Original subtitles

♪ [ trumpet ]

Sure, "Things just went wrong."

Try and tell that to the men we lost.

Shut up, Snavely.

Column, halt!

Sergeant Barton.

[ whinnying ]

What'’s going on, Sergeant?

Men are complaining, sir. They say they'’ve been betrayed and led into a trap.

Oh? By whom?

Our own scout, the Indian.

♪ [ trumpet ]

Howdy, folks. I'’m the Old Ranger.

It'’s September, 1854. Lieutenant Philip Sheridan,

who would one day become a famous Civil War general,

commands Fort Washington, a small post in the Pacific Northwest.

There is general dissatisfaction on the part of soldiers and settlers

over the way Sheridan has been conducting his warfare

against Chief Tajian and his warriors

and the growing mistrust of Sheridan'’s Indian scout, Kahlu.

In the crisis just ahead,

the fate of the fort may depend not on guns and ammunition,

but on a symbol of cowardice...

[man] Dismount!

Dismissed!

This is not a happy homecoming.

That'’s not your fault.

They think it is.

No one is to blame.

It will take much to convince your people.

Lieutenant Sheridan.Hello, Bob. How are you?

Fine, sir.

How is your sister?

Oh, Betty'’s fine, sir.

I'’d like to enlist.

I'’m glad somebody still has confidence in me.

Does your mother know about this?

Not yet, sir.

'’Cause she hasn't the highest regard for me...

or the army.

Well, she'’s just bitter over Pa'’s being killed

by Chief Tajian'’s men.

But Betty and me, well, we know it wasn'’t your fault.

You'’ve been doing everything you can to catch the red devil.

All right, Bob, I'’ll take you on as a scout.

Thank you, sir.

Here comes Betty.

Please don'’t tell her, sir.

I want to tell her and mom, myself.

It'’s so good to have you back, Phil.

I'’ve been so worried.I'’m fine.

What'’s all this talk about your Indian scout?

Oh, there'’s always talk when something goes wrong.

They say you were ambushed by Tajian.

Is that true?

Yes. But Kahlu had nothing to--

Phil, that'’s the second time this month it'’s happened.

Each time you were led to Tajian by that scout.

Doesn'’t that strike you as suspicious?

Betty... [ sighs ]

Betty, we'’ve been after that renegade Tajian for a long time now.

We'’ve many any number of attempts to capture him.

They'’ve all failed, some even worse than this attempt.

And Kahlu had nothing to do with those other expeditions.

It'’s just that I couldn'’t bear to have anything happen to you.

Nothing will.

But don'’t stop caring.

[ door opens and closes ]

Bob Jackson, what are you doing in that uniform?

I'’ve enlisted, Ma.

As a scout.

You take that uniform off, right now!

Now, Ma, we'’ve all got to help fight Tajian.

Fight, you say?

Under a bumbling greenhorn like Sheridan?

Oh, Sheridan'’s going to get Tajian.

You wait and see.Sure, I'’ll see.

I'’ll see you in your grave!

Now, get out of that uniform!

Oh, Ma. Don'’t take on so.

Oh, sure, you'’d defend Sheridan.

Everyone knows you'’ve been chasing him like a wild wind.

You'’re right. I have been chasing him.

And I think some of your wonderful soup

is just the thing to catch him with.

Soup! [ sighs ]

Here! Give him this.

My red petticoat?

Mother.It would suit him far better than an army uniform.

If Tajian and his men are spread out along this area,

we'’re going to have to know how they are dispersed and how strong they are.

I will find out.It'’s more than one man can handle.

Take along a scouting party of five.

Take along young Bob Jackson.

He knows the country like the back of his hand.

I know the country like the palm of my hand.

I know you do, but you'’ll need help.

Perhaps you are afraid to send me alone.

You know how I feel about you.

I have been thinking.

It is best that I leave the post.

I have made much trouble for you.

I'’ll be the judge of that.

Now, let'’s not hear any more about it.

It is not that I wish to go,

I joined you only to help my people

to end this senseless warring

that is wiping us out.

