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00:00 ♪ [music] ♪
00:08 From the archives of the United States Cavalry, the true stories of Colonel
00:12 Randall McKenzie and the cavalrymen he led, McKenzie's Raiders.
00:17 His secret orders from the President of the United States, "Clean up the Southwest.
00:22 Make it a fit place for Americans to live. Wipe out the renegades, outlaws,
00:26 and murderers. If necessary, cross the Rio Grande. Knowing capture means hanging
00:31 by the enemy. Discovery, court-martialed by the United States Army."
00:36 ♪ [music] ♪
00:51 May, 1873, deep in southwestern Texas, an area overrun by renegade outlaws and
00:58 marauders, without roots since the end of the Civil War, fighting ruthlessly,
01:03 stealing and killing as they pleased.
01:06 ♪ [music] ♪
01:12 Such a man was Roger Forsyth. He called himself Major and led a band of vicious
01:18 criminals. Riding roughshod, Forsyth's bloody trail pushed farther and farther
01:23 to the north.
01:24 ♪ [music] ♪
01:40 - Here, I'll take that.
01:41 - Only Colonel Randall McKenzie, commanding the 4th U.S. Cavalry,
01:47 stood in Forsyth's way. McKenzie's orders, "Clean up the Southwest,
01:51 regardless of cost to yourself and your men." To help accomplish the job,
01:56 McKenzie had in his command tough, well-trained civilian scouts,
02:00 men familiar with the remote reaches of southwest Texas.
02:04 - We found the Indian girl Forsyth's been seeing. She lives in the cabin right here.
02:08 - On his last raid, Forsyth got some women's clothing. So it's logical to suppose
02:13 that he'll be showing up at that cabin before the day's out.
02:16 What's the best way to attack it?
02:17 - From back here on the mountain.
02:19 - Is the cabin visible from there?
02:20 - No, but it is from over here.
02:22 - All right, Willis. You and a trooper take up this position.
02:25 As soon as you see Forsyth enter that cabin, signal me back here on the mountain.
02:29 - Yes, sir.
02:29 - In the meantime, Burgess, take up a position on this road.
02:32 That should block his only other route of escape, shouldn't it?
02:34 - Yes, sir.
02:35 - All right, boys, that's it.
02:36 ♪ (ominous music)
02:58 (hooves trotting) ♪ (ominous music)
03:05 ♪ (ominous music)
03:30 - He's there.
03:32 All right, let's go.
03:33 ♪ (ominous music)
03:52 (woman crying)
03:54 - Woman, you better let me catch you if you want to keep that dress!
03:58 All right, come on now, come here!
04:00 Come here!
04:01 (woman crying) (woman laughing)
04:10 (hooves trotting)
04:18 (gunshot)
04:20 (hooves trotting)
04:39 - Find the others. Be at the fort tonight.
04:43 - Well, Colonel, this is an unexpected pleasure.
04:47 - Pleasure is mine, Major Forsyth.
04:49 - Colonel, the other two got away.
04:52 Shall we go after them, sir?
04:53 - No, let them go for now.
04:54 - Colonel, this horse has got the cavalry brand on it.
04:57 - Indeed.
04:59 Well, in that case, let's walk, Major Forsyth, back to the fort.
05:02 - Wait a minute, Colonel!
05:04 I bought that horse!
05:06 - I'm sure you did.
05:08 See that he keeps up with the column.
05:09 - Yes, sir.
05:10 - Detail at a warp!
05:15 - Hoo!
05:16 ♪ (ominous music)
05:36 (bell ringing) ♪ (ominous music)
05:41 ♪ (ominous music)
05:51 - The morning of May 12th, 1873.
05:56 While McKenzie was away from Fort Clark,
05:58 General Miles Donovan, office of the Adjutant General,
06:02 arrived from Washington on an inspection tour.
06:05 - Well, dear, did you have a nice ride?
06:11 - Well, if you call cantering around the drill area a ride.
06:15 It seems that no woman is to ride from the post unescorted
06:19 by order of Colonel McKenzie.
06:21 - Perhaps he had a good reason for issuing that order.
06:24 - Any sign of the Colonel?
06:25 - No, not yet.
06:26 - Father, I'm sure if Colonel McKenzie knew
06:28 you were coming here on an inspection tour,
06:30 he would have-- - It wouldn't have made any difference.
