Major Dundee Page #2

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And if you try to fight your own war again

as you did at Gettysburg, they'll break you.

They won't break me,

not if I get Charriba and those kids.

Has it occurred to you, Major...

that the Apache will undoubtedly

enter Mexico for the winter?

Mexico presently contains an army

of 30,000 French soldiers.

Yes, it's occurred to me.

Frank, I am a professional soldier,

I'm not a prison keeper.

Now this is something that's gotta be done

and I'm gonna do it...

now!

Are you pursuing the Apache, Major,

or a promotion?

Whatever my reasons are, Frank...

you'd better get down on your knees

and pray to God I don't take you with me.

I suppose you intend to strip this garrison.

I will take just 10 men from the command.

Volunteers.

The bulk of my force

will be made up of prisoners.

You'd be well advised

not to accept Confederate prisoners...

even if they're forthcoming.

In my absence,

you'll assume command of the garrison.

Discharge all duties

incumbent upon that command.

I have, as you can see...

appended to your orders

a statement over my signature...

to the effect that I assume

total and complete responsibility...

for all such actions.

Here. Does that cover it?

No, sir.

I consider it my responsibility

to notify General Carlton...

of what I believe to be an irresponsible

and dangerous course of action.

- Do your worst.

- You could be shot for this, Amos.

My executioners will have to stand in line.

That's all, Captain.

Corporal Tinney!

Sir?

Where in hell is Lt. Graham?

Carry on.

- The Major's waiting to see you, sir.

- Thank you, Corporal.

- Sir!

- Lieutenant Graham.

- They're not much, are they?

- No, sir, they don't seem to be.

Cigar?

Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.

- Coffee?

- Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.

Why did they put you in the cavalry,

Lieutenant?

- Sir?

- Why did they assign you to the cavalry?

You're ordnance, aren't you?

No, sir. Artillery.

- Artillery?

- Yes, sir.

As Napoleon said, "Only thunderbolts

can be preferred to cannon."

- Napoleon?

- Yes, sir!

You'll do, Lieutenant. You'll have to.

I need rifles and ammunition.

It's all listed there in that inventory:

number of rounds, types of ordnance.

You go get them for me.

Forthwith.

Yes, sir!

Lieutenant.

- Sir?

- Where are you going?

I said, "Where are you going?"

To obtain...

these weapons?

And just how and where

do you intend to accomplish that?

It has come to my attention that

a supply train from the Ordnance Depot...

at Denver,

en route to the 2nd California Column...

now garrisoned in Santa Fe...

should be encamped tomorrow morning

at the Sand River crossing...

thirty miles away.

Now, if you have the opportunity,

you might just take C Troop.

See if you can be of any assistance.

Yes, sir.

November 4.

Lt. Graham had no official orders,

but this didn't stop him.

He was very persuasive,

with Sgt. Gomez and C Troop standing by.

He took what the Major needed.

We returned with 48 new Henry rifles,

5,000 rounds of ammunition...

and a baby howitzer

for the lieutenant to play with.

I see you transferred back to the artillery,

Lieutenant.

Yes, sir.

Over a hundred civilian prisoners

volunteered...

and from them the Major took six,

and they were doubtful at best.

While we waited for horses,

the rebel prisoners that we needed...

watched the gallows being built.

The gallows on which the Major will hang

Sgt. Chillum, the Hadley brothers...

Jimmy Lee, and their captain.

Captain.

- You figure he's bluffing?

- Sure, he's bluffing.

He needs us much more than we need him.

Captain, that ain't no dance floor

they're building for us.

We just want you to know, sir,

that whatever you figure on...

we're all with you.

Without Confederate volunteers,

the Major was forced to accept cowboys...

drifters and drunks.

You wanted Injun-fighting, mule-packing,

whiskey-drinking volunteers, sir.

Well, by God, you've got one.

What am I going to do with you?

He's the biggest drunk,

but the best packer in the territory, sir.

- What's your name?

- Wiley.

Wiley, make your mark.

- Whiskey?

- All you can drink.

When you've earned it.

Sergeant, throw him in a cell

and dry him out.

- Come on, Wiley.

- I never seen anything like it.

- How many is that, Ryan?

- Twelve, sir.

- Name?

- Dalhstrom.

Any man with a just cause

should travel with the word of God.

With all due respect,

God has nothing to do with it.

I intend to smite the wicked,

not save the heathen.

Seventeen years ago,

I married John and Mary Rostes.

Who that destroyeth my flock,

I will so destroy.

Reverend.

November 5.

The Confederate prisoners are angry

and uneasy, waiting for tomorrow...

the day the rebel captain

and his four companions are to hang.

We are fearful of the consequences.

All of us know the Major needs the Captain

and his men...

but the Major is stubborn.

I think he will hang them

if they don't volunteer.

I would like to volunteer, sir.

Me and my six coloureds.

I haven't asked for volunteers

from the command.

- We're doing the asking, sir.

- Why?

To fight, sir.

We've been standing guard

and cleaning stables for nearly two years.

Tomorrow morning you ask

the officer of the day to see me.

You and your six coloureds.

Thank you, sir.

The rebel captain

Ben Tyreen's compliments, sir.

He will see you now.

He will?

Yes, sir.

And he further states that he will

volunteer himself and his men as needed...

for double rations for all prisoners

plus Gen. Carlton's written guarantee...

that all Southern soldiers

who serve with you, sir...

will be automatically granted full pardon.

Now, sir,

if I may be so bold as to suggest...

Guard!

- Open it up.

- Yes, sir.

Major, it has come to my attention...

You kill one of my soldiers and then

have the gall to dictate terms to me?

You're a damn traitor, Ben.

You were a rebel

before you ever saw the South.

And now you're a murderer.

Tomorrow morning, I am going to hang you

and be done with you.

Jailer.

Sergeant!

How many men do you need?

Twenty. Good ones.

Until the Apache is taken or destroyed,

only that.

Agreed.

Then you have my word, Major.

We will serve.

But after that we're going home.

If it's too rich for you...

hang us now and be done with it.

I just might hang you

and that Injun to the same tree, Ben.

You'll play hell getting it done, Amos.

This man will hold lieutenant's rank

under myself and Lt. Graham.

Will you serve?

Until the Apache is taken or destroyed, sir.

Attention!

Lieutenant Graham,

get away from that damn bell!

Priam, they're a bunch of Roman-nosed,

broken-gutted, spavined...

sore-footed, swaybacked dogs.

You call yourself a horse thief?

Samuel Potts!

Those Injuns you got with you

look kind of shy, Samuel.

- They ain't sure they're welcome, Amos.

- Get on up here. I'll buy you a drink.

Ryan!

Today Mr. Potts got back.

With him was Riago.

If Lt. Brannin were alive

he would hang the Apache...

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