Goofs

Wilby and his friends see a ship in the mouth of the Cape Fear River. They strain to see the flag it is flying. They look for either the Stars and Bars or Old Glory. But Confederate ships did NOT fly the Stars and Bars. Rather, they flew the Confederate Naval Jack, the rectangular Southern Cross (if the Southern Cross flag was square, it was the Battle Flag used on land).

When Reverand James boards the train in New York, it is quite obvious that he is in a museum. There is a railing between him and the car. This railing runs along side of the platform, with a break in it to allow museum visitors the opportunity to walk into the exhibit car. Conversely, train stations do not put railings along side platforms. To do so would prevent easy access and boarding for passengers.

When Reverand James boards the train in New York, it is quite obvious that he is in a museum. Behind the car James is preparing to board is an automobile.

As Wilby prepares for his escape by putting things in a boat, in the background the supports of a modern day bridge can be seen.

The character James is supposed to have been able to pass for white. But this particular actor, Lamont Williams, who portrayed James, did not even remotely look white. If this character was supposed to have been able to pass as white, a better choice of actor could have been made.

As this film is set before the Civil War, the steam engines, which are of the early 20th Century, are off by decades.

Though the setting of the film is during the Antebellum, Wilby's suspenders are 20th Century and therefore off by decades. His suspenders should be secured by buttons, NOT by clasps.

The setting of the film is the Antebellum yet Wilby's pants are modern and therefore off by a century and a half.

As Wilby and his friends row on the Cape Fear River, they turn a modern spotlight on the shore. In the Antebellum lanterns were powered either by candle or kerosene, neither of which could cast a beam of light as powerful as the one presented in this film.

The setting of the film is the Antebellum and Cornelia is hiding in the baggage car in her flight north. A porter goes to her to give her a message from James. He also gives her water from his 20th Century GI canteen, an item which is decades out of place.

On the train James recites his escape route (Winchester, Harpers Ferry, Frederick, Baltimore, York). But as they are fleeing Wilmington, North Carolina, a coastal city, this route makes NO sense. Rather, his route would have been more Easterly, closer along the coast through Richmond, Washington, and then onward to Baltimore.