Original subtitles

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: FOR THE RUGGED PIONEERS ON AMERICA'S

FIRST FRONTIER, LIVING IN FORTS DOTTED THROUGHOUT

THE WILDS OF WESTERN VIRGINIA,

A BRAVE COURIER, WITH A SWIFT HORSE, IS THEIR ONLY LIFELINE.

AND THERE ARE FEW BRAVER OR FASTER

THAN ANNE BAILEY.

♪ ♪

NOW, SHE IS ON THE MOST

IMPORTANT MISSION OF HER LIFE.

[SHAWNEE WARRIORS WAR CRIES]

[GUNFIRE]

THE FATE OF THE ENTIRE SETTLEMENT OF CHARLESTON

AND HER OWN FAMILY, IS ENTIRELY IN HER HANDS.

[GUNFIRE]

SHE MUST BREAK THROUGH THE SHAWNEE WARRIORS

BESIEGING THE FORT TO DELIVER

GUNPOWDER AND AMMUNITION

BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

[GUNFIRE]

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

ANNE BAILEY'S EXPLOITS ON THE EARLY AMERICAN FRONTIER

HAVE EARNED HER THE NICKNAME "MAD ANNE",

BUT SHE IS MUCH MORE THAN THAT.

BRADY CRYTZER: THERE ARE FEW PEOPLE WHO EMBODY

THE SPIRIT, THE TENACITY, THE STICK-TO-ITIVENESS

AND THE GUMPTION THAT IT TAKES

TO SURVIVE ON THE FRONTIER THAN ANNE BAILEY.

TO CALL HER MAD DOESN'T DO THE WOMAN JUSTICE.

SHE WAS THE EMBODIMENT OF THAT SPIRIT,

TO SURVIVE AND FIGHT AT ALL COSTS.

CHERYL VAN DEUSEN: IT IS AMAZING HOW SHE LIVED HER LIFE,

AND WHAT A PATRIOT SHE WAS.

SHE WAS THE VERY FIRST TRULY 100-MILE

ENDURANCE RIDER IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND MOST OF US ARE UNAWARE THAT SHE EVEN EXISTED.

LAURA KAMOIE: A PERSON ON THE FRONTIER

COULD SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY TO

REINVENT THEMSELVES, AND TO PROVE THEMSELVES,

AND ANNE BAILEY DID ALL OF THAT.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: BORN ANNE HENNIS IN LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND,

SHE JOURNEYS TO AMERICA FOR A FRESH START.

♪ ♪

AND MAKES HER WAY TO THE KANAWHA VALLEY,

ON THE WESTERN FRONTIER OF VIRGINIA,

A LAND POPULATED BY VETERANS OF THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR,

LIKE RICHARD TROTTER.

♪ ♪

CAN I GET YOUR BAGS, MA'AM?

OH, THANK YOU.

WHERE ARE YOU TRAVELING FROM?

VIRGINIA, BY WAY OF LIVERPOOL.

LIVERPOOL.

NOT MUCH OF AN ACCENT ON YA.

WELL, MUST BE MY TIME ON THE FRONTIER.

YOU'VE MADE QUITE A JOURNEY.

KANAWHA RIVER VALLEY

IS AN AREA WHERE THERE IS GREAT ABUNDANCE.

WHEN YOU'RE BORN IN, YOU KNOW,

THE SLUMS OF LIVERPOOL,

IT'S AN EPIPHANY FOR THEM TO COME TO A PLACE

THAT SEEMS PRISTINE

AND UNSOILED BY HUMANKIND.

IT WAS, IN EVERY SENSE, THE TRUE GARDEN OF EDEN.

IT SURE IS A WONDER OUT HERE,

BUT NOT WITHOUT ITS CHALLENGES.

OH, I LIVE FOR CHALLENGES.

WELL, RIGHT THIS WAY THEN.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: IN THIS NEW, UNTAMED LAND,

ANNE FINDS A HOME AND A HUSBAND.

♪ ♪

I DO.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: THE NEWLY MARRIED ANNE TROTTER

SETS ABOUT MAKING A LIFE ON THE FRONTIER.

BUT EVEN IN THE WILDERNESS, ANNE HAS TO FIGHT

AGAINST WHAT SOCIETY EXPECTS OF HER.

VAN DEUSEN: IN ENGLAND, THE AFFLUENT

STARTED RIDING SIDESADDLE.

AND SO, AMERICANS BEGAN TO EMULATE THAT.

IT WAS LIKE, "WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE LADIES.

WE DON'T RIDE ASTRIDE HORSES."

WHOA.

I CAN'T KEEP UP.

I'LL GO A BIT SLOWER.

I HAVE A BETTER IDEA.

VAN DEUSEN: SHE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PIONEERS TO SAY,

"I CAN'T DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE,

IF I PAY ATTENTION TO THIS SOCIETAL NORM."

FIRST TIME I SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

MY FATHER WAS A SOLDIER.

YOU LEARN THINGS IN A MILITARY FAMILY.

[PROMPTING HORSE]

[HOOFBEATS]

[LAUGHTER]

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: AS THE YEARS PASS, ANNE AND RICHARD

HAVE A SON AND SETTLE INTO A LIFE OF DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY.

♪ ♪

BUT WAR SOON COMES TO THEIR PEACEFUL VALLEY.

♪ ♪

CRYTZER: THE SHAWNEE HAD RECENTLY RELOCATED

TO THAT AREA, PUSHED OUT OF THEIR ANCESTRAL

HOMELAND IN THE AMERICAN SOUTH,

AND THEY WERE DESPERATE TO DEFEND IT.

ALL OF WESTERN VIRGINIA SOON CAME UNDER

THE WRATH OF SHAWNEE RAIDS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY THAT THE SHAWNEE

WERE A WARLIKE TRIBE.

BUT THE REALITY IS THEY WERE JUST TRYING

TO FIND A PLACE FOR THEMSELVES IN THIS NEW WORLD.

