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00:00From the archives of the United States Cavalry, the true stories of Colonel
00:12Randall McKenzie and the cavalrymen he led. McKenzie's Raiders. His secret orders
00:18from the President of the United States. Clean up the Southwest. Make it a fit
00:22place for Americans to live. Wipe out the renegades, outlaws, and murderers. If
00:27necessary, cross the Rio Grande. Knowing capture means hanging by the enemy.
00:32Discovery, court-martialed by the United States Army.
00:50Texas country, 1873, wild and lawless. Peace had been established with some
00:57Indian tribes, but other Indians brooding over old wrongs and goaded by evil
01:02white men were still of the Stone Age. Barbaric savages who delighted in
01:07cruelty and wanton destruction. For two months, Colonel Randall McKenzie and his
01:12Raiders had tried desperately to catch a small vicious band of Indian killers. But
01:17the army was prohibited by law from entering any Indian reservation. Any blue
01:22coat who did so was subject to heavy fine and imprisonment. In principle, a
01:27good law, designed to keep the military out of purely civilian matters. But it
01:33crippled McKenzie's efforts to do his job. For after each attack, the marauding
01:38Indians would vanish behind the protection of the reservation.
01:52Sir? Yes, Trooper. Some immigrant wagons. I rode with them. The Indians attacked at
02:10Black Canyon. Killed everyone. They took wagons, horses. Yes, sir.
02:40Just a kid. To do a thing like that to a nice kid like Bobby. Left just enough life in him to get him here.
02:52Yes, Stanfield. Thought it'd be their idea of a joke. To send us the news by our own
02:59dispatch rider. Should we go after them, sir? No. No, they'll be back in the reservation
03:04by now and Adam Beecher will enforce the law, keep us off the reservation.
03:09Organize a burial here and we'll find the settlers. Yes, sir.
03:21As for man, his days are grass. As a flower in the field, he flourisheth. The wind
03:27passeth over the place and it is gone. The place thereof shall know him no more.
03:39Mount! What's on your mind, Stanfield? Nothing, sir. I was just wondering if we was ever gonna be able to stop these killers.
03:53We'll stop them. Not one way, then another. We'll be out on this patrol until tomorrow
03:58afternoon. Have a man ride by Los Rios. Tell Chief Whitecloud that I'd like to meet him in my office
04:05tomorrow afternoon. Yes, sir. All right, I want you to ride back and forth across that
04:11grave. I don't want a sign that it was ever there.
04:15Watch your back, sir. What's going on, Corporal? Chief Whitecloud is waiting to see you. He's in your office. Thanks.
04:39McKenzie is honored that his friend, Chief Whitecloud, accepted his invitation. How can it be otherwise, between friends. However, Chief Whitecloud, the occasion is sad. Indians tortured and killed one of my men last night and wiped out two immigrant families. The Braves were from the reservation, men of your tribe, Chief.
05:07You cannot be sure of that, Colonel. Where else could they come from? I tell you nothing. Whoever they were, it's no affair of mine. I'm a chief in name only. My tribesmen no longer heed my counsel. Even my own son, I no longer can talk with my own son.
05:27Why not? Who could come between a chief and his son? The matter is between us. I tell you nothing.
05:36Uh, paragraph. The, uh, the five bodies were all unrecognizable. The scalps had been taken from all of them. No, strike that. The scalps had been taken from all but one of them. This latest outrage brings the number of murders in this town to a record high.
05:57Excuse me, sir. Yeah? There were thirty-three murders at the time of your last complaint. The total now would be thirty-eight. Yeah, you're right.
06:09Have you gotten your notes there, the dispositions? No, sir.
06:13Excuse me, sir. Yeah? There were thirty-three murders at the time of your last complaint. The total now would be thirty-eight. Yeah, you're right.
06:21Have you gotten your notes there, the disposition of our last complaint? I believe so. Just come on, read it to me. Yes, sir.
06:29Referred to Department of Command of September 2nd. Referred to Division Command of September 5th. Referral to War Department September 9th. War Department refers to Department of Interior September 12th. Referred to Indian Bureau September 17th.
06:41Reply from Bureau September 27th. Quote, Mr. Adam Beecher, agent of the Los Rios Reservation, advises us that he has thoroughly investigated your complaint and finds it completely unjustified.
06:52You ready to continue, sir? Yeah, I suppose so.
06:58No. No. Take a note to Adam Beecher instead.
07:03Oh, and be sure the messenger is instructed not to enter the reservation. He must stop at the gates and hail someone. Yes, sir.
07:10All right, Adam Beecher, Los Rios Indian Reservation, so forth.
