ted Turner, who also had a minor role in the epic. He's the first confederate casualty in the opening scene. While searching for a hero, every TV production needs one, Joshua Chamberlain, the 'Lion of the Union', was a larger than life character that kept coming up. Wounded six times, accepted Robert E. Lee's surrender, and had a stellar academic and political life after the war. He suffered greatly from his war wounds, like many veteran's and years later asked “what it was all for, & what would come of it". As an immigrant to the US it was hard to understand the re-inactors. The reaction of Confederate reinactors to Martin Sheen playing Robert E. Lee was an eye opener, and baffling for me. To understand this phenom, Confederates in the Attic by Tony Horwitz, is a great insight into the reinacting community.

I have seen this movie many, many times. The first time I saw it ...in a theatre........as the credits were rolling at the end , the entire audience in that theatre, stood and applauded . I think they were applauding not for the movie, which was inspiring, but for the magnificent courage of the soldiers depicted in that movie. Union or Confederate , that was the courage of Americans. And that audience felt it ....as they stood to honor those very courageous soldiers.

One of my personal hero's.

Great speech.

After the war, Chamberlain was governor of Maine for 4 years and president of Bowdoin college for 12 years. He also held a wide range of other jobs. To me, the most impressive thing about Chamberlain isn't what he did in the war, it's what he did after it. Despite haunted by trauma and the agonizing life-long pain of his war-wounds, he still managed to live a long and productive life. So many other veterans in the same situation give in to despair, but Chamberlain kept pushing on.

The acting range Jeff Daniels has is astounding. Portraying one of the most noble, dignified, brave soldiers in American history, to spraying diarrhea into a toilet bowl while yodeling.

Powerful words...from a man who was good for the times - in direction, compassion, and true purpose of what the American Civil War was really about. The actual Josh Lawrence Chamberlain was a "one of a kind" to many history followers who divulged into the causes of the great Civil War. I think, when the cast selection was made for the 1993 TV movie "Gettysburg" by Turner Industries, they found actor Jeff Daniels that man who had that Chamberlain character & style.

Chamberlain rolled a 23 on 3d6 for his leadership score.

I’m a confederate. But you whipped us that day. Bless you and both parties. You have earned respect from the C.S.A.

A great speech from a promising great leader.

Excellent movie.

I learned early on in my service that you have to respect the rank, but not the man, but if you are a man of respect then rank does not matter.

That is one hell of a speech, well said sir !

Watching this video reminds me of when I was in the ARMY. Never had the commanding GENERAL talk to us, NEVER but I talked to the GENERALS myself and they are very nice. Years ago I talked to a AIR FORCE general and he was very nice to me, because the owner told him that I was in the ARMY, and I have 2 letters of recommendation from them I still have them and I know my father told my 2 brothers about that.

Now thats an American resolve and how we should be.

Not POWs, deserters due to signing three year papers and not two year. Yes they are "Prisoners" but not POWs. This is however a very good scene and speech.

Honestly i know it supposed to tell the story of both sides but i found myself only interested in this character. Jeff did such an amazing job it almost did not feel like a History Bio but a Hollywood Fictional Character...dam good acting! And so fascinating, wish they would just give this character their own film.

Some men fight for glory Some men fight because it's right. This was a war for right. Many died, to make men free.

This speech is the reason I have this man hanging on the wall of my house.

POW's ? I thought they were Union soldiers under guard charged with mutiny, not enemy combatants.

Gettysburg, Waterloo and Taierzhuang - the golden trinity of ridiculously epic historical war films, and absolutely ESSENTIAL viewing for lovers of historical fiction and period pieces (as well as protracted cinematic epics of any kind)! Films like this make me yearn for the days when the average film's duration was roughly 2 and a half hours, and each film began with an introductory overture and featured an intermission halfway through the piece... and because there was no CGI, large crowds and battles were entirely composed of extras, engendering a verisimilitude that 3D graphics simply cannot seem to adequately replicate. One of the last films of a dying breed (though perhaps it is being revived...)

Well done. The best part of the movie.

Mutineers, not POW's. A number of Union units rebelled when the Army didn't live up to their enlistment contracts. It got so bad that one entire Regiment 700+ men got the Medal of Honor to end mutiny and re-enlist. Later rescinded.

A true leader has got to know when a man has had enough.

I did not know who Jeff Daniels was when on a spare, rainy afternoon I rented both Gettysburg and Dumb and Dumber to fill my day. I came out the other side of watching those two movies a big fan of Jeff Daniels, and much dumber for watching the D&D movie to the end. This is truly one great movie moment. I've always wondered how historically accurate it actual is.

A great leader know how to present the truth and reason to go forward to finish an unfinished mission together as one.

A great leader gets ppl to do what they want, because they want to do it. Not an exact quote but..... Dwight D Eisenhower

Sample of Maslow’s theory on leadership

Jeff Daniels is great

"Here we judge you by what you do, not who your father was." Our country could use a lot more of that.

0:51 By making his brother signing the papers for him is basically Colonel Chamberlain of the 20th Maine telling Captain Brewer of the 118th that he despises him.