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Here we go.

Oh, thank you.

There's some benches inside, Mrs. Summers.

You take a seat while I unload the baggage.

Thank you.

Excuse me, ma'am?

Would you be Rose Beckett?

- Why, yes, I am. - Ah, good.

I'm Hoss Cartwright, I'm Ben Cartwright's son.

Oh, I'm delighted to meet you.

Glad to meet you, ma'am.

Uh, that shotgun out there referred to you as Mrs. Summers.

That sort of threw me for a minute.

Oh, well, well, I'm Rose. And this is my daughter, Bluebird.

Howdy.

Uh, could couldn't your father come?

No, ma'am, he sort of deputized me.

But he'll be back at the ranch by the time we get there.

Oh, it'll be good to see him.

Yeah, well, can we get your bags and go?

Well, I'd like to send a telegram before we go.

We only have two bags.

Bluebird knows which ones they are, she could show you.

Oh, fine. Come on, Bluebird.

My, what a pretty name you got for such a little gal.

I, I'd like to send a telegram, please.

All righty.

Traffic's a little heavy here today, but we'll get it through for you.

- Ah. - Where's it going?

To Mr. Mosnar M-O-S-N-A-R,

Fort Baker, Nevada.

Just say: "Arrived safe and well."

And how do we sign it?

"Love, Katie."

All right, as soon as this line comes open,

we'll send it right off.

Who's that, Mr. Liscomb?

He one of that Ransom Gang?

I ain't heard anybody ask who you are, friend.

Got the message. She's at the Ponderosa.

Is that McCleod?

Yes, sir. She's here.

And I was holding your mother on my knee,

just the way I'm holding you on my knee now,

and she was just a little girl, too.

- She was six years old. - I'm almost seven.

Oh, well, I think your mother was exactly six.

And she looked at me with great big tears in her eyes.

And I said, "You're not afraid of me, are you, Rosie?"

And she didn't answer, she was so shy.

And then Uncle Ben made a funny face,

and I started to laugh.

Why don't we go in the other room, give Hop Sing a chance?

- I'll help, Hop Sing. - No, no, no.

- You go inside with Uncle Ben, dear. - All right.

Oh, Jamie, I've got a great idea for our young visitor.

You know that big stack of picture books in your room?

Um, yes, sir,

but I've got an awful lot of homework to do tonight.

Oh, that's too bad.

Just when there's a lovely young lady to entertain, too.

Well, they'd be kind of old for her.

I'm six going on seven, Mr. Cartwright.

All right, you come with me.

But you don't have to call me Mr. Cartwright.

You can call me Jamie.

Boy, he really didn't want to have to bother with Bluebird.

- I had a feeling he didn't. - She's a pretty little girl,

- though, isn't she? - Yeah.

- Her mother's pretty too. - Yes, she is.

Yeah, there's one thing that puzzles me about her.

- Only one? - Yeah.

If she's on her way out to California to live with relatives...

Oh, wait a minute, the letter said she was on her way west.

Well, whatever but to live with relatives,

and that's what puzzles me.

I mean, there ain't nobody mentioned a Mr. Summers yet.

Well, I imagine, uh, she will when she's ready to.

Shh, she's asleep.

Arithmetic.

They always say how rough and ready boys are.

I always marvel at their tenderness.

Mmm.

- Mommy! Mommy! - It's all right.

It's all right, it's... Oh, it's all right, Bluebird.

I'm here, you're safe.

I thought the bad men got me.

Oh, no, darling, it's Uncle Ben, look.

He loves you.

You're safe and you're loved.

Go back to sleep.

She'll be all right.

Ben, I can't thank you enough for making us so welcome.

Well, you haven't even said how long you're going to stay.

- Well, I don't know, Ben. - Well, if it's a matter

of being more comfortable, there's a room right next door

- you can use as a sitting room... - Could we talk about it tomorrow?

I'm just so tired.

Of course.

But just as you told your daughter,

you're safe and you're loved.

Going out to lunch.

Say half an hour.

Roger.

I think he made a copy of the message sent to that Mr. Mosnar at Fort Baker.

And I know darn well he copied this one.

Calls himself Brown.

