Journey to Shiloh (1968) - full transcript

J' there were
seven boys from Texas j“

j“ rode off to fight a war j“

j“ 1,000 miles to Richmond j“

j' was where they headed for j“

j“ they were wild
and bold and reckless j“

j' sons of the far frontier j“

j' their lips
had known no women j“

j“ and their hearts
had known no fear j“

j' buck Burnett was their leader j'

j“ the captain of this crew j“

j' the Indians made
him orphaned j'



j' at the age of two j“

j“ Miller nalls,
buck's old buddy j'

j“ as steady as the sun j“

j“ he followed every order j“

j“ he was the loyal one j'

j“ todo mcclean
was the quiet one j'

j' a man that you could trust j'

j' his blood of Texas water j'

j“ his flesh of Texas dust j“

j“ eubie bell was theirjestor j“

j“ making laughter was his aim j“

j“ and war, the way he heard it j“

j“ was just another game j“

j“ Willie bill
was born in pecas j“



j“ 18 summers he has seen j“

j“ he's old enough to soldier j“

I but will he see 19? J"

j“ the youngest one
was little bit j“

j“ jed lucket's only son j“

j“ a-hurryin' to reach the war j“

j“ before the fighting's done j“

j“ j.C. Sutton, the fastest gun j“

j“ draws like a lighting bolt j“

j“ touchy as a panther j“

j“ as frisky as a Colt j“

j“ there was seven
long-haired texans j“

j“ all dressed
in buckskin brown j“

j“ a-headin' for the civil war j“

j“ rode into Dallas town j“

Ah, he ain't in there, buck.

Well, he's gotta be somewhere.

Any of you boys
want some more...

You just keep a-comin'.

There he is. Let's go get him.

Get him out! Get him out!

Come on, buck!

Yeah!

Bet they never let us
in that town again.

I don't know, looks like
they handled us pretty good.

You concho county boys,
maybe. Not ol' j.C.

J.c., I'd like to split
your head wide open.

I ain't finished with them.

Sure you are.
We got ridin' to do.

I'm ridin'.
Right back to Dallas.

Pretty good with bottles... let's
see how they are with guns.

Let it go, j.C.

I don't let nothin' go.

You're too damn touchy, j.C.

Don't tell me what I am.

You ain't goin' back.

I said I am.
You gonna try and stop me?

Now, you know I can't
match you gun-for-gun, j.C.

You better believe it.

And I said I'm going.
Anybody arguing?

Well...

Have it your way.

J.c.'s the stubbornest critter.

Get him on his horse.

He's gonna be mean
when he wakes up, buck.

Y'all elected me captain.
I didn't much want the job.

As long as I got it,
I give the orders.

He knew that
when he wanted to join up.

I doubt he ever believed it.

Man took an oath. Let's go.

J.c., I told you
we had riding to do.

I know what you told me.

You hit me when
I wasn't looking.

Wasn't no other way.

I ain't forgettin' it, buck.

You mind that.

Oh, I'll mind it.

Nobody sneak-hits j.C. Sutton.

Suit yourself, j.C. Sutton.

Willie bill?

How far you reckon
we made today?

35, 40 miles.

Ain't enough. We'll be all
summer gettin' to Richmond.

And by the time we get there,
won't be no war.

Yeah, I've been
thinkin' about that.

Come on, now, we'd
better get some sleep.

Buck? Hmm?

You remember what I said.

Oh, yeah.

I'll toss and turn over it
all night.

Mmm-mmm! Pinto beans and
jerky. There ain't nothin' better.

Seein' as how we ain't et
nothin' else since we left home,

you're mighty easy to please,
little bit.

Somebody comin'.

You're right here
in the middle of it.

Do tell? Nice land.

Suits me fine.

You're trespassing.

It don't seem like
we're hurting it none.

Maybe you think we are.

Maybe you'd like to
throw us off.

J.c... I want to see
these dudes throw us off.

Nobody said anything about
throwing anybody off, did they?

As long as you're just camping,

I guess you're not
hurting anything.

That's right friendly.
Thank you.

Step down. Have a bean.

What's that you're eatin'?

Pinto beans and jerky.

That's real frontier food.

That's where we brung
it from... concho county.

Concho county?

That's clear
the other side of pecos.

There's still Indians out there!

Them that we left alive,
there is.

We're the concho county
comanches.

We're on our way
to Richmond, Virginia.

We're gonna join up with
general hood's Texas brigade.

Is that right?

This here is buck Burnett.
He's our captain.

I'm proud to know you, captain.
I'm Carter claiborne.

This is my brother custis.

Glad to know ya.

You really going to
Virginia? That's right.

We heard tell general hood
needs some good horse soldiers.

We reckon we're
the best there is.

We're just afraid they're gonna run
out of Yankees before we get there.

Boy, all the way to Richmond.

Sure wish I could do that.

Why don't you come along
with us? We got plenty of room.

You mean it? Sure.

We got room, ain't we, buck?

We ain't talked about
recruiting anybody, but...

You got guns?
'Course we got guns.

What would your folks say?

Well, we'll talk to them
tonight.

Yeah. Captain Burnett,
you wanna come to a party?

What kind of party?

It's what they call
a cotillion. At our place.

In honor of cousin arybelle.
She's from Alabama.

There'll be dancin'
and bourbon punch

and food and everything.

You gotta come.

Maybe be there when
we talk to our folks.

This cousin arybelle of yours.
She pretty?

She's the prettiest thing
you ever saw.

Sounds kinda fancy for us.

Come on, general.
We've been invited to a party.

We're camping here tonight
anyway.

Ain't no harm in going.
He's right, buck.

There ain't no harm
in lookin' at a pretty girl.

We'd be glad to have you.

With you going to war
and everything,

pa will probably
make you honored guests.

Come on, buck. It'd do us good.

Well, I guess we can scrub up
in that creek, yonder.

No reason we can't go.

Now you're talkin'.

You tell 'em stand by,
because concho county comanches

are gonna show 'em how to
throw a party. Right, Miller?

My goodness.

If you young gentlemen
ain't a sight.

Is there something wrong?

Uh, nothin'.

