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01:03 personnel had been withdrawn to prevent a filibuster force from crossing the border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