Category
😹
FunTranscript
00:00From the archives of the United States Cavalry, the true stories of Colonel Randall McKenzie
00:13and the cavalrymen he led. McKenzie's Raiders. His secret orders from the President of the
00:19United States. Clean up the Southwest. Make it a fit place for Americans to live. Wipe
00:25out the renegades, outlaws, and murderers. If necessary, cross the Rio Grande. Knowing
00:30capture means hanging by the enemy. Discovery, court-martialed by the United States Army.
00:52The afternoon of June 8th, 1876, on Mexican territory. Another raid by Skitashi. Another
00:59risk by McKenzie. McKenzie, as numerous times before, had violated the border, fully aware
01:06of the consequences if he were caught. But Skitashi had killed and plundered. He and
01:12his small band had to be stopped. McKenzie had no choice but to rely on his secret orders.
01:19Clean up the area, even if you have to cross the Rio Grande to do it. If the United States
01:23government catches you, it'll be a court-martial. If it's the Mexicans, it'll be a hanging.
01:29We're ready, Colonel. Both flanks are secure. They're cut off from their horses.
01:33Horse gone over. He's posted on the next rise, sir.
01:36Good. Then they're completely pinned down. Get back to your position.
01:41Yes, sir. Skitashi! Skitashi, this is McKenzie!
01:49I have many rifles staring at you. Tell your warriors to throw down their weapons and walk
01:54north. That way there'll be no killing. You don't have much time, Skitashi. I'm waiting
02:05for your answer.
02:08Fire!
02:38Federales. Mexican soldiers. A whole troop of them.
02:44How much time have they got? No time, Colonel. They'll be on us real soon.
02:50Want me to stay? Yeah, Charlie. Keep an eye on Skitashi for
02:56me. I'll get the troops back across the river.
03:08Fire!
03:12Fire!
03:16Fire!
03:20Fire!
03:38Looks clear. Yes, sir.
03:48Let's get across.
04:08Colonel James A. Beasley, Inspector General's office.
04:27Yes, of course, sir. I was expecting you. Sorry I couldn't meet you on your arrival.
04:32Something urgent came up. Lieutenant, were you ordered into Mexico?
04:37Colonel, you see… Of course he was ordered into Mexico. By me.
04:40I'm in command here. General McKenzie, I'm placing you in arrest.
04:44You'll accompany me back to the fort. Hard to figure what a difference that miserable
04:53little river makes. Are you ready, Colonel?
04:57Ready, Colonel.
05:07You want an order posted, sir? No, it's sufficient that the Colonel knows
05:13he's confined to the post. Yes, sir.
05:15I want full reports from all the men who went to Mexico. That includes you, Lieutenant.
05:19Have them made out as soon as possible. They'll go on with my report to Washington.
05:23Won't that mean a court-martial, sir? That's not for me to decide.
05:28The Colonel's office? Yes, sir.
05:31His quarters? In there, sir.
05:33Those reports are your first order of business, Lieutenant.
05:38The secret orders, by their very nature, prevented McKenzie from using them as a defense.
05:43He could not tell Beasley or anyone else, not even the court-martial officers.
05:48In the words of the Secretary of War, if you're caught, you're on your own.
05:55Come in.
05:57Oh, Colonel, please come in.
06:01It'll take a while to hear from Washington.
06:05I've assumed your command.
06:10You mean you're going to report the incident? Yes, I am.
06:14Do you think I can let pass the shocking disregard of a friendly nation's sovereignty that I witnessed this morning?
06:19No, sir.
06:21Well, it's just that in the field, it's not always easy to do these things true blue.
06:26Maybe so.
06:28But I find it incredible that anyone could be so stupid as to risk the security of the United States.
06:33Don't you realize this is the only sensitive border we possess?
06:37That violating it could bring irreparable damage to our relations with Mexico?
06:40Skitachi is responsible for 19 killings, sir.
06:43I'm sure you know that.
06:45That violating it could bring irreparable damage to our relations with Mexico?
06:48Skitachi is responsible for 19 killings in this territory.
06:51Then he skips back across the Rio Grande and thinks he's home free.
06:54How else would you propose dealing with him?
06:56As a veteran officer, you should know that no Indian settler or anyone else in the world is worth the grave steps you've taken.