Well, Chad, there's an awful lot of Browns, you know?

Ah, he claims to be a company inspector.

Even showed me a letter.

But Sheriff, I've had inspectors come and spend

three or four hours, not three days.

He's been over everything in that office, some of it twice.

That ain't normal, is it?

Well, you'd know more about that than I would.

Mosnar. M-O-S-N-A-R is Ransom.

R-A-N-S-O-M. That's clear.

Either that telegrapher at Fort Baker

was completely fooled, or he's in with 'em.

Could Ransom have a telegrapher with him to tap the line?

Every telegrapher has a style of his own,

and this came in the hand of the man at Fort Baker.

If it's an imitation, Ransom's got a real good man.

And their cleverly coded rendezvous

their "Christmas Tree" that's somewhere,

- between here and Fort Baker? - Yes.

And anywhere up to a six hour ride, either side of that telegraph line.

Well, we've just got to keep watching and following...

Mr. Brown? I'm Sheriff Coffee.

Well, what can I do for you, Sheriff?

Well, I understand that you're an inspector

for the telegraph company, and I'd like to see your credentials.

Sheriff Coffee, step in, if you please.

How did you find us here?

Oh, just asking a few of the right questions, I guess.

May I ask your interest in Mr. Brown's activities?

I think you've got the shoe on the wrong foot, mister.

It's Major. Donahue.

Provost Marshal's office, Washington, D.C.

- Mmhmm. - This is Sergeant Brown,

Trooper Twohy, Trooper Spence.

Welcome to my jurisdiction, gentlemen.

Our business in Virginia City is strictly confidential.

We're in pursuit of an elusive and dangerous criminal gang

specifically, of its leader, a fugitive from Federal justice.

No such thing around here. If there was, I'd know about it.

You know about the Ransom gang?

Yeah, Arizona, Mexican border.

The Ransom gang is in Nevada, Sheriff.

We've intercepted their messages.

Sgt. Brown is a specialist.

Gee, that's good to know. I, I'd better...

Do nothing. I know Cody Ransom.

From personal contact and years of watchful waiting.

If he discovers me before I take him,

I assure you, he is vicious.

He will wreak his vengeance on the innocent and the helpless.

I've heard a lot of stories about that gang, but...

I have federal troops at my disposal, should I need them.

In the interest of the safety of your people,

I ask you officially, Sheriff, to do nothing,

say nothing to anyone that would expose my position.

You understand?

Well, I understand, but why Virginia City?

I was going to ask you that question myself.

- You know the rancher Cartwright? - Yes.

Is there any question of his loyalty or his obedience to law?

You don't think he's mixed up in this, do you?

I know he is. I make no charge.

He is involved, either as a coconspirator,

or as a victim of conspiracy, and potentially of violence.

Bluebird?

Ben, Jamie, have you seen Bluebird?

Oh, she's been playing around here all morning.

- Yeah. - Bluebird?

Find her for me, would you, would you?

Maybe she's around back. I'll look.

- Bluebird? - She can't be far.

Here she is.

There.

Please don't shout.

I'm sorry. You know your mother is calling you.

I know, I could hear her.

Well, why didn't you answer her?

That's all right.

Darling, it's time to wash up for dinner.

Can I take my rabbit?

Uh, I'll tell you what, Bluebird.

I think the rabbit wants to stay here with its mother.

Look, let's us go in and eat

and then after you get done eating we'll come

and pay him a visit, all right?

- All right. - All right.

Rose?

If you need some help, and I think you do,

all you have to do is tell me about it, but you must do that.

Ben, for six years, I've been picking up the pieces

of a life the war destroyed.

I just about got it all back, and you are helping.

That's all I can tell you except that...

Well, I've seldom been as happy as I am now.

She's not wanted in the state of Nevada.

I checked that out just in case.

And the way she's been described by Plummer

and the station agent, she's a a woman of quality.

Well, of course she is. Highest quality.

I can't figure her being mixed up

in any kind of criminal activity, that's ridiculous.

Those monkeys just followed her out to Virginia City,

and I don't have any doubt in the world that they followed me right out here.