06:33 General Sheridan put McKenzie in command of this post
06:36 because he thought he was the right man for the job.
06:39 Perhaps he is.
06:41 He's an individualist and does things in his own way,
06:43 and that's what's needed to bring some sort of civilization
06:46 to this part of the country.
06:47 A man who isn't afraid of anything.
06:50 Not even of a three-star general.
06:52 (hooves trotting)
07:07 - Search him. - Yes, sir.
07:14 - Take off that jacket.
07:23 Nobody's to talk to this man.
07:25 Nobody's to go near him unless it's absolutely necessary.
07:27 Understood? - Yes, sir.
07:30 (door opens) (metal clanging)
08:00 - With General Donovan at the fort,
08:02 McKenzie was faced with a dilemma.
08:04 Only two men, General Sheridan
08:06 and the President of the United States,
08:08 knew of McKenzie's secret orders.
08:10 Cross the Mexican border when necessary.
08:13 At the risk of court-martial,
08:14 these orders could not become known to General Donovan.
08:18 - These reports, Colonel.
08:19 April the 9th, ranch burned, five Americans killed,
08:22 no retaliatory action taken.
08:23 April the 15th, freight wagon attacked.
08:25 Driver, two others burned alive,
08:27 and there are many more here with this same phrase.
08:29 No retaliatory action taken.
08:31 Why not, Colonel?
08:32 You seem to have enough men and supplies.
08:34 - Well, we could always use more, sir.
08:36 - Well then, what is it?
08:38 Are they going over the border?
08:41 - Yes, sir.
08:42 They hit and then they duck back across the river.
08:44 - Oh, the river, the river.
08:46 - Would you suggest that I cross the river, sir?
08:49 - And risk a war with Mexico?
08:50 Get yourself court-martialed out of the army?
08:52 - Exactly, sir.
08:53 (knocking)
08:54 Come in.
08:55 - Oh, I hope I'm not interrupting anything important.
08:59 - Not at all, my dear.
09:00 Come in, come in.
09:01 Colonel McKenzie, my daughter Margaret.
09:04 - Sam.
09:05 - Colonel McKenzie.
09:06 - Well.
09:07 - Miss Donovan's entrance brought a welcome halt
09:10 to the dangerous discussion of the river.
09:13 Later that afternoon, the routine of the fort back to normal,
09:16 McKenzie inspected his mounted compliment.
09:19 (water trickling)
09:22 (footsteps)
09:24 (footsteps)
09:26 (footsteps)
09:28 (footsteps)
09:30 (footsteps)
09:32 (footsteps)
09:34 (footsteps)
09:36 (footsteps)
09:38 Unknown to McKenzie, Forsyth's henchman,
09:40 following his instructions,
09:42 rode to a rendezvous outside of Fort Clark.
09:45 (horse galloping)
09:48 (dramatic music)
09:51 (footsteps)
09:53 (footsteps)
09:55 (footsteps)
09:57 - We'll wait here until night.
09:59 ♪ (ominous music)
10:09 ♪ (ominous music)
10:11 - Of course, of course, she couldn't do laundry like a cruel woman,
10:14 but it was good enough for him. (laughing)
10:18 - That's a real good one.
10:21 Hey, did you see the General's daughter?
10:23 - Oh yeah, a real nice girl.
10:25 - I understand Lieutenant Bowers is so mad at her
10:28 for confiscating his quarters, he's spitting spikes.
10:30 - (laughing) Well he shouldn't be mad.
10:32 After all, if he was General Donovan's daughter,
10:34 he'd be asking for the Colonel's quarters.
10:36 (laughing)
10:40 ♪ (ominous music)
10:49 (howling)
10:51 (crickets chirping)
10:57 (howling)
11:02 ♪ (ominous music)
11:24 - Hey talkie...you want to make $1,000 gold?
11:28 ♪ (ominous music)
11:29 (click)
11:30 ♪ (ominous music)
11:31 Come on talkie...
11:34 give me some water, this is empty.
