Original subtitles

Ain't that Trevlor?

I said, ain't that Lee's horse?

Yes.

What's Lee doing here?

He's surrendering to Grant.

Lead looks mighty close to heart.

That's the first Yankee I missed in four years.

I bet it's because the bullet's warped.

Well, why didn't you cut it out, look for yourself?

Because I didn't wanna dirty my hands, that's why.

Then why did you bring him in here?

Why didn't you leave him out there

to bleed to death?

There's General Lee. He's still got his sword.

Grant must've let him keep it.

Well, maybe he didn't wanna give it up.

We lost the war, soldier.

'Lee has struck his last hand.'

So there he is, the great and glorious General Grant.

If you're gonna shoot Grant, you better shoot Lee, too

else, the shame will kill him.

Just like I said.

Like I said from the beginning, the bullet's warped, warped.

It's the last bullet shot in this war.

Let me get out of this thing.

Thank you.

Well, he went and done it.

General Lee got right down

on his hands and knees

and begged President Johnson

for pardon

but if it's good enough for Marshall Robert..

I reckon it's good enough for me.

He never begged.

"He never begged." I wish you was right.

What makes you so sure?

When I went back to town to get that bullet..

I had it official

that he swallowed his pride and begged.

What bullet?

Why, the bullet that you had cut out

of that Yankee lieutenant you shot

the last day of the war.

How did you get it?

- Your ma gave it to us. - Why?

Well... look at that.

That ain't the bullet. That's a brand-new one.

I know, but the head, it's been fixed to shoot again.

And there's writing on it.

Writing? What kind of writing?

Well, it says,

"Private O'Meara

"6th Virginia Volunteer

"who shot this last bullet in war..

And missed."

It's a little token.

It's a little token from us to you.

But the best news

the best news was when your ma said

that you'd come home in one piece.

Best news I got was when Lincoln was dead.

What's the matter, mama?

A man shows respect

even if it's for a dead damn Yankee president.

Have you lost your reason?

The baboon was shot too late.

The bullet which killed him can prove worse for us

than for the North.

You talk like you're sick in the head.

Well, he said he was gonna take all of us secesh

back in the Union, didn't he?

Who cares about the Union?

Whole lots of us do, son.

I know it seems a downright shame

we gotta take the oath of allegiance to the United States

to become Americans again, but we got...

Jeff Davis is in jail. Lee is begging in the mud.

Now, that's a fine fittin' way to take us back into the Union

ain't it?

Well, no man's beaten without some hatred.

And I hate, mama.

I hate.

I don't understand you, ma.

Pa was killed at Chickamauga.

Jeff had his head cut off at Fredericksburg.

Eli.

Eli lay with his belly in his hand

bleeding to death on the wheat fields of Gettysburg.

Mama, I know. I see 'em.

I seen their skin and blood and I buried them.

I had to bury 'em, mama. I buried 'em, you didn't.

What am I supposed to say now to the Yankees?

"Welcome home, sir."

"I love you, Yankees."

How did you, how did you expect me to come home?

I expected you to come home a man with honor.

A man with honor?

You expected me to come home with honor?

What's the matter with you, ma?

'What's the matter with all of ya?'

They came here and they tore our land, mama!

They chased us when we had no legs!

They stuffed their mouth with our food

when we were starving to death!

Where is your pride?

What's happened to all of you?

'Say what happened to some of us'

'who had to take a licking and not cry over it.'

You don't have to fight for the cause no more!

Mama, I don't have to do anything.

I don't have to do anything.

I am a rebel because I want to be

not because I have to be.

Wherever you go there's gonna be Yankees

and you got to learn to live with them.

Well, maybe, but not the place I'll be.

- What place? - The West, the Far West.

You mean, where the savages live?

Savages or no, at least they have more pride

than us.

There's no hiding place for what ails you, son.

We're all under one flag now.

I want to tell you something, mother.

I'll hang.

I'll hang before I recognize that flag.

Maybe a broken neck is the best answer

for what ails you.

Maybe, mama.

Maybe.

What a darn-fool way to waste good whiskey.

That's fine whiskey.

