When Marlowe is talking to Hanna at the bar, the stove behind them has a long red scarf draped around it. The scene cuts away and back very briefly, only a second, but when it does cut back the scarf is gone from the stove.
When Doc Kendall is examining Dunker's leg, there is a soldier holding a lamp with his left hand. Between shots the lamp is in his right hand.
When Col Marlow and Gen. Hurlburt arrive at Gen. Grant's headquarters, Hurlburt announces himself to see Grant "by appointment." When the aide announces them to Gen. Grant he mentions both Hurlburt and Marlow though Marlow was not announced to the aide prior to entering the room.
The aide may well have known Marlow previously or he may have been told they were coming along with their names.
The aide may well have known Marlow previously or he may have been told they were coming along with their names.
When Doc Kendall examines the soldiers in line, he walks from left to right. When he is seen from behind the soldiers, he is walking the opposite way.
He stopped and turned back to have another look at the "32 year old" soldier.
He stopped and turned back to have another look at the "32 year old" soldier.
When Col. Marlowe asks a soldier for Maj. Kendall, his neckerchief knot is under his chin. When he enters in the colored people's shack, where Maj. Kendall is, his neckerchief knot is turned to his left shoulder.
The rifles used in the movie were the Springfield Trapdoor Carbine - a post war (1870s) weapon. 2 units in Grierson's carried Cosmopolitan breechloading carbines; and one unit carried Colt Repeating Rifles (revolving breach). Both of these weapons are quite interesting.
During the chase after leaving Newton Station, Marlow's column is being chased by Bedford Forrest's cavalry. However when the raid took place during April 1863, Forrest and his cavalry were in Alabama chasing another Union Army cavalry raid. Other Confederate units did chase the raiders, but Forrest had no part.
Although listening through stove pipes at Greenbriar helped move the plot along , it was merely a contrivance . Southern plantation houses at that time were not heated by cast iron stoves but by wood-burning fireplaces through chimneys at each end of the house.
The man with glasses taking the photograph of the officers is Matthew Brady, famed for photographing and presenting the horrors of the battlefield to the American public like Antietam and Gettysburg. However, by April-May 1863, he was in Virginia where he photographed Confederate dead after the Second Battle of Fredericksburg.
Marlowe tells Grant that the raiding force will consist of the 1st Illinois, 1st Michigan, and 2nd Iowa Cavalry regiments. In fact, Grierson's brigade was composed of the 6th and 7th Illinois with 2nd Iowa.
At the end of the officers' conference Colonel Marlow states; "No glory hunting Richards. Anything knock this into a cocked hat it'll be a firefight." The term "firefight" did not come into use until the end of the 19th century.
First use of "firefight" dates from around 1900, but it wasn't widespread until around mid 18th century.
First use of "firefight" dates from around 1900, but it wasn't widespread until around mid 18th century.
When Major Kendall drags Miss Hunter and Lukey into the conference room in Greenbriars, Lukey drops the tray of whiskey. Sergeant Kirby, standing nearby, reacts before the tray is dropped.
Sergeant Kirby was not reacting to the dropped tray. He is reacting to Lukey being abruptly yanked by Dr Kendall.
Sergeant Kirby was not reacting to the dropped tray. He is reacting to Lukey being abruptly yanked by Dr Kendall.
When the rebels from the train charge up the street the flag bearer is shot and a man with a beard and green jacket picks it up. Shortly after wards the flag bearer is in shot again but its a younger man and the man with the beard and green jacket picks it up again.
That was not the same person. There were several men who fell and were replaced. A lot of them were older with beards and green jackets.
That was not the same person. There were several men who fell and were replaced. A lot of them were older with beards and green jackets.
After the battle at Newton Station, MAJ Kendall is talking to COL Miles after recovering from his surgery. Behind them is a map of the southern US. However, this is not a map of the Confederacy. It still shows Florida split into West Florida and East Florida and Mississippi (where the battle is set), Alabama, Indiana and Illinois (among other states) are shown as territories and not states. This map must predate 1800, which is out of place for a movie set 60+ years later.
It could easily predate 1800. The Confederacy's lack of surveying and drafting equipment, trained military engineers and mapmakers made updated maps rare. Such maps as were available went to military commanders in the field, not hung on the wall.
It could easily predate 1800. The Confederacy's lack of surveying and drafting equipment, trained military engineers and mapmakers made updated maps rare. Such maps as were available went to military commanders in the field, not hung on the wall.
Colonel Marlowe would have had Hannah Hunter and the maid killed after they were caught spying.
Col Marlowe is not a cruel man and doesn't want extraneous killing on his mission. Also, he kinda likes her.