07:04I presume you've read your general orders.
07:10I've read them.
07:13Well, you seem to have dismissed them from your mind as if they don't apply to you, Colonel.
07:19Of course, I'll include any statement you wish to make in my report.
07:23The only statement I'd wish to make is that Skitachi must be stopped.
07:26I agree.
07:28But I have no sympathy for your actions.
07:30As an inspector, I've seen officers, even generals, disobey their orders before.
07:34But never have I encountered such flagrant violation.
07:39And by one of the model army officers.
07:43You know, sir, you have quite a reputation as an administrative officer.
07:49And I respect that reputation.
07:51But I do wish you could see this thing a little differently.
07:54I don't understand. What other way is there to see it?
07:58Colonel, don't think for a moment I like what I have to do.
08:02I remember you well.
08:04As far back as the academy.
08:06I was two years behind you.
08:09Like all other underclassmen, you were the one we looked up to.
08:12You were the leading cadet.
08:14And have been an outstanding officer ever since.
08:17Your career has been brilliant.
08:20I'm genuinely sorry that I'll have a hand in the scandal that's bound to result.
08:24Yes.
08:26Yes, Colonel, a general court-martial is never a pretty thing to see.
08:29But of course, you have your duty to do.
08:33That is, unless you could reconsider the circumstances.
08:38Good day, Colonel.
08:42What are you going to do if Skitashi strikes again?
08:45I'll try to stop him. Within the limits of the law.
08:58The limits of the law.
09:02Colonel Beasley now faced the problems of frontier command.
09:06The overburdened 4th Cavalry was stretched thin to patrol 1,500 desolate miles.
09:13Finally, Scout Conover returned from Mexico with word of Skitashi.
09:18Charlie?
09:19Hi. Say, is the colonel in?
09:21Which one?
09:23Well, McKenzie. Who else?
09:25Colonel James J. Beasley.
09:27Inspector General's office. He's in command now.
09:30In command?
09:31Do you mean that the ship McKenzie...
09:33He's in his quarters.
09:35He's confined to the post, under arrest.
09:37Under arrest?
09:41You were joshing me, ain't you, Lieutenant?
09:43Colonel Beasley caught us crossing the river.
09:47That is trouble, ain't it?
09:49The worst kind.
09:51Probably means a court-martial.
09:54You mean that's what this fellow Beasley is going to recommend?
09:57He doesn't have to. Washington won't have any alternative.
10:01Well, what does McKenzie say about all this?
10:03Nothing.
10:05There's not much he can say.
10:07It'll wreck him.
10:09Oh, he's been in worse trouble than that.
10:11No, he hasn't.
10:13The Army's not just his career, it's his life.
10:15They might as well kill him as hand him a court-martial.
10:18Ain't there nothing you can do about this?
10:21Extol the reports.
10:23That's about all.
10:25Colonel Beasley doesn't bend easy.
10:27Say, is he in the colonel's office right now?
10:35Yes.
10:37I'm your chief scout.
10:39Oh, you're Conover.
10:41Well, I didn't realize we had to have our scouts living under cover in Brackettville.
10:45Well, how else are you going to bring things to light?
10:48Well, that's true.
10:50Now then, about Scatashi.
10:52Now, just a minute, Colonel, before we start talking about Scatashi.
10:55How about McKenzie?
10:57I don't think that concerns you, Conover.
10:59Well, maybe not.
11:01But it just happens that I'm going to make it so.
11:03What's all this I hear about a court-martial?
11:05I don't know what you've heard.
11:07Colonel McKenzie is under arrest for violating an international boundary.
11:10International boundary?
11:12You mean that little bit of a river down there that I can spit across?
11:18Why, shucks, Colonel, everybody use that river.
11:20I don't see why McKenzie shouldn't.
11:23Conover, it's useless for us to discuss this.
11:25Why, it's useless for us to try and whip them bandits if we can't use that river.
11:30We're going to do the best we can.
11:32Well, the best ain't good enough in this case.
11:34Why, Colonel, when they find out that we ain't going to use that river,
11:37there's going to be the biggest commotion that you've ever seen in your life.
11:42The United States Army is equipped to administer law and order.
11:45I admit to that.