'The buzzards was all prepared to pick your eyes out.'

'Take it from an old army scout.'

'If it had come any closer, I'd have bit their heads off.'

Well, then, how can a Sioux scout for the damn Yankees?

Confederate States of America.

Still fighting the war.

Mr. Johnny Sore-loser.

I want to tell you something.

Tsk. You better get one thing straight, old man.

You maybe old, but you're not ready to be buried yet.

Maybe

but I will be when I run out of whiskey.

I'm carrying a bad heart.

Going home to die.

- Where are you heading? - Anywhere.

Yeah. Anywhere can be with me until I run dry.

US Cavalry.

Hey, it's a nice piece of Yankee horseflesh

you got there.

That's right.

'Plenty of land out here in the Sioux country.'

- 'That's for sure.' - 'Not for the white man.'

I don't know, now maybe they could use

an accurate, unemployed.

Confederate sharp shooter.

That's renegade talk.

My name's O'Meara. What's yours?

- Walking Coyote. - Walking Coyote.

What outfit? Georgia Cavalry?

No, no, no. It's the Virginia Infantry.

Let's get that straight.

- Infantry? - That's right.

Why, what's so funny?

Only squaws walk.

Giddyap, boy.

Hey.

What was the name of that tune you just played?

It's a love song.

It's a darlin' tune in spite of the way you played it.

It's for loving.

- Have you got a squaw? - No.

- You? - No.

Sometimes I feel it might be better

to curl up with a squaw around a fireplace

rather than a saddle.

Well, I wouldn't argue with you on that point.

Listen..

How many tribes are there in your nation?

We're divided into three divisions.

The Santee, the Yankton

and the Teton.

I'm an Oglala.

That's one of the seven tribes of the Teton Sioux.

Every tribe has a lot of bands

every band has a chief.

I could've been a chief.

What does Sioux mean in your language?

- It's a French word. - French word?

Yeah. Our real name is Lakota.

Before scalping got to be the thing to do

we used to slit our enemies' throats.

What's that got to do with the French?

Well, we were always fighting the Chippewas

and one day tied up with the French.

They told 'em we were... Sioux.

Sioux means cut-throats.

Why are you so interested in Sioux?

I don't know.

I like to be one.

Why?

Because..

Because cut-throats should stick together.

- You serious? - I'm serious.

I'd like to learn your language.

I'd like to learn it to you

if St. Christopher will keep you in one piece.

- You like St. Christopher? - Yeah.

- You a Christian? - No.

My religion is Yuwipi.

Yuwipi. Hey. Yuwipi.

- That's sort of a denomination. - It is. Yeah.

Wait a minute, you said a while back

that you could've been a Sioux chief.

- That's true. - Well, why didn't you?

I can't stomach politics.

Giddyap, boy. Hey.

Hey, let's go now.

'What's the horse's head for?'

'That's so he'll have his pony to ride'

when he gets to the happy hunting ground.

Look.

What's that there?

- Another Sioux post office? - Yeah.

Three more babies born to the Miniconjou tribe.

Surprising how quick you picked up our customs.

Well, it's not too difficult, you know?

Wait a minute.

'It's a sign of a small party?'

Eight to ten, riding light.

Sioux ponies.

I don't see a sign of 'em.

When you can't see 'em, they're looking at you.

Don't touch your gun, son.

What do you mean don't touch my gun? What am I gonna do?

Leave myself wide open?

Don't touch it.

Turn around slowly

and keep your mouth shut.

Turn.

That white man is no enemy of the Sioux.

His horse wears the US brand of the enemy.

Who are you?

Walking Coyote. One of your tribe.

- Walking Coyote? - Yes.

Yes, I've heard all about you.

A renegade, paid by the whites to kill us.

No, I was a scout and meat hunter

but me kill a Sioux? I'm a Sioux myself.

- I came home to my tribe. - You have no tribe.

That's up to Blue Buffalo to decide.

He is still your chief, ain't he?

Yes.

But it's up to me to decide, me, Crazy Wolf.

- We're gonna hang you, old man. - I demand a hearing.

Drunk and mean, all of 'em.

