40 Guns to Apache Pass

For years following the Civil War

the question was whether Indians or the United States Army

would control Arizona Territory.

Bands of hostile Apaches roamed the countryside.

Only the courage and dedication of a few brave fighting men

kept the Territory from being completely overrun.

In the summer of 1869,

Cochise, bold chief of the Chiricahua Apaches,

made a brutal vow to kill every man, woman and child in southern Arizona.

Many of the settlers in the area

had already felt the fury of Cochise's bloody oath.

A small detail of United States cavalrymen

were escorting the survivors to a hastily-established outpost.

There, the Army was determined to make a last-ditch stand.

I know how to spell our name.

Go work.

Hey! Hey, look!

It's Bruce.

Don't get your hopes up, sis, when the Captain comes courting

he doesn't bring a crowd of people.

- Ellen. - It's good to see you, Bruce.

Is something wrong?

- Your pa at the house? - Yeah.

Let's go talk to him.

Isn't that the Carter family?

What's left of them. Apaches hit this morning.

Your place will be next.

Sure glad you came to stand them off, Captain.

We make our stand at Apache Wells.

Oh, you're going to have a hard time talking Pa into leaving.

They all wanted to stay, too.

The Apaches made a pretty good argument against it.

Sergeant Walker.

Have some of the men find their wagon.

Pitch it up and bring it to the house.

Captain, wait. Don't you think you ought to talk to Pa first?

I think he'll understand.

Pa!

Captain Coburn.

Mrs Malone.

- Cochise's gone on the war path. - What?

We're escorting the settlers into Apache Wells.

I didn't ask for any escorting.

Neither did they, Cochise sent his braves to burn them out.

Pa knows how to deal with the Apaches.

There's no dealing with them, Mike. How many guns do you have?

Just this one.

She's never failed me yet.

Look, Mr Malone. Our job is to protect you people.

We can't put soldiers at every farm house.

You've got to come in where our strength is concentrated.

You better listen to him, Harry.

Kate.

We have given ten long years of hard work to build up this place.

And you'll give your life if you try to hang onto it.

Cochise made a vow he'd kill every white man in southern Arizona.

Looks like he's already started.

Now this is no time to argue.

I'm not going to let you stay here and get killed.

Well, I guess it's the only way.

It'll take me a little while to pack.

Sorry, ma'am, we can't wait.

Troopers will bring your wagon around.

Be ready to go when it gets here.

Come on, Ma.

Pick up what you can, kids.

Captain, shall I order the men to dismount?

Sergeant Walker gives the orders.

I know that, sir, but the men asked me to talk to you.

They're complaining you're driving them too hard. They need a rest.

They can rest when we get back to camp.

I know, Captain, but we got to stop somewhere.

There's water, hay for the horses.

We can stand off the Apaches here as good as any other place.

Bodine, are you talking command of this outfit?

No, sir.

When I was a sergeant the officers used to listen to what I had to say.

Is that why they broke you to Corporal?

They'll need me again, sir.

Maybe they will, but by God I don't.

If you give me one more bit of trouble

I'll bust you all the way back to Privey.

Now, mount up.

Yes, sir.

Locking horns with the Captain again, Bodine?

I don't back off for nobody, Sergeant.

Well, that's why you're here.

You and a dozen more like it that nobody else could handle.

Sergeant, I want to tell you something.

He might break the rest of them but he won't even make a dent in me.

- Sergeant Walker? - Hello.

Put a match to it, no use leaving anything for Cochise.

Whoa!

Captain Coburn drove the settlers hard all day,

but nightfall and weariness finally forced a halt.

I want your complete cooperation tonight.

If we're attacked they'll probably hit the wagons and the horses first.

I want you people to bed down right up there in those rocks.

There'll be no fires, no noise.

Be ready to move out at daylight.

- We don't have much water, sir. - I know.

Give the women and children what they need, save the rest for the horses.

