Original subtitles

♪ [ trumpet ]

Throughout the recorded history of heroism and bravery

in the Old West, there exist hundreds of stories

of such famed military figures as George Custer,

Leonard Wood, Phil Carney, Winfield Scott--

but one man whose name has a very special place

among those who have won this country's highest award

for valor, has all but been forgotten.

This is his story: the story of Lt. Bernard Irwin,

a young medical officer who emigrated from Ireland

to New York, and then, as a member of the U.S. Army,

was sent to the frontier-- to the territory

now known as Arizona.

In 1861, Dr. Irwin fought the legendary Indian leader Cochise,

and became...

Sure is quiet today.

Seems almost too quiet.[ cattle mooing ]

No more so than any other day, Horace.

It's always quiet around here.

I wish things would liven up a bit sometimes,

just to break the monotony.

Where's Timmy? He's playin', over by the corral.

Well, I got a few chores for him to do.

Timmy!

[ whooping ]

Horace!

[ war cries ]

Timmy!

[ screams ]

[ speaking native language ]

Timmy...

Timmy!

Is she gonna be all right?

Ah, she's fine. She'll be unconscious for a while.

But I'm afraid she's going to carry the scar

from that Apache knife for the rest of her life.

She's lucky to still have her arm.

In fact, you're both lucky.

If Lt. Bascom's patrol hadn't come along when it did,

you'd both be dead by now. Lucky!

My boy kidnapped by the Chiricahuas,

my ranch burned to the ground, my cattle stolen,

my wife slashed by an Apache, and you say we're lucky?

Oh, you're still alive, Mr. Stoner.

That makes you pretty lucky.

But... what about my boy?

Is he still alive?

Lieutenant Bascom will bring him back. Don't worry.

But where is he? Why ain't he back by now?

He's only been gone half a day! Relax.

Everything's going to be okay.

Why, he should have been back by now.

How long does it take the army to catch up with a bunch of savages?

If them red devils hadn't taken my horses, I'd have gone after them.

I would have had Timmy by now, too.

What happened at your place, Mr. Stoner?

Oh, the same thing that happens to all of our settlers

that count on the Army for protection.

The Apaches were on a cattle raid.

Timmy was playing down by the corral

when they came sneakin' through the draw.

They got him first, and then spooked my cattle.

And your wife? Well, she ran out of the house

just as the one carrying Timmy rode by.

She grabbed at his reins and tried to pull Timmy out of his arms.

He slashed her with a knife and then kicked her to the ground.

Why do you suppose they'd want the boy?

What good can he be to them?Why?

Lieutenant, do you know anything about Apaches?

No, I'm afraid I don't, really.

I've only been out here a couple of months.

I lived most of my life back East.

Well then, I guess it's a good thing that you're a doctor.

You wouldn't last too long fighting Apaches.

See, the reason they kidnapped Timmy was so that they could ransom him back

for guns and food and cattle.

Anything but money. They've got no use for coins and paper dollars.

Horace?

Yeah, we're here, Marie.

Where's Timmy? Is he all right?

Don't try to talk, Mrs. Stoner.

I want you to rest a while.

I want Timmy! I want to see my baby! [ groans ]

Now, it's fine, honey. Don't worry.

They'll be bringin' him home any minute now.

MAN: Corporal of the guard!

MAN 2: Man running hard to the fort!

Corporal Pitts, sir.What is it?

It's Cochise, sir. He's surrounded Lt. Bascom at Apache Pass.

What? It was an ambush.

How did it happen?

We found Cochise up in the mountains,

not far from his village.

Lt. Bascom felt that he had the Stoner child with him.

He demanded that the Apache return him.

Cochise refused. When the lieutenant threatened to put him under arrest,

he and his men made a bold dash for it, and they escaped.

We trailed him as far as Apache Pass.

They were waiting for us in the rocks when we got there.

Some of the men didn't have a chance.

What about Bascom and the rest of the men?

There were quite a few casualties, sir.

I would have been one myself,

except that I was in back of the troops, trailing them.

They need help bad, sir. [ gasping ]

Cochise has them in a trap. Our men are pretty well hidden,

but they can't get out.

Every time one of them raises his head,

the Apaches spot them, and just as soon as they run of ammunition,

and that won't be long,

Cochise will move in, and he'll take his time killing them.

Did you see my boy? Did you see Timmy? No, sir.

Not a sign of him. But I feel quite certain that he's in Cochise's village.

Lieutenant Bascom, is he all right?

I don't know, sir.

Sir, I'm ready to guide a troop back to the pass.

Any time you give the order.

There will be no troop going back.

Sir?

I can't spare any men. The fort's at minimum security now.

There is a large contingent of troops on its way here,

but they're almost three days away!

Begging colonel's pardon, sir.

Lieutenant Bascom can't hold out for three days.

The Apache are chewing them up good and proper.

If I sent more than four men out of here,

we'd be laying the fort wide open for an attack!