And painted for trouble.

In my day, we showed a little respect for the aged.

I don't know what the world is coming to nowadays.

The way these young bucks run wild

drink whiskey

loot lodges, attack girls.

They look like they're getting ready to hang you.

You learned our lingo good.

I learned it good.

I learned it too good

otherwise you wouldn't be sweating out the fact

they're gonna skin me.

You're lucky to be going that way

even though it takes longer dying.

- I wish they'd carve me alive. - What are you talking about?

In my religion

you don't go to heaven if you're hanged.

We're faster than the run of the arrow!

It worked.

They ask for the run!

Come on.

- Why did they let us go? - Save your wind.

Put that arrow down!

'Even to a renegade and a white'

'we do not violate the run!'

What does he mean about "Violate the run?"

A man could get skinned alive

from sunset to sunrise

if he violated it.

This game is called run of the arrow.

When we get to the spot where his arrow fell

we start running. They run after us.

- On foot? - Yeah.

'Except they're not barefooted like we are.'

He fired the arrow quite a ways. Maybe we got a chance?

That's the idea.

They torture us with a chance to make an escape.

You cannot run, though. You are too old.

You ain't.

There's one thing I gotta tell you, son.

Nobody... ever made the run..

And lived to tell about it.

Now, if we just keep this distance between them and us..

Stay out of bow shot

we got a running chance.

But you see what Crazy Wolf can do with an arrow.

So don't let him get a bow range on you.

Well..

I-I wanna say..

- I think it's a, a shame that... - Yeah.

It's a pity.

Well... just pray to God..

And start runnin'!

Have you seen a white man running?

Have you?

Have you seen a white man?

'You speak our language without an accent.'

'You do not speak Sioux like an American.'

'I'm not an American.'

I was, I was, I was running.

I was running.

- You must be quiet. - 'How many guards are there?'

No one knows you're here.

No one knows, but Silent Tongue.

And he can't speak.

'He was born without voice.'

- 'Is that your son?' - 'No. His people are dead.'

You know what that means..

To violate the run?

I know.

I wish

I wish to speak to your chief, Blue Buffalo.

I'm Blue Buffalo.

I've lived the run of the arrow.

This the man who outrun you?

Yes.

You're the first to live the run.

You'll never die by the hands of a Sioux for this.

Give him back his horse and everything else

that belongs to him.

I don't understand.

You speak Sioux like a Sioux

'not like a white man.'

My teacher was Walking Coyote.

That poor renegade.

He's sick with the fever.

Our law prevents us from killing any man who has lived the run

but we have no law to help him live.

The choice is yours.

Who among you will help him through the night?

'I will.'

I will help him through the night.

'They're heading for the wheat field.'

'Here's the rifle, here's the rifle.'

'Pick up his head.'

'That's my brother.'

'He begged.'

'He begged.'

'Where's Pickett? Where's Longstreet?'

'Watch out..'

'Buried the bodies, ma.'

'I buried them, ma.'

If she can keep him in there all night

and steam that fever out of him

I think, then, maybe he'll live.

Buried pa.

I buried Jeff.

And buried Eli.

Buried them bodies, ma.

Is that for me?

Thank you.

What's the matter with him?

Among our people, when one takes something

one gives something in return.

'Blow.'

That is the first sound to ever come from his mouth.

What does it mean, honeymoon?

- Honeymoon? - Yes.

Why are you laughing?

- You wanna know what it means? - Yes.

- Honeymoon? - Yes.

Well, honeymoon is..

Yeah.

Honeymoon is a, is a white man's word..

Honeymoon is a white man's word for the..

For the private passing of time between two people

after they've been married.

- You understand? - Yes.

He's here.

He wants to become a Sioux

to take Yellow Moccasin as his squaw

and to adopt Silent Tongue as their son.

- But his skin is enemy. - I'm not an American.

- But your skin is white. - But my heart's with the Sioux.

Why?

Because I love your people.

I've learned from Yellow Moccasin

that a man can't live alone..

He must have allegiance to a people..

To a nation.

In my heart, my nation is Sioux.

