Springfield Rifle Page #2

was born in Virginia.

At West Point,

before the declaration of war...

...he openly sympathized

with his home state.

At the outbreak of the war, he submitted

his resignation from the Army...

...giving reason as reluctance

to fight against the South.

He later withdrew his submission.

Kearny led a troop

in three engagements this year.

He was removed from his command because

of indecision in the presence of the enemy.

Official comment: Untrustworthy.

To be transferred to duty at Fort Hedley."

Our orders were to defend the herd

and drive them to the railroad.

Kearny's action was in violation

of these orders.

In the face of a far-superior force,

it is my judgment...

...that it was better to sacrifice horses

and save the men.

Then we retreated, leaving the herd

unprotected, without even firing one shot.

Did you hear Major Kearny tell

Captain Tennick he wouldn't fight?

The major said we were outnumbered

4-1, ordered us to the rear.

- That's all, thank you.

- Can I say something?

Certainly, sergeant.

I served with Major Kearny.

He was a lieutenant then,

at the First Battle of Bull Run in '61.

Our troop covered the retreat that day,

and we were the last to withdraw.

We didn't have to be the last...

...but the lieutenant

was stubborn as a mule...

Sergeant Snow.

Let him tell it in his own way.

Well, sir, I never saw such an onerous...

...cuss in my whole life.

But he's certainly no coward.

The whole troop was sighted

for that action, sir.

But the action he speaks of

was a retreat, wasn't it?

Everybody knows we lost

the First Battle of Bull Run, sir.

It was right after I enlisted.

We were out on patrol.

Major Kearny, two mules,

and 10 more of us.

Well, all of a sudden, about 25...

Maybe it was 50.

Anyway, they were Stand Watie's men.

They came charging out of the rocks,

screaming like wildcats, firing as they come.

I gotta admit, I was so scared,

I couldn't fire my gun.

Couldn't even move.

Next thing I know, the major was standing

alongside me, firing and loading.

When he was loading,

he talked to me real quiet.

Major saved my life that day. I know it.

This court finds Major Alexander Kearny,

5th Cavalry, United States Army...

...guilty of gross neglect of duty by reason

of cowardice in the face of the enemy.

Alexander Kearny, you are warned

that you are liable to the death penalty...

...if you trespass upon the grounds

of any United States Military post...

...or reservation henceforth.

Conduct the prisoner through the gate.

Sergeant Snow will give you

a receipt for these, Mr. McCool.

And bring in more next time.

- My spread's not too big, colonel.

- I'll buy all you can get me.

How can they buy stock like that?

That's the sorriest-looking

bunch of jackrabbits I ever saw.

You ain't got nothing to say

about what the Army buys anymore...

...yellow-belly.

Never could understand why you were

particular with us ranchers, major.

Unless you were making sure those raiders

got good, sound horse flesh.

Sir, Kearny's giving the Army a bad name,

hanging around like this.

I know we don't have

jurisdiction over him.

I wish there were some way

to get him out of town.

He'll be leaving soon, lieutenant.

Captain Tennick.

Captain Tennick, I see you haven't got

my gold leaves yet.

You're mighty brave

with that whip, captain.

I'll be back without my whip

when I get my herd through the railhead.

There's something eating that fella.

I'm not so sure he's yellow.

Erin.

What in the world are you doing here?

Hasn't a wife a right

to come and see her husband?

Colonel John wrote me.

I like you in civilian clothes.

What did Hudson say?

Oh, Lex, I don't care

what happened here.

You hated this war in the first place.

You've given enough of

your life to the Army.

Let's just be grateful it's over

for you at last, and you can come home.

You've been gone so long, darling, your son

hardly remembers what you look like.

What does he look like?

You see?

You don't remember him either.

Jamie's grown up.

He's a man.

Yes, and he needs a father.

Erin, I'm not going home with you.

Why?

Until this war is over,

I have to do what I think is right.

Else I'll never be able

to look at you again.

Or Jamie, or myself.

Why don't you trust me?

Men have to do strange things sometimes

that they don't like to tell their wives about.

There's nothing to do

with not trusting them.

When do you want me to go back?

Stagecoach leaves in the morning.

In the morning.

There's another one in a couple of days.

And when you pay your respects

to Colonel John...

...tell him to mind his own business.

And I'll mind mine.

That new whiskey, Old Crow.

Pour it.

Pour it yourself, Copperhead.

I'll do the honors.

Another glass, bartender.

- I assume you're treating.

- Help yourself.

Thanks.

To the Union.

He won't drink to that.

I'll bet you 10 he will.

To the Union.

Why didn't you go home with your wife?

Is that any of your business?

I got enough to worry about here

without you.

Maybe this drive will get through,

and you'll have less to worry about.

The drive didn't get through.

I guess maybe you already know that.

A scout brought the word in

about an hour ago.

Over half of them were killed.

- Tennick?

- I don't know.

Troop's back.

Caught two raiders,

they're bringing them in.

The rest of them got away,

but they shot the horses from under two.

See you.

Captain Tennick,

what's that on your blouse, dirt?

Or is that the blood of some of the troopers

who died out there for you?

Are you proud of yourself,

Captain Tennick?

Do you feel like a brave man now?

Lieutenant Johnson, take over the detail.

Go for the guard. Post number one.

Guard detail, over the gate.

Look out, Mr. Kearny, don't come inside.

Arrest him. He's on military property.

The death penalty can go at this,

did you forget?

I did, but you didn't.

Take him to the guardhouse.

Open up, guard.

- Was it bad?

- We can hold out.

They might not hang you

if you tell them what they wanna know.

They ain't gonna hang us.

Give me your belt too.

Tie them together.

Nice, thoughtful friends you got.

- You ain't in on this.

- Get back there.

Just sit tight and you won't get hurt.

This ought to warm

your ivory dome, baldy.

Yeah, thanks.

Feels good on top of my head,

but it don't penetrate. My insides are cold.

I'm about to bust out crying.

You can have these two 10's

if you'll get us whiskey.

What is it, Confederate money?

U.S. Treasury, it's the real thing.

Sure, what's he gonna do with it

where he's going?

Twenty dollars.

One 10 now and one 10

when you bring the whiskey.

Give me the money.

Where's the other 10?

- Right here.

- Stick a bottle through first.

Don't break it, open the door.

Give me that 10

and get back to your bunks.

I will when you give me

the bottle of whiskey.

Do it my way, you won't never get it.

Straighten up.

Drop that gun.

Through the main gate.

No.

Kearny, what are you doing here?

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