Well, sure, they mentioned my name, that brought you out here

hoping to start some kind of activity.

That's about the size of it.

Doggone it, Bluebird, come on!

Doggone it, Bluebird, now, where are you?

Come on oh! Ha, ha!

Now, I'm coming to get you.

You had a visitor.

Yes, the sheriff.

He rode out from town to bring this to you.

The sheriff?

All this way?

There's a man in town, name of Donahue.

Donahue.

Yes, Major Donahue.

Oh, dear heaven.

All right, Rose Beckett or Katie Summers,

or whoever you are...

let's get to the truth of it.

I'm Cody Ransom's wife.

I see.

And why didn't you tell me this before?

Why don't you tell me what you know about Cody Ransom's gang?

Nothing good.

Well... what would you have said

if I had written you and asked if I could stay in your home

while I waited for a message from its heartless leader?

Would have been the truth, I could cope with that.

Cody Ransom is not an outlaw.

And that is the truth.

And he is not the leader of a vicious gang.

He's a fugitive, Rose, you know that.

Otherwise, there'd be no need for your deception.

I use another name because I have to.

Technically, he's an outlaw.

I'm not married to a technicality, Ben.

I know the man. I know him and I love him.

Why were you so upset earlier when you couldn't find Bluebird?

And who's this bad man she's so afraid of?

Major Henry Donahue.

You knew he followed you here?

Oh, no, Ben.

I would never knowingly have brought this on you.

I thought I was safe.

I've lived in dread of Henry Donahue for years.

I, I tried to caution Bluebird

without making her afraid, but...

well, she's such a sensitive child.

How long is it since you've seen Ransom?

A little over six years.

And you're so determined to effect a reunion

with your husband, that you'd expose

your daughter to this?

Ben, I've taken advantage of you and it's too late to apologize for that.

But don't reproach me with my child.

I've had to teach Cody Ransom's daughter

never to mention his name, but to know it,

because it's an honorable name.

I have faith in my husband.

I'm not doing this for myself.

But Bluebird has a right to know her father

not what people say he is, not what I say he is

but to know her father.

No matter what he's become?

Ben, I'd like to show you something.

Well, are those the letters of a man who pillages and murders?

No, they're the letters of a lonely man

who obviously loves you very deeply.

But they don't disprove his reputation.

You won't take my word?

The only evidence you have to the contrary

are the stories you've heard.

What about this telegram?

"Meet me by the Christmas Tree."

Where is the Christmas Tree?

I'm sorry, I can't tell you that, Ben.

Now, Rose...

it's either me or Donahue.

He'll follow you if you go there now.

Oh, Ben.

It's not your problem.

Well, yes it is at least in Donahue's mind, it is.

Are you saying you believe me about Cody?

Rose, Cody Ransom

doesn't mean a thing to me. You do.

I'd have helped you in any case.

Oh, Ben.

Now, where is the Christmas Tree?

Do you know a a crossroads called Liscomb Station?

I can find it.

Now, tell me the whole story,

right from the beginning, the whole thing.

Well, when the Yankees captured New Orleans in 1862,

they made General Butler a military governor.

And, uh, he started a blackmarket business.

Oh, yes, yes. Wellknown story.

Well, he was getting very rich, and I knew it

'cause of Daddy's bank, so...

Well, I wrote some letters to Washington, and...

They tried me and convicted me of sedition.

Major Donahue was the Provost Marshal

and... I was pregnant with Bluebird.

He locked me in a cabin.

Cody found out where I was, and...

Ransom raided across the river and got Rose out.

But Donahue charged him as an enemy agent.

He was tried and sentenced to death in absentia.

By the end of the war,

Ransom was a colonel of his regiment.

But with the conviction hanging over his head,

he wasn't about to surrender, and he took his men to Mexico.

Yeah, Pa, those kangaroocourt convictions of Butler's,

will they stand up?

Rose thinks the government has some other grievances, too.

The whole thing has to be clarified

by Sheridan's headquarters in St. Louis.

Well, why don't we get word to him?

We will, and to Ransom, too.

But we have a little problem here.

Sheriff Coffee is sure the ranch is being watched.

They're sending a courier.

I'll follow him, you go back into town and tell the major.

