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00:00♪♪
00:08From the archives of the United States Cavalry,
00:11the true stories of Colonel Randall McKenzie and the cavalrymen he led.
00:15McKenzie's Raiders.
00:17His secret orders from the President of the United States.
00:20Clean up the Southwest.
00:22Make it a fit place for Americans to live.
00:24Wipe out the renegades, outlaws, and murderers.
00:27If necessary, cross the Rio Grande.
00:30Knowing capture means hanging by the enemy.
00:32Discovery, court-martialed by the United States Army.
00:36♪♪
00:43♪♪
00:51Border country, Southwest Texas.
00:53The year, 1867.
00:56Another attack on a civilian supply wagon.
00:59Army protection unavailable.
01:01The reason, Colonel McKenzie's limited personnel had been withdrawn
01:05to prevent a filibuster force from crossing the border into Mexican territory.
01:10Three of my wagon trains destroyed and a fourth one overdue.
01:15And you, sir, sit there and do nothing about it.
01:18I've detailed every man I can spare to patrol those wagon routes.
01:21Every man?
01:23May I inform you, Colonel,
01:25that the majority of your command is patrolling an area where nothing ever happens?
01:28The border, or perhaps you expect these barefoot Mexican rebels
01:32to cross the border and invade in force, is that it?
01:34Mr. Dubois, I'm not in the habit of explaining
01:36the military policies of my command to civilians.
01:39Civilians?
01:40May I inform you, Colonel,
01:42that I have soldiered with men the likes of which you have never seen?
01:45Or perhaps you forget that I, Jean-Jacques Dubois, at one time
01:48commanded the 4th Regiment in the Legion in the service of my Emperor.
01:52I'm forgetting nothing, Mr. Dubois.
01:55Particularly, I'm not forgetting the fact that you are now a citizen
01:58of the United States of America and a civilian.
02:00Ever since those same barefoot rebels that you refer to
02:04chased your Legion out of Mexico.
02:06Oh, Reynolds, Reynolds.
02:09Here we are, bickering, you and I.
02:12Two soldiers who are friends, like a couple of women.
02:15I, too, am a soldier.
02:17But, Reynolds, I want you to understand my problem.
02:20My problem is my wagons.
02:22I can't help you there any more than I am.
02:24I have my orders.
02:25Orders, huh?
02:26The bane of a soldier's existence.
02:28Excuse me.
02:35A courier from K Company just rode in, sir.
02:38Another train's been attacked at Massacre Flats.
02:41My train?
02:43I'm sorry, sir.
02:46Bonneville Patrol, Sergeant.
02:48Each man to carry 40 rounds carbine ammunition,
02:5110 extra rounds revolver ammunition.
02:52Yes, sir.
02:53Who will lead the detail, sir?
02:55I'll lead them out myself.
02:56Get started.
02:57Yes, sir.
03:02I'm sorry, Jean.
03:03I'm sorry about your men.
03:05I, too, am sorry.
03:10May I ride with you, Colonel?
03:14Why not?
03:18Here.
03:42Well, McKenzie, what do you make of this?
03:46This is Comanche.
03:48What was your freight?
03:50Oh, the usual thing.
03:52Dry goods, cloth, dry groceries, and some hardware.
03:58Guns?
03:59A few.
04:03Take a close look at that arrow, Sergeant.
04:05Tell me what you think.
04:07Apache.
04:08That's right.
04:10What difference does it make who shot it?
04:12Mackenzie, these men are dead.
04:14It means they weren't killed by Indians.
04:17Mount up the troop. We're going back to the fort.
04:19Yes, sir.
04:20But what's happening here?
04:21I'll explain it to you later.
04:22Mount and ride.
04:37Most of the Indian stuff we found was Comanche and Kiowa.
04:41All right, that makes sense.
04:42The Comanches and the Kiowas ride together.
04:45But that arrow was Apache.
04:47And that doesn't make sense.
04:49Why not?