07:16My dear sir, before taking more drastic action, I request the honor of a meeting with you in my office at your earliest convenience.
07:26Your obedient servant, Ronald McKenzie, 4th Cavalry Commanding, and so forth. Get that off right away.
07:40Brave Bear, son of Chief White Cloud, the leader of the renegade Indians.
07:45For a share of their loot, agent Adam Beecher made the reservation a sanctuary for the criminal red men.
07:51Using his high office for the lowest of purposes, graft, robbery, and murder.
07:59So it is, Pink. And who do you make war on?
08:03Some unarmed traveler? A defenseless woman and her children?
08:08Go your own way, old man, and let me go mine.
08:11There is need for talk between us, Brave Bear. Take the time for it while there is still time.
08:16Before the evil is too great to mend.
08:19I... I cannot talk now. Perhaps tomorrow, some other day.
08:24No, we have already delayed too long. If you do not talk now...
08:27Brave Bear, I'm waiting for you.
08:47Well, how'd it go? Let's take a look at what we got.
08:58Ah, that's a nice little ring. Too bad we can't wear any of this stuff, huh, Brave Bear?
09:04Ah, but we shouldn't kick none. So long as I can take all this stuff down to El Paso and get good money for it.
09:11What do you want, White Cloud? Me and your boy is pretty busy.
09:14So I see. A message for you from Colonel McKenzie. A soldier brought it to the gate.
09:20Ah, that's mighty nice of you. You shouldn't...
09:34I don't exactly like being talked to that way, Colonel.
09:37If you've got any more complaints, you put them in a letter and send them to Washington.
09:40They'll know what to do with them.
09:41But they don't know what to do with you, do they, Mr. Beecher?
09:44Because they can't believe that anyone could be so despicable and still live.
09:52I don't have to sit here and listen to no brass button pipsqueak.
09:55Now, I'm warning you, Mr. Beecher. There better not be another one of those raids.
09:59Not another one, do you understand? Because if there is, I'll hang you for it.
10:03Oh, you will, huh? How you gonna do it? You can't get no proof against me.
10:07I'll get proof, depend on it.
10:11Now, please get out of here, Mr. Beecher. You make me sick.
10:21Sergeant.
10:22Yes, sir?
10:25I want rotating patrols set up. Five men in each unit.
10:29And each unit ready to ride instantly at a moment's notice.
10:32Yes, sir.
10:33If you'll permit me to say so, sir. You sure made that old skunk mad.
10:38I intended to.
10:41Get those patrols ready, Sergeant. We're gonna need one very soon.
10:44Right away, sir. Thank you, sir.
10:50Ray Blair, come in here.
10:52Less than three hours after Adam Beecher had left McKenzie's office,
10:56the Indian raiders struck again.
10:59You all right?
11:01Harder.
11:03We need to get out of here.
11:04Right away, sir.
11:07What's the matter, Bob?
11:09It's all right.
11:11I'm going out to have a look.
11:12Don't go.
11:14It's not all right.
11:16I'm going out to have a look, but I'm not going to stay.
11:18I'm not going anywhere.
11:19I'm not going anywhere.
11:21I'm going out to have a look.
11:23I'm going to see what's going on.
11:25I'm going to see what's going on.
11:27Let's go.
11:29Let's go.
11:30Come on.
11:32I don't know what you're talking about.
11:33I don't know what you're talking about.
11:34I don't know what you're talking about.
11:35I don't know what you're talking about.
11:36I don't know what you're talking about.
11:37I don't know what you're talking about.
11:38I don't know what you're talking about.
11:39I don't know what you're talking about.
11:40I don't know what you're talking about.
11:41I don't know what you're talking about.
11:42I don't know what you're talking about.
11:43I don't know what you're talking about.
11:44I don't know what you're talking about.
11:45I don't know what you're talking about.
11:46I don't know what you're talking about.
11:47I don't know what you're talking about.
11:48I don't know what you're talking about.
11:49I don't know what you're talking about.
11:50I don't know what you're talking about.
12:09In a heartbreaking race, the Indian Raiders had beaten the patrol to the reservation
12:13gates.
12:14Once again, McKenzie was helpless.
12:16Looks like you fellas have been riding pretty hard.
12:19You going somewhere or just out for the exercise?
12:23We want those Indians, Mr. Beecher.
12:25Those killers that just rode in this gate.
12:27This gate?
12:28Ain't no engines come through here.
12:31I'd have seen them if they had.
12:33Why are you stinking...
12:34Quiet.
12:35You couldn't have seen them, Mr. Beecher.
12:38You weren't here at the time.
12:39Oh, that's where you're mistook, Colonel.
12:42Yes, sir, you sure are.
