The Little Soldier of ’64 (1911)

• 79%
• 1911
• Sidney Olcott

Gabe, a southern backwoodsman, sees the massing of troops, and realizes that a great battle is imminent. Casting a quantity of lead bullets in an old-fashioned mold, he shoulders his rifle and goes to the recruiting station in the village and enlists. Matie, his young wife, pleads to go with him, but being denied, determines to follow. Searching through the garret, Matie finds a boy's suit, which she quickly dons, cuts her hair off short, mounts a horse and rides to overtake the volunteers. While riding toward the ferry she has a narrow escape from a company of Federal scouts, but, unrecognized by her husband, succeeds in joining the recruits. The Federal army approaching in overwhelming numbers, the raw recruits are immediately rushed into battle. This action being preceded by a most thrilling artillery duel between Confederate and Union batteries. Gabe, always in the thickest of the fight, is badly wounded, but when about to be run through by a Union soldier. Matie fortunately arrives on the scene and saves his life by shooting the Yankee soldier. After the battle Matie finds her husband in the field hospital, where he has just suffered the loss of an arm. After many days of suffering Gabe finally convalesces and he and his faithful little wife return to peaceful valley. Fifty years later we find them sitting on the lawn in the front of their home on the Fourth of July morning. Matie brings out the old flag of the southern Confederacy, which they both reverently kiss. As they raise their heads a little grandchild, a tot of about three and one half years old, comes through the door and down the steps waving the stars and stripes. The old veteran takes the little child in his arms, while the aged pair solemnly salute their country's flag.