Cochise would send in his Chiricahuas, and wipe out the whole settlement.

I can't risk the civilian lives

for the sake of soldiers.Colonel, sir!

I'm expendable. Let me take those four men and get to Bascom.

Five men, against Cochise?

That's gallant, but stupid, Irwin.

No, you stay here with your pills.

But they're wounded men up there, sir. They need me. And my pills.

With me, there'd be six men.

You, Mr. Stoner?

No, you're a civilian. I can't risk your life.

Ah, but I know this country, Colonel.

I know it well, and I know how the Apache mind works!

Irwin can use me! Besides, you're not sending me, I'm volunteering.

With Corporal Pitts, that makes seven of us, sir.

It just wouldn't work. It would be a waste of human life.

If I thought there was a chance-- Ah, there is a chance, sir.

I know it! If you just let me try.

Irwin, you're just not experienced enough to lead a troop.

Not out here. Not against an old fighter like Cochise.

You're used to a surgeon's scalpel,

not a cavalry saber.

May I remind the colonel that I have a commission

which says I'm a first lieutenant in the United States Army.

and to get that commission,

I took certain prescribed military courses.

To enable me to serve my country as a soldier.

As well as a doctor.

All right, Lieutenant. Pick your volunteers.

But get the most expendable men in the fort.

Yes, sir. And remember.

Your mission, your only mission,

is to aid Lieutenant Bascom.

Nothing at all must interfere with that. Do you understand?

Yes, sir.

But-But what about my boy, colonel? What about Timmy?

Bascom didn't get him. Somebody's got to. We've got to.

I'm sorry, Mr. Stoner, but there's too much at stake here

to risk everything for the life of one child.

I'm sincerely sorry, but that's the way it must be.

If you'd rather not volunteer, well,

under the circumstances I'd understand.

No, no, I'll... I'll go along with Irwin.

I must warn you, however, that you will be under Lieutenant Irwin's orders

at all times-- your civilian status won't matter once you leave this fort.

Until you return, you are under the Army's command.

If you disobey an order, Lieutenant Irwin has the authority to shoot you.

Is that perfectly clear?

Yes, sir, that's clear enough.

Good luck, Lieutenant.Thank you, sir.

But you can't leave him to die out there.

Please don't leave him there!

Now, honey, honey--Oh, God, dear God!

Mrs. Stoner, you're in no condition to be out here.

Please, go back inside.My Timmy. My little Timmy!

Please, Lieutenant. Please bring him back!

Now don't you worry honey. We'll bring Timmy back.

You can count on it.[ sobbing ]

You sure picked yourself a crew, Lieutenant.

Are they supposed to be soldiers?

Well, the colonel told me to get the most expendable men at the fort.

I guess I did. Cook's helper,

the bugler, the supply clerk and a man who volunteered

if I'd get him out of the guard house.

All right, let's move out.

Ho!

It's about five more miles, sir, that way.

Right, let's get with it, lads.Lieutenant, wait.

Now what is it, Stoner.The colonel was right.

Seven of us are no use against all of them Apaches.

We're gonna get ourselves killed, and for no reason.

You want to go back?

No, I want to get my boy before it's too late.

Look, Pitts here can show us to the village.

There's gonna be nobody there now, except some squaws and children.

We could get him easy.

I'm sorry, Stoner. Our destination is Apache Pass.

When we're finished there, we'll see about your boy.

You're a fool, Irwin, but not me.

I'm not gonna see my boy die because of you.

I'm gonna get him while there's still time.

You have your choice. Go with us or remain here.

Six feet under.

Forward, ho!

How many do you figure are there?I count at least ten.

But I know there must be more.

I can pick 'em off good from here.

Pitts, you could take those three down there on the left.

Irwin can take care of another couple more,

and I'll get the rest of them.

I'm in command here, Stoner. I give the orders.

And I say killin' those ten won't do any good.

Killin' Apaches is always good.

We'd only spook 'em into hiding, and I don't want that.

Which way is Bascom's troop?

Over there, beyond the entrance to the pass.

All right, come on.

Well, it seems that Bascom's trapped, all right.

And there are plenty of Apaches to keep him there, too.

Well, I told you that we couldn't do no good.

Now, let's get out of here while we still got time to get Timmy.

We're staying, Stoner. The seven of us are the only chance

Bascom and his men have for staying alive.

But there ain't enough of us! The minute those Apaches see us, we're goners!

Not if my plan works.

Now, here's what we're gonna do.

I want every man up on that ridge.

Spread out 10 to 15 feet apart.

Now, bugler, when I give the signal,

I want you to sound charge.

When we hear the bugle, I want everyone

to begin firing and shoutin' and yelling

at the top of his lungs!

I want Cochise to think there's a full regiment attacking him.

You think the seven of us can fool him into thinking

the Army's here?

Irwin, you're a bigger fool than I thought you were.

Shut up before every Indian in the territory knows we're here!