We've never seen
one of you before.

Well, there's
a heap of us around.

Not where we come from.
Where is that, gentlemen?

Concho county.
Way out west of here.

My, my. You're a long
ways from home.

Gonna be longer.
Headin' for Virginia.

Ain't that nice.

You know, where the war is.

We're gonna fight the Yankees.

I hear tell the Yankees
is fightin' us.

I hear tell they're mighty mean.

I reckon we'll whip
'em, though. We?

Yes, sir. Us southerners.

Uh, you live here?

Yes, sir.

I runs the cotton gin
for colonel claiborne.

Yo, buck.

I swear his house is
better than mine.

I never seen a slave before.

We just folks, sir.

Only difference is,
we belong to colonel claiborne.

He's a mighty fine gentleman.

Um, claiborne house
down this way?

Yes, sir. Right on
up that road a mite.

Y'all goin' to the party?

We sure are.

Well, I hope you have
a real good time.

And good luck with them Yankees.

Yeah, thank you.

Let's go.

So long.

Doggone! Never seen the likes.

Did you hear what he said,
"us southerners"?

What do you suppose
he meant by that?

Well, he lives here, don't he?

He sure ain't a northerner.

Buck, somethin'
don't make sense.

Yeah. Damned if I know
what it is.

Will ya look at that?

Are we supposed to go in there?

Maybe this ain't the place,
huh, buck?

It's the place, all right.

Are we goin' in?
We been invited, ain't we?

J.c.'s right. We been invited,

it wouldn't be fittin'
if we didn't go.

I'd rather take a whuppin'.

Come on. We're
as good as they are.

Besides, I aim to get myself
a good look at cousin arybelle.

Come on, buck, let's go.

Yep.

Yes, gentlemen?

That's all right, Benjamin.
These are my friends.

Very well, Mr. Carter.

Well, come on.
They'll take your horses.

All these darkies yours?

We run a couple hundred of 'em.

They ever give you any trouble?

Why would they give us
any trouble?

Well, it just figures.

They're ours.
This is their home.

Don't you have any niggras?

Uh, what we got's injuns.

Well, they surely
aren't the same.

The way the Yankees
talk about slaves,

you'd think we
keep 'em in chains

and beat 'em twice
a day. It isn't like that.

Well, we got a lot to learn.

Come on. It's already started.

Well, Carter, I don't know.

I seen them people go in there,

dressed in those
ruffled shirts and all.

Look at us.

But you're soldiers.

You're not supposed
to look like civilians.

He's got a point there, buck.

We come this far,

be a shame not to go
the rest of the way.

Well, uh...

I, uh, thought a captain
was supposed to lead.

All right, let's go.

Captain buck Burnett

and the concho county comanches.

Aaah!

Somebody get them out of here!

Pa, they're soldiers.
They're going to the war.

Get them out of here, Edward!

Outside, gentlemen.

Quickly, now. Outside.

I invited them.
They're soldiers!

They are savages!
They don't belong here!

I invited them.

I'm throwing them out!

Now, you get upstairs
'fore I forget how old you are

and take a strap to you!

These gentleman are not to be
allowed in the house again!

That ain't no way
to treat soldiers.

If that's all they think about
men who are gonna fight for them.

Is there a war going on
or ain't there?!

Come on, let's get outta here.

Don't go.

Please!

Captain Burnett, don't go.

If anyone belongs here, you do.

The folks here in Texas
just don't feel the war

the way we do in Alabama.

Their behavior towards you
was inexcusable.

Well, ma'am, I... I guess
can't much blame 'em.

We're not really dressed
for a party.

Well, you're soldiers
of the confederacy.

You're goin' out
to fight their war.

Well, I'm ashamed of 'em.

And I'm ashamed of myself for
standing by and saying nothing.

As an Alabama patriot,
I implore you, come back inside.

Oh, uh, no,

I don't think
we'll do that, ma'am.

A man can bit once
by a rattler, by accident,

he gets bit twice, why,
that's just being stupid.

Then please accept my apologies.

And my gratitude for the brave
and noble thing you're doing.

I mean that
from the bottom of my heart.

Ma'am, we don't know much
about this here war,

but as long as there are ladies
like you supporting it the way you do,

I'm sure the south
can't help but win.

We'll remember what you said
when we get to the war.

It'll help us from gettin'
tired. Yes, ma'am.

May god bless you and keep you,

every one.

Yes, ma'am.

I tell you, boys, I'm in love.

My heart's plumb gone.

Arybelle. Arybelle. Whoo!

What do you think,
buck? Hmm? About what?

Them claiborne boys. Do you
reckon they're gonna join up with us?

I wouldn't put my money
on it, Miller.

Seen that house,
what they got...

I figure you're rich enough,

maybe you don't feel so much
like fighting a war.

Some people might find it tough

to give up everything they got
for beans and jerky.

They're southerners, ain't they?

Maybe that ain't enough,
just bein' southerners.

Awright, let's go.
Let's shake this dust.

Wanna get some place where
folks feel more kindly about the war.

All right, head 'em out.

Well, good as the finest
house I ever did see.

So this here's Louisiana, huh?

Near as wet as Texas.

I'm gettin' under
six feet of hay

and sleepin' for a week.

Not me... I got plans.

We all got plans, j.C.

You got yours and I got mine.

Well, boys, we got us a problem.

Stock's pretty sad.

Little bit, your buckskin's
popped a splint,

your horse's filled a pastern,

and Willie bill, you been
ridin' a saddle gall all week.

If we're gonna get to Richmond
while there's still a war on,

we're gonna have to do
something. I've been thinking.

We got nothin' to worry about.

Well, I'll go to shreveport
first thing in the morning

and find us a dealer,

sell him our stock and gear,

buy some tickets
on the next stage to vicksburg

and have a couple of dollars
to spare.

We're gonna have to
take a vote on it.

He goes with me.

What do you mean,
he goes with you?

I mean, I'm moving on.

I'm tired of you toy soldiers.

You can't do that, j.C.
You took an oath.

Yeah, to the concho county
comanches.

Well, I'm from maynard county,

and I don't like the way
things have worked out.

