Original subtitles

- ♪ I see a land ♪

♪ With liberty for all ♪

- ♪ Yet still I know ♪

- ♪ The truth will rise and fall ♪

- ♪ Ooh yeah ♪

♪ That's just the way it goes ♪

- ♪ A word now to the wise ♪

♪ The world was made to change ♪

♪ Each day is a surprise ♪

♪ I'm looking at life through my own eyes ♪

♪ I'm searching for a hero to idolize ♪

♪ Feeling the pain as innocence dies ♪

♪ I'm looking at life through my own eyes ♪

- ♪ I'll take my heart into battle ♪

♪ Give that freedom bell a rattle ♪

♪ Get my independence signed ♪

♪ Declare it on the dotted line ♪

♪ Let Philadelphia freedom ring ♪

♪ And patriotic voices sing ♪

♪ Red white and blue never give up ♪

♪ You represent America ♪

- ♪ Hoping and praying for a brighter day ♪

♪ I listen to my heart and I obey ♪

♪ How can I see it any other way? ♪

♪ I'm looking at life ♪

- ♪ Looking at life ♪

- ♪ Through my own eyes ♪♪

♪♪

- Today on "Liberty's Kids"...

- If Congress continues promoting these fools

into officers, we will surely lose the war.

- Washington's troops taught the ways

of professional soldiering by the aide-de-camp

to King Frederick the Great of Prussia.

- They're learning from a Prussian?

- Who cares how we stand if we know how to fight?

We were already starving and living in rags.

If Washington lets von Steuben keep treating us this way,

he won't have any army at all!

- Dearest Mother, remember in England

how I complained about the cold?

And now I welcome the snow as a friend

because it stops the war.

- There it is! Valley Forge!

♪♪

(horse nickers)

Washington's a genius.

It's close enough to Philadelphia

to keep an eye on Howe and his winter quarters,

but far enough away to avoid a surprise attack.

- Poor Philadelphia.

- Don't worry, Henri. We'll win it back.

- Can't we talk about something besides more fighting?

- How about Washington wanting to use this time

to train our forces to become a disciplined army?

- Or how all the soldiers who've suffered so much

will finally have a chance to rest and get healthy?

(men coughing)

- Ohh! On, no.

It looks worse than we thought.

♪♪

♪♪

- We meet again, my friends!

- Lafayette! - Gilbert!

I've missed you.

- And I you, Henri.

- Marquis, we hoped Valley Forge

would be a comfortable place for our soldiers.

- Come, James. Are these not miracles?

A prize of $12 was given

to the best build in each regiments.

- Maybe you should have offered more.

- General Washington refuses to follow

the bad example of our enemy.

He does not believe in angering private citizens

by forcing them to house his soldiers.

(all coughing)

Chimney still needs works.

- But we heard there'd be more food for the men

and warm clothes.

- Yes, General Washington himself is off

trying to get much needed supplies from General Green.

But I'm so glad you arrived before I left.

Generals Conway and Gates have asked me

to attack Canada.

I'm to take it back from the British

and liberate my countrymen.

- Sounds like an interesting story.

Perhaps we should go with you.

- I'm still packed.

- Ah, but then you would be missing

the greater drama, Henri.

Washington's troops taught the ways

of professional soldiering by the aide-de-camp

to King Frederick the Great of Prussia.

- They're learning from a Prussian?

- Lieutenant General Frederick von Steuben,

a tremendous hero.

As hard and as seasoned a man I am told as has ever lived.

(horse neighing)

(horse nickers)

(dog growls softly)

- There!

- That's as hard a man as has ever lived?

(wind gusting)

(reins jangle, horse neighs)

- You should have stayed with James and Henri

to report on the transformation of ordinary citizens

into a true army.

- What happened?

Those must be the supplies the soldiers are waiting for,

lying there abandoned.

- Alas, Congress put our supply lines

in the hands of shirkers who prefer British gold

to the good Continental dollar.

- "Philadelphkia?"

They spelled Philadelphia with a "K."

I'm going to write about this.

- No! General Washington begs us to hold our tongues.

He doesn't want the troops to lose faith in the government.

He'd rather take the blame.

(horse neighs)

(wind gusting)

♪♪

- Valley Forge?

Where's the valley?

And where's the forge?

- The forge was burned by the British.

As for the valley...

Well...

(men) - No meat! No meat!

No soldier! No soldier!

- Look, lads, someone drawn by our jolly song.

Joseph Plumb Martin's the name. Pull up a rock.

- Mmm, what's cooking?

- It's firecake.

Make a paste out of flower and water

and cook it on hot stones.

- Thanks!

(both munching)

(Henri gulps and burps)

(laughter)

- You there!

Captain Elias Treadwell, at your service, sir.

(sniffing, whimpering)

- Why is no one in uniform?

- We are in uniform.

- Oh, forgive me.

English is not my first language.

In Prussia, to be in uniform

means to be dressed alike.

- I'd wager anything that the rumor's true.