11:47But most of the time, the law and order is done on the other side of the river.
11:51Well, according to these reports,
11:53things are not half as bad as you make out.
11:56Well, they used to be.
11:58Of course, McKenzie, he's cleaned up this territory,
12:00this area here an awful lot,
12:02but he didn't do it by just standing and looking at that river.
12:05You mean this is not the first time he's crossed the Rio Grande?
12:08Why, Colonel, how do you suppose we catch them murderers?
12:11Well, that makes it even worse.
12:13Worse? Well, I didn't come here to make it no worse.
12:16I just come here to speak my peace, that's all.
12:19Well, you've certainly done that, Conover.
12:21I'll expect this information included in your report.
12:23Report?
12:25Oh, shucks, I ain't going to make out no report.
12:27You're a United States scout assigned to Fort Clark.
12:29You're under my command.
12:31All right then, Colonel.
12:33Since you're my new boss,
12:35you'll want to know that, in my opinion,
12:37Katashi will begin this afternoon.
12:40Why this afternoon?
12:42Well, a lot of the men will be in the town at that time.
12:44And them's the kind of odds that Katashi likes.
12:47How do you know he's preparing for an attack?
12:50Well, I don't for sure.
12:53But it's a sense that he ain't going to pack up in the middle of the night
12:55and go down to that river just for a change of scenery.
12:58How do you know about his movements?
13:00Now, Colonel, you ought to be able to figure that out for yourself.
13:03I'll need more concrete evidence than that.
13:06Well, sometimes, Colonel, that's about all the news that a scout can get.
13:09Suit yourself, Colonel.
13:25Hello, Colonel.
13:27Hello, Lieutenant.
13:29Is he in?
13:31Yes, sir.
13:33Thanks.
13:35Come in.
13:41Sir, I just saw Charlie Conover in the stable area.
13:44So?
13:46If he says Katashi's going to attack, he's going to attack.
13:49He said in his opinion, Colonel.
13:51Conover's opinion is only the most valuable opinion
13:53in this territory.
13:55Please, sir, let me take a troop after him.
13:57That's impossible. You're confined to the post.
14:00Believe me, I know what I'm talking about.
14:02Listen to Conover.
14:04Follow up his report with as many troops as you can muster.
14:12All right, Colonel, I will.
14:15I've never lost respect for your experience in the field.
14:18Thank you, sir.
14:23© BF-WATCH TV 2021
14:53Colonel Beasley, by his arrest of McKenzie,
14:55had forced himself into a command position.
14:58McKenzie's only hope for the continuance
15:00of his Army career
15:02now rested with Colonel Beasley.
15:04And of course, from their position on the river,
15:06I figure they're headed towards a settlement, see?
15:09Lieutenant, I'd like to have a word with the troop before we move out.
15:11They're here, sir.
15:13You must have misunderstood me, Lieutenant.
15:15This is not nearly enough men.
15:17I understand that, sir. These are the only men available.
15:20Lieutenant, there are over 200 men assigned to Fort Clark.
15:23I can read you the duty roster, sir.
15:26Whatever the other men are doing,
15:28relieve them and have them join us.
15:30The only men on the post are the cooks and the guards.
15:32Everyone else is out on detail.
15:34You mean out of 200 men, this is all we can assemble?
15:37There's 1,500 miles we're responsible for, sir.
15:40There's not a man wasted and we're still short.
15:43Well, we'd better get started.
15:53Colonel Beasley took Conover's advice
15:55and rode out to the settlement
15:57in hopes of surprising the renegade Skitashi.
16:23Let's go.
16:53There's a girl and her mother inside.
16:55Well, the mother will be all right.
16:58The little girl's dead.
17:00Can we cut them off at the river?
17:02Well, they've got a good start, but we can try.
17:05Leave the trooper with the mother.
17:07Come on, let's go.
17:23Come on, let's go.
17:26Let's go.
17:52He wants to know if you're coming after him.
17:56Yes, sir.
18:14Yes, sir.
18:26You sent for me, sir?
18:28Colonel,
18:30the settler's child is dead.
18:33Yes, I know, sir. Conover told me.
18:36What did she know about it, Colonel?
18:40What did she know about reservations
18:42and rules and rivers?
18:46All she knew was this doll.