You're treating us like
we're all a bunch of schoolkids.

Well, I'm a man,
and I do things my way.

I ain't gonna let you go.

You think you can stop me?
Any of ya?

Come on and try.
Now, you simmer down.

No, I'm simmering out.

I come along to fight,
and as far as I'm concerned,

the fightin'
can start right now.

That way, huh?

Get your hands out
from underneath those ponchos!

Come on, I wanna see 'em!

Willie bill!

You better drop that knife.

Y'all pretty sneaky, aren't ya?

From now on, I write the rules.

Now, come on,
hunch up, all of ya.

Now, j.C...

You shut up...

Or I'm gonna
blow your belly out.

Now, move!

Maybe you think I forgot, buck,

the way you cold-cocked me
when I wasn't iookin'.

Well, I ain't!

Little bit, flop him over
and dig me out 50 dollars.

You can't do that, j.C.
You took an oath.

Give me that money!

Just 50. I'm only taking
what I figure my share is.

Any of you chicken-gutters
got any objections?

Adios, soldados.

Them maynard county boys
sure are a crazy bunch.

Took a good one.

You all right, buck?

I'm all right.
J.C. Said he'd get me.

He sure did.

What you gonna do now, buck?

Go get him.

He was boiling, buck.
He'll be trouble.

That's desertion.
Can't allow it.

Let him be, buck.

He only took the 50 dollars
that was his.

We're better off
without him. Nope.

He's a might touchy, but think what a
good soldier he'd make for general hood.

Miller...

You're captain while I'm gone.

Take the horses and gear
into town

and get the best price.

Sure thing, buck.

Get the tickets and wait
for me at the stage depot.

He's mighty previous
with that gun of his.

You watch him.

Yeah, I know it.

If it should happen
I'm not there on time,

you leave without me.
That's an order.

You mind what I said, Miller.

I'll do it, buck.
Good luck with j.C.

Yeah.

Two.

Two.

It's your bet.

The bet is 20.

That's a sucker bet, j.C.

Maybe I didn't hit you
hard enough.

How do you figure that's
a sucker bet, Texas?

You're buckin' too many hands...

Like hers.

Blow away, general. Your bet.

It's too rich for me.

I'll tell ya what.

Seein' as how you're busted,
I'll take it easy on ya.

You do that.

I'll call ya, friend.

I call.

His hand's rigged.

No, thank you, ma'am.

Did you say something, cowboy?

Well, uh,

my friend, he's just
been on that bottle,

and I don't think
he should be playing.

That's his problem. Not yours.

All right, friend, I called.

Queens. Full.

No good!

Jack high straight flush.

In diamonds.

How many ten of diamonds
is there in this game?

All right, on the table.

Buck...

It hurts...

Honey, you count out the 50
he brung in here.

Sal.

Wait.

Now count out 30 for yourself.

For me? Why?

You look it up
in the Bible, lady.

30 pieces of silver,
that's what the job pays.

Well, go ahead.

Now, anybody want to
follow me outside,

take back what they think
is his is welcome.

It's all right, cowboy.
You're goin' out clean.

Just keep goin'.

What's going on here?

Bunch of cheats robbed my friend

and killed him
when he didn't like it.

Sonny, we don't like texans
coming into our town

making loose charges.

Now, you give me that gun.

That way, huh?

All right.

Here's 50 dollars.

That oughta be enough
to get my friend buried.

You take care of that, sheriff.

I expect you got
that much decency.

You give me that gun, boy.

You come any closer, you're
gonna get this gun. Now, back off.

Now, everybody stand pat.

Whoa, now! Whoa!

Whoa! Whoa!

Whoa.

Buck! Buck!

Yahoo!

Get back. We got
a schedule to keep.

He's got a ticket. Here.

How'd you get out, buck?

I rode faster'n they shot.

Where's your horse and gear?

Sold 'em to a farmer.

Hurry up.

Hey!

Colonel, this here's buck
Burnett. He's our captain.

Colonel cooney, buck Burnett.

Howdy. Nice to know ya, colonel.

You a real colonel?

Well, that's
an honorary title, son,

purely honorary.

I reckon you all will meet up
with a real one soon enough.

Buck, we heard about j.C.

That's a hell of a note.

Yeah.

Well, I guess he was
born to die that way.

So, you're all gonna join
the heroic forces

of the stars and bars, eh?

The south needs
every man she can get.

If only I were
20 years younger...

Ten years.

I reckon you would, colonel.

It's a noble thing.

I only wish
there were more people

that felt about it
the way you do.

Now, you take shreveport...

A den of iniquity, son.

A den of iniquity!

And I can assure you that it is not
representative of the confederacy.

We are a united nation

engaged in a holy crusade.

Whoa!

Whoa! Whoa!

Why, howdy, case.

Howdy, colonel.

How many you runnin' down
today, case?

Just one big buck
took off this morning.

Oh, case pettibone here,

he's overseer for
ol' general gainsford.

Ain't no niggras
gonna get away from ol' case.

Runaway, huh?

Not for long, son, not for long.

You got the dogs out, eh, case?

Yep. Ben Swayze's pack, too.

Likely you'll hear them
open up 'fore you get to munroe.

That'll be somethin' to hear.

If you see that buck, colonel,

fire off a couple of shots.
Dogs'll hear it.

We'll do it, case. We'll do it.

Heel, now!

All right, get out there!

Why do you suppose he run away?

Oh, you run into a bad one
every now and then.

Tries to get across the red
into Texas.

But he don't stand much of a
chance with ol' case after him.

That pettibone,
he looks awful mean.

Well, you don't run a hundred
field hands by being friendly, Sonny.

That's Ben Swayze's redbones,

runnin' full bell
on a hot track!

Please! Stop!

Please help me, mister!

Help me!

Please, help me!

Get outta there!

Help me! Help me!

That man's scared for his life.
Why ain't the driver stoppin'?

Runaway's dog-bait for sure.

They'll have him heeled
'fore he makes timber again.

You watch close now.
You watch close.

Please! Mister!

Halt 'em in
before I blow you in two.

Whoa! Come on, now.

Whoa, now!

Whoa!

Go ahead. Get in there.

