The Blue and the Gray: Difference between revisions

 

John Geyser is a southerner whos family owns a farm in Virginia. He has three brothers, each of them far more serious about agriculture than him. Tired of farm life and hoping to get a job at his uncle's newspaper, he moves to Gettysburg, PA.

 

* [[Accidental Hero]]: Malachi: His gun jams and he runs away from battle. He comes across a Confederate deserter, and, they wager their fate on the battle's outcome, ending with the Confederate being taken prisoner. When escorting his prisoner to headquarters, Malachi comes across some Southern stragglers in need of medical attention, who surrender to him. Reaching headquarters with all the prisoners, which (to his CO, he apparently captured with an ''unloaded weapon''), he is issued a commendation and promoted.

* [[Anyone Can Die]]: It is the Civil War, afterall. Of the Geyser and Hale family, five members (including in-laws) are killed. Two of them aren't even soldiers, albeit one is a smuggler. Numerous supporting characters and friends of the main characters are also killed.

* [[Bright Slap]]: John gives one of these to Kathy at Bull Run.

* [[Bring My Brown Pants]]: Malachi, at Bull Run

* [[The Caretaker]]: John's fiance and later wife, Kathy, becomes a nurse after being placed in a wagon containing wounded troops after the first battle of Bull Run.

* [[The Cassandra]]: In an interview with John and another reporter, a condemned John Brown states that there will be trouble ahead. The reporter is somewhat skeptical.

* [[Dreaming of Things to Come]]: Jonas Steele does this. His dream about Mary is a double-subversion.

* [[Drill Sergeant Nasty]]: Averted. The sergeant who trains the conscripts isn't portrayed like any drill instructor seen before. The most he does is a stern shaking of the head to when a bumbling private misfires his rifle while loading.

* [[Foregone Conclusion]]: The North won the war; Lincoln was assassinated.

* [[Friendly Enemy]]: The trading scene mentioned above, but John's brother Luke invites John and his two cousins to a barn dance behind enemy lines. Even Luke's commander relents in letting them go after Luke says that he gave his word that they'd get back. Both examples were [[Truth in Television]].

* [[To Absent Friends]]: After Lee surrenders, Jonas, John, his brothers and other soldiers solemnly march around their campfire with torches for their fallen friends and family.

* [[War Is Hell]]: The aftermath of the Wilderness campaign is shown and is a major plotpoint. John goes out in the evening after the battle has concluded and vows to save at least one person. The forest where the battle happened is burning and wounded soldiers not recovered (including one of John's brothers) often burn to death. Also shown at one point is John's sketchbook, containing graphic drawings of dead and dying men. One involves a [[Nightmare Fuel|a crow...]]

* [[You Are in Command Now]]: While he was only one rank lower than the man he replaced, Malachi is forced to lead his squad in the Wilderness after their sergeant is killed.

* [[You Can't Fight Fate]]: Jonas' attempts to prevent Mary's and Lincoln's deaths prove futile

{{reflist}}

[[Category:The Blue and The Gray]]