Rebuilding the House of Stone
Rebuilding the House of Stone
Special | 22m 22sVideo has Closed Captions
Two Hoosier brothers who fought on opposite sides during the Civil War return home.
Conner Prairie and WFYI present a dramatization of two brothers from Indiana who fought on opposite sides during the Civil War. With real historic roots in the experiences of a family from Putnam County, the play follows the brothers as they return home in Indiana and try to reconcile their differences.
Rebuilding the House of Stone is a local public television program presented by WFYI
Rebuilding the House of Stone
Rebuilding the House of Stone
Special | 22m 22sVideo has Closed Captions
Conner Prairie and WFYI present a dramatization of two brothers from Indiana who fought on opposite sides during the Civil War. With real historic roots in the experiences of a family from Putnam County, the play follows the brothers as they return home in Indiana and try to reconcile their differences.
How to Watch Rebuilding the House of Stone
Rebuilding the House of Stone is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
(slow piano music begins) (birds chirping) (gunshots firing) (cannon blasts) (delicate piano music begins) (door creaks open) - Val.
Oh, it's wonderful to see you.
(plucking banjo music begins) Who's that?
- Oh Henry, Henry is that you?
- Yeah Val, it's me.
- Well, I wasn't sure you - I wasn't sure I should come.
- Hey, there's a good Let's go get something to eat.
(delicate piano music continues) - It smells so good.
- It really does, - Hope you boys are hungry.
- Yeah, we are.
- I've gotten - Well Ma, you've done it again.
- Yep, I quite agree.
Been chopping that wood, - Here you are, Father.
- Thank you so much.
- That's where the army do.
- No, definitely not.
This looks a lot better - Indeed.
- Thank you so much, That looks wonderful.
- It really does, I think - When you all have had the, the last nice meat pass that to your brother.
- There's beef from your Ma.
Those are quite nice, I'll It'll be nice to have a - We've got pickles and jam.
- I do so love pickled carrots.
- Boys.
- Ma, don't worry about that.
There's a plenty more - Yeah, it looks like mom - An army.
Gosh, I thought you've learned to a fight a little bit better - Good enough to make you Well, I remember a time line so badly, you couldn't - That was a bad time for Good men nearly starved.
- It's no better than what You've been trying to - Henry, ladies.
- Valentine.
- Boys, if you'll excuse me.
- Well, that's one thing Never did have an easy - Yeah, well anyway, I was than anything I ever saw even if I were half star.
- Oh yes, I'm sure you - Of course I did, both times.
- Henry, you always than your fair (piano keys clang off key) - What you call The men with Morgan were I'd ever met, they had to be.
Of course, we got ourself but General Morgan, he knew we were right.
And he got us through Every man I talked to down - Good heavens, Henry.
You were with Morgan for what, a few months back '63?
What about all the people here in your home in Indiana Certainly didn't all think - Wow, Val, I don't think My heart always belonged believe in things I just can't.
I mean, the way you and the and abolition, it's just.
God forbid, you in the hands of our Folks down there are calling - Oh, I find it mighty ironic that Mother decided to name and uncle Henry So you and Morgan's men I couldn't sleep for days on the Indiana raid, Henry.
Didn't you have Raiding the very mother and father live.
- I must admit it was but our raid was a It was entirely justifiable.
for mother and father that - Can you not hear - Well now, they ain't or hurting anyone yet.
- Well not yet.
- Well, they're both grown men so let them work it out.
- I think you need - They'll work it out.
- Well, it took more than You Yanks must of had and nearly got to a third of us.
That's when I learned to be a true prisoner of war.
I must admit I was worried.
I wasn't sure how they from the Hoosier state.
- Well, how did they treat you?
- Better than I expected.
I had everything I Believe it or not, some in the prison guard we went to school with.
I was only there before they took me I was there for about I had to liberate myself.
One night, I tied my and in my sock feet above the prison fence and I made my escape.
Still at my handkerchief, see?
