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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.
00:51The month of April, 1872, near the Rio Grande, West Texas. The same old story repeating itself.
00:58Frustrating, maddening, Randall McKenzie and his 4th Cavalry. For although McKenzie had
01:03established sacred treaties with most of the Indian leaders, still small, unauthorized
01:09bands of marauders all too frequently darted into the United States, terrorizing American
01:14settlers, burning, stealing, then darted back across the river into Mexico, safe from the
01:20American military. Give me a hand here. This one's alive. And he's not an Indian. Another
01:42problem was now added to the many already confronting Colonel Randall McKenzie. For
01:47although the boy was not an Indian, as he regained consciousness from his superficial
01:52wound, he proved to be an Apache all the way through. He's to be secured. Then have Sam
02:02the scout talk to him and have Sam report to my living quarters.
02:32Finally got him locked up. How's his wound? Not much. Not as bad as McCuller's. What happened
02:52to McCuller? Our engine bit a chunk out of his head. He's a regular rattlesnake. He's
02:59an Apache. He's no more Indian than you are, Colonel. Yeah. Maybe not. He's still an Apache.
03:09Has he talked yet? When he's not biting people, all he'll say is his name is Warknife. He's the
03:18son of Chief Burning Grass, Colonel. Burning Grass? But I've got a treaty with Chief Burning
03:24Grass. A treaty of friendship. The old man wouldn't break it. That wasn't the old man,
03:28Colonel. That was his adopted son. Probably got a few young bucks together just for devilment and
03:35proved that they're grown-up men now. Now what have I got myself into? What do I do? Hang the
03:41chief's son? That'll certainly help to pacify the area. Or maybe I force him onto a reservation
03:48where he can weave baskets. How old would you say that kid is? 14, maybe. I know who he is,
03:56Colonel. Before you were stationed at Fort Clark, there was an Apache raid on the Benton place. Killed
04:05the Bentons and two hands. Stole a year-old baby. How long ago was that? 13 years ago. I see. So,
04:20it would appear that our Apache might possibly be a Benton. Appears to add up like it. Benton's
04:29brother Abner came out from the east last year and took over the place. He and Mrs. Benton could
04:38be this kid's aunt and uncle. But, but that kid's an Apache. He's been raised an Apache son and he's
04:44proud of it. How are we gonna persuade him now that he's a Benton? And how are the Bentons gonna
04:50persuade him that he's just a farm boy? Be quite a scandal in the territory. If you were to treat
04:57him like an Injun, flesh and blood, you know. Lieutenant Sanders. Yes, sir? Please take a
05:10detail to the Benton place. Present my compliments to Mr. and Mrs. Benton. Tell them I'd consider it
05:15a favor if they'd come to my office as soon as they can. Yes, sir. Sometimes I wonder why you
05:21fellows take up soldiering. Just seems you can never win. What's in your mind, Colonel? I was
05:32just thinking about Chief Burningrass. Right at this moment down there below the Rio Grande. He's
05:39lost a son. I wonder what he's gonna do about it. If I know the Apaches, tomorrow he'll be moving. Tonight
05:49he'll be praying. No, no, Maude. This is no time for crying. This is a time for happiness. Oh, I know,
06:09Abner. But it brings it all back to me. We were in Philadelphia, Colonel, when we heard about it.
06:16The awful tragedy to Abner's brother and sister-in-law. Mackenzie, I'm not one to beat around
06:22the bush. I've only been out here in West Texas a year. But I'll be frank to say that I haven't
06:28been happy with the reports about you and your outfit. Seems to me that the savages and renegades
06:32have been getting away with a lot of outrages in the territory. Oh, no. Abner, do you think this is the time? I will say,
06:38though, that you did a wonderful thing getting the boy back. Best thing you ever did. And I'm
06:43going to see to it if they hear about it back in Washington. And he will, too. He has friends there.
06:47Well, now, Mackenzie, let's get the boy and we'll be on our way. Mr. Benton, perhaps there are one
06:57or two things I should explain before you see Warknife. See who? Warknife. That's the boy's
07:06name. It's no such thing. It's Vernon. His mother wrote me right after he was born. He was named
07:12Vernon, she said. I beg your pardon. Vernon. I might point out, though, that the boy speaks no English.
07:20No English? Then how does he talk? He speaks Apache. He was raised in Apache. Well, what of it? He's
07:28still a Benton, our kith and kin. Well, he might disagree with you. He considers himself an Apache.
