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When Sherman Marched to the Sea
(1913) United States of America
B&W : Three reels
Directed by Jack Conway
Cast: Jack Conway, Val Paul, Lee Morris, Frank Howe, Phyllis Gordon, Page E. Peters (Page Peters), Jane Darwell, Joseph Kelly, Margaret Oswald, Gertrude Short
New York Motion Picture Company production; distributed by The Universal Film Manufacturing Company, Incorporated [101-Bison]. / Scenario by Frank Wiltermood. / Released 19 July 1913. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama: Historical: Civil War.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Mrs. Margaret Oswald, a wealthy widow, lives on her plantation near the seacoast at Savannah. Georgia, and with her are her two grown sons, Robert and Jack, and her daughter, Gertie, the latter being aged seven years, Henry Bennett is overseer of the negro slaves on the plantation. Robert is opposed to slavery and announces his intention to go north and fight with Lincoln’s men. Jack denounces Robert’s sentiments. Overseer Bennett treats the slaves cruelly, and Bob thrashes him, incurring Bennett’s hatred. Jeff Davis calls for more volunteers to strengthen the rebel army. Phyllis, daughter of a widow living near the Oswald plantation, is betrothed to Robert, but condemns his Union sentiments and returns the engagement ring. Bob goes north and enlists in the Federal army. Jack joins the Confederate troops. Overseer Bennett travels north and joins the Union forces and acts as a Confederate spy. Three years then elapse. Jack is shown serving in the Confederate army Secret Service, and is given a message by General Hardee to take to General Brown, advising Hardee that Sherman’s “bummers” are nearing Savannah. Sherman’s camp is shown, where Robert is a Union officer and is sent by Sherman to destroy a bridge across Turner’s Bay near the Oswald home. Robert’s brother Jack, carrying Hardee’s message, arrives at the bridge when Robert and his soldiers begin putting powder under the timbers. Phyllis and Gertie, on an outing, arrive at the bridge. Robert meets Jack and demands the message. A fight follows. Jack is arrested and led away. Union and rebel troops arrive and fight a battle on the bridge, the Unionists being victorious. The retreating rebels are reinforced and return, whereupon Bob gives the word and the bridge is blown up, the structure and the rebels being wiped out. General Sherman, when Jack is brought in as a prisoner, orders him shot as a spy. Bennett, serving in Sherman’s army as a secret aid to the Confederacy, determines to help Jack escape and make it appear that Robert, who once thrashed Bennett, aided his brother Jack to get away. Gertie leaves home and makes her way into Sherman's camp to aid her condemned brother Robert. Bennett steals Robert’s coat and hat out of his tent and gives them the guard’s attention and Jack escapes. Bennett falsely accuses Bob and the latter is sentenced to he shot. Bennett, later, is mortally wounded and tells Sherman that Robert is innocent, obtaining Robert’s exoneration and release from custody. Robert and a detachment are sent on a scouting trip. They learn that a rebel troop train is coming and plant powder under the railroad track. When the train is over the powder, the fuse is ignited and the explosion destroys the locomotive, cars and the rebel troops. Sherman orders his cavalry scouts to patrol the ocean shore near Fort McAllister. Jack and fifty rebel cavalrymen stop on the seashore beneath a cliff fifty feet high, when the tide waves roll against the base of the cliff. About sixty of Sherman’s mounted soldiers, including Robert meet the rebel cavalrymen at the cliff shore and a thrilling, spectacular battle ensues in water four feet deep. General Sherman, on top of the cliff, directs the fire of artillerymen on the rebels below. Many of the warring cavalrymen are shot off their horses and their bodies toss in the surf. The Union cavalrymen finally win the battle. Phyllis arrives, sees her brother wounded in the surf, and wades out and rescues him. Jack dies on the shore rocks, Robert arriving at his side in time to hear his brother’s last words of forgiveness.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: History: USA: American Civil War (1861-1865) - People: Military: General Phillip Sheridan
Listing updated: 15 November 2022.
References: Braff-Universal n. 8973; Pitts-Hollywood p. 6 : Website-IMDb.
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