Original subtitles

We're married, Senator.

You won't get out of my house.

Take your fine husband with you.

You get your weapon, Drew.

You cannot win.

You need it.

You're tricking the camera.

I hope you use it well.

You must contact Charles.

It wants.

He's being recalled.

I can't.

I can't.

I can't.

I can't.

I can't.

I can't.

I can't.

I can't.

I can't.

I can't.

I can't.

I can't.

This is his dream, Maria.

Open in the west.

President, Cynthia, if he wants you in California, you're needed there.

What the hell do I have to do to get rid of me?

Mrs. Jessie?

The senator says he has no daughter named Jessie.

You won't start here after all.

You sound like you plumped this pony, Captain.

Maybe I am.

We're going to take this thing as far as it'll go.

You said him there to bring California here to make sure we got it.

You said you spoke for the president.

How dare you imply that our acquisition of California was anything other than the natural consequence of war.

Mr. President.

He has served his country so well.

You are refusing to obey a direct order and a chain of command.

That is the issue, sir.

The

Colonel Mason outside to see you, sir.

There's a Colonel Mason outside to see you, sir.

Says he's a new Regimental Commander.

Send him in, Alex.

I've come for you, a Counsel-ledger, your Executive Order books, your Contracts book,

your Battalion Roster, and your Disciplinary Reports.

Let's get on with it.

My orders were to take them to Monterey.

I give the orders now.

None of your damn impretions will put you in irons.

Don't threaten me, sir.

I'll come a long way over hard ground, and I won't be threatened by you or anybody else.

I know all about the hard ground you've covered, Mr. Famous Explorer.

Rising through the ranks like magic.

No service with real troops.

No military skills, no training.

I know your kind, Fremont.

A man who recognizes just which butt to kiss.

Would you care to repeat that, sir?

You're a butt kisser, Fremont.

And ambitious...

How do you want to settle this, sir?

Choose your weapons.

Double barrel shot guns at 20 feet.

Man, calls for shot guns.

He don't want to fight. He wants to murder.

What the hell are you?

Let me tell you something, mister.

Colonel Fremont here, he's got a lot of friends.

Alex?

It's all right.

No, sir, it ain't.

I ain't in your army, and I don't have to eat none of this.

If you're going to deal with the Colonel here, the slightest thing goes wrong and he gets hurt.

You ain't going to see the sun come up tomorrow morning.

I'm the Regimental Commander.

I'll have you flop.

If you threaten me, none, mister.

I'm ready to spill your guts on the floor at this damn minute.

The Colonel may seem to rise yet.

What's the trouble here?

No trouble, sir.

What's this man doing in the office?

Leave the premises at once, sir.

You remember what I told you about the sun, mister.

Well, Colonel Fremont, it's a good thing.

Well, Colonel Fremont, it's turned over to his record, sir.

Now, yes, sir.

Why not?

I expect the president...

Sir, I request permission to rejoin the regiment to which I was nominally assigned with my promotion.

Permission denied.

I request permission to assemble my exploring party and return to Missouri as a body.

Permission denied.

I request permission, sir, to go to San Francisco,

collect my instruments, records, and botanical specimens.

Denied.

Sir, once the transfer of records is affected there...

Once the transfer of records has been affected, I am going home.

Colonel Mason will remain here as governor of California,

and you will consider yourself under arrest.

Arrest?

What?

On charges of mutiny, sir.

You will form your troops at the rear of my column and will march under guard.

To Fort Leavenworth, Kansas territory.

From there, you will proceed directly to Washington, D.C. to prepare yourself for court martial.

Is that clear?

Yes, sir.

You're dismissed.

You will acknowledge my saluth.

Do you hear me?

You will acknowledge my saluth.

Sir.

Sir.

Futures in the West, is he?

That's where the dream is. The promise of California's destined to be ours.

I want to be a part of making it ours.

Jesse!

I've been waiting nearly three months to get on a stand and testify.

Now you tell me no.

Sir, I was right there the night Lieutenant Gillespie rode in.

He was sitting there eating hungry as a wolf, giving you the President's orders.

But they weren't written orders.

Oh, that don't matter, none.

Right before he took that arrow, I heard him tell you that the President wanted you back in California.

Lieutenant Gillespie, surely look.

Gillespie's orders were as secret as mine. He can no more reveal him than I can.

Well, I don't have no damn secret orders and I'm a witness to what he told you.

Kit, you don't understand.

The one thing I can't reveal is that President Polk sent me to California.

Only he can do that and it sure doesn't look like he's going to.

There's Jesse. You hear, darling?

Hello, Kit.

Yeah.

You're the male.

What did the doctor say?

I'm fine. Blood pressure is normal.

I am getting too much weight.

He's there.

All I have to do is avoid and stress a strain before the baby comes.

Then maybe you better stay away from the trial, Jesse.

Not.

Here's a letter from Lark.

I asked him to buy me that ranch in Santa Cruz.

You know the one on the hills overlooking the Pacific?

I know it well, sir.

I sent him my power of attorney in every penny we've saved for the past ten years.

Sounds like you're planning a permanent move.

Soon as the baby comes.

And depending on what happens in the next few days.

In the next few days, darling, you'll be completely vindicated.

Please.

Please.

Please.

Please.

Ladies and gentlemen, please.

Please.

Please.

Please. I've ordered.

It'll be free, Mark.

Let's re-charge it against you.

First charge of mutiny.

Second charge is disobedience of lawful command.

Look at that.

Oh, no.

That's a little bit.

Third charge is conduct.

That's just a good order and military command.

According to the rules of court,

Mars, so you were to conduct your own questioning.

Are you ready to call your first witness?

Yes, sir.

Then do so now.

I call General Stephen Watts Carney.

You solemnly swear as an officer and a gentleman and in accordance with the Articles of War of the United States of America,

that the evidence you shall submit is the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God.

I do.

General Carney, while I was governing California, did I not send my Secretary of State directly to your headquarters in Los Angeles?

You did.

And did he not inform you that I had sent him explicitly for the purpose of ascertaining just who was in chief command in Los Angeles?

Yes, he asked that question.

And did you not tell him that Commodore Stockton was still in command?

Sir?

Yes, I did.

This was, correct me if I'm mistaken,

precisely four days before you ordered me to see sub-bay in Commodore Stockton and henceforth to carry out your orders.

Is that a question?

Yes, sir. That's a question.

Then yes, it was.

General, in the intervening four days, did you receive any orders from Washington changing your status?

No, this practice reached me during that period.

Just a minute.

He has sent command on his own initiative.

General Carney, did you receive the final War Department directives confirming your chief command honor about April 15th?

I did.

Did you at any time after that date forward a copy of those directives onto me or to my office?

I did not.

You did not?

General, may I inquire as to why you did not?

Objection.

Court cannot inquire into the orders issued by General Carney to his command.

Sir, these were War Department directives issued to General Carney, not by him.

I maintain that his failure to pass them onto me affected me and my command crucially.

Overrule the witness will respond to the question.

I saw no reason to pass on high-level directives to a junior officer.

Then you admit that you deliberately concealed from me orders granting you full authority in the province of California.

That is correct.

Oh, my God, General, it's true.

My, the General.

Wouldn't you agree, General, that this suggests that you deliberately created a situation in which I would appear to be in subordinate objection?

The question is clearly intended to lead the witness.

Sustained, Colonel, you can find yourself to the facts, not speculation or personal opinion.

I apologize to the court.

Though in all truth the witness himself seems given to extraordinary speculations when it pleases him.

Not so. I'm not the one making false claims here, and I'm not the one who illegally sees government property.

Sir, what are you saying?

I am referring, sir, to a certain bronze canon with you abandoned and a two-field pieces which you failed returned to me after their surrendered, Kewanga.

You lost those guns to the enemy when you were defeated at San Pasquale.

San Pasquale was no defeat.

How is it your use of the word?

The enemy was forced to retire from the field, and that, sir, is victory.

General, I would hardly call a loss of over a third of your men a victory.