WAR WAS REALLY THEIR ONLY OPTION, IN MANY CASES.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: SETTLERS LIKE RICHARD TROTTER

HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO GO TO WAR AS WELL

TO DEFEND THEIR HOMES AND FAMILIES.

I'LL BE BACK SOON ENOUGH.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: BUT NOT ALL OF THEM WILL COME BACK.

♪ ♪

MORGAN: THE SHAWNEE REALIZE THESE WHITE PEOPLE

ARE NEVER GOING TO STOP COMING.

AND UNLESS WE DO SOMETHING TO STOP THEM,

THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE AWAY OUR WAY OF LIFE.

AND THAT WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD US TO

THE BATTLE OF POINT PLEASANT.

[GUNFIRE]

THERE WAS NEVER A BATTLE LIKE IT

IN THE HISTORY OF NORTH AMERICA.

AND IN THE END...

THE SHAWNEE BACK IS BROKEN IN THE BATTLE.

[GUNFIRE] [YELLING]

[GUNFIRE]

MORGAN: BUT ONE OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS BATTLE

IS THAT TROTTER IS KILLED IN ACTION.

LEAVING ANNE WITHOUT A HUSBAND.

♪ ♪

KAMOIE: MANY WOMEN PROBABLY WOULD HAVE

ASSESSED THE SITUATION,

REALIZED THEIR VULNERABILITY,

AND THEN GONE BACK EAST TO THEIR FAMILIES.

CRYTZER: BUT ANNE BAILEY WAS NOT IN A POSITION

TO JUST SHRINK LIKE A VIOLET AND MOVE BACK EAST.

HER HOME, HER FAMILY,

EVERYTHING THAT SHE MADE WITH HER BARE HANDS

WAS ON THE FRONTIER AND SHE WASN'T ABOUT TO LEAVE IT.

ANNE: THE FIGHT CAN'T END HERE.

I WILL FIND JUSTICE FOR THEM.

I'M GONNA NEED YOUR HELP.

VAN DEUSEN: SHE FELT THE CALLING THAT IT WAS SO IMPORTANT

TO CONTINUE THE WORK THAT HER HUSBAND BELIEVED IN.

NARRATOR: TO PROTECT THE ONES SHE LOVES,

ANNE WILL HAVE TO GIVE UP THE LIFE SHE KNOWS

AND REINVENT HERSELF.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

STAN BUMGARDNER: SHE WENT ROGUE.

SHE WORE MEN'S CLOTHING

AND SHE WAS KIND OF CALAMITY JANE

BEFORE CALAMITY JANE.

VAN DEUSEN: ANNE WAS A MOTHER.

AND YET, SHE SET ASIDE HER FAMILY NEEDS

AND LEFT WILLIAM WITH A NEIGHBOR THAT SHE TRUSTED.

NOW, YOU BE GOOD TO MRS. MANN, OKAY?

SHE'S GOING TO TAKE CARE OF YOU WHILE I'M GONE.

♪ ♪

I LOVE YOU.

I'LL BE BACK SOON.

♪ ♪

VAN DEUSEN: SHE WENT FORWARD.

AND SHE DIDN'T LET HER GENDER STOP HER,

SHE DIDN'T LET STEREOTYPES STOP HER.

SHE DIDN'T DO IT TO PROVE ANYONE WRONG.

SHE DID IT BECAUSE IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: ANNE KNOWS SHE CAN BEST SERVE HER COUNTRY

AS A COURIER, DELIVERING VITAL NEWS AND INTELLIGENCE

BETWEEN THE FAR-FLUNG SETTLEMENTS ON THE FRONTIER.

♪ ♪

VAN DEUSEN: SHE HAD HER OWN TRUE GOALS,

SO SHE WENT OUT AND STARTED LEARNING THOSE TRAILS.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: BUT SHE STILL HAS TO GET ACCUSTOMED

TO THE BRUTAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB.

VAN DEUSEN: WHEN YOU'RE DOING THAT KIND OF

LONG DISTANCE RIDING,

IT WOULD BE SIMILAR TO MARATHON RUNNING.

AT SOME POINT, YOU RUN INTO A WALL AND A LOT OF PEOPLE

GIVE UP AND THEY JUST SAY, "OKAY, I CAN'T DO THIS."

♪ ♪

BUT THE REALLY EXCEPTIONAL RIDERS GO,

"OKAY, I CAN PUSH THROUGH THIS AND I CAN GET IT DONE."

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: MILE AFTER MILE, THE UNFORGIVING KANAWHA VALLEY

FORGES ANNE INTO A BOLD, CAPABLE HORSEWOMAN.

♪ ♪

BUT THE DANGERS OF THE WILD ARE EVER-PRESENT...

[HORSE WHINNIES]

AND NOT ALL OF THEM ARE IN HUMAN FORM.

NARRATOR: AFTER THE DEATH OF HER HUSBAND,

FRONTIERSWOMAN ANNE BAILEY

HAS REINVENTED HERSELF AS A COURIER.

BUT NOW, SHE HAS COME FACE TO FACE

WITH THE DANGERS OF THE WILDERNESS.

HEATHER WEBB: WOLVES WERE VERY COMMON

AT THIS TIME IN THE U.S.,

SO, IF YOU ARE RIDING THROUGH THE FOREST,

ESPECIALLY BY YOURSELF,

YOU'RE IN A LOT OF DANGER.

NARRATOR: ANNE HAS TWO CHOICES,

RUN OR STAND HER GROUND.

♪ ♪

[WOLF WHIMPERS]

[WOLF WHIMPERS]

E.J. SNYDER: YOU'RE FACED WITH A WOLF PACK,

YOU DON'T WANT TO RUN. WHAT YOU WANT TO DO

IS STAND UP AND LOOK LARGER.