Would you kill the Americans in battle?

Yes.

Are there any objections?

Mix the blood.

Before you mix the blood

I must speak of my faith.

- Faith? - Yes.

What do you mean?

I'm a Christian.

I will live as a Sioux..

I will hunt as the Sioux..

I will fight, I will even die as a Sioux..

But my God is a Christian God!

I can't serve your Great Spirit.

We respect a man who respects his faith.

This God of yours, is he

the giver and creator of all life?

Yes.

Do you look to him

for the cure of disease and illness

and to make you strong and healthy?

I do, yes.

How many gods do you serve?

- Do you have more than one? - No, no, just one.

Just one.

Americans, are they, they all Christians?

No, some are, some are of other denominations

like your religions.

You are a Christian.

Would you kill Christians in battle?

Well..

My nation..

Fought for liberty

against the United States.

And Christianity is always the brother of liberty

in all wars.

We have the same God, but with a different name.

Mix the blood.

'And the things that you feel in your hearts for one another'

will mark your feelings for the rest of your life.

And the marriage is the beginning of life

for both of you.

Death is the final parting.

Now you are two bodies and one blood.

So many times I've asked.

Why won't you tell me what you carry in that?

I'll tell you. It's a bullet.

It's a bullet that was used

in the war with the white men.

Why do you carry it?

I carry it because it was a trophy that was given to me

by the people of my village, a war trophy.

- It's got writing on it. - Writing?

Yes, writing, you know, like the signs on our tepees.

- Wanna hear what it says? - Yes.

It says, "To Private O'Meara"

"6th Virginia Volunteers

"who shot this last bullet in the war..

And missed."

Uncover the guidon and flag!

Sound the trumpet and put spirit into it!

Lieutenant Driscoll, sir. Commanding B troop

2nd Cavalry, 1st Division, 16th Corps.

Reporting to Colonel Taylor, as directed.

Glad to meet you, Driscoll.

My compliments for being selected for this mission.

Nothing very complimentary

about wet-nursing army engineers

and civilian carpenters, sir.

Itching for combat?

That's what I'm getting paid for.

You're getting paid to escort

a non-combatant train, nothing else.

This is Captain Clark. He'll be the boss of that train.

- Captain. - Lieutenant.

Well, sir, may I ask about the area?

And if we can come to terms with the Sioux

that area will be designated

by Chief Red Cloud and General Allen.

I thought we had that Indian on his knees begging for terms.

You've been reading too many of those stupid stories

in the Eastern newspapers.

B troop can make that Indian beg.

A young officer at Fort Phil Kearny

had the same sickness you've got, lieutenant.

His name was Fetterman.

He said he could ride through the Sioux Nation with 80 men.

He tried it.

Eighty one men were massacred by the Sioux.

Captain Fetterman was infantry, sir.

There would've been a different story if he had some cavalry

to back him up.

For your information, lieutenant

we're the ones asking Red Cloud to meet our terms.

- See to your men. - Yes, sir.

Here we are, breaking our backs

trying to make peace with the Indians

and they send us officers like that

scratching for combat.

I guess, he's not the only frustrated Custer in the army.

Like you, General Allen, we're tired of fighting.

Then I don't see why we can't come to terms.

What's your government's request?

Permission from the great chief, Red Cloud to build Fort Abrah...

'What has the United States promised your people?'

'To keep the road open to the Montana goldfields.'

I can't give you permission to build this fort.

Why?

'If I let you build this fort'

'you will frighten away our buffalo.'

Then we will have to eat our dogs.

We'll not go through your hunting territory.

- I give you my word. - 'And the fort?'

'It will be built wherever you and I agree.'

- There is one condition. - What's that?

One of my warriors must scout for your people...

But we already have three Indian scouts.

They're paid soldiers in the army.

But they're not Sioux.

They are Delaware Kiowa, Quahadi Comanche

but they're not Sioux.

Then, you don't trust them?

No.

My warrior knows the country.

He knows where our buffalo is.

He speaks your language like a white man

and he is not like your Indian scouts.

What's most important, he's a Sioux.

This is the scout I've selected.