Gentlemen, I challenge these unwarranted aspersions on the combat career of a distinguished general officer, and I further question the relevance of this line taken by a man accused of mutiny.

Sir, I did not introduce this subject to witness, did.

But since he has seen fit to bring it up, I hope I will be permitted to say for the record, sir, that my California Italian...

I call attention to this court to the fact that Thomas Hart Benton, the Senator from Missouri, throughout this proceeding has been sitting there glaring at me in an obvious attempt to offend, insult, and overall me.

Surely you are aware, Senator? No, sir. It is General Carney, who has been glaring, sir, at Colonel Fremont, and not once, but many times.

Senator Benton, I must warn you. I stand warned, sir, but I will continue to glare at the general, so long as he seeks in this contemptful way to intimidate a man who has done nothing but serve his contrary loyal landwell.

Senator? I have said what I have to say.

General, when you ordered me to return to Washington, did you not refuse me the right to go to San Francisco to collect the journal's maps and drawings of my expedition?

I did. Those items were government property. They could not be entrusted to an officer who had proven himself to be in subordinate, and derelict in his duty.

derelict? derelict in what way, sir? The charges speak for themselves, sir.

You led an armed force on the foreign soil, on the flimsy pretext of the scientific survey.

Sir, I... You instigated American settlers there to revolt against Mexican authority.

You led a campaign of military conquest. Sir, I had good with you, then, assumed command over all of Northern California.

And this without even the shadow of official authority.

And if that does not constitute dereliction of duty, then I don't know what does.

Tell them about the President's orders, Charles. Please tell them.

General.

When I requested to turn over a different route in order to complete my mapping, did you not also refuse me that right?

I believe that there will be a war in the United States.

Grandpa?

Grandpa?

Grandpa?

Grandpa?

Are you beautiful?

My acts in California were all with high motives and a desire for the public service.

My scientific labors did something to open California to the knowledge of my fellow countrymen.

Its geography until then had been a sealed book.

My military operations were conquests with little bloodshed.

My civic administration was for the public good.

I offer California during my administration for comparison with the most tranquil portion

of the United States and yet I was brought as a prisoner and a criminal from that country.

I wish when this trial is over to return to California, a land I love and which I believe

I served.

Well.

I am now ready to receive the judgment of the court.

And if we might please rise.

These are the findings of this court.

The first charge guilty.

The second charge guilty.

The court finds Lieutenant Colonel John Charles Fremont guilty of mutiny.

Guilty of disobedience, the lawful command of a superior officer.

guilty of conduct, the prejudice of good order and military discipline.

Court does therefore sentence Lieutenant Colonel John Charles Fremont, the regiment of mounted

rifleman United States Army, to be dismissed from the service.

sentence pneumonia.

Come down, go through the house!

Court prefers the verdict of the lenient consideration

of the President of the United States.

This case is closed.

The little little girl rode along in the carriage

with a frog prince.

Bum-pity, bum-pity, bum-pity, bum-pity.

It's a pretty bumpy road.

She nearly fell out a couple times.

Oh-oh-oh-oh.

And then when they finally stopped he scooped up in his arms

and said, let's go down the frog hole.

And she said, all right.

So they were starting down the frog hole,

but it was dark and slippery and she slept and went round and round

and round and round and round.

She got so dizzy she could hardly stand up.

And then he swooped off her feet and said,

come into the throne room.

Thank you, Sally.

It's from the judge had congenital's office.

I'm almost afraid to open it.

You can face wild, isn't it?

Lily, honey, why don't you just run inside and ask Sally if she'll help you

make those cookers right now?

From the president.

He's rejected the mutiny charge.

I knew he would. I knew it.

Oh, sure.

It's for the other two charges.

He's a firm.

He's found me guilty of both other charges.

He's a coward.

A political coward.

He's afraid to do you justice for fear the abolitionists will label him to what he is.

A southerner would love California to vote with a slavery bill.

He's confirmed the verdict but reversed the charges because of my past service.

Apparently, I'm supposed to pick up my sword and report for duty again.

Well, I won't do it. I'm not guilty.

You won't accept his glamour?

Clemency for what? For doing what he told me to do?

No.

I'll resign.

Charles, are you sure that's what you want to do?

Positive.

Please don't tell me the cautious seldom make mistakes.

I wasn't about to say that.

I was thinking about the new expedition.

If you're out of the army, Congress will never support it.

Even public couldn't push that through.

Of course you are.

Well, we'll just finance it privately.

That's bad news, Alex.

Yes, sir, I know, Colonel.

But kids got these new business deals in Taos and Santa Fe.

He's afraid they'll go under. He's not there to take care of them.

Are you sure you need to do this now?

What do you mean?

Kit says we're sure taking a big chance leaving this late in the year.

And if you'll wait till next summer, he'll be free to go along with us.

We've got to finance him now, Alex.

Well, I know, but it's going to be...

No, then I have the mail.

Oh, excuse me. I didn't know you were here, had it?

Well, I'm away out, man. We've still got a lot to do before we set out.

If we set out.

We're going, Alex. We don't have any other choice.

Whatever you say, Colonel.

Very nice to see you again, man.

I'll look for you at Boone Creek then. I'll be there.

Ma'am.

Goodbye.

What was all that, Abba?

Kit.

You can't guide us.

Until next summer.

Then maybe you ought to wait for him.

How can I do that?

St. Louis people are not exactly enthusiastic.

There's a delay they might pull out altogether.

Besides, I'm anxious to get back to California and make it our home.

Yours, mine, the Liz, the new babies.

I miss it with all my heart.

Charles, I think you should wait for me.

I've got to go now, Jesse.

I may never get another chance.

I'm not sure Confucius would agree with you.

I don't believe this.

What is it?

Larkin, he's taking all that money, I sent him?

Damn you.

Tolan, what is it?

He was supposed to buy me that ranch in Santa Cruz.

Studies bought a worthless tract up in the Sierra someplace.

Land still hunted by Indians.

Taking armed garrisoned open for cattle.

It's all the more reason for me to get to California as soon as possible.

Jesse?

Sally?

Sally?

Yes, sir?

Senator Dr. McLean?

Come right now, sir.

All right.

We have...

Well, well, well.

You keep climbing mountains for me.

He looks off a skinny mumbar.

Well, it is.

Had a hard time these last few months.

What a good calling.

Let's call him Ben.

After your grandpa.

Oh, my!

I heard what Major Comyn said.

Major Comyn says.

We're waiting for the weather.

I heard what Major Comyn said.

I backed up the telescope's gun.

Fine, Carl.

Well, if you're in your pardon, Colonel.

You made her about ready.

I'll be there, Alex.

I am.

I've got a goldfish.

Yes.

There's so many things I want to say.

Promise me you'll be careful.

Yes, darling.

No rash moves.

Caution, I promise.

Don't worry about me yet.

I'm a lucky man in more ways than I can count.

I'll be joining you, Cal Bornean, just as soon as the baby's old night at work.

I'm a passage through Panama.

You'll probably be there waiting for me when I get there.

I'll be waiting for you always.

Wherever I go.

When ever.

I love you, Jesse.

I love you, Charles.

I'll always wait.

You're the horse, Colonel.

You've got to go.

I made it.

I made it.

I made it.

Thank you, sir.

Charles?

Bye, Pardot.

Yes, sir.

No.

Those comfits Patrick suggested me.

Yes, Mr. Williams.

He ran into him at Bensport.

Old Jives, winner, and here in Pueblo, I guess.

Sir.

This boy is at your plan to do exactly.

Push west along the 37th parallel.

In the headwaters of Rio Grande,

see if we can find a good pass suitable for a railroad.

Uh-huh.

When you plan to do that.

Now.

What did you just say now?

Now, sir.

Yesterday.

Let me tell you something, Colonel.

This winner's going to be a real day's of color.

Bears went to ground weeks early.

Squirrel coach is thick.

Buffalo herds have pushed way south.

This ain't no time to be gone in the high mountains.

We don't have any choice.

We have to move now.

He must really like cold weather, huh?

What do you think you're doing there, young fella?

