As the drums begin to roll, the title, Glory, appears in large, simple uppercase letters. These white letters begin as white and the fade to red. Glory is defined as great honor or distinction. Red, being a color of violence and the militaristic sounds of the drums makes the watcher aware that the movie will be about a war, that there will be bloodshed and there is a great accomplishment of an individual or individuals will be portrayed in the movie.

The first scene of the movie begins at early morning; the sun is just beginning to rise to show a hazy overcast day. The camera spans from the outline of three tents to show they vastness of this small army. There are cannons lined up on the outskirts of a large group of tents. These tents are simple, white and A-shaped and there are hundreds of them dispersed throughout the field.

The first sign of life at this camp is seen when the camera takes a closer l

The next morning, the trumpets are called to bring the troops to order. As Shaw emerges from the building, Forbes informs him that the company is formed. Before looking, Shaw asks how many are left. AS he looks around the corner, the music begins to crescendo, raising the level of emotion. He turns to see that the company is all there and accounted for, even Thomas. As he approaches they are called to attention Shaw looks proudly over the crowd. He says to himself “Glory Halleluiah.”

The drummers and pipers continue playing their cheerful tune as they men march down the street of a small neighborhood. Young children run by them greeting them as they arrive. Others run out from their homes to greet them as well. Pap stops to tell a small group of children that they are not dreaming. He states that they may be run away slaves but they have come back as fighting men. They wave as the soldiers leave. They arrive at a large white plantation house and a union flag is hung over the balcony. The house is located in Beaufort, S.C. Supplies and tents are unloaded and set up as the 54th regiment arrives. They meet another colored regiment of local coloreds that have recently escaped. They are not trained like the 54th regiment is. An older boy initiates a conversation with Thomas where he is from. He then comments that they walk and talk like a white army. Although the other soldiers were given clothes they are ill fitting and not as uniformed as those of the 54th regiment.

The camera begins to switch more frequently between the confederate and union armies, symbolizing that the two opposing forces are getting closer to one another. The first battle of this movie takes place at Antietam Creek in Maryland on September 17, 1862. As the union soldiers emerge from the forest, the confederate soldiers open fire, propelled cannon balls into their midst. Shaw, points his sword forward to commence battle. As tree branches and dirt shower the troops, Shaw begins to look uncertain. He looks to his left as another cannon release its charge on the crowd. He then looks up to the sun that is covered by a hazy cloud of smoke from the battle. As the union troops receive much pressure from the Confederate soldier’s gunfire, they do not appear to be retaliating. So far not shots have been returned on the confederate soldiers. As the gap between the two forces closes, the battle becomes more bloody and violent. The confederate soldiers are on a higher-level ground than the union soldiers giving them a greater advantage, and symbolizing that they are the dominant group in this battle. The union soldiers are now close enough for rifles to be effective and utilized. The Confederate soldiers open fire upon the soldiers. We begin to see the travesty of war. There are bodies of fallen soldiers as well as horses scattered in the quake of the union regime. As the first round of gunfire disintegrates the front line of the union soldiers, we see Shaw’s optimism begin to falter. He covers his head as dirt from the nearby cannon ball shower him and his troops, killing many around them. He looks back to his troops and yells “Steady!” as he takes an uncertain step forward. We then see the confederate troops lined up along a wood fence that has posts and three planks of wood, there are two lifeless arms slumped over the bottom plank of wood. Their once pristine flag is bullet ridden; although they do not appear suffer many casualties. This could symbolize that the ideology in which they are fighting for will be defeated. As the battle unfolds, Shaw continues to order his troops forward. As the debris flying around him, Shaw covers his face. He is now walking less assured taking sidesteps toward the opposing force. As the man in command of Shaw and his troops yells at the troops” For God’s Sake, Come on”, a cannonball lands in front of him, bounces and shatters his head spraying blood on the naïve Shaw’s face. Still with his arm over his head S

Some topics in this essay:
Emotions Thomas, Thomas Shaw, Forbes Pap, Douglas Shaw, Quarter Master, Robert Shaw, Maryland September, Shaw Robert’s, Colonel Shaw’s, Forbes Forbes, confederate soldiers, drill sergeant, union soldiers, shaw looks, 54th regiment, shaw tells, ignorant soldier, shaw begins, white soldiers, shaw replies, white union soldiers, angelic voices heard, confederate soldiers fire, hand hand combat, union soldiers retreat,