04:50Because the Apaches don't make alliances.
04:52They're too proud.
04:53They fight alone.
04:54I'm afraid you attach too much importance to one arrow, Colonel.
04:57Really?
04:58Well, it wasn't just one arrow.
05:00There were other things.
05:01If it had been Indians who attacked those wagons,
05:03they'd have looted them immediately.
05:05There was no such sign.
05:06So?
05:07So it wasn't Indians who attacked your wagons.
05:11On the other hand, renegades don't usually hit provision trains.
05:15There isn't enough in it for them to make it worth their while.
05:22Now, any particular reason you can think of why they should hit yours?
05:28Think it over.
05:30Perhaps you can find a reason for me.
05:33I will think it over.
05:35Perhaps...
05:37Perhaps you can find one of those reasons by the time I visit you at your...
05:41your supply post, as you call it.
05:44I shall try.
05:46Good.
06:06What are you doing here?
06:08Is there something wrong? The rifles?
06:12No.
06:14The rifles are all right.
06:15They're on their way south.
06:16Oh, good. Then what is it?
06:19I didn't hire her out to commit murder.
06:23I don't understand.
06:24Those men were murdered on your orders.
06:27I didn't hire her out to commit murder.
06:30I don't understand.
06:31Those men were murdered on your orders.
06:33Now, Archie, I know exactly how you feel, but we've got a lot of things to do.
06:36And one of them is to see that our good friend Colonel McKenzie
06:39never suspects that my wagons are carrying arms for the provisional army of the Second Mexican Empire.
06:45Don't be too sure of that.
06:47Oh.
06:48He has men all over town very interested in your activities, Jean.
06:52Don't underrate McKenzie. He's a hard man to fool.
06:56By the time he finds out my part in this venture, I'll be long gone.
07:00You see, I have 2,000 rifles stored in various depots.
07:04And in a few days, I'm going to cross the Mexican border.
07:09And all the men will rally to my cause.
07:12When they find out, I can arm them.
07:16Then we'll sweep out this rebel group.
07:19And I'll be the only one left.
07:22Then we'll sweep out this revolutionary rabble.
07:26And restore the Mexican Empire.
07:30Having learned that Dubois' wagons were carrying contraband cargoes,
07:34McKenzie rode out to confirm his suspicions.
07:46Archer.
07:48Sam Archer.
07:49I beg your pardon, sir. I don't believe I've had the honor.
07:52Sam Archer. West Point, class of 60.
07:56I regret to say, sir, you're mistaken.
08:02Ronald! Well, I'm happy to see you here.
08:05Tell me, who was that fellow that just walked away?
08:08Oh, there are many men around this post. I do not know why.
08:12I thought he was a friend of mine.
08:13Oh, from the army?
08:14Yeah, a fellow named Sam Archer.
08:16Gave up his commission to fight for the South.
08:18Joined Jeb Stewart. Had a cavalry troop under him.
08:25Well, uh, you mind stepping inside a minute?
08:28I'd like to ask you a few questions.
08:30Oh.
08:37Sit down, Ronald.
08:42Well, my friend,
08:43tell me, what was in that shipment that was robbed at Massacre Flats?
08:48Oh, I thought I already told you.
08:49That household provisions, goods, dry goods.
08:53You were carrying heavy cargo, machinery or something else.
08:58Machinery?
08:59What use would I have for machinery in a country like this?
09:02None.
09:04But those same cases could be used to carry rifles.
09:08Oh, now I understand.
09:11Oh, now I understand.
09:13You think that I, Jean-Jacques Dubois, am a runner of guns.
09:18I think the heat has affected your reason.
09:23Oh, but you are serious.
09:25Tell me, why do you say these things?
09:28You were a French officer in Mexico.
09:31You were among the first troops that,
09:33that Louis Napoleon sent over here in 1864
09:35when he tried to set up Maximilian on the Mexican throne.
09:38You were among the last to be forced out.
