Geronimo: An American Legend
- PG-13
- Year:
- 1993
- 115 min
- 707 Views
They'll fight a delaying action.
Twenty-five, thirty warriors, maybe.
Hundred women and children.
That's it.
The warriors will turn and fight.
-No avoiding that.
-No.
It'll give the women and children
time to take cover.
One thing for damn sure,
they already know we're here.
-Captain Ragsdale!
-Sir.
Troopers on the flat, form a line!
Company!
-Mr. Ragsdale!
-Sir!
Advance carbines.
Company! Advance carbines!
-Sound the march.
-Bugler!
The Chiricahua Apache
from the American Southwest...
...were the last of the great tribes
to defy the United States government...
...and its effort to impose
the reservation system.
The Army, under the command
of Brigadier General George Crook...
...was entrusted with the responsibility
of breaking this resistance.
His campaign ended the Chiricahua
strongholds below the Mexican border.
Brought to a conclusion the conflict...
...that had raged through the Southwest
for nearly two decades.
Tell old Nan and the others
we're not going to hurt them.
We're not going anywhere.
We don't want to fight.
We came here to bring you
to our reservation.
Tell your men that.
with the Chiricahua.
Live on the reservation.
Only one Chiricahua warrior
and his band of renegades held out.
Then, even he sent word that he would
give himself up in two months time.
He was called Goyakla.
But years before, the Mexicans
Geronimo.
One month before my 22nd birthday...
...I reported for duty
in the Arizona territory.
It was my first post into garrison life.
In looking back, it is now clear to me
that I was as much a stranger to myself...
...as I was to the great western desert.
My name is Britton Davis.
I was a participant in what the Army
later called the Geronimo Campaign.
It is my wish to throw some light upon
the extraordinary events that I witnessed...
...and on the men that lived them.
The beginning of my life
as a frontier soldier was at hand...
...and no amount of military training
could disguise the excitement I felt.
-Howdy.
-Welcome. It's good to see an army fellow.
Whiskey?
No, thank you, sir.
You don't have to 'sir' me, son.
I ain't no officer.
-Looks like you are, though.
-Second Lieutenant Britton Davis.
-At your service.
-Proud to know you.
Where you from, Lieutenant?
Born in Texas, near Brownsville.
Texas? Why, hell, son,
I thought you was from back east!
Kind of got that manner about you.
Well, I been the last four years
at West Point.
-Senor.
-Yeah?
Soldados vienen.
My initial impression
of First Lieutenant Charles Gatewood...
...remains distinct in my memory.
His brusqueness was entirely military,
balanced by unfailing good manners.
In his most matter-of-fact way,
he gave me my first order...
...as an officer
I was to accompany him south.
We were going to bring in Geronimo.
He's due in a few days.
We'll go on down to the border
and escort him to San Carlos.
About 75 miles to the border
from here, Mr. Davis.
Plenty of time to get acquainted
with your new mount.
-Sir?
-Yes?
Just you and me?
The General figured that if we had
Geronimo we didn't need much protection.
Yes, sir.
A small detachment means
we're not threatening the hostiles.
You wouldn't want to pose a threat
to Geronimo, would you?
No, sir.
The Lieutenant was a man of confidence
and experience in the Apache wars.
In time I came to realise
he was much admired by his peers...
...much respected by his superiors.
That's the border, Mr. Davis.
-How will he find us?
-Easy. We're the only ones out here.
Lieutenant?
Apache medicine man.
Probably on a pilgrimage.
The Apaches, they believe in that power.
It's a kind of...
...spirit they carry inside them.
Sir, Geronimo's just going to come on in
and give himself up?
That's what he promised.
Chiricahua doesn't give his word much,
but when he does, he keeps it.
As long as you keep yours.
When the medicine man joined our camp,
I was filled with curiosity.
By personal inclination, Lieutenant
Gatewood kept his own counsel.
He met questions from an inexperienced
officer with patience and courtesy.
What fascinated me most...
...was his sympathy and knowledge
of all things pertaining to the Apache.
You don't talk to them much, do you?
To an Apache, stillness is a pleasure.
It's something they're taught
while they're young.
Helps someone who may have to
hide and wait.
What's he singing about?
Trying to locate Geronimo.
Says he'll be here tomorrow.
On a white horse.
Superstitious, aren't they?
$5 says he rides in here on a white horse.
Just because the medicine man says so?
You've got a bet, Lieutenant.
Question?
These scouts that we have with us,
they're Apache.
Why would they work for the Army?
Fight their own kind?
There are lots of different Apache tribes
that don't much like each other.
Most of all,
Apache go where the best fight is.
It's a morality, once you understand it.
All right, I'll see your $2...
...and I'll raise you $1 .
Lieutenant, just curious:
are you a family man?
I have a son and a daughter.
They and my wife are back in Virginia.
-You must miss them.
-Every hour of every day.
Goyakla is coming.
Rides a white horse.
You owe me $5, Mr. Davis.
I heard you were wearing the blue coat.
I did not believe it.
Now I know your heart.
First Lieutenant Charles P. Gatewood.
It is good to see the great warrior.
Second Lieutenant Britton Davis,
Sixth Cavalry.
You are now under the protection
of the United States Army.
We will escort you
to General Crook at San Carlos.
with an open heart.
They are something.
Chiricahua are special.
Even amongst the Apache.
The second night of our trek to San Carlos,
we put up at the Overland way station...
...at the foot of the Dragoon Mountains.
The following morning
I had my first opportunity to write home...
...being careful to include in the letter
an offhand reference to my participation...
...in the capture of Geronimo.
Two men are coming.
Man with white hat carries shotgun.
I'm looking for the officer in charge.
Lieutenant Charles Gatewood
at your service.
Heard the Army was travelling through
with hostiles.
Especially one hostile in particular.
City Marshal Joe Hawkins, Tombstone.
Apaches over yonder are under arrest.
I'm deputizing you to hold
these criminals until we get back...
...with a posse and a warrant.
These Apache are in our custody.
The warrant's going to specify
murder of white citizens...
...horse thievery and hostile Indianism.
Now, is that good enough for you?
We want to do what's right,
which is hang them.
I have orders to turn these Apache in
to General Crook.
The United States Army
doesn't need your help.
Lieutenant....
Don't sass me, blue coat.
Great Geronimo.
I think you're nothing
but a murdering red bastard.
I'd ride on if I were you, sir.
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