I don't care for no man taking my likeness.

Engines say you can take a man so like that.

Make it your slave.

Just put away the damn pencil.

I'm going to get some more whiskey.

Sure ain't much like kid, is he?

Well, there's nobody like Kit, but there isn't anyone else.

It's Patrick, can't do it.

Rubidos in the east.

They're in anybody else.

Still, I know.

What I do is I, as you, Colonel,

is need a whole up till spring or run down past house,

skirt to southern edge in the mountains

and run from California from there.

The southern pass is no good to me.

The whole idea is to find a winner root.

The man can't move when he wants.

He can't move at all.

That's what I'm telling you, Colonel.

Now move it off.

We plan to travel along the 37th of parallel

and we plan to leave next week.

Now, are you coming with us?

Or are you fresh out of courage?

Don't talk to me not about courage, Mr.

You don't know nothing about these mountains.

These mountains are God Almighty Himself

and you don't tell God nothing, Mr.

You pray is what you do and you hope

he'll see fit to grand.

These mountains themselves are due to the side

and who gets through and who don't.

There's no mountain, can't be beat.

Is that so?

You know the ground.

You've withered up there.

Well, I don't plan to again.

Not this winner.

I've got good men, good equipment, plenty of supplies.

Well, good's that gonna do you?

And I've got plenty of money for a guide hire.

And what you paying?

Five dollars a day.

Five dollars.

Colonel?

You just bought yourself a guide.

God, boys, drink up.

No sense of wasting it.

Drink all you want now, Williams.

Because once we're on the trail, I don't want you drinking at all.

Is that clear?

Clear as a cold mountain morning.

Whee!

You want a winner, huh?

You got it, Mr. Williams.

Come on, let's give him a moment.

Come on, let's give him a moment.

California

justification for repentance.

Look, he's always looking that man.

Never find it.

Oh, no, we're going to get out of this camp.

Whenever Williams finds the way to the pass,

he said there were three passes, didn't he?

The Del Norte,

the Carnet Row and the Coach of Topa.

I can't believe he ain't found a one-up view.

I wish I knew Marty.

You didn't even think he's half lost.

Oh, lost.

Keep Sammy going up river away.

Oh, yeah.

He's saying that for days.

Well, here he comes there.

Where's Carl?

He's over in his tent.

He's studying his notes,

trying to figure out where in a world we are.

You know where we are?

I found him, Mr.

Somebody go get him.

What'd you find?

Go get the Colonel, Marty.

I said what'd you find, Williams?

A passage that'll lead to Carnet, or what do you think?

You sure about that?

Williams, you're back.

Any luck?

I found one of the Colonel.

Where?

Right over there.

You see that cleft?

That.

You sure?

It gets better.

It straightens out after a while.

It's moving those old trapper roads.

Alex, what do you think?

What the hell you askin' him?

Huh?

Don't trust me, get yourself another damn guy.

Don't threaten us, Williams.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

I'm saying if I'm gonna do the guiding,

then I'm gonna say how we go.

I'm gonna find another road you're on your own.

I'm the best I can.

Oh, get stuck up here in the war and the rest of this.

Well, we're not turnin' back.

So we'll take your road.

Ain't mine road!

It's Rubidos.

Why don't you trust me?

Hey, come on.

Come on.

You're a good guy.

Too much snow!

We don't have no war.

We might not get out of here.

Aaron is Colonel.

There's your Continental Divide.

The merciful mother of God.

A little farther than I figured, but that's it, alright.

About ten miles, I reckon.

Looks more like twenty.

Some men are exhausted. We will never get across that, never.

See that timber down there?

Let's go get the men, that's where we're camping.

Look, come on, let's move!

This can't be Robert's Road.

The whole day.

To move only three miles, it's impossible.

Should be just up ahead.

I'm going to go get the men.

This can't be Robert's Road.

The whole day.

To move only three miles, it's impossible.

Should be just up ahead.

The pass you mean?

Carneiro?

Or, uh, right on Leon?

I ask you a question, Williams.

It's the right way, alright.

The way to what?

Is this the way to the pass, or isn't it?

You think there's any land that knows how to fool these mounds?

We know directions is what we know.

Alright.

Is this the direction?

The Carneiro pass.

Over yonder, in the bit.

David, you don't know where we are, do you?

Colonel, there's going to be a pass right over there.

What do we do now?

What can we do?

We keep going!

Oh, can we do?

We keep going!

Ahhh!

Oh!

Hold you!

Hey Marilyn!

He ain't gonna make it.

That's another one.

What are we gonna do?

We're gonna get out of here.

We're gonna lose the rest of them before long.

You just can't live in this.

Nothing can.

We got turned back, Carl.

We will die here.

Alright.

Alright.

We'll head back over the ridge.

Make our way down to the river.

To butcher whatever mules we got left.

We got enough bait.

We've been cutting up mules fast as they die.

Let's just keep moving.

Yeah.

Don's the canyon and back to the real ground.

We'll still need to eat once we get there.

It's just a hell go.

Not without food.

Now pull yourselves together.

We'll get back to the river, I promise.

But we have ten what come.

130 miles back to Tars from here.

We can't make that distance, Colonel.

It don't make no matter how much meat we got.

We can't get out of here no ways.

We're going to get back to Taos.

I don't know why you're running back to the river, Colonel.

Pass may be a little farther than I figured.

Shut up, you damn fool.

We're going back to the river.

Make a good camp.

And Nate what?

You still had to ask that question.

I'm not sure.

And Nate what?

You still had to ask that question.

And we sent out a relief party and we wait.

Waiting takes food.

So let's go butcher those mutants.

Miss Dazzie!

Come quit the baby!

Lily what?

Mama he's cold.

Oh my god.

Ben.

Baby.

Mama?

Quietly.

Oh, Kansy.

But the mosh!

I sit for the doctor and your father.

Just pull a little heart.

Just stop the baby.

One minute he was breathing and the next minute.

No son.

This heart was broken before you was both.

Miss Dazzie.

May I?

Let me take you.

I know he's gone, Sanny.

Just let me hold him.

Oh my god.

I know he's gone.

I know he's gone.

I figure you, Williamson, the other four men will be enough.

How many days do you think it'll take?

We're talking 130 miles.

There'll be snow but it's mostly flat terrain.

Week.

Maybe less.

And the return with fresh mules and supplies?

Four days.

Maybe five.

Well, let's call it two weeks to be safe.

With two other days for margin.

The relief party isn't back by the sixteenth day nightfall.

I'll assume something's gone wrong.

Sixteen days my friend.

Good luck.

Zendell, don't forget the coffee.

And blankets.

Plenty of blankets.

Well, they don't make it, Carl, don't you worry about that.

Look, Colonel, this maybe didn't work out as good as expected as well.

It turns back to what it was.

Now, give me a fair warning about that.

Any other year we were making a breeze.

Whenever you say I can leave you right back to that pass.

Don't get lost again, we're gonna sit there.

Get lost, well, how can we do that?

Colonel, all we gotta do is follow the river.

Don't get lost, I'm warned.

Don't you worry, none.

Looks like you're in for a little more snow, huh?

Move out!

Move out!

Mrs. Freeman, so good of you, Colonel.

You don't know how much this means to him.

Mrs. Freeman.

Please make your visit, Chart.

Mrs. Freeman.

Mrs. Freeman.

Oh, Mrs. Freeman, how kind of you to come.

You wish to see me, General.

Yes.

Yes, Madam.

What?

I want your forgiveness.

You see, I'm dying.

Do you understand me, Madam?

I'm dying, and I'm afraid.

I beg you, Madam.

Please, forgive me.

I'm afraid that's quite impossible.

You see, General, a small gray.

The past between us.

Take another mile.

A little farther than that, only 12 days.

We made good time.

Keep up!

Madam, I'd be looking for things.

I'm afraid that's all I can do.

Madam, I'd be looking for things.

Madam, I'd be looking for things.

Madam, I'd be looking for things.

Madam!

Madam, I'd be looking for things.

You're all the people!

