They Died with Their Boots On Page #9

Friendlies? Any Indian with $ 75

is a friendly to Sharp.

Sergeant.

Put a stop to that rifle trading.

I want every Indian put outside.

- Very well.

- Have the trumpeter sound the call.

Yes, sir.

You know, Joe...

...in a way, I don't mind

that Indian getting off.

He's the only cavalryman I've seen

around. But we'll put a stop to that.

We're responsible for the protection

of 100,000 square miles of territory.

And against us are ranged thousands

of the finest light cavalry on earth.

I found that out this morning.

It's a big job, gentlemen.

And it's gonna need a fine regiment.

Our job is to make this the finest

regiment the United States ever saw.

I needn't tell most of you that a regiment

is more than just 600 disciplined soldiers.

Men die...

...but a regiment lives on.

Because a regiment has

an immortal soul of its own.

Well, the way to begin is to find it...

...to find something

that belongs to us alone.

Something to give us that pride in

ourselves, that will make men endure...

...and if necessary, die...

...with their boots on.

As for the rest, it's easy.

Since it's only hard work...

...hard riding and hard fighting.

Thank you. I know I can count on you.

- Major Meyers, sir.

- Pleasure.

- Mr. Cooper.

- Cooper.

Captain Elliot, sir.

- Captain Thompson, sir.

- Thompson.

Butler, sir.

Butler. "Queen's Own" Butler.

- How did you get here?

- Become quite a bally Yankee.

Rode behind you at Hanover

and fancied I'd see some sport out West.

Well, I hope you do.

Do you know that you've haunted me

ever since I met you at Monroe?

- Haunted, sir?

- Yes. I've cursed you regularly.

Every time I tried to think

of that song. What was it?

Oh, "Garryowen"?

"Garryowen." Come play it for us.

Excuse me, gentlemen.

This is an important song.

What are the blighters doing,

playing ring-around-the-rosey?

The dirty, moth-eaten...

It's a signal!

They're whupped! The dirty

buzzard eggs, they're whupped!

He wants a peace powwow

with Long Hair.

Long Hair.

Crazy Horse.

Crazy Horse, war chief Sioux,

speak with Long Hair.

War chief, great white father.

- I listen to my brother.

- My people want make peace.

They've lost many braves,

are tired of war.

They will give up the plains forever.

They will give up their lodges

by the running streams.

They will give up their hunting grounds

where the buffalo graze.

They will give all up...

...but one place.

Speak. What is this place?

They will not give up the Black Hills...

...for there, the spirits

of our fathers dwell...

...and there the gods have made

their tepees.

But all else that is my people

we give up...

...but Black Hills.

I will bear my brother's words

to the great white father.

Let Long Hair return with word

of great white father...

...that no white man will set foot

on sacred soil...

...and Crazy Horse and his brothers

will smoke peace pipe forever.

If the great white father gives word

to my brother's people...

...then Long Hair and his long knives

will defend Black Hills...

...against all white men

who seek to profane them.

That is the word of Long Hair.

Long Hair's word good one.

But the word of the great white father

is broken word.

Hear me now, Long Hair.

If this word broken now...

...not only Sioux, but the Cheyenne,

the Oglala...

...the Miniconjou, the Blackfeet,

the Sans Arcs...

...and every living tribe between

mountains and great waters...

...will gather in one last battle.

It will be the end of themselves...

...their gods, the spirits

of their fathers...

...and of their enemies.

Crazy Horse spoke.

We're here because the company's

facing bankruptcy on account of...

...the idiotic treaty with the Sioux.

- You don't have to tell me.

Last year I outfitted a handful of settlers

from 20 stores.

There'll be no settlers till the railroad's

pushed on. The only route...

...is through the Black Hills,

the gateway to the West.

A few thousand savages have stopped

the march of American civilization.

Why can't you do something

at Washington?

That was why I brought Taipe

to this job of special commissioner.

What is the job?

It's to coordinate the civil and military

administration of Indian territories.

While he's on the ground, we'll consider

local means of unlocking the Black Hills.

Well, you'll find none here.

The 7th Cavalry has every pass

and river completely covered.

It's impossible to sneak

an outfit through. I have to know.

No doubt you do, but you're talking

about single outfits.

- Suppose there were thousands.

- What would bring thousands...

...of outfits to Dakota?

- Gold.

- Gold?

Well, there's no gold

in the Black Hills.

Who can say what's to be found

in the Black Hills, huh?

Lt'd bring them in in swarms, all right.

Start a second California gold rush.

But what about the Sioux?

That's where the commissioner

comes in. Treaty or no treaty...

...we cannot allow thousands

of Americans to be massacred.

The forces of General Crook

and General Terry...

...will move between them

and the Sioux.

Well, Ned, do you see

any practical objection?

- Only Custer.

- What do you mean?

- What can he do?

- You don't know Custer.

You get him mad, and there isn't

anything he won't do.

There isn't anything his regiment

won't do.

They could blockade Bismarck,

blow up the railroad bridges.

Then we'll get rid of Colonel Custer

as a first measure, eh, Taipe?

I'm all for that.

But I shouldn't advise doing it

through official channels.

I think I know how to get rid of Colonel

Custer to everybody's satisfaction.

- Turn out the guard! Commanding officer!

- Fall in!

Present arms!

Order arms!

- Hello, Roberts. How's your wife?

- Better, sir, thanks to Mrs. Custer.

Good, good. Now, look, tomorrow...

...shine the squadron up.

I'm reviewing it for the commissioner.

Without officers? Right, sir.

Stand over there. Let me look at you.

My word, you're lovelier than ever.

George, put me down.

We've got company.

- What?

- Yes. I've got a surprise for you.

A surprise?

Mrs. Taipe, may I present

my husband, General Custer.

- A pleasure.

- Mrs. Sharp, General Custer.

- How do you do?

- Madam.

And here are some old friends of yours.

Well.

- What's this?

- Welcome home, colonel.

A little surprise for you.

Yes, this is a surprise. Haven't seen you

since you retired.

After the war, I found Army life

a trifle monotonous, Custer.

He's here as a special commissioner,

you know.

I should have paid my respects to you

as a representative of the government.

That's the regulation. But there's

no need to stand on ceremony here.

I congratulate you on the reputation

you've made for your regiment.

- Thank you.

- Let's drink a toast to it.

- Toast to the 7th Cavalry.

- Right.

You're not gonna drink

this toast in water.

Yes, this is the drink

of the 7th Cavalry.

Well, to the sober 7th Cavalry.

I'm sorry you won't see

the whole regiment on parade.

Most of it's in the Black Hills.

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