Congress is eager to make anyone with a foreign accent

and fancy ways a general.

- You think von Steuben's a fraud?

- Who can say?

But I intend to find out.

- Sir, why do you harass me?

I say to you what I say to others just like you

35 times a day.

Congress gave me no power to hire officers.

- But I am of merit.

- Sir, you knowing that you are of merit

is a good and pleasing thing,

but it doesn't mean it is known to everybody.

- You insult me!

I am of exceptional merit! Hmph!

Heaven forbid he has the price of passage.

If Congress continues promoting these fools into officers,

we will surely lose the war.

(sign clanging)

(horse neighs)

- A courier from Valley Forge told me you'd be coming.

- Moses!

- How good to see you again.

- And you!

With Ben's presses working again,

I value a man whose exploits can fill so many of our pages.

- Marquis de Lafayette!

- My dear Conway.

- General Gates awaits us as Irwin's Tavern.

On to Canada's libération!

- Pardon, friends, we must make our battle plans.

But I shall return

with the beginning of a glorious story.

♪♪

- You look troubled.

- I don't trust Conway.

Or General Gates.

- Neither does Benedict Arnold.

He told me that Gates has more ambition

than courage or ability.

- Look at this leaflet.

It's anonymous, but Gates and Conway

are seeing that it's widely distributed.

See? It blames Washington

for every failure of the government.

They hope to turn the public against him

and toward Gates as the new commander in chief.

- If Gates and Conway can make it appear

that someone as popular as Lafayette

is shifting his loyalties from Washington to Gates--

I've got to warn Lafayette what they're up to.

- Sarah, wait!

(wind gusting)

- Pardon me, gentlemen.

Do any of you know how to stand at attention?

- You mean... stand up straight?

Yes.

We know how to stand up straight.

- Then pray do so!

I shall be using you to train the men.

In what, however, I can't imagine.

- Did you see how he spoke to me just then?

Heels two inches apart!

Shoulders square to the front!

Who cares how we stand if we know how to fight?

- Maybe Washington didn't know he was like this.

- We were already starving and living in rags.

Now we're also stuck with this Prussian

trying to make us a professional army.

Mark my words, James.

If Washington lets von Steuben keep treating us this way,

he won't have army at all!

♪♪

- Where could that tavern be?

I've gotten so turned around.

(footsteps)

Ahh! - Sarah!

- Moses, thank heavens!

How did you know where to find me?

- You were heaving for a tavern.

♪♪

- To Lafayette!

A toast to the future hero of Canada!

- Hear hear!

- In the company of his equals at last

and free of the civilian general of Valley Forge.

- With the good marquis reporting only to me,

we shall become a triangle of power

with no man to stand between ourselves

and our own high ambitions.

- Wait! - Hmm.

A toast to the man who will have my eternal loyalty.

A most excellent and esteemed general...

General Washington.

I would never go against Washington.

- Marquis, wait!

- They think by giving me command of the attack on Canada

I would turn against mon General Washington?

What are you doing here?

- We came to warn you.

- But it doesn't appear we needed to.

- Come. We must warn Washington.

The schemes of those two dogs will not end with me.

- I'll get the presses running

so everyone will know what they're up to.

- I said kitchens up hill. Latrines down.

Do you expect them to walk there?

- The baron sure has everyone jumping.

- He's turning the whole camp upside down.

What are you up to?

- Baron von Steuben's orders.

Air out the straw in your mattresses.

Clean everything inside and out, take a bath.

I tell you, James, I may be named Plumb Martin,

but that baron's plumb crazy.

- Corporal, I ordered your company to assemble.

- That'd be me.

- Where are the other 99 men?

- It appears he's all that's left, sir.

- Appears? Where are your records?

- I am not a secretary!

- Not a secretary?

Do you have fingers to count on?

Do you have toes? Do you have g-- Uh--

Corporal, yell at him for me!

I-- I need my English words!

- Sir, you may not appreciate

our brand of military discipline, however--

- How can I appreciate what you don't have?

Where are the soldiers?

Where are the uniforms?

No one keeps records or anything?

Corporal, what is that?

- I think it was a critter or some sort.

I reckon that's where it died.

- Assembly a detail to remove it from the camp.

- Why? - Why?

Beacuse it stinks!

Because it carries disease!

And because... I say so!

- Oh. All right then.

- Captain, assemble... somebody.

We drill for battle.

- That's for me! - Henri!

- Pardon, Monsieur Le Baron, I want to be trained.

- You?

Little field mouse, you're no soldier.

Then... neither are they.

- But they're the best!

They just need to learn what you have to teach.

- Between you and me,

I think you may be right.

Very well, you may train with us as our mascot

and perhaps our good luck charm.

- Hooray!

- If I were you, I'd keep my young friend

away from von Steuben.

He's a monster!

These men need their strength to survive

and fight, not drill and clean up around the camp.

- Shouldn't soldiers drill and keep the camp clean?

- A lot you know.

He told me I should win the devotion of my men.