YOU WANT TO MAKE NOISE, POSSIBLY THROW ROCKS AT THEM

TO TRY TO MAKE THEM UNDERSTAND

YOU'RE NOT THE MEAL THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.

[GALLOPING]

VAN DEUSEN: SHE HAD DEVELOPED THE EXPERTISE,

SHE KNEW THE BEST ROUTES,

AND HOW TO AVOID THE TWO-LEGGED

AND FOUR-LEGGED PREDATORS THAT WERE IN THE WOODS.

SHE ENDED UP BEING THE PERFECT PERSON FOR THE JOB.

[GALLOPING]

NARRATOR: NOW, ONE OF THE BEST RIDERS ON THE FRONTIER,

ANNE GETS A CHANCE TO DELIVER A WORLD-CHANGING MESSAGE.

♪ ♪

ON JULY 4, 1776,

THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS RATIFIES

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

♪ ♪

AND IT'S UP TO COURIERS LIKE ANNE

TO SPREAD THE NEWS THROUGHOUT

THE NEW UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

KAMOIE: PAUL REVERE IS ONLY THE MOST FAMOUS EXAMPLE

OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HORSE RIDERS

DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.

HORSEBACK RIDERS WERE

THE MOST INSTANT FORM OF COMMUNICATION

THAT WERE AVAILABLE

AND SO, THEY PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE

IN DELIVERING THE LATEST INTELLIGENCE,

TROOP MOVEMENTS AND OTHER FORMS OF INFORMATION.

♪ ♪

ANDREW NELSON: ONCE YOU GET THAT INFORMATION

TO ITS DESTINATION, YOU NEED TO DISSEMINATE IT.

THIS LED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOMETHING CALLED THE BROADSHEET,

WHICH WERE RUDIMENTARY POSTERS

THAT COULD BE PLACED SOMEWHERE PROMINENT

WHERE PEOPLE COULD READ IT.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: ANNE RIDES ALL ACROSS VIRGINIA

SPREADING THE WORD OF INDEPENDENCE.

♪ ♪

"WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT,

THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL,

THAT THEY ARE ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR

WITH CERTAIN UNALIENABLE RIGHTS.

THAT AMONG THESE ARE LIFE, LIBERTY

AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.

VAN DEUSEN: ANNE AND OTHER MESSENGERS LIKE HER

WERE THE FIRST RECRUITERS TO GO OUT THERE AND SAY,

"HEY, WE NEED PEOPLE TO JOIN THE MILITIA

AND AMERICA IS AT RISK.

AND WE NEED PEOPLE TO STEP UP AND HELP US."

ANNE: WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT, THE BRITISH

WILL SUPPRESS AND MURDER US ALL.

NARRATOR: BUT NOT EVERYONE WANTS TO JOIN THE REVOLUTION.

KAMOIE: THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR

COMPLETELY UNSETTLED THE BACKCOUNTRY

BY SPLIT LOYALTIES ON THE COLONISTS' SIDE,

WITH SOME BEING LOYALISTS OR TORIES

AND OTHERS BEING AMERICANS, OR PATRIOTS.

ANNE: WE NEED EVERY FIGHTER THAT WE CAN GET.

BOO.

THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO

ENTERTAINED LOYALIST SENTIMENTS

EARLY IN THE CONFLICT.

BECAUSE EARLY IN THE CONFLICT

IT LOOKED LIKE THE KING'S GOING TO WIN.

AND PEOPLE LEANED TOWARDS ENGLAND AS A RESULT OF IT.

♪ ♪

THANK YOU. STILL CRISPY.

KAMOIE: AND SO, ALL OF THIS GAVE RISE TO MORE VIOLENCE,

HOSTILITY AND CONFLICT IN A REGION

THAT WAS ALREADY RIFE WITH ALL OF THOSE.

NARRATOR: THE LOYALISTS MAY SEE A WOMAN

ALONE ON THE FRONTIER AS AN EASY TARGET,

BUT ANNE IS ANYTHING BUT.

[FIGHTING]

WEBB: SHE WAS A VERY STRONG WOMAN.

AND SHE COULD FIGHT JUST AS WELL AS A MAN.

NARRATOR: FOR TWO YEARS, ANNE HAS CRISSCROSSED

THE WILDERNESS, CONNECTING FRONTIER OUTPOSTS

WITH NEWS AND INFORMATION.

MOST IMPRESSIVE.

NARRATOR: AND OFFICERS IN THE COLONIAL MILITIA

HAVE NOTICED HER FEARLESSNESS AND DEDICATION.

I WAS JUST PROTECTING MYSELF, SIR.

NOW IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO DEFEND YOUR PEOPLE.

DO YOU THINK YOU'RE UP FOR THE TASK, MA'AM?

♪ ♪

YEAH, YES.

I'VE BEEN PREPARING FOR THIS.

NARRATOR: ANNE'S SKILLS AND BRAVERY

MAKE HER A PERFECT RECRUIT

TO BE A MILITIA COURIER.

♪ ♪

NOW, INSTEAD OF JUST DELIVERING

THE NEWS OF INDEPENDENCE,

SHE IS ACTIVELY FIGHTING FOR IT.

MESSENGERS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE DURING THE REVOLUTION.

THERE WAS NO WAY TO GET MESSAGES FROM ONE PLACE

TO THE OTHER UNLESS YOU HAD SOMEBODY WHO WAS

REALLY DEDICATED TO CARRYING THESE MESSAGES.

THIS BECAME THE MISSION OF HER LIFE.

NARRATOR: IN 1777, ANNE IS DISPATCHED

WITH URGENT MESSAGES TO FORT RANDOLPH,

AT THE JUNCTION OF THE OHIO AND KANAWHA RIVERS.

THE FORT WAS BUILT NEAR THE SITE OF THE

BATTLE OF POINT PLEASANT,

THE VERY BATTLE THAT TOOK HER HUSBAND'S LIFE.