Now, I have no place to go.

With my own people, I am an outcast

because I ride with a white man.

You did quite right, Kahlu.

Now I am an outcast with your people.

Oh, they'’ll change their minds.

Take this map and study it.

Then round up Bob Jackson and the others.

But they do not trust me.

I trust you.

I'’m giving you an order.

I brought you some soup.

Thank you.I was about to leave.

You don'’t have to do that.

I must round up your brother and four other men.

My brother?I'’m sending out a scouting party

to try and locate Tajian.

But my brother is so new at this.

Perhaps I only need four men.

My order is to take out five men.

Yes, sir.

I will take care of your brother.

BETTY: Phil.

You can'’t let Bob go out with that man.

Your brother'’s a scout, Betty,

he has to start sooner or later.

But does he have to start with Kahlu?

Yes, and stop worrying about it.

Bob'’s gonna make a fine soldier, Betty.

He'’ll make a good brother-in-law too.

I think you'’re being very stubborn sending Bob out on his first assignment

with a man everyone says is a traitor.

Betty...

That man that you'’re calling a traitor saved my life once.

We'’ve exchanged blood. You see that cross?

That means we'’re blood brothers.

I not only trust him with your brother'’s life,

I trust him anywhere with my own.

But if everyone in the fort says he is...

Look, I'’m in command here.

I'’m not going to be swayed by a mob of hysterical women.

So...

now we'’re a mob?

Well, if you ask me, the mob is showing better judgment than you are.

And if you had any sense at all, you would be swayed.

Ma'’s right about you.

You'’re only fit to wear a petticoat.

WOMEN: Bye.

Mrs. Jackson.

I tell you that fool, Sheridan, will get him killed.

Please, Ma, sit down.

All we can do is wait.

It'’s been three days now.

If anything happens to Bob...

If any harm comes to him,

I'’ll kill that Indian.

Sheridan too.

Ma...

Looks like Jackson.

Open the gate!

Man coming in!

Take him in.Come on.

Oh, no.

What happened? Where are the others?

They'’re all dead.All dead?

All but the Indian.

Ma-- Ma, please. I'’ve got to make a report.

Kahlu...

Kahlu rode on ahead of us.

Then after a while, we were coming out of a gully and--

[ sighs ]

We were ambushed by a bunch of Indians.

I don'’t know how I got away.

What about Kahlu?

I don'’t know.

Well...

That makes four more dead men.

Maybe that'’ll open up your eyes, Lieutenant.

You go over to your cabin, Bob.

I'’ll be along to get your full report after a while.

Well, you haven'’t lost your appetite anyway.

Well, I'’ll be back on duty in no time.

Don'’t let Ma hear you say that.

She'’d like it if you never put that uniform on again.

How about you, Betty?

I'’m just hoping things will be better from now on.

Without that traitorous, redskin around.

MAN: Open the gate! Man coming in!

Kahlu.

[ whinnying ]

You don'’t know what kind of a story that Indian'’s gonna have for the lieutenant.

Oh, no!But he better have an awful good one for me.

Betty, go after her.Ma.

I rode out ahead of the others because I sensed danger.

When I returned to our rendezvous, I found four men dead

and Jackson missing.

That is all I know. [ crowd muttering ]

[ muttering ]

You better go inside.

I'’m not afraid to face them.

Do as I say. Go inside.

[ crowd muttering ]

Lieutenant, you get that redskin traitor out here.

ALL:Yeah.

I hope you'’re not referring to the scout

in the United States Army.

If anyone injures or interferes with him in any way,

I'’ll have them thrown in jail,

or shot if necessary.

You'’ll hand him over to us or we'’ll go in and take him.

You understand, Lieutenant? [ crowd muttering ]

Mrs. Jackson, I'’ll give you just one minute

before I call the troops to disperse this crowd.

I'’m warning you, Lieutenant.

Get out of the way. [ crowd muttering ]

Ma, put down that rifle.

Get out of the way, Betty!

If we don'’t so something about that Indian,

we'’ll all lose our lives.