He'll be my voice on the expedition.

He has no love for the Americans

but his word is the word of a Sioux.

Every officer, soldier and civilian

will obey his instructions

regarding trails to follow

where to camp and where to build the fort.

General Allen speaks

for the President of the United States.

You have heard his words.

We're grateful to have you scout this expedition

for the American government.

American government?

'I'm not scouting for the American government.'

'I'm scouting for the Sioux.'

Well, I-I must say

it's the first time I ever met an Irish Indian.

I must say it's the first time I ever met a Yankee general.

By the way

this is Captain Clark, Army Engineers.

He'll be in command.

Lieutenant Driscoll, commanding B troop

'will act as escort for the expedition.'

There's a wire-cut on his hock joint.

I treated that cut myself. This is my horse.

- I know. - You what?

- I took him from you. - You took him from me?

That's right, I'm the Johnny Reb that fired a bullet

the last bullet of the war, right there

the last day of the war at Appomattox.

Was there any trouble?

No.

No, there was no trouble.

Red Cloud agreed to build the fort

and I think he's making a big mistake.

Anyway, I gotta go scout with them, make sure

'they stay out of our meat country.'

- Will there be many soldiers? - No.

It will be a peaceful expedition.

Then we don't have to be left behind in the village.

I don't think so because you know what a bad cook I am.

Is something wrong between you and that man?

Yes.

- Do you know him from the war? - Yeah.

I shot him with that bullet.

Does he know it was you who shot him?

Yes.

When you wounded him, why did you bring him

to your medicine man to be healed?

I don't know.

A Sioux wouldn't save an enemy.

Well, you saved me, didn't you?

I didn't try to kill you.

That's right.

- Wheeler got hit. - What's that?

Wheeler's hit!

Arrow in his back.

He was killed inside the corridor.

That's right.

What report do I send back now?

Send back that this is an arrow

that belongs to an Indian named Crazy Wolf.

Is he a Sioux?

Yes, yes. He's a Sioux.

And he's a renegade.

'Red Cloud didn't waste any time.'

Crazy Wolf was acting on his own.

Why?

Because he doesn't trust the white men.

And you?

I just don't trust Yankees, that's all.

We haven't broken our word.

- I'm here to see you don't. - I'm gonna run down Red Cloud...

- He had nothing to do with it. - I'll go along with that.

How can you take the word of this reb?

He'll sell us out in two seconds.

I say, string him up, him and his squaw.

I'll tell you when to hang a man.

What about that detail? Do we go after them or don't we?

No, we don't.

I came up from the ranks, captain.

I always had respect for West Point

but I never knew they turned out officers to be Indian-lovers.

You trust Red Cloud, don't you?

Yup.

More important, right now I trust you.

Come on. We still got a fort to build.

Alright, let's go!

We'll pitch right here

and stay away, away from the quicksand area over there!

Quicksand, right there.

You know, I don't understand Driscoll.

Rounding up a bunch of cowpokes to make a B troop.

'Yeah, there's nothing cavalry about 'em.'

'You know, they don't ride cavalry'

'like you and me. No.'

'They're just good in war-horse soldiers, not fighters.'

- 'He's got 'em.' - 'Yes, he has.'

I wish that kid would stop playin' that mouth organ.

Let's get some grub.

Take it easy, boy.

Take it easy.

Give me your hand, boy. Come on, give me your hand.

Wait a minute, corporal, wait a minute.

- Look.. - Yes, sir.

I don't care why they made it this way.

The point is it's a medieval torture wreck.

My stern can't stand it one more day.

- Now, look, you see this, that? - Yes, sir. Well..

A McClellan saddle was designed to favor the animal, sir.

We in the cavalry like...

I don't care about you

and the cavalry.

Just fill up that hole, see? Put something in it.

See what you can do to make it a little friendly

corporal?

Yes, sir.

Horses.

- How's the boy? Alright? - He's fine. Fine.

About the sergeant, sir

I'd like to say something about that, sir.

I'm sorry, I, I didn't..

I guess there are just some things I don't quite understand.

Well, Yankees are human.