I'll be looking for things.

You're all the people!

I keep thinking about the fine, pheasant pet.

I'll keep moving around.

It's too cold to move.

How long they've been gone, Colonel?

Eight. 18 days.

It's too cold to move.

That's what I told Martino.

He didn't make any difference.

He went on ahead, anyway.

What?

He said they should be here by now.

Martis, he said...

Marty, that was not stopping him.

What do you mean?

He went off this morning.

How long ago?

He went...

He stayed.

How long ago?

You mean he went looking for that relief party?

Yeah.

That's what the damn fool did.

Well, I gotta go after it.

Now, the rest of you stay here.

Good morning!

Marty!

Marty!

Oh, is that a good girl?

Get up, Marty!

Get up!

Oh, the wind must have looked me down.

Get up and you'll freeze to death!

Oh, no.

It's all right, Colonel.

It's real bad a while ago, but it's a lot better now.

No, it's not getting better.

You're freezing.

Come on!

Hey, you got to register.

Oh, my God.

Stand up on your feet now.

Dammit, come on now!

It's okay.

It's all right.

You can go as far as...

I'll tell you, it's all right.

Oh, he's dead, Marty.

You know that?

Now, come on, get up on your feet.

He's dead.

For the love of God, Marty!

That's right, Louis, dead.

He loved you, but he's gone now.

Marty, damn it!

Well, he loved you, and now he's dead.

That's why I come with you this time.

Because that's what Louis would have done.

But he's dead now.

Marty?

He loved you, Charlie.

But you didn't do it no good.

You didn't do it no good.

I'm very wrong.

It cost too much to run with you.

And...

Oh...

Marty, you gotta get up.

Please, Marty!

Marty,

or she's...

or she's...

or she's...

or she's...

or she's...

or she's...

or she's dead.

Oh!

Oh!

Oh!

Oh, it's...

Oh!

Oh!

Oh!

superior....

Sit down!

William! William!

All over here!

William!

Thank God you're all right!

Where's the relief party?

Did you come on ahead?

We got stopped right here.

What?

Well, why didn't you come on?

We're just a mile up the river.

I have a line of stops.

Couldn't get past it.

Couldn't get it to animals or supplies.

Start snowing again. We got froze in.

And we fell on starboard time.

What? Run out of meat.

Got hungry.

Got a move if we wanted to.

Where are the others?

Where's Indell?

I stopped singing in.

He was going off over there somewhere,

looking for the supplies.

Was to collapse or something.

And you're going to help him now.

He's dead for sure.

Dead.

It's Indell's an ox.

If anybody could make it, he could.

I seen Raven circling over there.

Had to have been Zendell's after.

Reckoning got cut out, so.

Raven.

Did he really go off there?

Or did he die right here?

Raven's.

Raven's?

Raven's? You bastard.

Raven's?

You killed him, didn't you?

You're hungry and you killed him for food.

You killed him?

You killed him?

Don't you go lay down on me, mister?

I warned you how this winter is going to be.

I warned you about these mountains.

As you who said, go anywhere you're down well, please.

You thought you was bigger than God.

Well, you ain't.

You ain't gonna free him up.

Colonel, I got Larry over here.

Alex.

Is he alive?

No, he's gone.

I come looking for you.

Hey, Alex.

They made it this far.

The supplies.

They made it.

They're right around here somewhere.

So we gotta, we gotta find them.

Get the men out.

We gotta find them.

He's the man.

Get him back.

Easy.

Did you hear that?

Did you hear that?

Did you hear that?

Ha ha.

Hey, Alex.

Look.

We're gonna be all right.

We're gonna make it out of here.

Hey, Colonel, there's more out there.

There's more out there.

It's all right.

We're gonna be all right.

We're gonna be all right.

Hey, Alex.

Hey, Alex.

Hey, Alex.

Hey, Alex.

Hey, Alex.

Excuse me, sir.

Sir, could you tell me where the Victor Hotel is?

Right over there.

Thank you.

Come on over here.

Hey, Alex.

Hey, Alex.

Now, you ain't. Now, here you go. Get it out.

I got pocket.

You can keep it if you want it.

It's daddy!

It's daddy!

I just seen it in the plate over there.

Don't you put that in there.

You're all right, daddy.

Jungle for four days, daddy.

And then we went across the mountains on mules,

and there were monkeys and parents, and I got it.

You got us.

And mama got a fever and almost died.

Get down.

Oh, thank you.

Charles.

Jesse.

Oh, my dear.

You're imps now, mama.

No, you doesn't.

You didn't.

You didn't almost die, did you?

No, I didn't.

She almost did, daddy. Really.

Where the hell were you?

Lily!

It's the man who's waking up in the wall.

Don't look at me. I look awful. I know.

You're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

Did you freeze your feet?

Oh, no. This is a little frostbite.

Lily, honey, you've grown inches? Whole inches?

I know.

I know, honey. I know.

Can I tell Mr. House things that daddy's here?

Yes, darling, if he's not busy.

The school teacher from Pennsylvania, he can make his fortune.

He's just down the hall. He's being lovely to us.

I'm mad.

Dad, I can't wait for you.

I don't know what to do.

I can't wait for you.

You lost her son.

Whoo!

Yes, darling.

Hey, my tea.

You're juicy.

You're a sinner.

I mean, did you so bad?

I should have been with you.

No.

I should have been.

No. You were doing what we wanted you to do.

Lord, how I missed you.

How worried about you day and night?

I heard such conflicting reports. I didn't know what to believe.

It was very bad in the mountains, wasn't it?

Not as bad as it could get.

Tell me.

I lost ten men, do you see?

Starvation cold.

Mark, no.

Zindell.

They're gone.

They're gone.

Alex and I have led the rest of the mountain.

It was touching go all the way.

They've been so scared.

Jesse, I was scared.

I was scared to death.

Oh, I'm done.

I've always been so sure before about it.

That mountain wanted to kill us.

All of us.

We fought it like hell, but it just tossed us off.

Defeated utterly.

Defeated.

This time when it meant so much, we wanted a railroad across this nation.

Well, the mountain took care of that little dream.

The expedition was a total disaster.

You understand?

I failed.

You did your best.

I didn't want to bring failure home.

Home? To me, do you mean?

You were born for success.

You were made for it. You deserved it.

Charles, all my dearest husband, do you think that matters to me?

All that matters is that we're together again.

Failure?

Oh, sweetie.

The only success I'll ever need or want is our love.

Oh, I love you.

I'm not alone.

I'm not alone.

I'm not alone.

Mr. Hastings said he read your book, and he'd like to meet you.

I told him you'd even sign it for him.

And he doesn't have it here in California.

Oh, Daddy, it's all California's rotten as San Francisco.

No, honey, it's beautiful.

You'll see.

Full of good weather and good solid people.

I've heard anything more about the ranch.

Well, it seems the title was never clear.

That's why Larkin got the other property for us.

It's called the Mariposa.

Lily, I'll take you there since we get out of this place.

Can Mr. Hastings come with us?

I don't think so, honey.

You seem happy about the way this has worked out.

I thought...

Matter of fact, um, I am.

But you said it was Whiffler's property.

Hunter Bewhile the Indians needed an armed gas and opened it up for cattle.

What is it, Charles?

I can see them in your eyes now. What is it?

Tell me, me and Daddy tell us.

Oh, come on over by the window.

Here.

What else are you answering?

Charles, what on earth are you doing?

Just watch.

How's Daddy?

Carefully.

Watch it.

Gold.

Is it gold?

It's gold.

Every creek on the Mariposa's running yellow.

That stuff.

Gold.

Is it ours?

It's ours, honey.

It's gonna make us wealthier than you ever dreamed possible.

Ours.

Wealthy.

Ours.

Very.

Just like that.

Charles, that's wonderful.

It's beautiful.

Why didn't you tell me this the minute you walked in?

Why should I have?

Doesn't it change everything?

No.

Okay.

No, the gold is just luck.

It's the expedition.

It was a dream, Jesse.

It was a dream.