- That one right there, (laughs) That sounds Like where we're boys without supper and It's quite the escape, I guess I wouldn't expect - Can't hurt a Morgan man.
After that, I decided down in Kentucky I stopped off at our old home.
I got captured again in the That wasn't the worst of all.
As they were taking me I had to fight the - Well, letters from very regularly then.
The next I heard from you, you were up in Canada, She was so worried about you knowing that you're a, I think the only time during this war was when you - Figured it was the after my second escape.
Oh, boys in the prison guards, when they were bringing weren't the most One night after they too much to drink, - Shot at me a time or two I had serious apprehensions to meeting those yanks hanging and shooting any So I headed up to Canada.
Hope you come see me then.
I heard you got married.
- I sure did.
She's a wonderful girl, Henry but well, you know, she's, she's from Pennsylvania how you two would get along.
- She can stand in she can put up with your rebels - Gee thanks a lot, As much as I would've couldn't have gone to Canada.
They put me on recruiting duty - Oh that sounds like I'm sure you did - Well, about as valiant as your little sleigh Anyway, that didn't So then they put me in - Father said you - Yes.
For 10 months we digging miles and Trench warfare is There's no end to the mud.
Sometimes it feels like a Go for long stretches waiting for a moment from You know sometimes you get the rats eating your breakfast was that the sound might scare them away.
Henry the noise during that you can imagine.
During the assault I couldn't hear for I got lucky though.
You know, one day we were, we that somehow we made a mistake.
One of the cannons went off two of my men and Things like that happened Henry, it's hard to believe - Mother said you were and meritorious service out Wouldn't expect anything - So um, what are - I don't know.
Probably go back but this time in Kentucky.
Don't think I should be up - So that's it then?
You're just going to walk Do you know how when you left before, when you went against the family, against me?
You just flow off and left She felt like you - Stop it, Val.
I'm not a little boy anymore.
Father understood Father understood that to do what I thought was right and I'm not going to stand here and be accused by my brother - Do I, Henry, I, I never could could just take up - Well, let me and see if you still I remember going to hear the a speak at a rally.
Now you may not agree but no one has said After his speech, a and told him a sad tale of woe before he's reaching grabbed all the money he but he gave it to this man.
What struck me the was an outspoken abolitionist and it mattered not to Voorhees.
He showed me that you can Now I must admit, I to emulate such generosity Always been torn up was divided either way.
I listened to her on how he thought our like we thought we probably by Eastern yanks.
I resented like he did tariffs - You were defending have runaway slaves returned.
And Indiana was just not to follow the Fugitive - You can't hear - I don't want to Sick to death of fighting.
Do what you want.
It's what you're always - Val, when I joined my conscience told just like yours did for you.
I couldn't have stayed up here.
I was in grave danger for serving a cause, So I joined the rebs I learned something I do not regret one I believe that honorable of the war will except maybe for you.
- Henry, do you know since the war ended?
- Father said you - Oh no, the rumor's that but for now I'm in charge of an artillery - Fort Monroe where Jefferson - That's right.
And he's gotten some over these past few months that he was the president Many of our troops looked I couldn't look at Couldn't help but think of you Yeah, I could see it in his face as I see it in yours now, the sadness over a You know, I spoke these past few months, Henry.
Told him about you.
- You did?
- Yeah, told him my hey Henry wait.
He was grateful He sent me with this.
- Captain Henry Stone.
My dear sir, accept my your welfare and your happiness.
It is better to deserve success than to attain it.
Your friend, Jefferson Davis.
I don't know what to - You're welcome.
You know Henry, even though I I know you acted you were in the right and, and I am proud of you for that.
- I'm tired of Can we call a truce?
I just want to be friends If not for us then for the rest of this country?
- You know what Henry, it's gonna take more We're all going to to help rebuild this country.
- Dessert's ready.
- And we will brother.
Let's start by Something sure How about it, old man?
I'll race ya.
- Well, some things (moving orchestral music begins)
Rebuilding the House of Stone is a local public television program presented by WFYI