09:41You're bitter about that. I've heard you express bitterness about it.
09:43But that does not make me a runner of guns.
09:46No, but it gives you an excellent reason
09:48for wanting to see the overthrow of the present Mexican government.
09:53You think that I'm behind this movement that's giving you so much trouble, huh?
09:57Exactly.
09:59I think you've been using your wagons to carry guns and ammunitions.
10:03And perhaps I also arranged to have my wagons attacked
10:07and the munitions you speak of robbed, is that right?
10:10I think so.
10:12Why do I do these things?
10:14Two reasons.
10:15One, to take suspicion away from yourself.
10:17Two, to force me to weaken my border patrols
10:19and strengthen the northern patrols.
10:22Tell me something.
10:24Can you prove these things?
10:26When I can, I'll come after you.
10:30Why do you have this great interest in Mexican affairs?
10:33Randal, you and me, we have been friends for a long time.
10:38Jean.
10:40If I found out that you were responsible for the massacre of those men on the wagons,
10:46I'd track you down to the ends of the earth.
10:51Goodbye, Jean.
11:04July 20, 1873.
11:07A patrol from Sea Company intercepted a freight wagon belonging to Dubois
11:11on the border approach.
11:13Its cargo, the tools of revolution, could destroy the growing peace between two nations.
11:18A patrol from Sea Company intercepted a freight wagon belonging to Dubois
11:21on the border approach.
11:23Its cargo, the tools of revolution, could destroy the growing peace between two nations.
11:49Well.
11:52Hello, Randal.
11:55So it was you, sir.
11:56I'm sorry I couldn't stop and shake hands with you when we saw each other the other day,
11:59but I didn't think it was good policy at the time.
12:03You're working for Dubois now?
12:04That's right.
12:06Where is he?
12:07He's gone.
12:08He heard you picked up one of his wagons and decided it was time to leave.
12:12Where'd he go, sir?
12:14South.
12:15Don't ask me any questions I'm not going to answer.
12:19I think maybe you'll answer.
12:23Disarm him and bring him along.
12:25Yes, sir.
12:29For the last time, where's Dubois?
12:32I don't know.
12:35You're lying, of course.
12:39Sam.
12:42Sam, I don't know how you got into this,
12:45but I do know one thing.
12:46You're not the kind of a man that can fight against his own country.
12:49I'm fighting for my own country. Mexico is my own country.
12:52This is your country.
12:53Not since 61.
12:54That war is over. Those issues are dead.
12:56Not for some of us.
12:57Not for the men who rode with Jeb Stuart, who refused to surrender,
13:00who took service in Mexico with the Emperor.
13:02The Emperor is dead, too.
13:03Not for those of us who knew him.
13:05He's still a living symbol to me, to Dubois,
13:08to the thousands of others who would gladly have died for him.
13:11No, Maximilian's the greatest man I've ever known.
13:15Shh.
13:25It's a good sound, isn't it, Sam?
13:29Remember how many thousands of times you've thrilled to that sound?
13:32That sound of retreat and thrill to the flag coming down?
13:36Your flag, Sam.
13:38Not anymore.
13:39Come in.
13:41Sir?
13:43A scout just rode in from C Company.
13:45One of their patrols was ambushed just this side of the river.
13:48They're all dead, sir.
13:51Where?
13:52Eagle Pass.
13:54Muster out every available man.
13:56Every man to carry 40 rounds of carbine ammunition,
13:5810 extra rounds of revolver ammunition.
14:00Reserve ammunition to be carried on the pack train.
14:02Fodder and field rations for three days.
14:04And a few more rounds of ammunition to be carried.
14:07Reserve ammunition to be carried on the pack train.
14:09Fodder and field rations for three days.
14:11All right, all right, move.
14:12Yes, sir.
14:13More of Dubois' work.
14:14He's fighting a war.
14:15War, war.
14:20Sam, do you remember Bob Burton?
14:23Burton from Savannah.
14:24Cadet captain of C Company.