- Get them started, Sergeant. - Yes, sir.

All right. Bring your belongings and come with me.

Look, Captain, what about us troopers?

We're just as thirsty as they are.

We've been riding in the hot sun all day.

It won't hurt you to go one night without water.

- Look, Capt... - That's all, Bodine.

You know, we'd better get ready to help if there's Indian trouble.

Let's ask the Captain if he'll lend us a couple of rifles.

You know how I am with guns, Mike. Can't hit the broad side of a barn!

Well, if those Apaches get close, you'll learn fast enough.

Any chance those Apaches will hit tonight, Captain?

They don't let me in on their plans always, Mike.

Just try to keep ready.

Doug and I would like to help if you'd let us have a couple rifles.

I appreciate the offer but I don't have enough guns to arm my own men.

Well, then I guess we'll have to sharpen up the old axe, huh?

Many a battle has been won with less.

Hey, Mike, Doug? Come on, give me help.

Here. Ma and Pa went up the hill, you can take them up, huh?

All right.

Oh!

It's been a long time since we've been able to talk to each other.

Over a month, Colonel hasn't been too generous with leave time lately.

Oh, well you won't have any more excuses.

I'll be right there at Apache Wells.

I won't be looking for excuses.

Come on, I'll walk you.

Mm, uh-uh. I like it right here.

Listen to that lonely sound.

Probably a lonely Apache scout.

Did you come out here just to protect me from the Indians?

Well, not exactly but...

They'd give anything for a scalp as pretty as that one.

How about you? Hmm?

It'd be awful easy to hand it to you.

Why don't you?

I'm not a very good bet for a girl like you.

Men in my business don't stick around too long.

Your warning comes a bit late, Bruce.

I'm going up the hill, see you later.

You know that's all the water we have.

You'd never do that if you weren't hiding behind those Captain's bars.

I'm not hiding behind anything, Bodine.

I fought in this army for ten years before they pinned these on me.

I don't need them now.

Oh?

You mean you're willing to forget you're an officer

and reckon man to man?

I've tried everything else with you.

I guess that's the only language you understand.

Captain! Captain!

Captain, you'll kill him, sir.

Pick those horses up and put a guard on the water.

Yes, sir.

Apache Wells, Arizona territory.

Colonel Homer Reed in command of a troop of cavalry

whose assignment was to hold the lonely outpost at any cost

and to protect the settlers in the adjacent area.

Nearby families had already taken refuge here,

only the most distant ranches remained to be accounted for.

Attention! At ease.

- That Captain Coburn's outfit? - No sir, that's the morning patrol.

Captain was due back yesterday, wasn't he, sir?

I'll send a detail if they don't return by nightfall.

The old man is lost if Coburn is not around.

It'd suit me if that stiff-necked Captain never came back.

Bugler! Sound assembly.

Take care of your wounded.

The rest of you, hold your posts. They might come back.

- Good work, Sergeant. - Thank you, sir.

Captain and me have ridden together for a long time.

Can't lose him this close to home.

These Apaches are getting bolder.

I thought they'd follow you into camp.

Maybe next time they will.

I'm getting sick and tired of having to turn and run

every time an Apache sticks his head up.

When are we getting those new rifles, Colonel?

I've put in requests at least a dozen times.

Army keeps sending back excuses instead of rifles.

They give us an impossible job and no tools to do it with.

How long do you think we could hold this place against an all-out attack?

Not long with our old worn-out guns.

You think Cochise would risk all his forces on a frontal assault?

He's smart, Colonel.

When our patrols can't stand and fight it shows weakness.

He won't be long in taking advantage of it.

At least you got the settlers here where our power is concentrated.

Show them where to set up camp, will you?

Yes, sir.

Bodine.

Why didn't you pick him up?

I don't know what you're talking about.

Stand up when I'm talking to you!

You heard me call.

With all that shooting?

I didn't hear nothing.