You looking for me, friend?

Wasn't going to ask you to drop that,

but now that you've got your hands full, why don't you let it

slide right down on the ground?

Come on, drop it.

Now, you and I can ride to Carson together.

Yeah?

Howdy.

You got me up from my nap.

I'm sorry, bad timing, I guess,

but I've come a long way.

You may be able to help me.

I've got a letter here for Cody Ransom.

Mmm. Ransom, huh?

Hey. hey! One of you named Ransom?

There's a fella in here, he's got a letter for a Cody Ransom.

He ain't here.

Whiskey's $1 a drink.

- First, my horse. - That's $20.

I don't aim to sell him.

I just want a stall and some hay.

Well, that's ten for the stall and that's ten for the hay.

He'll eat grass.

Don't move.

I'll see that letter... please.

If you're Ransom, I'm a friend.

Friend or a dead man, ain't nobody around here gives a dang.

Now, show the letter.

Slow.

Take it out.

Stand easy.

Detail, halt.

Prepare to dismount.

Dismount.

Sergeant, reporting mission accomplished.

Appears like you boys made a real good haul today.

Well, Sergeant, now, you lookie here.

We got us a big fat chicken. We got taters, onions.

Yes, sir, there's even a squash to bake up there for the Colonel.

Won't no man go hungry tonight.

Sorry Thib, it's purely all we could get.

It's all right.

I believe we might be able to eat a little squash.

You make the entry, will ya?

Mr. Cartwright.

Yes?

Rose Beckett once told me

you survived the wreck of a ship belonging to her uncle.

Yes, sir.

The Antelope Packet, 300 tons, off the coast of Calle del Fuego

Please, come in, sir.

You don't let on to what you seen out here, hear?

What have I seen out here? Is this the Ransom gang?

To him, it's the 19th Regiment, Arkansas Mounted Rifles.

He's done led us through hellfire too often to recollect,

and we're all of us counting on him to bring us home.

Understand?

No, I don't quite understand.

He reckons he done brought us up from Mexico

to make a formal surrender

of the colors and regiment, with honors.

That's how he keeps his strength up. We help him to pretend.

You have something else in mind?

Yes, sir.

Seeing he gets to that wife and child of his.

Mr. Cartwright.

I think I can help you with that, that's what I'm here for.

I'll talk to the colonel first, and then we'll discuss a plan.

Mr. Cartwright?

I'm one of 'em, yeah.

Sergeant Brown, Provost Marshal's office.

You step outside, sir, speak to Major Donahue?

Well, now, there's only four men down there, Bluebird.

And you know how big and strong my brother Hoss is.

Yes, he's very strong.

Yeah, well, come here and take a look.

See?

Nobody's gonna get past him.

Well, these papers pretty well clear up any question

as to who you are and why you're here,

but there's one thing missing, Major.

A warrant.

I'm giving you the opportunity to cooperate, Mr. Cartwright.

Return a woman to me that escaped my custody in 1862.

You've been watching us all along.

I wonder why you're just now making a move.

Well, I didn't know until Trooper Twohy

returned from Carson City this morning

the extent to which you people were conspiring.

How come you don't just arrest us all then?

I could easily arrest your brother,

for taking Trooper Twohy to Carson City at gunpoint.

And if your father's gone to the rendezvous in the woman's place,

that makes him accessory to Cody Ransom's crimes,

and also subject to arrest.

Mmhmm, that is unless I turn the lady over to you.

Exactly.

Yeah.

Well, Major, the route that my little brother takes

to Carson City is all on the Ponderosa.

And so would any vantage point that you might have used

to have spied on this house.

What are you implying?

I'm not implying anything. I'm telling you.

You and your men are all guilty of trespassing.

I see.

You're determined to defy me.

Nope, not at all.

You come back here with a warrant a legal warrant, mind ya,

I'll be more than happy to cooperate with you.

In the meantime, I'll expect you as an officer and a gentlemen

by an act of Congress to get yourself and your men

off of this property and stay off.

Good day, gentlemen.

The bad men were here, but they didn't get past brother Hoss.

Yes, I know. I saw them running.