11:37 ♪ (ominous music)
11:59 (door slams)
12:01 ♪ (ominous music)
12:28 (water running)
12:31 ♪ (ominous music)
12:34 (thud)
12:35 ♪ (ominous music)
12:42 ♪ (ominous music)
13:03 (thud)
13:04 ♪ (ominous music)
13:31 (thunder)
13:33 - The blunder of underestimating Forsyth's resourcefulness
13:36 cost one trooper his life,
13:38 and McKenzie his long sought prisoner.
14:01 (thud)
14:02 (thud)
14:03 ♪ (ominous music)
14:10 (knocking)
14:11 - Yes?
14:12 - I have a message for you, Miss Donaldson.
14:14 - Oh?
14:15 Well just a minute.
14:16 Yes?
14:21 (gasps)
14:22 - Don't make a sound.
14:24 If you scream I'll kill you, understand?
14:27 I'll get your coat.
14:30 Go ahead, that shawl will do, move.
14:32 (knocking)
14:35 ♪ (ominous music)
15:04 - That's close enough, soldier.
15:06 - I said hold it.
15:11 - Don't you recognize this lady?
15:15 - Why Miss Donovan, what are you--
15:16 - You've got one second to open that gate, trooper.
15:18 Otherwise I'll put a bullet right through her head.
15:21 - Please.
15:25 Please do as he says.
15:27 ♪ (ominous music)
15:48 (howling)
15:50 (thud)
15:52 (crickets chirping)
15:57 - He's coming.
15:59 (knocking)
16:01 - Come in.
16:02 - You sent for me, sir?
16:06 - Yes, did you hear that coyote?
16:08 - Yes, sir.
16:09 - It was too close.
16:10 I can't believe there's a coyote that close to the fort.
16:12 We're gonna have a look.
16:13 - Yes, sir.
16:14 ♪ (dramatic music)
16:21 ♪ (ominous music)
16:29 - It was four minutes before another sentry
16:31 discovered the unconscious soldier.
16:33 Forsythe had completed his daring escape
16:36 and had taken with him as hostage
16:38 General Donovan's daughter,
16:40 bait to draw Mackenzie out of Fort Clark.
16:43 - Miss Donovan?
16:49 - She won't be missed till Reveille.
16:50 That's seven hours.
16:51 - You won't infect the generals?
16:52 - No.
16:53 No.
16:54 If I were Forsythe, I'd head for Mexico
16:56 as fast as I could travel.
16:57 If I have to cross the river after him,
16:59 the general can't know about it.
17:00 - Well, suppose we can't pick up the trail?
17:02 - We won't come back until we get that girl.
17:04 - Yes, sir.
17:05 - See that the horses are ready.
17:06 ♪ (dramatic music)
17:12 (knocking)
17:13 - Oh, General.
17:14 - Yes, sir.
17:16 - I'm here to see the horses.
17:18 (birds chirping)
17:20 - Uh...
17:21 Good evening, sir.
17:22 - What's all the commotion, Colonel?
17:23 What happened?
17:24 - One of the prisoners escaped from the stockade, sir.
17:26 - Oh, I was concerned about my daughter.
17:28 - Oh, I...
17:29 I wouldn't disturb her, sir.
17:30 She's probably asleep.
17:31 It's routine.
17:32 We'll get him.
17:33 - Very well, Colonel.
17:34 I'm sure you can handle it.
17:35 Oh, uh...
17:38 You won't forget our talk of this afternoon.
17:41 - Uh, no, sir.
17:43 - Good hunting, Colonel.
17:45 - Thank you, sir.
17:47 ♪ (dramatic music)
18:01 - Here.
18:02 We'll camp here.
18:03 ♪ (dramatic music)
18:10 - I'm gonna write a message to Colonel McKenzie.
18:12 When it gets to be daylight, I want you to deliver it.
18:15 - What kind of a message?
18:17 - You might say it's a price tag...
18:20 on you.
18:21 - What?
18:23 - He wants you back, he's gonna have to pay for you.
18:26 He doesn't, your father's gonna be mighty put out.
18:30 - Once again, McKenzie had faced the fateful decision.
18:38 He had crossed the Rio Grande.
18:40 Detection meant hanging,
18:42 with his government powerless to help him.
18:45 - Woman, get some blankets for my guest.
18:54 - She'll be your slave.
18:56 Let her make her own bed.
18:57 - Listen, you brought me a horse,
18:59 but that don't mean you got a cinch and bridle on me.