14:26Your company, your roommate at the point.
14:28What's that got to do with me now?
14:30Burton's son was leading that patrol.
14:33Yeah.
14:35Maybe if you could look at the faces of some of those dead,
14:37you'd recognize some old friends.
14:40Joe Peterson.
14:42Sam Baker.
14:44Men who soldiered with you.
14:46Men that you yourself led on patrol.
14:50Guess that doesn't matter anymore to you, though.
14:54Now, if you'll excuse me,
14:55I suddenly feel the need of some fresh air.
14:58Rattled.
15:00I want a ride with you.
15:04All right.
15:06All right.
15:08Then tell me where Dubois is.
15:10He's in Mexico.
15:11Awaiting delivery of his rifles.
15:13Enough to arm 2,000 men.
15:15How many men's he got?
15:16Only a few.
15:17He's counting on recruits joining him
15:18as soon as he gets the rifles to arm him.
15:20Of course, without those rifles, he'd be finished.
15:23What kind of men are joining him?
15:25Oh, freebooters, renegades, common shares, fools like me.
15:28That's what I thought.
15:29That kind of an army is held together
15:31by greed and viciousness, nothing more.
15:35Sergeant.
15:37Yes, sir?
15:38Sergeant, that wagon we captured from Dubois,
15:40how long would it take you to get it below the border?
15:43Driving hard with extra teams?
15:45We might make it by noon.
15:47By noon, by noon.
15:50All right.
15:51Let's go.
15:53July 22nd, 1873.
15:56In an effort to uncover the filibuster forces
15:58preparing to enter Mexico,
16:00Colonel McKenzie devised a two-fold plan.
16:03A detachment of his 4th Cavalry
16:05would sweep the border country
16:07to discover and neutralize any threat
16:09to the Mexican government.
16:11As soon as he got to Mexico,
16:13he would send his men to the border.
16:15He would take them to Dubois
16:17and bring them back to Mexico.
16:19He would neutralize any threat to the Mexican government.
16:22As this was being done,
16:24McKenzie and a group of pick raiders
16:26were to separate from the main force
16:28and secretly cross the Rio Grande into Mexico
16:31to capture or destroy Jean-Jacques Dubois.
16:50How much farther?
16:52About 10 miles.
16:54Dubois has got his headquarters in Adobe Hut,
16:56the head of a draw.
16:58It won't be easy getting in there.
16:59A couple of men with the repeaters
17:00could hold them out for that wash against small army.
17:03We'll worry about that when we find him.
17:05Let's go.
17:20That's it, all right.
17:22Dubois is still soldier enough to post sentries.
17:24How are we going in?
17:26We're not going in
17:28until Sergeant Stanfield gets here with that wagon.
17:30Then I'm going in alone.
17:50Ho, ho!
17:58Present as ordered, sir.
18:00Break out those rifles, Sergeant.
18:02Disable them.
18:03I'll give you 45 minutes to break them up.
18:05Then I want you to put them back on the wagon
18:07and drive the wagon up into that draw.
18:09Yes, sir.
18:10Give me a hand, Sergeant.
18:12I'll give you 45 minutes to break them up.
18:14Then I want you to put them back on the wagon
18:16and drive the wagon up into that draw.
18:18Give me a hand, men.
18:29I'm alone.
18:31I want to see Dubois.
18:48Let's go.
19:18Hello, Rano.
19:20I didn't expect to see you here.
19:22You should have.
19:24Come in.
19:36Sit down, Colonel.
19:42You know,
19:44you were a fool to follow me.
19:46I told you I'd follow the man
19:48who was responsible for those wagon massacres
19:50to the end of the earth.
19:52Sacrifices of war.
19:54I call it murder.
19:56Your game's played out, Dubois.
19:58You know your men will desert the minute they find out
20:00that they're not going to get those rifles.
20:02But they're going to have rifles.
20:04They should be across the border by this time.
20:06What if I told you they'd been intercepted?