07:33The Apaches are a very fierce, very proud, very noble nation. What a thing for an American soldier
07:41to say. Yes. What are you suggesting, Mackenzie? I'm suggesting, sir, that it might be better to
07:47leave the boy in my custody until the proper authorities decide what's best to do with him.
07:51Now, you look here, Mr. High and Mighty Soldier. Where that boy is concerned, I am the proper
07:57authority and don't you forget it. Begging your pardon, Mr. Benton. I'll decide what's best to do
08:01with him and that's to take him home with his auntie and his uncle where he belongs. Now, where is
08:05he? At the moment, he's in the post jail. Jail? See here, soldier. There's law in this territory. My
08:16nephew is not an Indian. He's a free American citizen and you're holding him against his will
08:23and against mine. Now, do you take me to him pronto or do I swear out a warrant for your arrest?
08:30Please accompany me. Lieutenant. Yes, sir. I'll need Sam to translate for me. Right away, sir.
08:54Oh, Abner, what have they done to Vernon? I wanted to warn you, Mrs. Benton. Sam here has
09:04been trying to talk to the boy. He's told him that we're his friends. He's told him there are even
09:09people here with his blood in this territory. His only answer was that if that were true, he'd open
09:15his veins and spill out that blood. Why, he should be ashamed of himself. Make him realize I'm his
09:22aunt. Well, Sam tried that too, Mrs. Benton, but Warknife's only answer, that is Vernon's only
09:29answer was not very complimentary. Open that cell. Oh, Abner. Open that cell. Truppert.
09:38Now, Warknife, tell him I too am a chief. He says in that case, he will speak only with the chief.
10:01All right. Is that so? Boy, you're about to learn some civilized manners. McKenzie,
10:14is he my legal ward or is he not? I asked you a question, McKenzie. Legally, yes, I suppose he is.
10:22I'm sorry, boy. I've got to teach you not to talk to your auntie that way. I've got to teach you to
10:40have some respect for your elders. I'm sorry, boy. McKenzie, I'm taking my nephew out of this jail.
10:48I'm expecting you to give me some help to get him safely to my ranch. Trupper, have the sergeant
10:58call out a detail. Tell him to escort Mr. and Mrs. Benton and their nephew to the Benton ranch.
11:05Remain there until further orders. Evening to you, sir. Good evening, madam. Your move,
11:25Colonel. Oh, sorry. Guess I'm not very interested in chess tonight. How'd I get myself into this,
11:37Sam? Better I should have left that kid to drown in the river. You couldn't have done that,
11:43Colonel. War knife, a farm boy. Not for long. No, not for long. By tomorrow, the whole Apache
11:55nation will know about this. Old Chief Burning Grass will be up here to get his son back,
11:59one way or the other. I can't keep a detail on that Benton place forever, but the minute I draw
12:06those troopers off, there'll be another massacre. The minute I... Sam. Sam, Chief Burning Grass,
12:17do you know where to find him? He'll be on the Mexican side of the river. Can you find him
12:21tonight? I can try. Lieutenant Sanders. What you got in mind? Tell you in a minute. Yes, sir.
12:32Lieutenant, please order out a patrol immediately. Sixty men. See that four of my raiders are
12:37sprinkled among them. We'll leave in ten minutes and we'll ride till dawn. Yes, sir. Now, when the
12:42raiders are separated from the main body of troops, it'll be for the purpose of riding south. Pay no
12:45attention to any other orders I may give. The raiders will ride south. Yes, sir. And see that
12:50each raider carries either a bandana or a neckerchief. Yes, sir. Is that all, sir? No. Order those troopers
12:56away from the Benton place. I beg your pardon, sir. Away from the Benton place? You heard me,
13:01lieutenant. Yes, sir. Dawn, April 29th, 1872. With a desperate plan in mind, McKenzie's need
13:22for secrecy was absolute. To avoid court-martial, even the majority of his own officers and men
13:29must be deceived as to his mission and methods. Any change? I haven't dared go in. He hasn't made
13:47a sound. Soldiers left during the night. There's not a one of them out there. Ready for your
13:55breakfast? Dish up for the boy first. Abner, I wonder if we've done right. Well, he's a Benton.
14:02We've done the Christian thing. But that Colonel McKenzie, he seems like a Christian gentleman,
14:07too. And I got the feeling he thinks we're doing wrong. Maude, do you think we're wrong? No, Abner,
14:14but maybe he belongs with his own people. We're his people, Maude. Remember that.
14:21Come on now, let's get the boy's breakfast.
14:42Boy, there you are. We brought you something to eat. I told you you'd feel better in those clothes.
