The Hallelujah Trail Page #6

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The Wallingham wagon train

was moving in this direction,

escorted by the first cavalry patrol.

The temperance marchers,

having turned east,

were moving in this direction.

The second cavalry patrol

under Colonel Gearhart was

keeping detached contact.

The citizens' militia were now heading

due north at this position.

Obviously, a collision course

for all concerned.

The day began with a sandstorm

of disturbing proportions.

- Hey, Rafe. Rafe! Rafe!

- What?

- Get 'em moved up back there!

- Huh?

Let's get them wagons moved up!

- Keep your eye on them Irishmen!

- What?

- Watch out for them agitators!

- Huh?

Oh, shut up!

Arise! Break away now.

They'll think we're lost in the storm.

They'll have to give in to our demands.

Keep together, everybody,

and keep moving!

Don't despair. We'll get through.

Buell, take a scout. Make contact

with the women. They may need help.

Sir. Phillips!

- Oracle, can you see anything?

- Nothing.

- I mean, in your mind.

- I need whiskey.

Stand up, we'll march to Denver

For our cause is just

Stand up, we'll march to Denver

To conquer sin and lust

Stand up, we'll march to Denver

Raise our banners high

Denver, we are coming

Denver will be dry, believers

Denver will be dry

Stand up, we'll march to Denver

For our cause is just

Stand up, we'll march to Denver

To conquer sin and lust

Stand up, we'll march to Denver

Raise our banners high

Denver, we are coming

Denver will be dry, believers

Denver will be dry

Stand up, we'll march to Denver

Raise our banners high

Rafe! Rafe! Rafe!

Denver will be dry, believers

Denver will be dry

Pretend we're lost!

We are lost!

Oracle, you sure

you know where you're goin'

- I mean, you ain't lost?

- Course I ain't lost.

Now you just get behind me

and keep goin'

Follow me, men.

Now listen to me, you men.

We're gonna shelter from this dust and...

Go!

Stand up, we'll march to Denver

No more whiskey here

Hey! Hey, wait...

Ladies, form a circle!

Rafe! Rafe! Rafe! Rafe!

- Rafe! Was that gunfire?

- Huh?

- I said did ya hear gunfire?

- What?

- Form a circle, dammit!

- Form a circle!

- A circle!

- Form a circle!

Form a circle!

Militia! Form a circle!

Whoa!

- Take cover, ladies!

Keep firin'

Henry!

Take a squad! Get up on that ridge!

- Yes, sir!

- Ho!

Protect your rear!

Fire!

Protect your other rear!

Fire!

Protect your rear!

Try this! Protect both rears

simultaneously!

- It's Indians, sir!

- What?

Indians, sir! And they've got the women!

Good God! Charge!

A great effort has been made

to adhere

to the chronological events

of this action,

but due to the poor visibility we are

only able to approximate positions.

As the battle neared its climax,

we believe the wagon train was... here.

The two elements of the first

cavalry detachment - here and here.

The second cavalry detachment - here.

The women's

temperance marchers - here.

The Denver citizens' militia -

approximately here.

The Indians - here, here and...

Agh!

...here.

It is not known what happened

to the striking Irish.

To the best of our knowledge,

these are the final positions

in the engagement that

became known to history

as the Battle of Whiskey Hills,

but which, of course, was as nothing

compared to the subsequent disaster

at Quicksand Bottoms.

- It's a miracle.

- I beg your pardon, sir?

A miracle of the highest order that so

many bullets could miss so many people

in so small an area

in such a short space of time.

- No fatalities at all?

- None reported, sir.

- What do you propose that we do now?

- Our duty is crystal clear.

The first thing we must do

is keep the peace.

- Do you agree, Buell?

- Absolutely, sir.

There are three important steps

to peace negotiations.

No fraternisation

and no discharge of firearms.

Yes, sir.

- And the third step, sir?

- The third step? It's not important.

What is important is to have

a conference.

No peace without a conference, Slater.

Buell, inform all interested parties

a conference will be held here

- in one hour from now.

- Yes, sir.

Beyond that,

my contract - I got it here - says

that I am going to deliver,

and I am gonna deliver,

come hell or high water.

You gotta get them

damn foreigners outta here.

- Mr. Wallingham...

- I am a taxpayer and a good Republican,

which means I am entitled to army escort.

I'm damn well gonna get army escort

or I'm gonna raise hell...

- Mr. Wallingham.

- What?

I will not tolerate profanity

in the presence of ladies.

Oh...

I think we understand

your position by now.

The next party to be heard from

will be... uh... uh... Who are you?

My name is Clayton Howell, sir,

commander of the Denver Free Militia.

- What do you want?

- I'd like to inform the colonel

that a lot of us here are members of

the Denver Saloon Owners' Association,

and we intend to receive that there cargo

and take it home with us.

The winter nights are

long and lonely in Denver,

and a man is sorely in need of comfort.

Startin' next month, that there sun

is gonna be a-settin' at 5.33pm,

and she's gonna rise

11 dark hours later...

All right. I think we can

leave the sun out of this.

- What are you doing here, Oracle?

- Colonel.

I'm the guide to the Denver Free Militia.

It is my duty to see that this

precious cargo and these good people...

Thank you, Oracle.

I'm well aware of the duties of a guide.

- You're next.

- Kevin O'Flaherty at your service, sir.

President of the Irish Teamsters.

With your permission,

I have here a resolution

containing 14 points,

which I'd like to read

prior to these labour negotiations.

Labour negotiations?

If our demands are not satisfied,

your lordship,

we intend to strike,

as nasty as that may seem.

- By damn, you just try...

- Wallingham!

Oh.

I am not gonna abandon

10 of my wagons to them Indians.

Who said you had to? You've got the

Denver Free Militia to drive your wagons.

What?

Excuse me, sir.

The militia couldn't do it, unless

we took a soldier to guard each wagon.

- They're the worst bar flies in Denver.

- And who's gonna guard the soldiers?

I see what you mean. Our supply of

temperance men is extremely limited.

Yes, sir. It sure is.

Well, since you have nothing further

to say, Mr. O'Flaherty, sit down.

- I call on Mrs. Massingale.

- Thank you very much, Colonel.

The temperance movement has now

spread right across this great nation.

Founded in the year...

Mrs. Massingale, we are not here

for a history of the movement.

- Have you anything further to say?

- I have.

Dump it, I say. Dump this entire

vile cargo into the river right now.

- By damn, madam...

- Mr. Wallingham!

Did you get that, Captain?

Not a word, but I have

an interpreter standing by. Sims!

Yes, sir.

Sims, find out what they're doing here,

why they left the reservation.

Hunt buffalo. Minding own business.

Then white Long Knives come along

and attack peaceful Indian.

Paper say peaceful Indian.

We go home,

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