Col Marlowe is not a cruel man and doesn't want extraneous killing on his mission. Also, he kinda likes her.
When they take the "one armed" Confederate Colonel away in Newton Station, his "missing" hand shows behind his back as he steps off the porch of the hotel.
In the house at Greenbrier after Major Kendall, Miss Hunter, and Lukey come down the stairs, shadows are visible on the landing above and behind them. The shadows are not in line with any visible light source, suggesting the presence of a spotlight hidden behind the chair at the right of the scene.
In the hotel bar at Newton Station Col. Kirby breaks a bottle of whiskey tucked in the front of Sgt. Kirby's trousers . The trousers are already wet from a previous take.
After Marlowe takes Kirby's wicker-bound jug (0:14:25) and tosses it away, it shatters. That's the purpose of the wicker basket - to prevent shattering.
Despite being on the move for days on end, Miss Hannah Hunter still possesses a neat, clean, and professionally styled head of hair.
The Horse Soldiers Makeup Department (hair stylist - as Fae Smith)
The Horse Soldiers Makeup Department (hair stylist - as Fae Smith)
When by the river with the Confederates on the other bank, John Wayne has his hair piece lifted by the wind generated by passing horses.
As Marlowe's men hide across the river, a Confederate column of troops is marching along passing the Union forces singing a song, "The Bonnie Blue Flag." This was the marching song of Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, and hence is somewhat misplaced here. The song itself refers to the blue flag with a single star which was the flag of the state of Virginia.
It's just a marching song, not confined by state lines.
It's just a marching song, not confined by state lines.
As the column proceeds down the country road, the advance scouts are fired at by Rebel Bushwhackers hidden in the bushes and behind trees as they follow a bend in the road. It has been suggested that the section of the column further down the road might be able to spot the hidden bushwhackers across a field.
In the shot right after Hank Worden throws the torch onto the cotton bales, look at the upper left of the screen. You will see an airplane flying from right to left.
Union soldiers, especially cavalry and snipers used breech-loading carbines early in the Civil War.
Sharps models 1859 and 1863 and Spencer model 1860 used rear loading paper cartridge rifles were in use early in the civil war, often purchased by the soldier, not the Federal Armory.
Both Sharps and Spencer rifles were favorite sniper rifles.
Cavalry were frequent pioneer users of easy to load and repeating firearms.
The Confederate flags used in the movie are Army of Tennessee pattern and did not come into use until March of 1864.
Early in the movie, Ken Curtis is shown playing a fretted banjo. Frets were not added to banjos until the 1880s. When they were first added, most players tried to file them off.
At the film's end, Dr. Kendall tells Col. Marlowe that he has decided to stay behind with the wounded Union soldiers. Col. Marlowe replies, "Even if it means Andersonville [a notorious Confederate POW camp]?" Andersonville did not exist in 1863, when this film was set; it was established in 1864. This same error is made by General Grant at the beginning of the film. Also the Confederates only sent enlisted prisoners to Andersonville. Major Kendall would most likely have been sent to Libby Prison in Richmond, which was in fact open in 1863.
When Kendall is removing Dunker's leg, one of the troopers is holding a lantern. In one shot, the lantern is turned a bit and the reflection of a stage light is visible in the glass.
When the two Confederate deserters and their captive are interviewed by the Colonel, the captive identifies himself as Captain Henry Goodbody, acting Sheriff of Lorena County, Mississippi. There never was a Lorena County, Mississippi.
This is a misheard line. The Sheriff said: "Rowena County" and did not say Mississippi. There is a Rowena County in nearby N. Carolina. He may have been tracking them since N. Carolina joined the Confederacy.
This is a misheard line. The Sheriff said: "Rowena County" and did not say Mississippi. There is a Rowena County in nearby N. Carolina. He may have been tracking them since N. Carolina joined the Confederacy.
Trying to distract Dr. Kendall, Miss Hunter tells him of her scandalous behavior at a ball in Biloxi. Any southerner would know the correct pronunciation rhymes with Biluckxi, not Bilockxi as she pronounces it.
At the beginning of the engagement with the boys from the military academy, Colonel Marlow orders "Assembly" be sounded. It is clear from the immediately preceding shot, that many of the troops are not only not mounted, but the horses are not even saddled. Therefore, the correct bugle call would have been "Boots and Saddles".
After Dr Kendall delivers a baby, this doctor who talks about germs (as in making sure to have latrines down stream from where the men drink) walks over to the drinking water barrel used by the family in the shack - and washes his hands in it. After delivering a baby.
That wasn't the drinking water barrel, it was the rain barrel collecting garden watering water. The river is a short distance away.
That wasn't the drinking water barrel, it was the rain barrel collecting garden watering water. The river is a short distance away.