14:49They look much better, too. Your auntie cooked you up a good breakfast. You'll feel better with
14:54something solid between your ribs. How many grits? Steak? Eggs? Hope you like how many grits.
15:01We'll leave him alone with it, Maude. Remember, he's still strange with us.
15:18So,
15:39like most soldiers charged with subduing the Apaches in 1872,
15:44Randall McKenzie constantly found himself torn between duty and his respect for a worthy foe.
15:51Now, in a dilemma caused mainly by his own vigilance,
15:54McKenzie was forced to take desperate measures to extricate himself.
16:15He's waiting. Get my horse. Like I said, I don't know why you fellows take up soldiering.
16:24If I'm not back in an hour, return to the fort. Yes, sir.
16:31Yes, sir.
16:38Burning Grass is here. McKenzie will come no closer. McKenzie is content.
16:49You have brought much sorrow to my people.
16:54And you have brought much sorrow to my people, Chief Burning Grass.
16:58But I have not stolen McKenzie's son. I am here that we may speak of your son
17:03as one chief to another. Then speak, Chief McKenzie.
17:13I never feel right about letting the old man go off alone like that.
17:18Do you have a son, Lieutenant? Yeah. Yeah, he's back in Kansas City with his mama.
17:24You love him? What kind of a question is that? Don't forget old Burning Grass loves his son
17:29just like you love yours. And he'll do just about anything to get him back.
17:35It is right that the father, not strangers, should chide the son.
17:39As always, Chief Burning Grass speaks words of great wisdom.
17:42Very well, Chief McKenzie. I agree to what you propose.
17:48My people will leave what you require. There will you stand.
17:53And I have the word of Burning Grass as a mighty chief,
17:55that his warriors will not ride until McKenzie returns.
17:59My word is given. Chief Burning Grass will not regret this.
18:02Chief Burning Grass hopes that when next we meet, it shall be as friends again.
18:07That is what Chief McKenzie and his people desire.
18:17How long has he been gone? Well...
18:36Listen.
18:37Mount up. Bring my horse.
19:07All right, men, strip down. Put on those clothes.
19:18For the rest of the day, we're gonna be Apaches.
19:26Lieutenant, have a couple of the men cut some horses' mane.
19:30Ought to work pretty well as Apache wigs.
19:38Better wash up, Abner. Time for lunch.
19:55In a minute, Maude. I think it's gonna rain.
19:59Get the rifle, Maude! Get the rifle!
20:19Abner, are you all right?
20:29Warknife, it's Colonel McKenzie. I'm your friend.
20:47It's an unscheduled patrol, sir.
20:50Your own troopers. Now you have got a scandal.
20:52They gotta catch me first.
21:29Water.
21:59Tell him he's home.
22:21He says he'll speak well of you to his father, Chief Burning Grass.
22:48Tell him he is too kind.
22:50Wulatita buragi.
23:04Look.
23:11All right, Sam.
23:18Take a look back up at the river. See if those blue bellies have left yet.
23:22We've got to get back to Fort Clark.
23:32He said he was on a training patrol, sir, when he happened to pass the Benton place.
23:36They chased the Apaches as far as the river, but they got across safely.
23:39With Warknife.
23:42Lieutenant, give that patrol extra duty.
23:45Pretty soon we've got to start outrunning these Indians for a change.
23:48Yes, sir.
23:49That's all, Lieutenant.
23:50Yes, sir.
23:52Mr. and Mrs. Benton, I can only apologize to you both and
23:57thank Providence that those Apaches didn't harm either one of you.
24:00I just can't understand it.
24:03Also, sir, I won't blame you for any charges you wish to prefer against me.
24:07Just a minute, Colonel.
24:09I know you feel that you should go and get the boy back.
24:13Well, don't.
24:14Don't? And let these savages get away with it?
24:18I know, I know, but more than me, we talked it over, and
24:23well, it seems to us that he's better off right where he is.
24:26With his own people.
24:28But what will Washington say?
24:31Don't you worry about Washington. I won't say a word to them.
24:35And Colonel, the less said about the whole thing, the better.
24:40Thank you, Mr. Benton.
24:42Thank you very much, sir.
24:43You're, uh...
24:45You're too kind.
24:59Mackenzie's Raiders rode again and again,
25:01carrying out the secret orders of the President of the United States.
25:05Do whatever necessary to clean up the Southwest.
25:08Make it a decent place for people to live.
25:11Ride with Mackenzie's Raiders as they relive the blazing pages of history in the making.
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