You were careful, Nylie.

I told you.

Jesse, you know she can ride as well as I can.

Yes!

Maybe I should take her with me.

Sure, some snow.

You bite your tongue, Charles.

All right, Joe.

Thanks a lot.

I'll leave for the other guy.

Jesse, you know I'd rather wait till spring.

If I want to beat the army at its own game,

I've just got to go now.

I can't believe they passed over you.

I can't believe anything in the army.

You know they're exploring five separate needs

with five different parties.

Just so our esteemed Secretary of War can...

Jefferson Davis is a West Pointer.

That's the only reason you chose regular army officers over you.

None of them have the on knowledge of the West.

None of them.

None of them are going between the 37th and 38th parallel,

that's for sure, and that's exactly where railroad should be.

I'm proud of you, Charles.

Put in your own money into this expedition.

Well, the man doesn't spend his gold on what he really wants

and believes and is just fools gold, isn't it?

This one, the leg.

I am concerned, you know.

Except for Kit, there won't be a single familiar face on this one.

Kit's the only familiar face I need.

Don't worry, honey. We'll be all right.

I don't suppose I can persuade you.

Nope.

I didn't think so.

I'll be at West Poord Landing ready to jump off by the end of September.

Jesse.

This will not be a repeat of 49.

This time I'm going to find that damn winter pass.

I promise you.

I know you will.

You're the only man for the job, Charles.

Because you're reaching for a dream.

I'll never reach the mountains.

That's got to be 50 miles in more.

Last time I walked in, it was only 20.

Doesn't pack animals already dead.

We still have at least two dozen left.

They're tired of eating meal meat, Colonel.

Now let me play to your game.

I'm going to get you a little bit of a good idea.

I'm going to get you a little bit of a good idea.

I'm going to get you a little bit of a good idea.

Now let me play to your game.

I'm going to get out into the valley.

More meat than you can dream of.

Now you listen.

I'm going to put a railroad through these mountains.

And I'm going to find a winter pass for it if I have to find it alone.

So any of you want to turn back, go ahead and do it now.

Come on then! We made it!

Oh, what do you think of the Republican Party now, Jesse?

It's loud!

Yes, you, loud and vigorous, and destined for great things.

Your husband made no mistake in turning down the Democrats.

Believe me, the Republican Party, the Republican Party is the party of the future.

Charles, should be here. Not me.

Or protocol, my dear.

A candidate simply does not present himself a denominating convention.

Gentlemen!

Gentlemen, please!

Gentlemen!

I would like to call the order the first nominating convention of the Republican Party.

The new party of the people!

The party that will put a president in the White House this fall!

The party that will put a president in the White House this fall!

The party that will put a president in the White House this fall!

Mr. Lincoln of Illinois!

Mr. Chairman, it delegates to this first Republican nominating convention.

The great state of Illinois proudly casts its vote for John C. Freeman of California!

The American Pathfinder!

In the perfect belief that just as he discovered those parents that opened the American West,

so he can now best lead this troubled nation into new parents!

Charles knew black, but he was called a pair for him. He didn't find him.

He charled them for everyone he did.

For same differences.

Chair recognizes Mr. Peabody of Massachusetts!

The sovereign state of Massachusetts casts its vote for John Charles C. Freeman of the place of American Pathfinder!

The great state of Illinois casts its vote for John Charles C. Freeman!

The great American Pathfinder! John Charles C. Freeman!

The state of Ohio casts its vote for John Charles C. Freeman of the next president of the United States!

Mr. Chairman, may I move to make the vote you know about it!

The great American Pathfinder!

The great American Pathfinder!

The great American Pathfinder!

And once the Southern states realize that freed slaves will not mean racial war,

while then my friends, millions of black Americans will be released from bondage,

and I and you and all the American people will realize our great national dream,

accepting as repugnant the concept of human beings as property.

Were human beings property in the mountains?

Sir, when you and your men were eating them.

What did you eat back then?

You want to tell us? Shut your mouth!

No, thank you, sir.

This gentleman is asked a question and he deserves an answer.

In the mountains, sir, we ate the provisions we took with us.

And when those gave out, we ate fresh game and whatever nuts and berries the generous earth provided.

Whenever a mule died, we ate its rational corn.

Then we butchered and ate the mule.

And when there were no more mules, and when the snow was too deep for foraging,

we ate nothing, sir. We went hungry.

We faced starvation, honorably.

Does that answer your question, sir?

We ate it!

We ate it!

We ate it!

We ate it!

We ate it!

What do you mean?

I'm sorry, sir.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I put conviction above my family.

Of course not, pup.

You were right, you know, back then.

And I was wrong.

Charles is a fine, decent man.

But, Jesse, I must warn you, something has attached itself to Charles,

and it may not matter much here in the east.

It's hurting him badly, elsewhere.

What is it?

People feel that he is claiming too much credit for opening the West.

I knew that would happen.

The moment they labeled him, Parfund.

And now they have more of this.

Oh, it's all too perverse.

This has been circulated on the streets of Charles.

What have we got ourselves in, too, Papa?

I sometimes feel our political system has been fatally corrupted.

But, oh, my daughter, it's all we have.

You take care of your husband, my darling.

Try not letting me to hurt, Parfund.

What is sure to follow?

I love you, pup.

I love you, too, Jesse.

You've been a perfect daughter to me.

Of course it will.

Please not for me.

Please, please.

Don't be mad.

You walk my way.

I say that you are the only people.

Everybody.

So, it's the time to go.

It's the Blair.

Seems you have some news for us, sir.

We've, uh...

We've lost all the doubtful states.

The feet.

But we lost by only half a million votes, Charles.

The feet.

Not the less.

But with honor.

And all those votes have told us something, Charles.

The court martial doesn't matter anymore.

Not to the American people.

The American people may have told us something else as well.

Slavery may be here to stay.

One thing that's here to stay is the Republican Party,

and you've given us that, Charles.

We'll take it next time.

Give us four years without me, sir.

I've about had my Philip politics.

I want to go home to the Mariposa.

Take care of business.

Take care of my family.

Ladies.

Ladies.

They have no ladies.

Oh, Miss Jessie.

I'm glad I am to see you.

Come in, baby.

The mayor's gonna come and clean up stairs with him now.

Miss Jessie, thank goodness you're here in time.

How is he?

He's gravely ill.

Load to him.

But don't tire him.

He's been calling for you.

Jessie, are you?

Yes, ma'am.

Oh, how are you doing?

How are you?

Charles, are the children all right?

Papa, you mustn't try to talk.

Oh, yes.

Me and I talk.

You have to cut a ton of help.

How is Charles better enough?

I know the loss of the election.

Charles is fun, but it's you it won't.

When do you leave for California?

A week from Tuesday.

Just as soon as you bet.

Yes, when I get better.

Charles says to tell you the California sunshine will do wonders for you.

Will you tell Charles?

Will you tell Charles?

You tell...

I would love...

Charles, thank you.

I'm you, Papa.

I love you, Papa.

So very much.

Sleep well, mother.

Sleep well.

I love you.

I love you.

I love you.

I love you.

Major General Fremont, Mr. President.

Good morning, Pribon.

And congratulations to the new Commander of the Western Department.

Thank you, sir.

I look forward to serving the Republic again in any way I can.

When do you leave St. Louis?

Tomorrow, sir.

Have you had time to formulate any plans?

Yes, sir, I have.

I plan to assemble a force here at Carroll.

Two brigades and naval auxiliaries and drive down the Mississippi.

Hold on.

You'd better make sure of Missouri first.

Well, you granted, but I don't expect much trouble.

Don't you?

It's touch and go there, you know.

They're not fire-breathing southerners, but they're smart enough to know that any war

is going to be toughest on the people along the border.

It's my guess that all they really want is to be left alone.

Sit down, sir.

But that's not possible, is it, sir?

Of course not.

Now, Missouri is still loyal, but just barely.

The guerrilla warfare is broken out, Pribon.

Unionist farms, burning, bushwhackers, it works.

A highly volatile situation.