You're not the only Johnny Reb fightin' a one-man war

against the United States, you know?

Some of 'em went down to South America.

- I know, sir. - Why didn't you?

I don't know, I guess because I just consider this country

not bein' part of the United States.

Not now, but it will be pretty soon.

What was your outfit, 6th Virginia...

- 6th Virginia Infantry, sir. - Infantry.

Well, I guess, I don't have to tell you how to fight a war..

But it's why there's fightin'

that's-that's what's important.

Think we were wrong?

Well, blood and kin and home are worth fighting for, sure..

But no man can put that above his country...

You don't understand, sir. Wait a minute.

We had a right to fight for our rights.

Well, Lincoln had to keep the Union together.

No, Union be damned, Union be damned now.

There's somethin' you Northerners don't understand.

We don't like it. We don't like you makin' up laws.

We don't like it here, we never liked it

telling us what to do, how to think, what to think

who to live with.

No, sir. We don't like it and we'll fight it.

We may go down fighting, but at least we go down

like a, like a free, white Christian country.

Free, white and Christian?

Burning crosses and hiding under pillow cases

and terrorizing families. Free, white and Christian?

I don't know anything about that, sir.

Yeah, it's always the other fellow.

Captain, I'd like you to understand something.

No matter what you believe, no matter how you believe in it

no matter how good you may think it is for everybody else

you'll never make the South accept it by jamming it down...

Nobody's asking you to be a 4th-of-July patriot

but look, coming out here, living like an Indian

fighting your own people, that's not gonna cure you.

- Cure me of what? - Hate.

Blind hate.

You ever heard that old story about Philip Nolan?

No, sir, I never did.

Well, Philip Nolan was an officer in the American Army

back in... 1807, something like that.

Anyway... got himself mixed up with Aaron Burr..

- You know Burr, the traitor... - Yeah, I know Burr, sir.

We happen to read books in the South.

Alright.

Anyway, he was like you.

Hated all the Americans..

Some reason or other, so one day he upped and said.

"Damn the United States.

I wish I may never hear of the United States again."

And he got his wish.

They hang him?

No, it was worse.

They kept him alive on an American ship.

Fifty five years.

Fifty five years..

He was known as the man without a country.

He never saw his country again.

Died at sea.

What do you think of that?

I don't know, sir. I'm-I'm a reb.

And I'll die a reb even if the North considers

Lee's surrender the death of the South.

Let's get one thing straight.

Lee's surrender was not the death of the South.

It was the birth of the United States.

What's the matter? Something wrong?

There's nothin' wrong.

Boy.

This is as far as I go, that's all.

Well, I guess we better get to work.

- Stockwell? - Yes, sir.

- We build here. - Yes, sir.

- You're not serious? - What's that?

You're not gonna pitch the fort here?

This is the site the general and Red Cloud agreed on.

Afraid of losin' your bars?

Meaning what?

If I was running this picnic, I'd hightail a courier

right back to Taylor and tell him this area stinks.

You're not runnin' this picnic, so you'll take orders

or I'll have you clean up after the mules.

- Understand? - Yes, sir.

Now, order your troop to be at the disposal of the engineers

at all times.

Is that all, sir?

No, stagger your men so some of them hit the grub pile

while the rest work.

- Is that all, sir? - That's all.

Excuse me, sir.

I think we're about ready to pull out now.

Well. I would say thanks.

You don't have to say thanks.

Nobody's obliged to anybody, sir.

What are you gonna do now? Go back to your Sioux village?

That's right.

You're gonna remember what I told you about Nolan?

Yes, sir, only

I don't think it hurts me the way it hurt him.

For your sake I hope it doesn't.

Thank you, sir.

You got plenty of grub and everything?

Yes, sir, we got plenty of everything.

- We'll manage nicely, sir. - Good.

Well..

Thank you, sir.

The wood train's been attacked!

Six civilians and three troopers killed in it.

They took Private Dean alive.

Those smoke signals that reb sent to his brass

didn't stop any sniping. Can you read smoke signals?

How do you know what he said? How can you trust them?

You're playing right into their hands.

Don't use me to start a war.