Now whip 'em up.

Yes, sir!

Hold on!

That buck's a runaway!

Why don't you try and run us down
with dogs, you Louisiana chicken-gutters!

Ridin' in a stage with a niggra.

I understand it
don't rub off, colonel.

What we gonna do with him, buck?

I don't know. We ain't
givin' him back to the dogs.

Now, look here, boys.

We're gonna be comin' to
munroe station in a minute.

It just happens that the
sheriff there is a friend of mine.

Why don't you let me
turn him over to the sheriff?

No! Don't do that!

I ran away twice before.

The sheriff will
sure as hell kill me!

The law don't do things
like that. Don't worry, boys.

My friend will
take care of everything.

You just simmer down.

You ain't got a thing
to be afraid of.

My god, mister,
you don't understand!

The sheriff's gonna kill me!

Is that right, colonel?

Why, he's just scared out of
what little wits he's got, that's all.

Of course, the sheriff gonna
make an example out of him,

give him a lick or two.

Got to. Otherwise,
they'd all run away.

But the sheriff'll see he gets
back to his rightful owner.

Now, that's the law, boys.

Ha ha ha!

This here buck, he's worth
over a thousand dollars.

You don't think
we gonna let anything happen

to that amount of money, do you?

Now, don't you worry.

You just turn him over to me,

and I'll see he gets back
to where he belongs.

I'm glad to do it.
Glad to do it.

Plantation's just
the other side of munroe.

Let me go, mister.

I'm rested now.

Them dog ain't too close.

Maybe I can make it!

We got no right to do that, boy.

We got to turn you in
to the sheriff,

just like the colonel said.

We got to, boy.

I never seen the likes of
running down a man with dogs.

J“ rock of ages j“

j“ cleft for me j“

j“ let me hide j“

j“ myself in thee j“

we used to sing
that song back home.

J“ let the water... j“

munroe station sure ain't much.

I sure hope that runaway
comes out all right.

Aw, he'll be all right.

Colonel give us his word,
didn't he?

Sure was scared.

Well, he's not nothin' to
be scared of now. Come on.

Giddyup!

Say, what kinda town do you reckon
this vicksburg is gonna be, buck?

A lot livelier
when we get there.

Ha.

God almighty, buck. Look there.

It's him. The runaway slave.

He said they'd do it,
and they did.

Buck, you said...

I know what I said.

I'll tell the boys.

I don't think
they'd understand this.

We killed him, buck.

No, we didn't.

We done the right thing,
according to the law.

Just don't tell 'em.

They oughtta know.

Just shut up, Miller.

So, this is vicksburg?

Man, it's really somethin',
isn't it?

Well, we got until mornin'.

No reason why
we can't look around.

I'll give ya $2.00 each, huh?

I hear there's a street down
by the river that really lives.

They'll eat you up, little bit.

I'm a texan.
That'll take some eatin'.

What you gonna do, buck?

Oh, look around.

I'll stick with you.

I ain't sure how much
sinnin' I can do on $200,

but I'm willin'
to find out. Let's go.

Well, where do we start, buck?

Well...

Well, what happened to you?

Oh, we met this fella said
he could get us some girls.

Took our $2.00

will you shut up.

He never come back, huh? No.

Ah, we should've known better.

You fellas don't look
too happy either.

Let me tell you something...

If a fella ever put one pea
under three shells

and bet you you can't tell
which one it's under,

you better believe you can't!

I'm beginning to think vicksburg
ain't too friendly a place.

I saw todo and Willie go into
this place across the street.

Look at all those soldiers!

That's us, little bit.

We'll have us some of those
fancy uniforms before long.

Hey, look at the buckskins
on them boys.

You reckon the
confederacy's that bad off,

folks gonna have to go
to wearin' hides?

Ain't this somethin', buck?

It's somethin', all right.

I don't like
being made sport of.

He's just funnin',
Miller. You know...

These boys should scrape
the meat off them skins

before they put 'em on.

You smellin' up the place.

Is that right?

Now, we don't want no trouble
with soldiers, todo.

You tell him, long-hair.

I reckon I just did.

What can I get for you, boys?

Oh, now, honey...

You ain't got no milk
in here for them young'UN.

Yourjob's waitin' on men.

Let me go, please.

You heard the lady. Let her go.

Lady? In here?

Now, she may be a female,

but she sure ain't no lady.

Well, she came
to take our order.

You can't buy sugar tits
in here, boy.

Come here, honey.

Leave me alone!

You heard the lady, mister.
Let her be.

Well, now.

This ol' long-hair.
"Let her be," he says.

Out, buckskin.

You're finally awake.

Feeling any better?

How'd I get here?

I brought you.

I, uh, I just figured
it would be better

than the provost getting you,
the way they did your friends.

Provost?

Yeah. That's our
military police.

What about my friends?

Oh, they got 'em locked up
in a stockade.

Well... I'd better
get 'em out of there.

Now... now, you just
stay right there.

They'll be let out
in the morning...

In time to catch
your stage to Richmond.

You sure know an awful lot.

Well, I do know
how to ask questions.

How come you brought me here?

You stuck up for me.

I... I could hardly leave you
just lying there.

Besides, you called me lady.
That was very nice.

I, uh, got some soup here.
You want some?

Where you from?

New Orleans.

Your folks there?

Hm, step-daddy.

But I'm forgettin' him
as fast as I can.

Your friends tell me
you're from west Texas.

Yes, ma'am.

Is your family there?

Well, uh...

Indian's got 'em
when I was little.

I've been on my own ever since.

We're kind of alike,
then, aren't we?

I mean, we're both alone,
sort of.

Yeah, I guess.

Well, uh...

I sure wanna thank you
for everything you've done.

I guess I gotta be goin'.

Well, you don't have to go.

Oh... yes, I do.

You got no place to sleep.

Well, I, uh... can't stay here.

Well... why not?

Well, I mean, uh...

No place.

My name is Gabrielle.
Gabrielle duprey.

Um, buck Burnett.

Well, yes, I know.

You did say
I was nice, didn't you?

Yes, ma'am. You're nice to me.

Well, then let me go on
being nice to you, buck.