Missouri is your first priority.

Yes, sir, I understand that.

Good.

Now, you'll find St. Louis a divided city.

The out-and-out secessionists are a minority but a militant one.

They're not exactly rebels, but they're supporting the secessionist toughs who roam the streets.

There are ardent unionists, too, but most people there are playing it safe.

They don't want to see any action taken against the South either.

It's a difficult situation, Pribon.

All of Missouri is difficult, which is why I appointed a man used to handling difficult situations.

I appreciate your confidence, sir.

I'm giving you carte blanche, free hand and not much to grip.

Use your own judgment, do the best you can.

If Missouri decides to go, it'll go.

And then you'd best be careful.

So, then anything further?

No, Mr. President.

I'll see you out.

The Southerners have made a big mistake.

But maybe they'll come to their senses.

I want to give them that chance.

I want to forgive and forget if they'll come home.

Maybe a bloody nose will bring them back.

I just don't know.

God, help us. Maybe they'll never come back.

Till we drag them back by the scruff of the neck.

Good luck, Pribon.

Thank you, sir.

May I say, General Fremont, that we're all very happy to have you in town.

I think the President showed excellent judgment at a point in view, commander in chief of the Westwood Division.

Thank you, Lieutenant James.

They lose, doesn't look quite the same as it is.

I don't see very many people.

Oh, the seabots lie idle.

Look.

What's a Confederate flag doing up there?

That's Judge Bertolt's house, Judge. Who?

Bertolt, sir. He's allowing his house to be used as sort of a recruiting station for secessionist sympathizers.

Busy now. Yes, sir.

I don't see our flag anywhere, Lieutenant.

Well, ma'am, there's an awful lot of hard feeling around just now.

So they're allowed to recruit openly, are they? And we don't even show our flag.

Well, sir, there's about 160,000 people in this town.

I know that.

Yes, sir.

I'd say they're all pretty much against unions, sir.

Soon as we get Mrs. Fremont situated, I'd like to go straight to headquarters.

Headquarters.

Yes, sir.

I'm sorry.

Tenants?

Taren, hook!

Addies.

Who's in command here?

Colonel Jeter, sir. Colonel Jeter.

There's a sign over the door says this is Army Headquarters, is that right?

No, yes, sir.

And why isn't the American flag flying outside?

Well, the flag stirs up the subversive elements. If you know what I mean, sir.

Indeed.

What's your name?

Captain Reginald Hutchkiss, sir.

Put on your hat, Captain.

Yes, sir.

And take half a dozen men to the nearest boatyard.

I want you to bring back a spar and nail it to the front of this place.

And I want the biggest, brightest flag in St. Louis flying from it in half an hour.

You got that?

Yes, sir.

Then do it.

Yes, sir.

Lieutenant.

Yes, sir.

Turn out twenty of your men.

Full loads, fixed bayonets.

Now.

Yes, sir.

Sergeant, sir.

Sir.

Put.

Put.

Put.

Put.

Come there.

Hold.

Right face.

Man, that's your man, Sergeant.

Sir.

Man out, man.

Form a single rack facing the house.

Right, man.

Look out.

Here it is.

Come see.

Recruiter, sir.

Question whether or not you wanted to defend our God-given right.

I don't believe you all been invited here, General.

What are you?

What am I?

A civilian, a soldier.

What the hell are you?

I'm a soldier, now you get your men.

What's your rank?

I am a captain.

A captain in what?

An outlaw army?

An army of the Confederate States of America.

Then you are a prisoner of war, Captain.

And you're out of uniform.

Sergeant, hold down that flag.

Sir.

You got no light.

Just keep the peace now, cousin.

Sergeant, keep the peace now.

What's wrong?

I know the man out there.

I'm a little bit of a little bit of a man out there.

Well done, Trooper.

Thank you, sir.

Sergeant Rusty's men, all of them.

You can't do that.

Huh.

All right, boy.

You hurt, chingles.

He's tearing up our flag.

What's going on here?

Who are you, sir?

I am Judge Berthold.

Major General John Charles Freeman.

Now, sir.

Get these men off of my property.

Sir, this is a loyal city in a union state.

If you ever let anything like this happen again, I'll seize your house and quarter troops in it.

You understand?

How dare you?

That's no sergeant.

Who barely is going away with this?

No!

Let's cut him up, boy.

Yes!

Now you wait just one.

Wanna jump on this, mister?

We're starting.

All right, column, form up.

Move them out.

Luv it in.

Looks like we got free mountain town, don't it?

What? What?

Stand bound, smart, now what?

All persons who shall be taken with arms in their hands within these lines

shall be tried by court martial, and if found guilty will be executed by a

fire and squad. The property real and personal of all persons in the state of

Missouri, who shall take up arms against the United States, is declared to be

confiscated to the public use and their slaves if they have any are hereby

declared free men!

Who wrote that?

Order of Major General John Charles Freeman, Commander of the Department of

the United States.

General, let a little of a lady just pulled into port.

Well, it's about time, send a work party and unload her.

Sir, she's not carrying that poor ton of gunpowder in your order.

We had a firm promise on that.

Why, Cincinnati, I want to know exactly what went wrong.

Yes, sir.

A man named Trenner Park in your office, sir.

Park?

I'll see.

Sir, there's been another message from General Lyon. He's calling for reinforcements.

Where is he now?

South West to hear about a hundred miles beyond the last railhead at Rallen?

Beyond Rallen.

What's he doing there? He was advised to pull back if he felt threatened.

What's the situation, General?

He has six thousand men, but he's fighting Missouri rebels and McCullough's army.

Mark and saw.

What's their strength?

Doubt number him two to one, sir.

What the hell's wrong with him?

Order him to pull back to Rallen at once.

General Lyon, he's not the type of man who's going to like to retreat, sir.

You make that order firm and unconditional.

And tell him if he fights, it's entirely on his own responsibility.

Got your hands full on Charles.

Trenner, you're a long way from California.

Oh, got a bit of trouble back on the Maraposa Colonel.

General, excuse me, trouble?

What you might call a real crisis, in fact.

Put it plain, you're overextended.

Like your General Lyon.

You borrowed too much, Charles.

Your gold production is down and it's falling further behind every month.

Your notes are coming due.

And with the wartime credit squeeze,

it's going to be hard to renew them.

Any other good news?

Well, your new machinery is ready.

But the manufacturer's demanding immediate payment and cash.

If you don't come up with some money right away,

they're going to let that machinery go to another company.

Like hell, it will. I'll sue.

In the middle of a war? How long will that take?

What will happen to the Maraposa, meanwhile?

Trenner, I gave you and your people three-eighths to the Maraposa

to take care of such problems. Now, take care of them.

You bailed you out, Charles, and you know it.

When that damn went, flood gates and all.

General Lyon is in receipt of your message, sir.

Good. Keep being formed. Yes, sir.

General, why don't you give up this military foolishness and come back and tend to business?

Foolishness. Trenner, I'm in command of the Western Department.

I was appointed by the President himself.

Our whole country is tearing itself apart and you call it foolishness?

Maybe you should have told the President your fancy gold mines about to go under.

You ever stop to figure out how much time you will really give to that place?

The only thing that will save you now, Charles, are long-term bonds, sir.

I've already...

General Lyon has engaged the enemy, sir, near Wilson's creek.

He's been attacked? No, sir, he attacked. What?

Didn't he receive my order to retire? Yes, sir.

Then why? We're coming in, sir. Get it.

Trenner, do what has to be done. I'm busy here.

I've already lined up the best man in New York, George Updite.

He's a former mayor and a prominent speculator in Financier.

Fine.

Yeah. He and Murray Ketchum are willing to put together a combine to sell Mariposa bonds.

And they'll guarantee him, in fact.

What do they want in return?

For a fee, of course, just to cover expenses and a say in the operation.

What do you mean ownership?

It's a quarter interest.

General Lyon is in full retreat, sir.

Is Lyon reporting himself?

No, sir. The telegrapher from Springfield is reporting on his own, sir.

Put all troops on immediate alert. All of them. Train or not.