♪ ♪

NELSON: THIS, OF COURSE, STIRRED MEMORIES OF

NOT ONLY THE LOSS OF HER HUSBAND,

BUT THE MOST PIVOTAL MOMENT OF ANNE'S LIFE.

WHEN SHE MADE THE FATEFUL DECISION

TO BECOME THE ANNE BAILEY OF LEGEND.

♪ ♪

CRYTZER: I THINK ANNE BAILEY REALLY THAT MOMENT,

REALIZES THAT THERE'S REALLY NO GOING BACK FOR HER.

SHE HAS GIVEN HERSELF COMPLETELY TO THIS CAUSE.

THIS IS GOING TO DRIVE HER FORWARD.

THIS IS THE POINT OF NO RETURN FOR HER

AND I THINK THAT'S A BIG MOMENT.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: BUT WHEN ANNE REACHES FORT RANDOLPH,

SHE LEARNS THAT THE ONGOING CONFLICT

BETWEEN THE COLONISTS AND THE SHAWNEE

HAS CLAIMED ANOTHER VICTIM.

ONE OF THE MOST PROMINENT CHIEFS AND LEADERS

OF THE SHAWNEE WAS CORNSTALK.

HE UNDERSTOOD AND VALUED PEACE.

WHEN HE TRAVELED TO FORT RANDOLPH,

AT THE BEGINNING OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION,

HE WAS THROWN INTO A JAIL BY PATRIOTS

AND THEN SENSELESSLY MURDERED.

♪ ♪

CORNSTALK HAS JUST BEEN KILLED.

WHEN THE SHAWNEE HEAR ABOUT THIS,

NO ONE IS GOING TO BE SAFE.

FOR MANY OF THE SHAWNEE, WHEN THEY SAW

CORNSTALK TREATED IN SUCH A TERRIBLE WAY,

THEY WERE CONVINCED THAT WAR WAS THE

ONLY WAY TO SEEK REVENGE.

NARRATOR: NO COLONIST IS NOW SAFE FROM

RETALIATION BY VENGEFUL SHAWNEE WARRIORS

AND ANNE MUST NOW MAKE A 150 MILE RETURN RIDE

THROUGH HOSTILE SHAWNEE TERRITORY.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

ANNE RIDES THROUGH THE KANAWHA VALLEY TOWARD HOME...

♪ ♪

AND FINDS HERSELF IN THE SIGHTS OF THE SHAWNEE.

♪ ♪

VAN DEUSEN: THEY OBVIOUSLY CHASED HER.

AND SHE KNEW THOSE TRAILS AND HER HORSE

WELL ENOUGH THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO EVADE THEM.

♪ ♪

SNYDER: WHEN YOU'RE IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU'RE

FACED WITH UNSURVIVABLE NUMBERS AGAINST YOU,

IT'S BETTER TO RUN AND HIDE

AND LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY.

FOR ANNE, YOU KNOW, SHE'S SMALLER IN STATURE.

IT'S EASIER TO GET INTO CERTAIN PLACES,

USE THE SHADOWS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.

IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT EASIER FOR HER

TO AVOID BEING DETECTED.

NARRATOR: HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT, ANNE CAN ONLY PRAY

THAT THE SHAWNEE DON'T FIND HER.

BECAUSE IF THEY DO, IT WILL MEAN CERTAIN DEATH.

NARRATOR: FRONTIER COURIER ANNE BAILEY

HAS ENCOUNTERED A BAND OF SHAWNEE

ON THE WARPATH AFTER THE MURDER OF THEIR CHIEF.

♪ ♪

SHE HAS ALREADY LOST HER HUSBAND TO THE SHAWNEE

AND IF THEY FIND HER, SHE WILL BE NEXT.

♪ ♪

SHE HID AND LEFT HER HORSE NEARBY.

♪ ♪

THEY LOOKED ALL AROUND FOR HER, COULDN'T FIND HER.

♪ ♪

SO THEY TOOK HER HORSE AND WENT BACK TO THEIR CAMP.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: ANNE HAS SURVIVED BUT NOW SHE IS ALONE

IN THE DEEP WOODS WITH NO HORSE AND NO PROVISIONS.

THEY LEFT HER OUT THERE.

AND OF COURSE, SHE DIDN'T HAVE

ANYTHING TO EAT OR DRINK BECAUSE EVERYTHING

WAS ON HER HORSE.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

BEFORE LONG, SHE FIGURED OUT, "OH, I SEE TRACKS."

SO SHE FOLLOWED THOSE HORSE TRACKS,

AND SHE EVENTUALLY GOT TO WHERE THE INDIANS WERE RESTING.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: THE SHAWNEE NEVER EXPECTED ANNE TO FOLLOW THEM.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

VAN DEUSEN: SHE SNUCK UP TO HER HORSE

AND SHE KEPT IT QUIET.

BUT THEN IT WHINNIED BECAUSE

IT WAS SO HAPPY TO SEE HER.

[WHOOPING]

[GUNSHOT]

NELSON: THE BOLDNESS OF SNEAKING INTO

A SHAWNEE ENCAMPMENT AND STEALING BACK YOUR HORSE,

THAT'S SOMETHING THE SHAWNEE HAVEN'T SEEN BEFORE.

IT'S PART OF WHY ANNE HAS THE REPUTATION THAT SHE DOES.

IT'S NOT JUST BEING CRAZY, BUT IT'S THE SHEER

AUDACITY OF DOING SOMETHING THAT NOBODY WOULD EXPECT.

TED BELUE: THEY REALLY FELT LIKE PERHAPS SHE WAS,

YOU MIGHT SAY TOUCHED IN THE HEAD, AND MAYBE

GUIDED BY THE GREAT SPIRIT.

NARRATOR: THE SHAWNEE NEVER FORGET THEIR ENCOUNTER WITH

THE WOMAN THEY CALL "MAD ANNE",

BUT IT WON'T BE THEIR LAST.