Please?

You don't really know me.

I know everything
I need to know.

You're decent, gentle...

You don't... you don't know
how long it's been since...

Since I've met
anybody like that.

I want you to stay.

I want you to stay so very much.

It's so much better
than an alarm clock.

What are you doing down there?

You... you sleep
kind of all flung out.

Hmm.

Come on up here.

Come on.

This was scratchy.

Yeah?

Hmm.

Mmm.

That better?

Mm-hmm.

Your best girl gave this to you?

No.

You do have a best girl,
though, don't you?

Nah.

West Texas ain't much on girls.

Hmm.

What there is is all kind of
stringy and burnt up.

From sun and wind, I bet.

Nothin' like you.

And all those, uh,
Indian squaws...

Aren't some of them pretty?

And so available, hmm?

You sure sound
like you know an awful lot.

Well... you do know an awful lot.

Well, I'm just born a natural.

Probably when you find
your best girl, you'll...

You'll give this to her, huh?

I ain't thought much about it.

You gotta go to this awful war?

Sure.

But I'll tell you,
I ain't... I ain't so anxious

to get there now
as I was yesterday.

Now...

No, no. Don't...
Don't start that blubberin'.

I better get dressed
and round up my ringtails.

Think I'd waste my time cryin'
over some wild man from Texas?

You're pretty sure
of yourself, aren't you?

Yep. That's me.

Buck, would you mind

if I came down to the stage
to see you off?

No, I'd take
real kindly to that.

I mean, that'd probably be the
last time I see you, I guess.

Hey, uh, listen. I, uh...

Yes?

Uh, nothin'.

It's the 8:00 east.

You remember that.

I'll remember.

I'm very good at remembering...

If I want to.

You look like the tail end
of the yankee army.

You don't look
so sprightly yourself, buck.

I don't know.

He looks pretty good,
considering. Considerin' what?

Considerin' that pretty
little filly drug you off.

Where you been all night?
Not that we have to ask.

Bet they weren't doin'
no square dancin'.

Well, never mind.

Oh, maybe that wasn't
no ordinary filly.

Stage gonna leave on time?

Yup. Right on time.

Well, let's load her up.

Come on, move.

Buck?

I was afraid
I was gonna miss you.

You pretty near did.

I brought you
a going-away present.

What is this?

They're oranges.
All the way from Florida.

This is the first I ever seen.

Oh, I... that's a garter.

Something maybe
your best girl would give you.

Ain't that somethin'.

Well, uh, I'll write you

when I get to where I'm goin'.

I'll write to you.

I'll, uh...
I'll be coming back, and, uh,

if nothing happens, uh,
maybe you'll wait.

Come on, Texas,
if you're comin'.

You mean, you...

Then... then...

Then you won't mind if...

If I pretend that I really am
your best girl,

will you?

Well, uh...

I reckon I knew that all along.

Come on, buck.
You're holdin' us up.

I'll pray for you.

Good-bye.

Giddy up there!

I'll be back.

Them west-Texas ponies,
or I'll eat 'em raw!

What are them mud-rubbers tryin'
to do... scare them to death?

No! That ain't the way!

What do you think you're doin'?

You ain't herdin' chickens
out there.

You don't handle horses
that way.

Oh, you double-blue bunch
of damn yankee rejects, you!

Don't those gray-backs know
nothin' about horses at all?

They keep that up,

they'll chase 'em
clear to the next county.

Well, we come to help out,

and it sure looks like
they need it. Come on, Miller.

Ha ha ha!

That's the way!

All right, all you clods
with the two left feet,

get outta there and let them
country boys handle the horses.

Oh, boys...

We surely are
obliged to you all.

Oh, nothin' to it.
It's just like back home.

I'm Mercer Barnes,

first sergeant with these
here pensacola light blues.

This is tellis Yeager.
He's a corporal.

How do you do, corporal?
Pleased to meet you.

We're the concho county
comanches.

On the way to Richmond

to join up with
general hood's Texas brigade.

Richmond, Virginia.

Oh, ho ho! Uh...

We might be able to make it
a little easier for you.

Come to the tent.
The colonel wants to see you.

Eh, he a real colonel?

Double registered in stamp.

Doggone, we're gonna
meet a colonel.

Come on.

So, you meanin' to sign up?

Yes, sir.
As soon as we get to Richmond.

Maybe I can help.

How'd you like
to sign up here and now?

Kind of return you
the favor you did us.

Say, that'd be fine.

We'd be on army pay
from right now, sir?

That's what I mean.

I reckon' that'd be fine,
colonel.

We appreciate it.

Glad to do it, boys.

Face the flag
and raise your right hands.

All of you say "I do"
after this oath.

Do each of you solemnly swear

to protect the
sovereignty and the honor

of the confederate states
of america now and henceforth

with life and limb
so help you god?

Of the army of the confederacy.

Congratulations. Sergeant?

Sir! About face!

That means turn to your right.

That's the way, boys.

Forward, march!

Well, sergeant,
there's the stage, so...

I guess you best be fixin'
to wave good-bye to it,

'cause you're in the army now...

The pensacola light blues.

Hyah!

Hey, now, wait a minute...

Uh-uh.

But we're going to
Richmond. Virginia.

Oh, no, you ain't.

First off, you're going
to corinth, Mississippi.

Than you're going to Tennessee

and on up to Shiloh
with 20,000 infantry

'cause we're fixin' to shove
that there general Grant

and them blue-belly soldiers
of his plum into lake eerie.

Uh, we're not infantry.
We're cavalry.

Ha, the only cavalry
you're gonna see

is the south end
of them northbound horses.

'Cause colonel boykin
needs someone

to handle general bragg's
remounts, and you're it.

Well, just who is
this general bragg?

General bragg?

He is your commanding officer.

And he is the meanest,
the nastiest,

the shortest-tempered
human being

that you're ever
gonna meet up with.

Hut! Hut, hut, hut..

Let's get them horses tied down.

Sergeant Barnes!

Sir! Get those men over here!

Yes, sir, general bragg.

All right, all you long-hairs.

Fall in over here
by the general! Come on!

Colonel! Why aren't
those men in uniform?