Instruct all very it issue all weapons. Three days could ration each man.

Ready to train. We're moving straight on to Raula. Yes, sir.

And get those sappers ready. I want every trestle between here and Raula rigged for demolition on an hour's notice.

You're not moving into St. Louis on our rail, will you, sir?

Tell Lyon to order his forces and try to go on the defensive at Rocky Run, just east of Springfield.

Send it now.

Trainor, do me a favor. Get out of here.

What about the bonds? I'm an owner, too, you know.

Maybe you didn't understand me, Charles.

Mariposa is in serious trouble. We don't do something.

I've got serious trouble here, damn it.

Trainor, just take care of it. Do whatever you think is best.

Colonel Jeter, sir. I want all battalion and regimental commanders to report to me at once.

Yes, sir.

General Fremont, sir. What?

Lyon is dead, sir.

His commander is under full route, and the Confederate army is 20 minutes outside of Springfield, sir.

Do the master.

I don't know.

Our own bull run.

You ordered him to retreat, sir.

Yes, I did.

I sure really did.

Mr. Prett, General Fremont asked me to deliver this led to you personally.

Very well.

I have read it. I'm afraid your husband has told me nothing new, Mrs. Fremont.

Missouri is still the problem. I fail to see why he has so much trouble understanding that simple fact.

He is dealing with Missouri, Mr. President. Under appalling conditions.

I hope General Fremont would have taken the field by now. It's been almost eight weeks since it sent him out there.

General Lyon was a great loss to us, a great loss.

Sir, my husband is rebuilding the army. It was virtually shattered after the engagement at Wilson's Creek.

Mr. President, Charles wants to be quite sure that you are receiving a true, a comprehensive picture of Western affairs.

That is why he asked me to come to see you personally.

How could it be more comprehensive? I hear from him almost daily.

Always to the effect that he wants more support.

He does need.

He seems unaware that there are any theories of war but his own.

He quite understands that, sir.

But what?

I support him to the extent of can, madam.

But the armies of the Potomac and the Cumberland must have priority. The capital must remain secure.

Yes, sir. But the general...

Anyway, his problems aren't just men and arms. His excess is a martial law.

Sir, the secessionists were doing all in their power to drive loyal union supporters out of the state. After Lyon's defeat.

And this proclamation of it?

It was necessary.

The general should never have dragged the Negro into this war.

Sir?

This isn't a war against slavery. It's a war to preserve the union of the United States.

Mr. President, surely the war must be against slavery.

Slavery is the root issue. The single rock upon which everything is split apart.

And do you think that I don't know that? How dare you so presume?

I detest slavery. I abhor it.

I know it's the cause of this conflict. And yes, madam, if the South continues to resist, it may well be right and politic to declare all slaves free.

But not now.

Now the issues are separate and I intend to keep them that way. I intend to preserve this union.

Why wouldn't General Fremont withdraw the proclamation when I ask him to?

Because it would have destroyed the department's authority, sir.

And so if you forgive my saying so. Because ask and thoughts withdrawal was a mistake.

A mistake, madam?

Yes, sir.

Well, mistake and not, madam. And I must say, that's not for you to judge.

It was a decision, a presidential decision.

And I passed that decision on to your husband in the form of a civil request.

Please withdraw the order on your own authority.

Those are my words to him. Why did he refuse?

Sir, because...

Because his eye was cocked on the crowd. The reaction of that crowd.

That is not true.

Edna, would you stand there and tell me, madam, that the rapturous praise of Horace Greeley and all other radicals had nothing to do with your husband's refusal?

The honor of a presidential request?

Why, sir, nothing, whatever.

Mr. President, please, don't you see? Charles, General Fremont, has confronted the slavery issue head on.

By refusing to do the same thing, you are only making the union vulnerable.

In fact, sir, you are making yourself vulnerable.

Ah, now we come to it.

Sir.

You speak of vulnerability.

My general Fremont be just the man to take advantage of that vulnerability.

I'm sorry, sir. I don't understand.

Your husband came within a hair's breadth of this office. Not too long ago, madam.

Is his present stand designed to achieve, if I must be blunt?

Would he could not achieve when he ran for this office?

I can't believe you mean that, sir.

I have, General Fremont, if you madam, which I will answer and do, of course.

Have you said all you care to say?

I wish only to say that my husband wouldn't have a...

ever stoop to political manipulation.

His honor would for me it is.

And, sir, he deserves your support.

I have said, madam, that I will answer you in due time.

Good evening.

Good evening.

Good evening.

The march in two columns.

I'll lead one, you lead the other. Yes, sir.

Reveley at midnight. March at one.

In physician before dawn and attack at first light.

I'll initiate.

You'll engage only after you hear gunfire.

I want a close personal inspection before we march.

General!

They've gone.

What?

Let's get out of, sir. The whole kitten caboodle of them.

I rode right into the camp, not a soul there. Fire is all cold.

The locals say they've headed for Pineville.

Damn it. But we can still bag them, sir.

They couldn't be more than a day's march from here.

Ready your men for a forced march. Three days cooked rations.

Have your officers inspect each man's cartridge box individually.

We'll break camp at sunset.

Ryrd, and you think we'll find him? No questions, sir.

The troops are raring to go. The roads are in good shape.

We'll make good times, sir. Good. Better see about your men then.

Better.

Sorry, General.

How do you hold it?

You all ready for him?

Yes, sir.

Scared, son? No, sir.

I guess a little bit, sir.

Everybody's a little bit scared. You won't be alone.

Just do what the others do, and you'll be fine.

Yes, sir.

General?

Are you scared?

Yes, I am.

I know I've got a lot of good men behind me, and I know what has to be done, so when the time comes, I'll be all right.

So will you? Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.

Oh, you there, we're General Fremont. Right.

Standing right there, sir, outside his tent.

Yeah.

General Fremont? Yes.

General

Major General David Hunter. This authorizes me to assume command of the Army of the West. Clear away these men, Colonel.

All right, man, back to what you were doing. A little bit. Move it now! Yes, sir.

Go!

This says, General, to break me if I'm wrong, that the order does not stand.

That the order does not stand if my forces are in the immediate presence of the enemy.

I believe that's the language, yes.

Well, the enemy, sir. The enemy has fled. Is that not so?

Well, yes, sir, but they're only a day's march away. I've already given order.

One day's march does not constitute immediate presence.

You have any brandy? It's been a long ride.

Yes, sir.

These come in.

Your army looks like rattle, General.

You wouldn't want to fight them, sir. They're well trained and ready to march.

I can't. Now, Price, set it for Pineville. You can easily catch him.

I do not intend to pursue Price. You don't intend to?

You heard me correctly, I do not. May I ask why, sir? The enemy is near and vulnerable.

Victory seems almost certain. If Price will not stand in fight, he no longer represents a threat to the Union.

General, I can't believe the President would countenance,

terminating the only active campaign being carried on by any Union army.

Pursuing Price would be a wild goose chase.

Are these the President's feelings, or are they?

The President left that decision up to me. I will not pursue Price. You are relieved, General.

You're making a mistake.

In which case, as commanding officer, I assume full responsibility for it,

you are relieved, General.

Yes, sir. I'll return to St. Louis once.

As you wish.

Please summon your district officers and senior staff I'd like to talk to.

You're in command now, sir. I suggest you summon them yourself.

Sergeant Brayton.

Brayton, sir, get my horse ready and pack my gear.

Is it true, sir? I've been relieved of command.

Relieved.

Please, is that what he said?

I signed a fight under you, General.

I ain't gonna fight her, nobody else.

You're the one taught us all we know.

That's our.

Then please.

Just go to these Washington-known-nothing states they are.

I am, soldier, in any peace, or any armed shit.

We fought in this fight, General. We ain't following nobody else.

I'm going to go to the wrong side.

I'm going to go to the wrong side.

It's a soldier's duty to obey orders.

Even the ones he doesn't like.

You all know that.

Now you joined the army to fight for the Union.

Not for me, but for the Union.

So if you want to help me, you know what we do?