♪ ♪

ANNE MAKES HER HOME BASE AT FORT LEE,

A FRONTIER OUTPOST MANNED BY THE ELITE VIRGINIA

RANGERS UNDER THE COMMAND OF COLONEL GEORGE CLENDENIN.

GUARDING THE GROWING TOWN OF CHARLESTON,

THE FORT IS A CRUCIAL POINT OF DEFENSE

AGAINST NATIVE ATTACKS.

CLENDENIN: NEAR RECORD TIME, AS ALWAYS.

ANNE: I AIM TO DO MY PART.

I HOPE MY SON'S BEEN DOIN' HIS PART WHILE I'VE BEEN GONE.

HEY!

WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE YOU BOTH.

[LAUGHS]

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: ANNE'S SON WILLIAM, NOW A YOUNG MAN,

HAS REJOINED HER AT THE FORT.

[GUNSHOT]

HERE, ANNE HAS FOUND A NEW HOME,

AND PERHAPS EVEN A NEW FAMILY.

[GUNSHOT]

WILLIAM: [LAUGHS]

WELL, DON'T FEEL TOO BAD.

I HAVE MANY YEARS OF PRACTICE ON YOU.

[CLEARS THROAT] MIND IF I TAKE A SHOT?

BY ALL MEANS.

♪ ♪

WEBB: JOHN BAILEY WAS A RANGER AND HE RODE

WITH JOHN CROCKETT,

DAVY CROCKETT'S FATHER.

[GUNSHOT]

THERE, BEAT THAT.

WEBB: YOU CAN SEE THAT ANNE CLEARLY HAS A TYPE;

FRONTIERSMEN THAT ARE FIGHTING HAND, TOOTH,

AND NAIL JUST LIKE SHE IS.

[BLOWS WHISTLE]

NELSON: OFFICERS IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR USED

WHISTLES TO DRILL TROOPS, SEND SIGNALS, SOUND ALARMS.

BAILEY USES

HIS OFFICER'S WHISTLE TO PLAYFULLY

DISTRACT ANNE JUST AS SHE'S ABOUT TO FIRE.

[GUNSHOT]

I'LL WAGER YOU CAN'T HIT THE SAME MARK IF WE MOVE

THE TARGET FIVE PACES BACK.

I'LL WAGER I CAN AT 10 PACES BACK.

AND IF I WIN, I GET THAT WHISTLE,

AND YOU SHALL NOT EVER WHISTLE AT ME IN THAT WAY AGAIN.

YOU HEARD, MOVE THAT TARGET BACK!

♪ ♪

[GUNSHOT]

WELL, I DARE SAY AIM IS IMPORTANT.

♪ ♪

[GUNSHOT]

CLENDENIN: LOOKS LIKE WE GOT A VICTOR.

JOHN: YOU WON, FAIR AND SQUARE.

BUT PERHAPS I'LL WIN THE BIGGEST PRIZE OF ALL.

NARRATOR: AFTER OVER A DECADE AS A WIDOW AND SINGLE MOTHER,

ANNE MARRIES JOHN BAILEY.

THE COUPLE FINDS HAPPINESS AT FORT LEE FOR A WHILE,

BUT ON THE FRONTIER, FORTUNES CAN CHANGE AT ANY MOMENT.

♪ ♪

CRYTZER: THE YEAR 1791 WAS A PARTICULARLY TERRIBLE YEAR

FOR THE NEW UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

[INDIANS WHOOPING]

THEY'RE NOW FACING A GENERAL INDIAN UPRISING

ON THEIR WESTERN FRONTIER.

NELSON: IN RESPONSE TO THE

REPEATED VIOLATIONS OF TREATIES AND BROKEN PROMISES

BY THE AMERICANS, A LOOSE NORTHWEST

CONFEDERACY OF AMERICAN INDIANS

BEGINS TO FORM.

[GUNSHOT]

KAMOIE: AND ALL OF THIS CULMINATES IN

THE NORTHWEST INDIAN WAR.

IT'S SORT OF THE NATIVE AMERICANS'

REVOLUTIONARY WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE.

NARRATOR: AS WAR RAGES ACROSS THE FRONTIER, SHAWNEE

LEADERS LAUNCH AN ATTACK ON FORT LEE.

MAN: TAKE COVER!

GO, GO, GO!

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: AND IF THE FORT FALLS, NO ONE IN CHARLESTON IS SAFE.

ONE OF THE WAYS THAT NATIVE WARRIORS FOUND THAT

THEY COULD CONQUER AN ENTIRE REGION, WOULD BE

TO RID THAT REGION OF SETTLERS.

AND THEIR PREFERRED TACTIC WAS TO BESIEGE A FORT.

THEY WOULD SURROUND IT.

THEY WOULD CHOKE IT OFF.

NOTHING GETS IN, AND NOTHING GETS OUT.

INSIDE FORT LEE, THE DEFENSE

OF THAT POSITION WAS WHOLLY DEPENDENT ON GUNPOWDER.

NARRATOR: FORT LEE'S SUPPLY OF GUNPOWDER IS DANGEROUSLY LOW.

AND WITHOUT IT, ANNE AND HER FAMILY WILL SOON

HAVE NO WAY TO DEFEND THEMSELVES FROM

THE SHAWNEE ONSLAUGHT.

OF FORT LEE IS UNDER SIEGEYE

BY SHAWNEE WARRIORS.

AND NOW, ANNE HAS DISCOVERED

THE FORT IS ALMOST OUT OF GUNPOWDER.

IF THE FORT'S DEFENDERS CAN'T REPLENISH THEIR SUPPLY OF

POWDER AND AMMUNITION, THEY WON'T BE ABLE

TO WITHSTAND THE ASSAULT FOR MUCH LONGER.

[INDIANS WHOOP, GUNFIRE]

SOMEBODY'S GOTTA GO TO LEWISBURG TO REPLENISH OUR MUNITIONS.