Don't move. Don't move.

Well, what are you waiting for?

To take your moccasins off.

Come on.

Take 'em off. Take 'em off.

You violated the run.

What do you mean, "Violated the run?"

I gave him a chance to run for his life!

It's a disgrace to our nation they killed Americans

inside the corridor.

Are they building the fort in the place cho...

Yes. Yes.

I'm assuming full responsibility

for the change of area!

If you pitch your post here

every wood train and water detail will be ambushed.

You want to build your fort..

Or your grave?

I'll give you five minutes to make up your mind.

There's nothin' out in front, sir. It's all clear.

Tell 'em to push forward another five miles.

Yes, sir.

Let's go!

I can understand why Driscoll would break the pact

but I can't understand why the others agreed.

They agreed 'cause it was always their plan...

What plan?

To drive our buffalo

and starve us to death.

You think that killing them

will solve everything?

At least it'll serve as a warning to all the others.

And you... what do you think?

Would you kill the Americans if we should go into battle?

Well, they're, they're in our meat country.

- They've got to be stopped. - Yes, but would you kill?

- I'm a Sioux. - Are you?

I demand to lead the first attack against them.

You are a man of two countries

but you can't kill Americans.

If you kill or do not kill

you'll always be unhappy as a Sioux.

A man must choose to live with his conscience.

In my heart you were never a Sioux.

To all of us you were never a Sioux.

- I was accepted as one. - But never tested as one.

You were born an American

and what you were born you will die.

I'll die a Sioux.

You'll never get captain's bars looking for a scrap.

Never get 'em dodging one.

They must have had a good reason for holding you down to one bar.

I should have had my own regiment by this time.

None of the brass don't agree with me

but after this little picnic explodes

I'll put myself in for captain.

Three sides natural protection.

Rear and flank's impossible to hit.

Only one way anybody can attack us

and we'll have that covered so well

the whole division of Sioux won't be...

But this is outside the corridor.

Perfect observation.

Look at that field of fire.

We passed water and timber you could spit at.

What happens when Colonel Taylor learns we're building here?

No, Stockwell, I'll come up fine in this.

You know why?

Because what I'm doin' is right.

Find your best defensive position.

Keep your troops on one big, fat, healthy piece.

That's how this side will pay off.

That Johnny Reb's coming back again!

- Is he alone? - Yes, sir!

Corporal.

You got about five minutes to surrender Fort Lincoln

to the Sioux Nation.

Hey, Trent!

You see any Sioux?

No, sir!

My lookout sees nothing.

But when you can't see 'em

that's when you're lookin' at them.

You know, you've got a lot of brass for a Johnny Reb.

I'm speakin' for the Sioux

I'm not speaking for the Confederacy.

And what happens if we surrender?

You surrender, then you and your men

you'll be escorted back to Colonel Taylor.

Maybe you'd like my trumpeter to play "Dixie"

while the fort burns.

This ain't Appomattox, lieutenant.

You got four minutes, four minutes to strike your flag.

I never strike my flag for an enemy or a rebel.

Now, put that in your piece of pipe and smoke.

For goodness sakes, grow up, man, and stop playing soldier!

Why don't you give your men a chance to save their scalps?

I'll give you the same chance Grant gave to Lee.

You've got 60 seconds to ride out of rifle range.

There's two men you can listen to!

One is me..

And the other's Driscoll!

You listen to me, and I tell you to move out right now

if you want to save your scalp!

You listen to Driscoll, I promise

we'll have your scalp to my belt by tomorrow morning.

- He came under a flag of truce! - Hang him.

- For what? - For treason.

The left rear outpost is dead! Cover it!

Judson, give me a hand.

Cover the flank!

For violating the run.

I saved your life for this ceremony.

A Sioux can watch an American skinned alive.

An American cannot watch.

They had a right, but not like that.

Somebody had to be an executioner.

"They." You said, "They."

You didn't say, "We had a right to his life."

- This is your flag. - It's not my flag.

Is your tribe in this flag?

Is it?

Yes.

Then, it's your flag.

Lee's surrender was not the death of the South.

It was the birth of the United States.