- Any news from Joe? - Not yet.

- Did you find the colonel? - Is he all right?

Yes.

I gave him directions to Badger Camp on the South Ranch

and came on ahead.

He'll start travelling tonight.

We should meet him in the morning.

Oh, Ben.

All right, let's get in the house, everyone.

Mrs. Ransom is right behind me.

Would you notify the colonel, please?

Yes, sir.

All in!

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Attenhut!

Colonel, sir.

Bluebird, this is your father.

Mistress?

Did you hurt your foot, sir?

Yes yes, I did.

Do come in.

At... At ease.

I hurt my foot once.

You did? My goodness, how?

Well, I was running and I stepped on a big old stone.

And I never go barefoot anymore.

- Do I? - Well, hardly ever.

Bluebird, open the box at the foot of my bed

and see what's right on top.

- Daddy, what's her name? - I don't know.

Is it a Mexico name?

Do you know about Mexico, Bluebird?

I just know that it's far away, and it's where you were.

Well, the families where we lived worked very hard.

Even the children do. And still, they're very poor.

So, the fathers make the playthings for their children.

And one of the fathers showed me how to make

a little doll out of straw, for you.

Are you very poor?

Bluebird... I am the richest man alive.

- How did he get wounded? - He didn't say.

Fever hit him pretty hard, right after we crossed into Nevada.

Being out of Arizona and all, we reckoned we could stop

at this little old ranch and ask for help.

Scared the rancher, just the looks of us.

He opened fire, and we turned tail,

but his first shot got the colonel.

Ain't but a scratch, but his body

ain't got the strength no more for the cussed thing to heal.

I could ride and get a doctor, Pa.

I think it would be faster to get a doctor

if we went right to Virginia City.

That'd be the fastest way to get to Donahue, too.

Well, I've already discussed it with the colonel.

But I think you two oughta know what the alternatives could be.

Yes, sir, we do, and we're going with him,

right to the end.

The thing that pleasures me most is how much she reminds me of you.

It's like learning what you were like as a baby girl

in all those years before I knew you at all.

She's everything we wanted, Cody,

and you're everything I promised her you'd be.

Sick and hunted.

You know what I mean.

I'm so happy for her.

I'm so much happier for myself.

Is that too vain and selfish of me?

Not as long as you let me share.

We'll rest here. I'll take care of you.

I'm a very good nurse, I learned from the surgeons

in St. Louis and...

Please join us I was about to ask my wife to fetch you.

Forgive me, I know the time seems short...

Rose, I look at you now and at Bluebird

and I find new strength.

And Mr. Cartwright has given me reason for hope

I never expected to have.

I promised him a decision.

I've made it.

What is it, Cody?

Before he comes after me again,

I'm going to Major Donahue.

Oh, no!

Rose, look at him. He can't go on.

I thought you'd be kind enough to let us pretend.

No, Rose.

We joked about it a little while ago.

But I don't want to die a hounded, hunted man.

You know that Joseph went on to Carson City?

- Yes, to see General Sheridan, but... - Now, we can't stop Major Donahue.

He does have legitimate charges against the colonel.

He has not.

Yes, Rose, he has. I've told Mr. Cartwright.

We can prevent an act of vengeance.

Phil Sheridan's a friend.

Governor Blasdel's a friend, both of our senators...

They're Yankees, Ben. This is their justice.

Cody Ransom is Yankee justice.

Rose, the child.

Can hearing this be any worse than what she's been born hearing?

What, Rose?

A vain, glorious father who should've come home...

Cody, Cody, stop.

That's the way it looks now, even to me,

unless I can clear the slate.

Well, it's clear to me.

You meant to make a home for us in Mexico.

Is that all my daughter's to have from me, then?

My past intentions and failures?

We can't let Donahue deprive her.

Cody, do you think Henry Donahue cares one whit about Bluebird?

Do you, Ben?

No.

Colonel, I'm riding on to Virginia City.

But I'd like to borrow your ledger.

Oh, yeah, I have it in my tent.

It's all right, I'll get it. And Hoss will lead you on in.

Look look under there on the right.

You'll find two canvas bags.

- Oh. - That's Mexican silver.