12:44That's a fact.
12:45Because I've been right here all afternoon.
12:47We caught them in the act of raiding a settler's home.
12:50We followed them here.
12:51I shot one of them.
12:53Indian might hurt himself any number of ways, Colonel.
12:56Ain't no way of proving you done it.
12:58It was a shoulder wound.
12:59I'm sure I could pick him out.
13:01Oh, you mean if I'd let you come in here and take a look around, huh?
13:05Oh, I don't think I could do that, Colonel.
13:08It's against the law, you know, and I'm a law-abiding citizen.
13:13You stupid numbskull!
13:16This is all your fault.
13:17We'd have those Indians if you'd obeyed my orders.
13:20Well, I didn't do it.
13:21Don't you talk back to me.
13:22Take him back to the fort.
13:24Put him in the guardhouse.
13:25I'll prefer charges against him tomorrow.
13:27Please, you can't mean it, sir.
13:29I got 20 years in the service.
13:30You'll have 20 years more in prison before I get through with you, I guarantee it.
13:34Come on, let's go.
13:47Come in.
14:06Well, Sergeant, what have you got to say for yourself?
14:10Nothing, sir, except I'm sorry I've been so much trouble to you.
14:15Hmm, I should think you would be.
14:19You're facing some pretty serious charges.
14:22Disobedience, refusal to obey an order.
14:24Why, I could hang you for that, do you realize it?
14:27I'm afraid I do, sir.
14:29Well, then act afraid, will you?
14:31You did a pretty good job of fooling Mr. Beecher this afternoon.
14:35Now I want you to do an even better job.
14:38You mean...
14:40Yes, sir.
14:42All right.
14:43All right.
14:44You all set to escape from that guardhouse?
14:47Escape?
14:49The sooner the better, sir.
14:51I don't like being in that place even on a make-believe charge.
14:54All right.
14:55You'll be out within an hour.
14:57Just as soon as I can make some necessary arrangements.
14:59Yes, sir.
15:00Now, the guards will let you escape.
15:02The sentry will let you slip through the gate.
15:04There'll be a horse tied outside.
15:05I want you to get on that horse and make for that Indian reservation just as fast as he can carry you.
15:10Don't stop when you get to the gate.
15:12I understand, sir.
15:13You won't be able to stop anyway because there'll be a band of troopers chasing you.
15:17Now, you're a very much wanted man.
15:20You need money to make good your escape.
15:22Beecher represents your only chance of getting any money.
15:25So, you're to peddle a story to him
15:28that there've been so many raids on convoys in this territory lately
15:31that McKenzie is shipping in some valuable merchandise.
15:35Three civilians will be carrying it.
15:37You think you can make him believe that?
15:40I'm sure I can, sir.
15:42Just let me try.
15:43All right, I will, Stanfield.
15:46Come here.
15:47Come here.
15:49You know where Dancing Rock is?
15:50Yes, sir.
15:51Just below it, there's a dry gulch.
15:53That's where the three civilians will be camped.
15:55It's a logical place.
15:56But I've chosen it for another reason.
15:59It's a cul-de-sac.
16:01I want those Indians alive, every one of them.
16:04And that dry gulch is the one place where I'm sure I can do it.
16:08Yes, sir.
16:10How's that for easy pickings?
16:12$10,000, $15,000 worth of first-class trade goods
16:15and all you got to do is grab it.
16:17Sounds good.
16:19But so did that settler's cabin you told us about.
16:22Oh, now, why bring that up?
16:24You don't think I tried to get you caught?
16:27Why would I think that?
16:29Why would you want to get us caught?
16:31Oh, now, looky, brave bear.
16:33This stuff's just sitting there.
16:34All that stuff is sitting there waiting to be took.
16:37All that good merchandise.
16:38I got it straight from that runaway soldier.
16:41This soldier?
16:42With McKenzie after him?
16:45Why did he leave here?
16:46Well, he had to.
16:47If he'd have stuck around here, McKenzie would have got a court order out for him.
16:51He could be working with McKenzie, laying a trap for us.
16:55What do you take me for?
16:56You think I ain't got no sense?
16:58Don't you think I'd know if it was a trap?
17:01What's the matter with you, youngster?
17:04Has your old man been riding you again?
17:06You just send him to me.
17:09And I'll straighten him out fast.
17:11You will not hurt my father.
17:13Oh, I didn't mean that.
17:14I mean, I'll just explain it to him, you know, like I did to you.
17:17Show him how what you're doing is helping his own people.
17:22It's the truth, brave bear.
17:24If you go on working like you are,
17:27these white settlers are going to have to pull up stakes and clear out.
17:31I would like to believe that, but...