18:51I could never stomach death.
18:53I guess that's why I'm an administrator.
18:58Only four troopers.
19:01Well, I guess that's the way it is all over the West, sir.
19:04I imagine so.
19:07It's hard to believe.
19:09It's hard to believe such a situation exists.
19:14You know,
19:17my daughter has a doll like this.
19:19My daughter has a doll like this.
19:23Was the little girl
19:25the only one killed today, sir?
19:28Yes, the only one.
19:31But that's the same as a thousand, isn't it?
19:34I suppose it is, sir, if you look at it that way.
19:38He just stood there across the river,
19:40staring, waiting.
19:43I'm sure the men didn't understand
19:45why I didn't go after him.
19:47They understood, sir.
19:49I doubt if they liked it, but they understood.
19:51I didn't like turning back either.
19:53But what are you supposed to do?
19:55An officer lives by hard and fast rules.
19:57Sometimes, sir, an officer
19:59finds that those rules don't always apply.
20:01But they have to.
20:03Yes, sir.
20:07Meantime,
20:09Skitashi is still free.
20:11He'll have more men soon.
20:14Where will he get them?
20:16On the reservation.
20:18They'll hear about his success.
20:20They'll grow confident.
20:22They'll come and join him.
20:25So the longer the situation persists,
20:27the more disastrous it becomes.
20:29Exactly.
20:31Today, he's a renegade.
20:33Tomorrow, he may overrun the whole territory.
20:37Colonel,
20:39what would you do
20:41if I gave you back your command?
20:43I'd find Skitashi's position
20:45and I'd wipe him out.
20:47Wherever the position may be?
20:49Wherever the position may be.
20:53All right, Colonel.
20:55The command is yours.
20:59Oh, about four miles down the road
21:01by the crossing.
21:03How many men?
21:05Oh, he's still got the same handful.
21:07I don't know how long they'll be there,
21:09except he moves around an awful lot.
21:11We caught him sitting still once.
21:13He's not going to let it happen again.
21:15Lieutenant Paxson.
21:17Assemble a troop, full fighting gear.
21:19They've been standing by since Charlie rode in, sir.
21:21Good.
21:23Colonel, I'd like to go with you.
21:27Well,
21:29we need all the help we can get.
21:31Happy to have you with us, sir.
21:35What's that?
21:37The Colonel's report, sir.
21:39Not until Saturday, sir.
21:41There'll be plenty of time to take care of this when we get back.
21:43Yes, sir.
21:45Ready, Colonel?
21:47Ready, Colonel.
22:01Well, as near as I can figure,
22:03they've been going for oh, about an hour,
22:05traveling along the river.
22:07All right, dear.
22:09We've been two hours on Mexican soil.
22:11Well, there's not much risk as long as we stick this close to the river.
22:13Won't Skitaji move south if he finds out we're after him?
22:15Let's hope he doesn't.
22:17I never did like the idea of a Mexican rope around my neck.
22:37Let's go.
22:49Get down there!
22:51Get down there!
23:07Get down there!
23:37It's pretty hot there for a minute.
23:39Did you get him?
23:41I got him.
23:43Skitaji's dead, sir.
23:45The rest have surrendered.
23:47I got some good advice for I.G. officers.
23:49Stay behind the desk.
23:51Sorry to have caused you so much trouble.
23:53That's our job.
23:55My job.
23:57I'm sorry.
23:59I'm sorry.
24:01I'm sorry.
24:03I'm sorry.
24:05My job.
24:07Those reports, Cuddle.
24:09I'll send them on to Washington.
24:11No, you won't.
24:13Tear them up, Cuddle.
24:27Come in.
24:32Yes, Lieutenant.
24:35How do I list Colonel Beasley's death
24:37in the casualty report?
24:41Just as we list all other deaths on Mexican soil.
24:43Killed in action.
24:45Period.
24:47Yes, sir.
25:01McKenzie's raiders rode again and again,
25:03carrying out the secret orders
25:05of the President of the United States.
25:07Do whatever necessary
25:09to clean up the Southwest.
25:11Make it a decent place for people to live.
25:13Ride with McKenzie's raiders
25:15as they relive the blazing pages
25:17of history in the making.
25:33¶¶¶
26:03¶¶¶