Hasn't anybody told them
anything about military discipline?

Sir, they've been busy
taking care of your remounts...

I don't want excuses. I want
them to look and act like soldiers.

Yes, sir.

Well...

Which one of you is
the best hand with a horse?

Oh, hell's bells, general.

We're all half horse.

You're gonna be half skinned

if you don't start talking
like a soldier!

You'll learn to say,
"yes, sir," and "no, sir,"

when addressed by an officer...
Is that clear?

Clear as a pimple
on the end of your...

Yes, sir.

All right.

Which man's the best hand
with a horse?

That'd be our captain,
sir. Buck Burnett.

Burnett, step out.

That's me, general.
It's a pleasure to know you.

Are you people deliberately
trying to antagonize me?

Oh, no, sir.

All right, Burnett,
you stay with me.

Colonel, take these men down.
See they get outfitted.

Wait... you ain't
bustin' us up, are you?

What did you say?!

What I mean, general,
is if we could

just hunker down and
chaw it out some,

maybe we could figure
this whole thing out.

Do you, by any chance,
mean talk?

Well, yeah, I guess so.

What he's trying to say,
sir, is...

All right, never let it
be said that Braxton bragg

didn't listen
to the voices of his men.

Go ahead, soldier. Talk.

Well, sir,
seein' as how eubie and me

and the rest of the boys
come all the way

from paint rock
across on the concho,

it sure don't seem right
that you're splittin' us up

right about when there's
some fightin' to be done.

Hell, no, general.
Just think about it.

Us concho county comanches

are the damndest yankee
killers you ever did see.

Bet there ain't a whole troop in
the confederate army better than us.

You tie that hard and fast to your
saddle, general. We come here to fight.

Colonel, put this man
under arrest.

You pick out the best pony
and bring him to my tent.

Wait a minute! Why's
he goin' to arrest me for?

I don't reckon he went
through the proper channels.

No harm done, boys.

We'll get you
iookin' like soldiers,

and you'll feel better.
Come along.

Follow the colonel, will ya.

Come on.

Buck!

Buck Burnett!

Over here!

Whoo! Tennessee's got
the wettest rain I ever did see!

Hi, boys.
How are you, little bit?

What you been doin'?

Oh, shovelin'. How 'bout you?

We've been drillin',
and right-facin', about-facin'

till we're flat fed up with it.

Got the chill baloons.
Can't shake 'em.

He's got a fever, too.

We had to come see you.

Come on.

Buck, this whole thing ain't
working out the way we figured.

Yeah, we're horse soldiers.
They got us scratching gravel.

I reckon the army knows best.

I think we oughtta
get outta here

and head for Virginia
like we started.

We can't do that.
That'd be desertion.

Anyways, we're movin' up
the line tomorrow.

I guess we'll get
to see enough fightin'.

You know, I been thinkin'.

I ain't got a damn thing
against a yankee.

I ain't never seen one.

Well, it's just war.

We're southerners.

We gotta fight.

It's a matter of freedom.

Whose freedom?

Like that slave
we took in, buck?

Look what happened to him.

What happened to him?

Never mind, eubie.

No, I wanna know.
What happened to him?

They hung him!

They took him into the sheriff,
and the sheriff hung him.

That the truth, buck?

Yeah, I guess it is.

That colonel... he lied!

That don't make sense.
Why'd they do that?

I don't know.

He ran away to be free.

Isn't that what we're
here for... to be free?

A lot of things just don't
make no more sense.

They way them folks thew us
out of the cotillion in medoda,

j.c. Gettin' killed,

us busted up
and now gettin' ready

to go to a battle
we don't know anything about...

Not even why!

Well... I can tell ya
it's gonna be a battle.

I overheard general bragg
and general bauregard arguing

as to how we're supposed
to move up against the Yankees.

You know, bragg lost.

When it was over,
he come and say to me,

"boy, you know any prayers?“

I sa' I ll d, yes, sir"

he said, uh...

"Say 'em, boy. Say 'em."

Man, that's dismal.

Hey.

Bet you five to one
you don't make it.

Make it ten to one, buck.

You'll make some money.

Hey, you know, I just talked
to that sergeant Barnes.

He says you're just playing sick

so you don't have to fight
no Yankees tomorrow.

Oh, you don't gotta
say nothin', buck.

It's just you're here.

Hey, now, you be quiet, huh?

You know,
it don't seem right, buck.

I mean... we come all this way.

I'm dyin' for...

Nobody's dyin'.

Hey, uh,
you know what I'm doin'?

I'm takin' care
of one broken down plug.

You know that old bay
the general rides?

Ain't that a laugh?

Well, all I gotta do
is just keep him saddled up

and ready as a tent.

Ain't that a way to fight a war?

You slack off, buck.

You ain't foolin' nobody.

You just sit there, huh?

Take it easy, bit.

Buck?!

The candle's out.

Now, gentlemen.
Mark well the hour.

Will you listen to that.

Sir.

You tell general Johnson
word for word

that I have hit sherman

and I'm driving them back
toward the river.

But there's an opening
in my right flank,

and I want it closed.
You got that?

Yes, sir.

Howdy, buck.

Oh, todo.

What you go and do?

Hell of a mess; Ain't it, buck?

Everything just...
Just came apart.

Well, uh...

Better not talk.

Got some water, buck?

Yeah.

I'll get it, todo.

Miller!

Miller.

Buck!

Well, Texas!
You made it this far.

Hey, I thought you was a runner.

Where's your horse?

Got killed back here.

I gotta get through
to general Johnson.

Oh, you ain't heard.

Johnson's dead.

He caught a yankee miniball.

That's a fact.

I heard bauregard's
taken over command.

Well, soon as I get a horse,

I better hightail it
back to bragg.

I don't hardly reckon
you can do that, neither.

Sherman done bust it through
on the left.

There's a couple yankee
regiments 'tween us and bragg.

Why don't you come along
with us, buck?

Um, might as well.

Where you goin'?

I'll tell you
we'll go on down this road

and through them trees.

There's Yankees
on the other side.

Miller, uh...

Todo's dead.

I saw him get it.

Hoped he'd make it through.