19:01 Now get the blankets.
19:03 The blankets will keep you comfortable, ma'am.
19:08 Which is how I prefer my guests.
19:11 (crickets chirping)
19:14 - The tracks are headed that way, sir.
19:25 - I guess he's camped down by that lake.
19:27 - Mexican soldiers coming, sir.
19:28 - Mexican?
19:29 Take cover, fast.
19:31 (hooves clopping)
19:34 - Burgess, this is what we'll do.
19:53 You and I will change clothes, you ride my horse.
19:56 Approach the lake down through this canyon.
19:58 Let yourself be seen, but don't get within range.
20:00 In the meantime, the rest of us on foot,
20:02 with a five minute head start on you,
20:04 we'll circle the lake and approach the camp from behind.
20:06 Now because of those Mexican soldiers,
20:08 this all has to be done absolutely silently.
20:10 No orders, no guns, understood?
20:12 All right, let's go.
20:13 (dramatic music)
20:17 (horses neighing)
20:20 (cows mooing)
20:45 (dramatic music)
20:48 - If anything happens to my man,
21:09 you won't live to find one for yourself.
21:13 (dramatic music)
21:16 - Well, what do you know?
21:27 We didn't even need a note.
21:29 He followed us right into Mexico.
21:31 I think we got the colonel now.
21:34 (dramatic music)
21:38 (water splashing)
21:41 - Wait a minute.
21:42 I want the pleasure.
21:44 (dramatic music)
21:48 (horse neighing)
21:55 (horse neighing)
21:58 - Colonel McKenzie.
21:59 - Stay here.
22:02 (dramatic music)
22:06 (dramatic music)
22:09 - I'll wait until he gets real close so I can't miss.
22:23 (dramatic music)
22:27 (dramatic music)
22:32 (horses neighing)
22:35 (dramatic music)
22:38 (horses neighing)
22:41 (dramatic music)
22:44 (horses neighing)
22:47 (dramatic music)
22:50 (horses neighing)
22:53 (dramatic music)
22:56 (horses neighing)
22:59 (dramatic music)
23:02 (horses neighing)
23:05 (dramatic music)
23:08 (horses neighing)
23:11 (dramatic music)
23:14 (horses neighing)
23:17 (dramatic music)
23:20 (horses neighing)
23:23 (dramatic music)
23:26 (horses neighing)
23:29 (dramatic music)
23:32 (horses neighing)
23:35 (dramatic music)
23:38 (horses neighing)
23:41 (dramatic music)
23:44 (dramatic music)
23:47 (dramatic music)
23:50 (dramatic music)
23:53 (dramatic music)
23:56 (dramatic music)
23:59 (knocking)
24:02 - Good morning, General.
24:03 - Well, Colonel, did you recapture your prisoner?
24:08 - Yes, sir, yes, sir, it was quite routine, sir.
24:11 - Well, I'm glad you got him before he crossed the river.
24:14 - Oh, yes, I'm afraid our hands
24:16 would have been tied in that case, sir.
24:18 - Won't you join my daughter and myself for breakfast?
24:21 - I'd consider that an honor, sir.
24:23 (knocking)
24:28 - Yes?
24:29 Good morning, Father. - Good morning, dear.
24:33 - Colonel McKenzie? - Good morning, ma'am.
24:35 - Colonel McKenzie's gonna join us for breakfast.
24:37 - How nice.
24:38 - You're looking very fresh this morning.
24:41 You must have rested well.
24:43 - Yes, Father, quite well.
24:44 (dramatic music)
24:47 (dramatic music)
24:50 (dramatic music)
24:55 - McKenzie's Raiders did ride again and again,
25:00 carrying out the secret orders
25:02 of the President of the United States.
25:04 Do whatever necessary to clean up the Southwest,
25:07 make it a decent place for people to live.
25:10 Ride with McKenzie's Raiders
25:12 as they relive the blazing pages of history in the making.
25:16 (dramatic music)
25:19 (dramatic music)
25:22 (dramatic music)
25:25 (dramatic music)
25:28 (dramatic music)
25:36 (dramatic music)
25:43 (dramatic music)
25:54 (dramatic music)
25:57 (dramatic music)
26:00 (dramatic music)
26:03 (dramatic music)