20:10I would not believe you.
20:12How could you possibly have known
20:14where they were stored?
20:16I couldn't, but Archer did.
20:19Are you trying to tell me
20:21that Archer is a turncoat?
20:23I can't believe that.
20:25How else could I have followed you directly here?
20:27How else would I have known where to find you?
20:29Archer.
20:33I don't understand.
20:35Why would Archer betray me?
20:37Only that he's too good a soldier
20:39to stomach the murder of American troopers.
20:41I do not believe that.
20:43Colonel McKenzie,
20:45nobody can stand in the way of my cause.
20:48Your cause died with Maximilian.
20:50That's a lie.
20:52Only a man died.
20:54I do not know what you did with Sam Archer,
20:56and I care less.
20:58But there are many men in Mexico
21:00who believe in the second Mexican empire.
21:02Hmm.
21:04Like those cutthroats out on the porch.
21:06Do they still believe in the second empire of Mexico?
21:08Of course they know.
21:10But you know as well as I do
21:12that there's only a means to an end.
21:14Well, as I told you before,
21:17you're going to die
21:19outside.
21:21And don't try anything.
21:23My men are all around you.
21:38I'm sorry, my friend.
21:41Take him out and shoot him.
21:47If you follow orders,
21:49you'll be swallowing steel within half an hour.
21:51See those lights up there?
21:53That's an army heliograph signaling to my troops.
21:58And if you still want rifles,
22:00here they come.
22:11Whoa.
22:16Archer.
22:18All right. There are your guns.
22:20Throw them, Sergeant.
22:23Help yourselves, gentlemen.
22:31They're all broken.
22:33Now, my advice to you men would be to get back
22:35across that river to your farms.
22:37Of course, if you prefer, you're perfectly welcome
22:39to remain here and try and fight my troops
22:41with broken rifles.
22:45No, no, no.
22:47You don't understand. This is a trick.
22:49I have guns. Believe me, I have guns.
22:51This is a trick.
22:53Please.
22:55Don't you understand?
22:57It's for the good of the cause you've got to stay with me.
22:59You are my soldiers.
23:01No, come back!
23:03Come back!
23:09Come back!
23:25Yes, Sergeant?
23:27Dispatch from Department Headquarters, sir.
23:29Read it.
23:31Request immediate report on United States National Forces
23:33forming in your district for an attack on Mexico.
23:35All right, take an answer.
23:37Yes, sir.
23:41Commanding General, Southwest Department,
23:43and so forth and so forth.
23:45Sir, action has already been taken.
23:47The border is now relatively quiet.
23:51That's all, Sergeant.
23:53Yes, sir.
23:55Oh, no, one more thing.
23:59Read Mr. Sam Archer
24:01back into the United States Capitol.
24:03I don't understand.
24:05As a trooper.
24:07But I have a commission.
24:09You had a commission.
24:11Sam,
24:13please believe me, unless you prefer to stand charges,
24:15I'd consider it a privilege
24:17to have you serve in this command.
24:19Sir, you got yourself a soldier.
24:23Now, as for that commission,
24:25maybe we can talk about it later.
24:27Yes, sir.
24:29Maybe we can talk about it later.
24:31Yes, sir.
24:33All right, Sergeant.
24:35I said to read Mr. Archer in.
24:37Yes, sir.
24:39Place your left hand on the book and raise your right hand.
24:41Repeat after me.
24:43I, Sam Archer.
24:45I, Sam Archer.
24:47Hereby swear to uphold the Constitution of the United States.
24:49Hereby swear to uphold the Constitution...
24:53♪♪
24:58McKenzie's Raiders rode again and again,
25:00carrying out the secret orders
25:02of the President of the United States.
25:04Do whatever necessary
25:06to clean up the Southwest.
25:08Make it a decent place for people to live.
25:10Ride with McKenzie's Raiders
25:12as they relive the blazing pages
25:14of history in the making.
25:16♪♪
25:46♪♪