Here you go, Texas.

Everything you need
for squirrel shootin'.

All right, let's
move out. Come on.

How 'bout the rest of them?

Well, we ain't done
so good, buck.

This war ain't workin' out
the way I thought.

Willie bill got a miniball
right between the eyes.

Eubie?

Well, the Yankees were
shellin' us something awful.

One of them mortars
and a big gun ball

blew up right on us, and eubie
just wasn't there no more.

Oh, damn.

Sure ain't nothin'
like I thought it'd be.

Listen, there's Yankees
on the other side of this Ridge,

and we're gonna get 'em.

You best fasten on
your pig stickers.

I figured them Yankees would
take one look at us and run.

Hmm. They ain't about to.

They don't give up easy.

Well, I don't understand it.

We're fightin' for the south.
They invaded us.

What they got to fight about?

Whatever it is,
they're sold on it.

All right. Let's go!

Hey, Texas!

Texas!

It's me, Texas.

Mercer Barnes.

What happened?

Oh, the company got shot up
all over the place.

I've been trying to round up
what's left of them.

How long you all been in here?

I don't know.

I was runnin',
and everything blew up.

Miller?

Miller, that you?

That ain't Miller.

We got a yank in here?

Texas, there's
an old sayin' amongst soldiers.

When the miniballs is flyin'

and the artillery's
hotter than hell,

there ain't no such thing
as an enemy.

Besides, he was in here first.

Don't hardly seem neighborly
to throw him out now.

Hi, reb.

Hello.

He's feelin' kinda poorly.

Caught one in the belly.

Yeah, more than likely.

Bad enough
he's bleedin' to death.

No sense he gotta
get pneumonia, too.

Well, I surely wouldn't know
where we could go.

There's an old church
up the road.

You fellas give me a hand,
I'd guide you.

What do you think?

Well, it would beat drownin',
I reckon.

Yeah, come on. Let's go.

Gimme your hand, yank.

Come on.

Come on, Texas.

I got a gun here that says
you better put that light out.

And shut that door!

Why no light?

Because old bragg's
got his damned provost

out hunting down them that
strayed from the fightin'.

Guess he figures too many of us
is gettin' lost deliberately.

This ain't good.

We don't wanna get caught
with these here stragglers.

Old bragg... he's shoot us first,
and then ask the questions.

He's shoot me sure.

I'm awol. I better get back.

No, I reckon
he figures you're dead.

That ain't no never mind.

I ain't, and I was a runner.

Buck!

You made it!

I thought sure
you'd stopped a miniball.

It found me whole.

I got a friend here
who's goin' fast.

He could purely use
some scripture readin'.

Anybody know any?

My father's a preacher
up in Boston.

Boys, we got
a blue-belly in with us.

I don't know what color
his belly is,

but it's bleeding red now.

He's gut-shot.

Let the yankee read.

Reckon it's the same Bible.

Come on, boy.

Somebody... make a light.

I... I dearly wanna look
at his face.

Bragg's provost
will see the light.

The hell with bragg's provost.

My friend's dyin'.
Somebody light up!

"He opened his mouth
and talked to them, saying,"

"blessed are
the poor in spirit,"

"for theirs
is the kingdom of heaven."

"Blessed are they that mourn,
for they shall be comforted."

"Blessed are the meek,"

"for they shall inherit
the earth."

"Blessed are the peacemakers,"

“for they shall be called
children of god."

"Love thy enemies."

"Bless them that curse you."

"Do good unto them
that hate you.“

"and pray for them
which despitefully use you"

"and persecute you."

"The lord is my Shepherd."

“I shall not want."

"He maketh me to lie down
in green pastures."

“He ieadeth me
beside the still waters.“

"he restoreth my soul."

Buck, somebody's out there.

Come on.

Everybody put up your hands!

You're all under arrest!

All right, boys. Move out.
Come on, get out!

Come on!

You all right?

Come on,
we gotta get outta here!

Come on!

I'm sorry, Texas.

I gotta help him.

You gotta help yourself!

Miller?

Ain't nothin' you can do!

Anyway, them provost
would kill you

'fore you got
anyplace close to him.

You can't hardly move
with that arm of yours.

Now, listen to me.

Old bragg is too busy
with troubles of his own

to have him shot right away.

Maybe we can
do something later on.

All right, Mercer.

All right.

I ain't letting bragg or
god almighty shoot my friend.

You hear that, Mercer?

Mr. Burnett, what do
you think you're doing?

Oh, uh...

I... I sure wanna thank you
for everything you've done,

bein' so nice and all.

I just gotta
be gettin' outta here.

Oh, but the doctor
didn't say you could go.

I reckon he's got more
important things on his mind.

Anyhow, I know more about
how good I feel than he does.

Uh, ma'am, is, uh...

General bragg's provost
office here in town?

At the railroad station.

But you shouldn't go.

Well, I reckon'
if I don't get word

to general bragg
that I'm all right,

well, he just
won't sleep nights.

Anyway...

I gotta see
about a friend of mine.

Well, I guess I can't stop you.

When you see Gabrielle,
give her my regards.

How come you know about her?

After they took your arm off,

when you were delirious,

well, she's
all you talked about.

Hmm.

Is she a nice girl?

Oh, uh, yes, ma'am.

Mighty nice.

Thank you.

Buck!

Hey, Texas!

I know'd you'd be
one of the lucky ones!

One hell of a lucky boy.

What are you doing
on provost duty?

Well, the light blues
got so busted up,

there wasn't enough of us left
to even stand roll.

They sent old tellis
and me down here.

How ya been?

Oh, fit as pie.

Short one wing,
but I can manage.

Well, I figured
that night at the church

you was likely to lose it...
I'm sorry.

Oh, I'm still here.

Kind of a shame that
the only time you was wounded

had to be by a southern bullet.

Kind of a friendly wound
that way.

Say, seein' as how
you're on provost duty,

maybe you can tell me
what's happened to Miller.

Uh... I got me
a detachment to take care of.

You tell him, tellis.

Uh... tell me what?

Buck, I'd rather be
in your shape than Miller's.

He escaped.

Had him chained up
on a working party.