- Is that bad?

- Discipline comes from an officer

holding himself aloof, an object of awe.

You cannot command and be a wet nurse!

I'm making inquiries about our baron,

and if I can dig up some dirt,

I will get rid of that fraud.

- Left oblique!

March!

Right flank march!

Column left march!

- Uh, sorry about that.

- Stop, stop!

Stop!

I drill all moves so you can out base your enemy,

and you still like sleeping rocks.

Dunderheads!

You would lose against an English statue.

If this little boy can do it, why can't you?

General Washington has told me of your stamina.

Many of you can run a mile without breathing hard.

Is that correct?

(overlapping affirmations)

But he also told me

that because you can't run together

you must advance in single file

to be shot like ducks in a row.

The army that can outflank its enemy

is the one that survives.

- That makes sense. - He's right.

- Outflank. He has a point.

Sir, would you please show us again?

- With pleasure.

Down the hatch, my boy.

(door opens)

- Excuse me, Baron.

I'm from "The Pennsylvania Gazette."

If I could ask some questions.

- Certainly. Here you are, lad.

Drink the broth slowly.

The boy fainted during drill, too sick to stand.

My lunch was only beef soup, but...

- You gave him your food?

- Ask your questions.

- Um, I've heard you were a lieutenant general

in the Prussian army.

- Bah! Rank!

All I need is this. Next question.

- Uh, well, how does our army compare to European armies?

- In other countries,

you tell a soldier to do something, he does it.

But an American, he needs a reason,

because this fight is his fight.

I've never seen such courage.

And in these wretched conditions,

any other soldier would've melted away.

I'm thankful Franklin sent me to be part of this.

- Ben Franklin sent you?

- Yes, he said Washington's genius is

what he doesn't know, he learns.

He thought drilling was a disagreeable necessity,

but now he sees you drill the men

so each one can be as strong as the next.

Strong as iron.

- Right, because the weakest link can destroy the chain.

- James, I've got dirt on von Steuben.

A solider who served under him in Prussia

is in this very camp.

He says von Steuben's

neither a baron nor a general.

- You're certain?

- Well, the soldier's

off on patrol,

but I'll ride after him.

When I return with his testimony,

that will be the end of our baron.

- He seems to know what he's doing.

- I'm the solider, James, not you!

I believe George Washington will lead us to victory,

and I'm not about to let this phony baron

destroy our army.

- But-- - James!

We have something urgent to convey

and can't find Washington anywhere.

- I last saw him by the kitchens.

- Kitchens? What kitchens?

- Nothing is where we left it.

- Including Washington.

He's off to meet with General Green.

- But we must warn him about Gates and Conway.

- He'll be back by morning.

- James, is something bothering you?

- Captain Treadwell has bad news about von Steuben.

I must talk to General Washington.

(wind gusting)

- One, two, three, four!

Left oblique march!

(horse neighs)

- General Washington, I must speak with you.

The baron is a fraud-- - Don't listen to him, General.

- Your excellency, we must speak with you.

- I think that-- - Sir, please!

- It's urgent! - I have vital information!

- One at a time, one a time!

- Conway and Gates, they plot against you.

- Yes, I know. - You do?

- They're fools.

My only concern was the credibility

they might gain with you by their side.

But I could never stop you from trying to regain Canada.

- Vive le general!

Mwah! Mwah!

- They're not the only ones who deal in trickery.

Look, General!

A signed affidavit

that von Steuben is not a baron.

- Please, General Washington, may I speak?

- Wait. Will you look at that?

- One, two, three, four!

(soldiers) - One, two, three, four!

- To the rear march!

- To the rear march!

- Captain Treadwell, baron or not,

von Steuben has given me what I need,

a professional army.

By the way, General Green came through

with food and clothing for the men.

(horses neighing)

- The supply wagons!

- Come, Captain.

The measure of greatness

is create something with a life of its own.

For Washington, it is a nation.

For von Steuben, it is...

an army.

♪♪

- Dearest Mother, I try not to think of the future,

but I can't help being moved by the future

these soldiers see for themselves.

- Forward march!

One, two, three, four!

Left oblique march!

- Oh!

- Sweet potato dumplings.

- Pardon, General.

Someone just spotted a British spy

getting an eyeful of our camp.

- Excuse me. Where do I sign up?

- Let the spy go.

This is something I want our enemy to know about.

- Come, I will show you.

- We will win this war.

- For whatever tomorrow brings,

today there's life and hope and pride.

(soldiers) - Left oblique march!

♪♪

- ♪ I'm looking at life through my own eyes ♪

♪ I'm searching for a hero to idolize ♪

♪ Feeling the pain as innocence dies ♪

♪ I'm looking at life through my own eyes ♪

- ♪ I'll take my heart into battle ♪

♪ Give that freedom bell a rattle ♪

♪ Get my independence signed ♪

♪ Declare it on the dotted line ♪

♪ Red white and blue never give up ♪

♪ You represent America ♪♪