IT'S A DANGEROUS, 120 MILE TREK EACH WAY.

AND WHOEVER GOES MIGHT NOT RETURN, BUT IF NO ONE

TAKES THIS JOURNEY, NONE OF US WILL SURVIVE.

CLENDENIN ASKS FOR VOLUNTEERS TO RIDE

TO FORT SAVANNAH AT LEWISBURG.

THAT'S NEARLY 120 MILES AWAY, 240 MILES ROUND TRIP,

THROUGH HOSTILE TERRITORY AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

I'LL GO.

I CAN RIDE THE DISTANCE.

PLEASE, I CAN'T LOSE ANOTHER HUSBAND TO THE SHAWNEE.

I- I BEG YOU.

IT'S MY DUTY.

NARRATOR: ANNE BAILEY HAS ALREADY SENT OFF ONE HUSBAND

WHO NEVER RETURNED.

NOW THAT SHE'S FOUND A HOME AND

A FAMILY, SHE WON'T DO IT AGAIN.

IF ANYONE'S GONNA MAKE THAT RIDE, IT'S GOING TO BE ME!

I AM THE MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED.

DON'T BE RASH.

MARTIN MORGAN: ANNE BAILEY VOLUNTEERS TO DO IT

HERSELF BECAUSE

SHE DIDN'T WANT TO LOSE ANOTHER

HUSBAND TO THE SHAWNEE.

NO ONE KNOWS THE TERRAIN OR THE TRAILS THE WAY THAT I DO.

I AM THE FASTEST, LIGHTEST,

MOST EXPERIENCED RIDER OF ANYONE HERE.

I AM THE ONE MEANT TO GO.

ALL OF YOUR LIVES DEPEND ON IT.

BUMGARDNER: AND WITHOUT QUESTION,

ANNE BAILEY WAS PROBABLY

TOUGHER AND MORE RELIABLE

THAN MOST OF THE MEN AT FORT LEE.

WEBB: ANNE HAD BEEN RIDING FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS, SO

SHE'S AN EXPERT RIDER.

AND THIS IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE RIDING ON HORSEBACK AT

THIS TIME, WITH THIS KIND OF TERRAIN, IS NO EASY FEAT.

NARRATOR: BUT ANNE'S HUSBAND, JOHN, DOESN'T

WANT TO LOSE HER EITHER.

IF ANYBODY'S GONNA RISK THEIR LIFE, IT'S GOING TO BE ME.

♪ ♪

[KNIFE CUTS]

YOU GOTTA ADMIRE A WOMAN.

SHE JUST TOOK A KNIFE AND SHE CUT HIS SADDLE,

SO SHE KNEW HOW TO END THE ARGUMENT RIGHT THERE.

NARRATOR: JOHN BAILEY DOESN'T HAVE THE EXPERIENCE THAT ANNE

DOES, THERE'S NO WAY HE COULD RIDE OVER TWO

HUNDRED MILES WITHOUT A SADDLE.

THIS IS MADNESS.

PEOPLE CALL ME MAD FOR A REASON.

BUT IN THIS CASE, YOU

WOULD ALL BE MAD NOT TO LET ME GO.

SHE'S RIGHT.

ANNE'S THE BEST ONE FOR THIS RIDE.

BUT NOT ON THAT OLD MARE.

IT'S THE BEST HORSE WE HAVE, MAYBE IN ALL OF VIRGINIA.

NARRATOR: COLONEL CLENDENIN KNOWS THAT TO BE SUCCESSFUL,

ANNE WILL NEED ALL THE SPEED SHE CAN GET.

HE'S BEAUTIFUL.

NARRATOR: SHE SETS OUT ON HER MISSION, KNOWING THAT SHE MAY

NEVER SEE HER FAMILY AGAIN.

VAN DEUSEN: SO MANY TIMES

SHE WOULD MAKE CHOICES ABOUT WHAT WAS GOOD FOR

THE COUNTRY, RATHER THAN WHAT WAS GOOD FOR HER PERSONALLY.

THAT WAS HER HIGHER CALLING THAT SHE FACED.

♪ ♪

IF YOU NEED ME, WHISTLE.

♪ ♪

MORGAN: THE CALCULUS THAT WENT THROUGH HER MIND BEFORE

DEPARTING HAD TO INCLUDE THIS:

YOU HAVE TO GO OUTSIDE OF YOUR STOCKADE,

YOUR PROTECTIVE WALLS.

YOU HAVE TO VENTURE OUT INTO TERRITORY THAT

IS INHABITED BY PEOPLE WHO

ARE HOSTILE TO YOU AND WILL KILL YOU.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: AS SOON AS ANNE LEAVES THE FORT, THE SHAWNEE SPOT

HER, AND THEY NOW HAVE A CHANCE TO TAKE OUT "MAD ANNE."

♪ ♪

WEBB: ONCE SHE GOT GOING, THEY DID

PURSUE HER AND SHE COULD HEAR THEM BEHIND HER,

BUT SHE OUTRAN THEM.

NARRATOR: ON HER SWIFT NEW HORSE, ANNE MAY BE ABLE TO

OUTRUN THE EXPERT SHAWNEE HORSEMEN.

BUT EVEN ANNE BAILEY CAN'T OUTRUN A BULLET.

BAILEY IS ON A MISSIONR AE

TO ACQUIRE MUCH-NEEDED GUNPOWDER AND AMMUNITION

FOR THE BESIEGED FORT LEE.

♪ ♪

BUT A SHAWNEE BULLET MAY END HER RIDE

BEFORE IT EVEN BEGINS.

[GUNSHOT]

♪ ♪

VAN DEUSEN: SHE HAD THIS TRADEMARKED HAT, AND

WHAT WAS ACTUALLY SHOT WAS THE HAT, NOT HER.