Don't know exactly
what happened,

but he swung that chain,
laid out his guard,

and took off.

The only thing is...

He split that guard's head
wide open.

He killed him, buck.

Oh, no.

General bragg put out
special orders on him.

Get him dead or alive...
Just as soon dead.

Well, they won't catch
old Miller.

He'll run like a jackrabbit.

Well, not no more he don't.

A cracker named youngerford

says a tall fellow like Miller

tried to hide in his barn.

Says he put a bullet into him.

Appears he's still in the barn.

Mercers are fixin'
to go get him now.

Man do a thing like that...
Shoot him?

Lotta no-account crackers.

They been makin' a business
turnin' boys over to the provost.

Where you say this place is at?

Youngerford's.
It's, uh, ten miles out.

We'll get him.

Yeah, I reckon.

That's a mighty fine horse.

That... that yours, tellis?

No. It's Mercer's.

And it stays there,
in case you got any ideas.

I'm a friend of yours.

Well, yeah...

But you texans is a wild bunch.

Well, now.

Hey, now, ain't that
colonel boykin?

I thought he was dead.

Where?

Hey, you!

Hey, there, buck!

Come back here, buck!
Come back here!

He got your horse, Mercer!

Oh, there's lots more horses.

Oh, damn, damn, damn it all!

Now there's two of 'em
I gotta get.

Miller?

Buck?

Buck?

You, uh...

Hit bad?

Yeah.

Pretty bad.

In the belly?

That's where it came out.

I was kinda hopin' you'd come.

We're gettin' outta here.

We're goin' to Texas.

No... I can't move, buck.

I'm all froze up
and dried out inside.

Likely to kill me, at first.

Now it don't hardly hurt at all.

Oh, we'll make it.

You'll make it.

It's only two days
to the big river.

You go on back to Texas.

You ain't a captain no more.

You gotta go.

You go back to vicksburg,

pick up that girl.

Buck...

Huh?

I hit that guard pretty hard.

Did I hurt him bad?

You killed him, Miller.

I didn't mean to.

I know, Miller.

They said
they was gonna shoot me.

Now, what did I do
to get shot for?

I don't know.

I don't know nothin'
about this damned war.

Todo...

Eubie...

Little bit,

Willie bill, j.C...

They're all dead.

Shh...

We didn't make much
of a splash, now, did we?

That pretty girl in mendota...

She said we was
southern patriots.

Remember when
we kissed her hand?

Yeah...

I remember.

Now, wasn't that somethin'?

We sure done some iivin',
ain't we, buck?

Oh, we're gonna do
a whole lot more.

Somebody's outside.
Provost is after me.

No. Ain't nobody.

You better get goin' now, buck.

I ain't gonna be here
for long now.

Miller?

You wanna pray?

I already done my praying.

I'm glad you're with me.

You and Miller come
with your hands up!

We got this place surrounded!

We gettin' outta here!

Please!

Please! God, buck.
Don't move me.

Oh, Miller.

I'll get you outta here, Miller.

I'll cover you
from up here, Miller.

They ain't gonna get you.
I promise.

Buck, this is the last time
I'm gonna ask you!

Sergeant Barnes?

Sir.

What are you doing here?

There's a couple of
deserters in the barn, sir.

Well, drag 'em out
and shoot 'em.

Uh, yes, sir.

One of them's one of them Texas
boys... was your horse orderly.

That buck Burnett, sir.

He's in there? A deserter?

Yes, sir.

He was in the hospital,
though, sir.

And, uh, well...

Yeah, I reckon you gotta
call him a deserter.

He... he stole a horse

and come out here iookin'
for his friend corporal nalls...

The one that killed the guard.

Let's get him outta there.

Barnes?

It's nalls, general.

He's dead.

Where's the other one?

He's gotta be
in here some place.

That's my horse he stole,
tied up outside.

Uh, with the general's
permission, sir,

the way I heard it,
it was seven of them come out

all the way from west Texas
to join up.

Nobody made them.

Just boys, they was.

Well...

Well, this Burnett...

He's the last one
of them left alive!

Seems kind of a shame
to hunt down the last one.

One of them
oughtta get back to Texas!

He stole a horse and deserted!

In my army,
we shoot men for that.

Yeah, I know.

It just seems a shame.

I... I know'd all of them boys.

There's no room for
sentiment in the army.

No... I reckon there ain't.

Discipline is discipline.

A soldier obeys orders
or suffers for it.

Is that clear?

That's clear, general.

Sergeant!

Where the hell are you going?!

I'm goin' up there
and dig him out.

A man would be a fool
to hide in the hayloft.

Why, that boy's half way
to Texas by now.

But my horse
is still tied up outside.

Are you arguing
with me, sergeant?

No, sir.

All right.

Get that man's body
on the wagon,

and let's get out of here.

We got too much to do

to waste time runnin' down
one Texas straggler.

Yes, sir, general!

Sergeant!

Are you trying to aggravate me?

What are you doing?!

I was just fixin'
to take my horse along, sir.

Leave that horse. Send a detail out
to pick up that horse in the morning.

Yes, sir.

Course, with all
these stragglers around,

I'd be willing to bet

that horse won't be here
in the morning.

Just follow orders, sergeant.

Yes, sir. As a matter of fact,

I'd be willing to say
that horse is gone

while we're a mile
down the road!

Move your men out!

Giddyup!

J“ there were
seven boys from Texas j“

j“ rode off to fight a war j“

j“ they rode as far as Shiloh j“

j“ and never saw no more j“

j“ Miller nalls,
he died a-bleedin' j“

j“ from a bounty hunter's gun j“

j“ and todo went to glory j“

j“ beneath the blood-red sun j“

j“ eubie's laughter
never more is heard j“

j“ a mortar killed him dead j“

j“ and Willie fell a-runnin' j“

j“ a bullet in his head j“

j“ little bit,
he coughed his life out j“

j“ for him, the war was done j“

j“ and j.C. Sutton's
fastest gun j“

j“ had met a faster one j“

j“ just one rode back to Texas j“

j“ to tell the story there j“

j“ across the big, wide river j“

j“ to the girl with silken hair j“