Yes, sir. We do.

If you want to help me, improve to your new commander,

that he is in charge of the best damn fighting force in the United States.

Prove that to him.

Do that for me, man.

And I'll be eternally grateful.

God bless you.

Every one of you.

Every one of you.

Come on.

Oh, my God.

Excuse me, ma'am. Is this the Fremont house?

Yes, it is.

I'm Tim Donovan. I'm with the tribute.

Oh, Horace Greeley's newspaper. We know Mr. Greeley quite well.

Yes, ma'am.

Why won't you come in, Mr. Donovan?

Well, thank you.

Now, what can I do for you?

Well, I'd like to talk to General Fremont, if I may.

I'm afraid he isn't here right now.

You see, I'm doing a story that connects the General's role in opening the West

to the thousands of Americans who are still flocking there in droves.

Well, if it's not an intrusion, might I have a few words with you?

Well, certainly.

Well, won't you sit down and I'll set a tray for tea.

Hold us the General now, if I may ask.

I have to think.

I'm 63, and he is 11 years old and I am.

That would make him 74, wouldn't it?

Yes, that's right, 74.

And you have three children, is that right?

John Charles Jr., is he in the Navy?

And his younger brother Frank is West Point.

And our daughter Lily is a secretary in Manhattan.

And how long have you been living here in the East?

Oh, for quite some time now.

My husband had some business ventures he wanted to explore in New York.

And of course, his publishers are here.

His publishers, ma'am?

Yes, that's right.

His memoirs were published this year.

I don't suppose you've read them.

No ma'am, I didn't know anything about them.

Not many people do.

It's my opinion, the book was excessively prized.

But why stand in Ireland?

It's all we can afford.

Shall we go into the park?

Forgive all this men.

This must be an enormous change for you.

I mean, you were billionaires, weren't you?

Well, not exactly.

But yes, we were once quite wealthy.

I'm afraid neither of us paid as much attention to the Mariposa as we should have.

That was the name of our home in California.

The Mariposa.

Yes ma'am.

Milk?

Please.

Now, why don't you sit down?

Thank you.

So many things kept taking the general away.

His expedition in 53.

And then the wall, of course.

Things sometimes get away from one, don't they?

Yes ma'am, they do.

Pardon my asking, but how does it feel?

The ill?

Well, yes, your husband losing whatever money was left on that railroad venture?

Yes, Kansas Pacific.

But that was his dream, you see.

Well, yes, but then later on being the governor of the Arizona territory.

I couldn't have paid very much.

No.

No, it didn't.

What I'm trying to say ma'am is, here you had this empire in California.

You came within an ace of being the first lady and now.

Well, this.

Stanton Island.

A row house.

Didn't all that high life spoil you for this?

Young man.

I have bathed in a barber's basin under a woolen blank.

I've stirred free olives in an iron skillet over a half-five.

I've shaken the fever and the jungles of Panama and shivered with chill blades in the shadow of the highest year.

You are not so naive as to imagine that living in a modest hole holds any terrorist over you.

I'm sorry if I spoke with you, Tearna.

I didn't mean to give a fence.

Oh, none was taken.

Well, I was hoping to catch the general.

But thank you for your time and the team.

Ma'am, forgive me for this.

But this is just plain wrong.

The general shouldn't have to live here.

Not after fighting those blizzards in the Rockies.

Not after running that river when even Carson didn't want to.

No ma'am.

You were at the journals.

Yes ma'am.

Rhettum.

How did you give an arm to Ben walk in there beside him?

I would tell the general when he gets home.

I know that he would be here.

Tell me what, Jesse.

Oh, Charles, this is Mr. Donovan from the Tribune.

The Tribune?

He was just telling me how much he admired your job.

My journals.

My journals.

Hell, I didn't write those you did.

Charles, what are you saying?

No more than the truth.

Well, I laid him out sure where we went, what we did, the feel, the smell, the glint of it.

But I couldn't write it.

I couldn't write it.

I couldn't make people see it the way I saw it.

You made me see it, sir, every bit of it.

No, sir, I did not.

Mrs. Fremont did.

But you lived it.

And that's what mattered.

I lived it, yes.

But that's gone, vanished.

What remains is the word.

I showed the way, but you fired their hearts into doing.

You made them see an empire and dream about it and want to make it their own.

My wife struck it in bronze, young man.

That was the real triumph.

Excuse me.

I can't tell you what an honor this is, sir.

Sit down, young man.

Or some more tea.

It's a cute bronchitis.

General Solung was a chronically weak.

My dear, say, as a result of unduly hard living.

Doctor, he climbed where no man dared climb before.

The problem is, this is a very difficult thing.

I'm not sure.

He climbed where no man dared climb before.

The problem is, this is October with the cold weather coming.

The Monia will be a certain visitor, even among those of us who are healthier than the general is.

If you want some advice, Mrs. Fremont take him to a warmer climate as soon as possible.

Isn't that serious?

Well, it's my opinion that the general will not survive another winter here in New York.

Sorry.

Thank you, Doctor.

How much do I...

Well, we'll worry about that some other time.

Take care of him, Martin.

What do you want?

It's occurred to me, Mr. Barnard.

Some of my experience, both in Europe and far west, might be of interest to your readers.

Yes, I imagine that they would.

But tell me, have you ever done any writing?

Yes, a little.

Well, would you like to try a short piece for us?

Yes, sir, I would.

Sir, how much would you pay?

Well, I didn't.

If you like, the article, that is.

Yes, of course.

I didn't realize this was a matter of...

I'm afraid to be.

Mr. Barnard, I must take my husband to California.

I need money for the railroad tickets and expenses till we settle there.

We have nothing left to sell.

How much would you pay me for such an article?

Well, customarily, we pay somewhere in the vicinity of $100.

For how many words?

Well, let's say, $1,500.

Could you use ten such articles at $100 a piece?

Ten.

Yes, sir.

Well, I suppose, if we like the first one, of course.

That I shall write ten for you.

If you don't like the first one, there's no obligation.

But, sir, if you accept that one,

I'd appreciate your writing checks for the others as I deliver them.

Mrs. Fremont, someone ought to give you a medal.

The checks will be sufficient.

You know, Jesse, it was very near here that I first met kids.

What's the problem?

I thought he'd burst when I told him I'd never heard of him.

Ha!

Ha!

I'll wait him for you.

We dragged that cannon all the way up those mountains, Jesse.

Now they got a railrope.

Just the way I would have planned it.

Snugged right in the curve of this river.

That damn brass cannon.

I made a lot of mistakes, didn't I?

Some, darling.

Never did understand politics.

Politicians, anyway.

Yet sometimes I thought I could have led this country.

I mean, really led it.

And then sometimes I wonder.

Indeed, lead it, Charles.

All the way to California.

We had such visions, Jesse.

Remember, limitless horizons.

So much to be done.

No!

Smell that air, Jesse.

We're getting close.

Channel Fremont?

Excuse me, sir, is that you?

Yes, sir.

I thought I recognized you from your pictures.

I don't mean to bother you.

I just want to let you know how you turned my whole life around, sir.

How's that, sir?

Well, I come out with a small party in 54.

Martha, carrying your journal on her lap the whole way.

We treated it like it was the family Bible.

That's very kind of you.

Ma'am, your husband's journal gave us all the courage we needed.

Told us how to get where we were going and what we'd find when we'd get there.

So, I just wanted to come up and say thank you.

What you did for me and my neighbors all those years ago, sir.

And, sir, I'd be mighty proud of you to let my son here shake your hand.

Mighty proud, sir.

Of course.

Son?

Nothing in the whole world, I'd rather hear than what your father just told me.

Thank you, sir.

God bless you, General.

Oh, boy!

Good to meet you.

Thank you, General.

First light.

There's old arctures flashing away up there.

You can't tell me I was more than a star, either.

You know, that's the last thing I'd like to see as stars.

I'd like to see you.

California.

Yes, darling.

We're going home.

California.

California.

California.

California.

California.

California.

California.

California.

California.

California.