NARRATOR: ANNE ESCAPES DEATH BY LITERAL INCHES,

BUT NOW COMES THE HARD PART - MAKING THE LONG,

TREACHEROUS JOURNEY TO RETRIEVE THE AMMUNITION.

MORGAN: FROM FORT LEE TO LEWISBURG, THAT'S A JOURNEY

OF OVER 100 MILES ONE WAY.

NOW TODAY, WE COULD COMPLETE A JOURNEY

LIKE THAT IN A COUPLE OF HOURS, AND IT WOULD BE NO BIG DEAL.

THEN, IT WAS A LIFE OR DEATH TYPE OF SCENARIO.

NARRATOR: FOR HOURS, ANNE HAS RIDDEN AS FAST AS SHE CAN,

PUSHING HER HORSE TO THE BRINK OF EXHAUSTION.

AND THOUGH SHE WANTS TO KEEP GOING, THEY BOTH NEED

TO TAKE A REST AND RECHARGE.

SNYDER: BEIN' OUT IN THE WILDERNESS, GOING OVER

LONG DISTANCES, YOU HAVE TO RECOVER.

YOU HAVE TO TAKE BREAKS, YOU HAVE TO REST.

BEIN' IN HOSTILE TERRITORY,

YOU HAVE TO BE ON HEIGHTENED SENSE

OF ALERTNESS AND AWARENESS.

I CAN'T IMAGINE THE STRESS LEVEL

SHE HAD MAKING THESE STOPS.

NARRATOR: TO HER SHOCK, ANNE DISCOVERS A SHAWNEE BOY

STRUGGLING IN THE WATER.

IT COULD BE A TRAP, BUT SHE WON'T LET

THIS CHILD DIE, NO MATTER THE RISKS.

COME ON!

THAT'S IT!

OH, YOU GAVE ME QUITE A SCARE.

NARRATOR: ANNE SAVES THE BOY, BUT NOW HIS MOTHER APPEARS,

READY TO FIRE ON ANNE.

NELSON: THIS IS A PRECARIOUS

SITUATION, TO SAY THE LEAST.

ANNE IS COMPLETELY

HELPLESS AT THE MERCY OF A MOTHER.

IS THIS THE END OF ANNE BAILEY?

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: BUT THE SHAWNEE MOTHER RECOGNIZES THAT SHE

OWES HER SON'S LIFE TO ANNE, AND SHE SPARES HERS.

AND NOW, TO SAVE THE LIVES OF HER OWN SON AND

HUSBAND, ANNE NEEDS TO COMPLETE HER MISSION.

AFTER AN EXHAUSTING JOURNEY OF NEARLY 120 MILES,

ANNE FINALLY REACHES FORT SAVANNAH IN LEWISBURG.

BUT THE SOLDIERS AT THE OUTPOST ARE ON ALERT

FOR ATTACK THEMSELVES.

WITH THE LIVES OF HER HUSBAND AND SON AT RISK,

ANNE HAS NO TIME TO WASTE.

STEP AWAY!

YOU CAN'T JUST TAKE MILITARY PROPERTY.

THE LIVES OF THE RANGERS, THEY NEED IT!

MIGHTY SUSPECT THAT THE RANGERS WOULD SEND

A WOMAN OUT TO FETCH AMMUNITION.

IT'S A MAN'S JOB.

I JUST RODE 120 MILES!

MY FAMILY IS THERE!

WE CANNOT BE HANDING OUT AMMUNITION TO JUST ANYONE.

WELL, THEN, I'LL JUST HAVE TO TAKE WHAT I NEED.

[GUNS COCKING]

[COCKS GUN]

CRYTZER: AT THIS STAGE IN THE EXPEDITION FOR ANNE BAILEY,

SHE COULD DO ANYTHING TO SAVE HER FAMILY.

SHE WASN'T GOING TO BE STOPPED.

JUST LEAVE PEACEFULLY, AND FORGET THIS WHOLE

THING EVER TRANSPIRED.

I CAN'T DO THAT.

I WOULD BE SENTENCING THOSE MEN

MY OWN HUSBAND AND SON TO DEATH.

VETERAN SOLDIER: SIR, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT,

I RECOGNIZE THIS WOMAN.

THAT'S ANNE BAILEY!

I SERVED WITH HER HUSBAND, JOHN.

SHE SPEAKS THE TRUTH.

SHE CAN RIDE AS FAST AS ANYONE HERE,

SHE KNOWS THESE WOODS, AND SHE CAN SHOOT THE TICK OFF A DEER.

ARMY OFFICER: WELL, IF THIS IS TRUE,

YOU SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM

HITTIN' THAT FLASK UP ON THAT THERE LEDGE.

FROM BACK THERE.

I SHOOT THAT FLASK FROM BACK THERE, AND YOU GIVE

ME WHAT I CAME FOR.

WEBB: WOMEN ALONG THE FRONTIER HAD TO DEFEND THEIR

HOMES AND THEIR CHILDREN, SO THEY

DID KNOW HOW TO USE A GUN.

BUT SHE TRULY EXCELLED AT IT.

AND THERE WERE TIMES THAT SHE WOULD BE THE BEST SHOT

OUT OF ALL THE PEOPLE PRESENT.

♪ ♪

[GUNFIRE, GLASS SHATTERS]

♪ ♪

VERY WELL.

YOU'LL HAVE YOUR MUNITIONS.

♪ ♪

THANK YOU.

NARRATOR: THE UNWIELDY POWDER KEGS WILL MAKE FOR AN EVEN

MORE DIFFICULT RIDE, SO ANNE REPACKS THE POWDER IN

BAGS AND POWDER HORNS THAT ARE EASIER TO CARRY.

ANNE HAS SECURED THE GUNPOWDER AND MUSKET

BALLS THAT HER PEOPLE DESPERATELY NEED,

BUT HER HORSE IS SPENT FROM THE JOURNEY, AND THERE'S

NO WAY IT CAN CARRY IT ALL BACK TO FORT LEE.

