The Birth of a Nation Scene 8 Summary

  • Both Stoneman brothers join the army. They say goodbye to Elsie before leaving.
  • We return to Piedmont for the "farewell ball" before the departure of the Southern troops. Fancy white men and ladies are dancing.
  • There's a bonfire in the streets. We see silhouettes of people dancing in front of the flames.
  • The caption describes how the first Confederate flag was unveiled in the aftermath of the Battle of Bull Run. We see people at the party dancing with the flag and toasting to it.
  • The entire town is outside the next morning to see the departure of the troops, which includes the Cameron brothers.
  • Apparently the party is still going on at this point because everyone stops grooving and the men say their goodbyes.
  • We see the military procession head through town as the citizens respond with a zeal typically reserved for the bad guys in an Indiana Jones movie.