[ crowd muttering ]She could be right, Lieutenant.

How much more proof do you need?

I'’ll decide that.

Please, bring him out.

He'’s not guilty of anything. ALL: Yeah!

Except murder!Murder!

Give us the Indian.

The Lieutenant'’s a blood brother of that savage.

He'’ll never give him up.

Here. Take this.

You can both hide behind it.

Keep it! That'’s our gift.

A red petticoat for dishonoring the uniform you wear.

Thank you.

My company should have the good fortune

to be called into action.

I'’ll carry it with me

and it will be dyed a deeper red before it'’s seen again.

[ laughing ]

[ crowd laughing ]

Dress of a squaw?

Never mind about that. [ sighs ]

Did you bring back any information?

That'’s why I was out so long.

Tajian and his men have dispersed.

They'’re scattered along this region,

hiding like foxes in their holes.

But five or six days, they will come out

and join Tajian somewhere along here.

In that case, it'’d be better to wait.

Meet them in the open.

Much better.

All right, that'’s what we'll do.

Her petticoat will go with us.

♪ [ bugle call ]

Sergeant Barton.

Yes, sir.Tie this to your rifle.

Hold it high enough for everyone to see.

Lieutenant, sir, are you serious?

I certainly am.

That'’s gonna be our new banner, Sergeant.

[ whinnying ]

Forward!

Humph, smart aleck.

He could go right through the ground.

Nonsense, you did perfectly right

to give him that petticoat. He deserved it.

It'’s the only way I could think of to keep you from shooting each other.

He'’ll never learn.

I understand how he feels about Kahlu,

and I don'’t blame him.

In a way I almost admire him for it.

You and your brother.

I'’m just thankful Bob wasn'’t recovered enough

to go along on this party.

Column, halt!

Bob.

Reporting for duty, sir.

You'’re a good soldier, Bob, but...

Please, sir, plea-- My arm is as good as new.

Fall in behind Sergeant Barton.

Yes, sir!

[ calls ]

Sheridan sent Kahlu on up ahead an hour ago,

and I don'’t like the looks of things.

Snavely,I'’ve told you,shut up.

He said he'’s gonna lead us to Tajian,

and I'’m sure he will.

Yeah, right into Tajian'’s guns.

I don'’t believe that.

What do you know about it, buddy boy?

There he is!

Tajian and 12 braves over the ridge.

Let'’s get him!

[ all hollering ]

[ gun fires ]

[ men yelling ]

[ Indian shouting ]

[ gun fires ]

Go on back and take cover!

Well, they'’ve got us covered.

And there'’s twice as many of them as the Indian said.

[ gun fires ]

I'’m gonna ride back, get some help.

You stay right where you are.

Cover me.

He'’s gone for help.

Cover him!

Cover me. I'’m gonna go get him.

You all right, Bob?

Yes, sir.Let'’s get back to base.

Here is Tajian.

[ gun fires ]

[ people cheering ]

Ma! Ma, they'’re back!

Bob?

[ all cheering ]

I see him!

[ cheering continues ]

Bob! Oh, Bob!

That'’s Chief Tajian, Kahlu captured him.

If it wasn'’t for him, Lieutenant Sheridan wouldn'’t be here.

Or me either.

You can be proud of your son, Mrs. Jackson.

He'’s a soldier worthy of his father

and his mother.

And his sister.

Oh, Phil, I was so wrong.

Can you ever forgive me for all those things I said?

It'’s already forgotten.

Looking for something?

My petticoat. [ chuckles ]Sergeant.

It'’s in the custody of Sergeant Barton.

May I have it back, please?

I'’d like to keep it if you don'’t mind.

Thank you, Sergeant.

Instead of dishonor, it brought me victory.

I intend to carry it with me the rest of my army life,

as a reminder of today.

And my faith in the man was justified.

Yes, Kahlu had vindicated Sheridan'’s trust in him.

And Betty never did get back her gift.

In the years that followed, Lieutenant--

later, General Phil Sheridan,

carried the red petticoat into every battle of the Civil War

as his good-luck talisman.