VAN DEUSEN: IT HAD ALREADY MADE THE TRIP ONE WAY,

SO TO GET BACK SAFELY, AND CARRY THAT WEIGHT,

THEY LOADED UP THE SECOND PACK HORSE.

NARRATOR: ANNE AND HER HORSE ARE BOTH ON THE BRINK OF

EXHAUSTION, BUT THEY HAVE TO TURN AROUND AND

MAKE THE NEARLY 120 MILE

JOURNEY BACK TO FORT LEE THROUGH THE FORBIDDING

WOODS OF THE KANAWHA VALLEY.

WEBB: ANNE RODE THROUGH THE NIGHT THROUGH THAT FOREST

THAT WAS SO DENSE AND- AND DANGEROUS.

SHE WAS UPRIGHT ON THIS HORSE

READY TO FALL ASLEEP, READY TO FALL OFF.

BEING ON THIS HORSE AT THIS POINT

WITH GUNPOWDER AND AMMUNITION,

COMPLETELY EXHAUSTED, WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS,

EXTREMELY BRAVE OF HER.

AND SHE DID IT.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: AFTER RIDING ALL NIGHT, ANNE ARRIVES IN

THE WOODS OUTSIDE OF FORT LEE.

BUT THE SHAWNEE HAVE THE FORT SURROUNDED,

AND IT MAY BE IMPOSSIBLE TO GET BACK INSIDE.

NEARLY

240 MILES IN TWENTY-FOUR HOURS TO

RETRIEVE AMMUNITION FOR THE BESIEGED FORT LEE.

BUT THERE'S NO WAY TO GET PAST THE SHAWNEE WARRIORS

SURROUNDING THE FORT.

VAN DEUSEN: SHE'S ALMOST HOME,

ALMOST SAVING THE DAY.

AND YET THE INDIANS ARE EVERYWHERE.

NARRATOR: NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN DELIVERING

THE GUNPOWDER AND MUSKET BALLS TO HER HUSBAND AND

THE OTHER DEFENDERS INSIDE THE FORT.

THE RANGERS ARE BEGINNING TO RUN LOW ON

THIS ONE COMMODITY THAT IS LIFESAVING.

AND THAT IS THE POWDER FOR THEIR WEAPONS.

NARRATOR: WITHOUT THE POWDER, THE RANGERS WON'T BE ABLE TO

FIGHT BACK AGAINST THE SHAWNEE, SO ANNE COMES UP WITH A PLAN.

SHE LOADS HERSELF AND HER HORSE

DOWN WITH ALL THE POWDER HORNS THEY CAN CARRY.

THERE'S A LONG HISTORY IN AMERICAN WARFARE OF

EMPLOYING DECOYS AND OTHER DECEPTION.

ALL BAILEY NEEDS IS A SECOND, A SPLIT SECOND, WHERE HER

OPPONENT'S ATTENTION IS DIVERTED AND SHE CAN SLIP PAST.

♪ ♪

[BLOWS WHISTLE]

♪ ♪

HYAH!

NARRATOR: ANNE CAN ONLY HOPE THAT HER RUSE WILL WORK,

BECAUSE SHE WON'T GET A SECOND CHANCE.

♪ ♪

JOHN BAILEY SEES THAT HIS WIFE IS CLOSE, AND HE JUMPS

INTO ACTION TO HELP HER AS THE SHAWNEE RIDE

DOWN THE DECOY HORSE.

ANNE'S DECOY HAS DECEIVED THE SHAWNEE, FOR A MOMENT,

♪ ♪

BUT IT MAY NOT BE ENOUGH TIME FOR HER TO REACH SAFETY.

♪ ♪

[GUNFIRE]

[INDIANS WHOOPING]

[GUNFIRE]

♪ ♪

ANNE BAILEY GETS THE POWDER, COMES BACK AGAIN SAFELY

AND UNSCATHED, AND SAVES THE DAY.

IT'S A GREAT MOMENT.

[CHEERING]

NARRATOR: THE GUNPOWDER WILL ALLOW THE RANGERS TO HOLD

THE FORT AND OUTLAST THE SHAWNEE SIEGE.

♪ ♪

YOU HAVE SAVED US.

NEEDLESS TO SAY, HE'S YOURS.

LEAST WE CAN DO.

HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M GONNA NAME HIM?

I'M GONNA CALL HIM LIVERPOOL.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: ANNE BAILEY'S HISTORIC RIDE MAKES HER A LEGEND.

AND FOR DECADES SHE CONTINUES TO LIVE LIFE ON HER OWN

TERMS, RIDING FREE AND WILD ON THE FRONTIER.

ANNE BAILEY IS THE EPITOME OF

THE AMERICAN WOMAN PIONEER.

VAN DEUSEN: SHE LIVED HER LIFE AS SHE FELT SHE NEEDED TO.

AND SHE GAVE OTHER WOMEN THE COURAGE TO DO THE SAME.

NO ONE CAME CLOSE TO THE DEGREE OF THE BARRIERS

THAT SHE WAS BREAKING.

WEBB: HER LEGACY IS ABOUT PAVING THE WAY FOR WOMEN

TO RIDE ASTRIDE, CARRY A GUN,

DEFEND THEMSELVES, NOT BE SEEN AS SOFT PEOPLE

THAT DON'T HAVE A LOT TO OFFER

TO THE FIGHT, TO THE HUNT,

TO A HUGE CAUSE LIKE THE REVOLUTION.

KAMOIE: HAD SHE BEEN A MAN, WE MIGHT'VE KNOWN HER AS

DANIEL BOONE OR DAVY CROCKETT

OR MANY OF THESE OTHER

FRONTIERSMEN WHOSE NAMES HAVE COME DOWN TO US.

I THINK ANNE BAILEY DESERVES THAT TOO.

♪ ♪