Oh, this is suicide! That plan wouldn't fool a rookie soldier,

let alone Cochise.

He knows more about fightin' that the whole United States Army put together.

And you think that you can outsmart him?

I said to keep your voice down!

Now, don't you tell me what to do. I'm through taking orders from you.

You ain't gonna get me killed for nothing!

Corporal, get him up on the ridge and see that he does as ordered.

All right. Come on, mister.

Now, the rest of you. I want you to fire

your rifles and your pistols at the same time.

Try to hit as many Indians as you can.

But most importantly, create as much noise and confusion as you can.

Now, you stay down here, and sound charge for about a minute.

Then get up there and join the firing. Any questions?

Right, lads. Let's get to it.

♪ [ "charge" ]

Commence firing, boys, down there!

Those are our men!

Let's give 'em a hand!

[ shouting orders ]

It worked, sir! It worked! They're moving out!

[ whooping ]

Bugler! Sound cease fire!

Think anybody's going to believe this, Bernard?

Believe what, George?[ chuckles ]

That an Irish doctor from New York outsmarted

the greatest Apache chief in the territory?

Well, I hope you're satisfied, Irwin.

You let Cochise get away. Now he'll take his revenge out on Timmy.

And you ain't never seen what Apaches can do to a white man's child

when they're mad-- as mad as you've made Cochise.

That's enough, Stoner.

Whatever happens to your son is not the fault of Lieutenant Irwin.

He was under orders.

Orders? What do orders mean to a mother who's lost her only child

to a bunch of savages!

Now, listen, Irwin. When you get back to that fort,

you tell my wife that Timmy died because you were under orders.

I know you won't believe this, Stoner.

But finding your boy means as much to me as it does to you.

I realize he may be dead, but there's every chance

he might still be alive.

And when I'm finished here, we'll go find out.

What are you lookin' for, Irwin, a medal?

It's too late for Timmy now. He's dead.

I know it, you know it-- And so, quit trying to impress me!

Corporal Pitts!

Yes, sir? Round up every man who can ride.

I don't care whether he can fight, so long as he can stay on a horse.

Be ready to move out. We're going out for the Stoner child.

Yes, sir!

[ halting breaths ] I-I think you're pushing

your luck a little far, Bernard.

Cochise may not fall for that same trick the second time.

If he knew he'd been fooled the first time,

he'd have been back here by now.

No, he still thinks a big force hit him.

And when we get to his village,

I still want him thinking that way.

Ohh!

BASCOM: Good luck, Lieutenant.

All right, Corporal. Move 'em out.

Forward, ho!

The village is just over the ridge, sir.

LT. IRWIN: Aye, there it is.

Seems quiet enough.

I wonder--

Stoner! Come here!

Take a look.

It's Timmy. He's alive.

They've got him tied up, but he's still alive.

I want all those who think they can ride a charge

to move over here.

Don't worry about being able to fire a weapon.

The main requirement is that you're able to ride hard.

The rest will remain in formation,

and in clear sight of the village.

I want Cochise to think there's a reserve force

waitin' to come in on the second wave.

Thanks for volunteering, private, but you best stay here.

You men remainin' here-- I want you to sit at attention and spread out.

I want you to look bigger than you really are.

The rest of us will ride into the village at full charge.

At my signal, we'll begin firing and shouting.

And kill as many of those devils as you can.

Be careful who you kill, Stoner.

And that goes for the rest of you, too.

I don't want to see no women and children dead.

Our fight is not with them.

Those children grow up to be braves, Lieutenant.

If we don't kill 'em now, they'll kill us later.

You heard my orders.

The first wave, move to attack formation.

Ready, Corporal? Ready, sir.

All right, bugler. Let's hear charge, one more time.

♪♪ [ "charge" ]Ya-hoo!

[ screaming ]

Pa! Pa!Oh, Timmy. You okay, son?

It worked, Lieutenant. It worked.

CORPORAL PITTS: They're high-tailing it.

Corporal, put a torch to the village.

That ought to be lesson enough for Cochise for one day.

When you're finished here, herd Mr. Stoner's cattle back to the fort.

Yes, sir.

Lieutenant--It's all right, Stoner.

I understand. Well, Timmy lad,

I think your mother's waitin' for you.

What do you say we be goin' home?

I'd sure like that, sir![ chuckling ]

All right! Let's move out!

Ho!

Lieutenant Bernard Irwin

later became Chief Medical Officer at West Point,

and eventually retired as a brigadier general.

His daring rescue of Lieutenant Bascom and the Stoner child,

which was his first and only military engagement,

occurred almost a year before Congress created

this country's highest military honor.

But 33 years later, on January 21, 1894,

Irwin finally got his just reward.

His act of bravery at Apache Pass

enshrined him on the Army roll of history

as the very first man to perform an heroic deed

which later won a Congressional Medal of Honor.

Next week, another true story from our American heritage.

See you then.