17:33Well, you have to believe it. It's the only thing that makes sense.
17:37Now, what do you say?
17:39You're not going to pass up a juicy job like this, are you?
17:42I...
17:44I cannot be sure.
18:00Brave bear.
18:26Drop your weapons, all of you.
18:27Drop them, I said.
18:28Troopers!
18:32All right, bring him out.
18:44It was my father who told you. He must have.
18:47A father speak against his own son?
18:49You know better than that, brave bear.
18:52But you knew who I was.
18:54You could not see in the darkness, yet you called me by name.
18:57Perhaps I can see in the dark.
18:59Or perhaps it was a good guess.
19:01After all, who but a chief's son...
19:02No! No, you lie.
19:05Suppose a certain person felt you were getting yourself into a mess
19:08and were gonna drag him in with you.
19:10He'd want you dead, wouldn't he?
19:12And suppose that he could get a message to me
19:14in such a way that I wouldn't know who he was.
19:17You tried to trick me.
19:19He... He would not...
19:20All right. All right, brave bear, you have it your way.
19:24If you want to hang and see all your friends hung,
19:26while the man who sent you to the gallows goes free...
19:29All secure in there?
19:31All secure, Colonel.
19:32All right. Signal the men down from the cliffs.
19:36Right away, sir.
19:43Let him go. He's doing exactly what I want him to.
19:47Come on.
19:50McKenzie's secret orders from the President of the United States.
19:53Clean up the Southwest.
19:55Do whatever you think is necessary to bring peace to the area.
19:59On the night of June 5th, 1873,
20:02McKenzie obeyed his orders and broke all law and precedent.
20:06He entered the Indian Reservation at Los Rios.
20:10What are you doing here?
20:12I didn't expect you for a long time yet.
20:14I know what you expected.
20:16That I would be killed.
20:17What kind of talk is that?
20:20Hold on.
20:21Now, wait a minute.
20:23What's the matter with you?
20:25Look, I don't know what you're talking about.
20:27I'm not talking about you.
20:29I'm talking about you.
20:31I don't know what you're talking about.
20:33I don't know what you're talking about.
20:35I'm talking about you.
20:37What's the matter with you?
20:39Look, I'm your friend.
20:40Haven't I planned all your jobs for you?
20:42Haven't I covered up for you?
20:44Go on, Beecher.
20:46And when you can no longer use me,
20:48what do you do then?
20:50You sent me into a trap.
20:52I'm going to hang.
20:54But before I do...
20:55You hang, Brave Bear, he'll hang with you.
20:57He's admitted more than enough.
21:02The gun you stole from me is empty, Brave Bear.
21:05Might as well give it to me.
21:08Your father will pass judgment on you, Brave Bear.
21:17Colonel?
21:20You all right, McKenzie?
21:25Sure hope it didn't hurt you.
21:30Kind of lost my head for a minute.
21:32But I sure didn't mean to hurt you, none.
21:37You hear that, McKenzie?
21:40I done throwed my gun away.
21:43Me, I...
21:45I know when I'm licked.
21:49I ain't got a speck of fight left in me.
21:54I'm going to give myself up.
21:58I'm going to take my punishment.
22:03Say something, McKenzie.
22:06Make a noise of some kind, so...
22:08So that I know you're all right.
22:32You all right, McKenzie?
23:02Drop that gun, Mr. Beecher.
23:05Drop that gun, Mr. Beecher.
23:24All right, let's go.
23:26You've got a date with a hangman.
23:28Let's talk this over, Mr. Beecher.
23:30a hangman let's let's talk this over I got lots of money I can stack enough
23:36money up there but you can't even see over it I can't beat you yeah well you've
23:41never lived like a man it's too late to do anything about that let's see if you
23:46can die like one
23:49with the passing of Adam Beecher the Indians of Los Rios reservation lived in
24:01peace with the white man but the wild lawless area continued to exist against
24:07it one dedicated man Colonel Randall McKenzie
24:11sergeant you know when that detail rode in from Dancing Rock last night there
24:16were a pretty slack-looking outfit dusty gear sloppy uniforms unsoldierly
24:20bearing some of them were even smiling I want them sharpened up you understand
24:24yes sir I'll see they smart enough you do that and just to make sure they
24:29remember give them two hours of close-order drill yes sir
24:36Oh and sergeant yes sir when they finish that drill yes sir give them the rest of
24:45the week off
24:58McKenzie's Raiders did ride again and again carrying out the secret orders of
25:03the President of the United States do whatever necessary to clean up the
25:07Southwest make it a decent place for people to live ride with McKenzie's
25:13Raiders as they relive the blazing pages of history in the making
25:43you