It's not worth much, but it's all I could salvage

out of the last four years.

First stop we made when we came up out of Mexico,

was to try to convert it to money.

I wanted to pay our way.

We were accused of stealing it.

We were set on by a posse.

First time in the history of the regiment, we ran.

Retreated.

Very fast.

Now, everything we've taken since is accounted for in our ledger.

When Mr. Cartwright returns it to you,

I want you to see that payments are made.

The names and addresses are all there.

Well, isn't that something you should do?

I should, but it might not be possible.

Excuse me, sir, but it's time to ride.

To the Commanding Officer, Provost Marshal Station,

Carson City, Subject: Troop assignment.

Urgent.

The troops I ordered have not reported.

If they are not en route, order them forward immediately.

Sign my name and send it.

Major Donahue?

You've been wanting to have a talk with Mr. Ben Cartwright?

I certainly have.

He'd like for you to come over to my office and have it now.

Mr. Cartwright, this is Major Donahue.

- Mr. Cartwright. - Major.

I didn't anticipate a friendly greeting

after being ordered off your place by your son.

Well, I hope he didn't exceed his rights in any way.

He was cordially obstructive.

I wished only for him to cooperate.

Yes, I believe he suggested the proper warrant.

And your younger boy technically did kidnap one of my men.

Did you have the warrant?

On the other hand, technically we did trespass.

Of course, that's a matter of interpretation,

we intended no threat.

- Do you have the warrant? - And you did harbor that woman.

Whether you conspired with her is a matter of your intention.

Then you don't have the warrant, Major.

I haven't applied for it.

I preferred your willing assistance.

To what end?

The apprehension and arrest of Cody Ransom.

On what charge, Major?

Oh, come now, Cartwright.

Ben, he does have a fugitive warrant.

I've checked it.

And Cody Ransom is wanted in Arizona territory.

Yeah.

So, why don't we sit down, gentlemen?

He's wanted on charges of robbery, horsethieving,

cattlerustling, attempted murder...

Yes, excuse me here, where here.

Carrots, five cents. Squash, ten cents.

Halfold horse blanket, one dollar.

Small spade, uh, flour, sugar, salt...

Then you do know where they are.

An itemized account of every single item

that they've taken since they crossed the Mexican border.

But why do they keep these accounts?

- Because they mean to pay up. - With what?

If they got money, why'd they steal?

Every time they showed their face, somebody started shooting at them.

Yes, Major, I know exactly where they are.

I also know they're not the gang of criminals

that we've heard about.

They mean to make restitution and set the record straight in Arizona.

You're guilty of conspiracy.

Yes, uh, technically.

Where is Cody Ransom?

I still haven't heard the charges against him.

He was convicted of being an enemy agent in 1862

and sentenced to death.

In New Orleans, under General Butler's command.

Most of those convictions have been overturned, haven't they, Major?

This one stands.

Maybe that's only because this one hasn't been reviewed

by the proper authorities in Washington.

- Here you go. - Thank you, Joseph.

Oh, Major, this is my son Joseph, the kidnapper.

Major.

Ah, good.

Joseph, why don't you tell the Major

why you went to Carson City?

I went to try to confirm the story we got

from Mrs. Cody Ransom, or at least slow things down

until we could dig out the truth.

I have telegrams here from both of our senators

and a letter from Governor Blasdel.

I anticipated political interference.

I've been victimized before.

I took the precaution of wiring

my commanding officer in Washington.

Now, if you care to read the answer, you will find my authority confirmed.

To arrest a former rebel raider

who avoided surrender by taking his troops into Mexico.

- Which surrender, Major? - I beg your pardon?

Well, as I recall it,

Lee surrendered on April the 9th,

Johnston on the 26th,

uh, Taylor, not until May,

and Kirby-Smith at the end of May, I believe.

Kirby-Smith was Ransom's ultimate commander.

Surrender is commonly synonymous with Appomattox.

Kirby-Smith did not surrender until May 26th, that is true.

But on the 29th of May, on his way to Mexico,

Cody Ransom engaged in a battle with federal troops

and stole federal goods.

Yes, we heard about that.

Yeah, I contacted Kirby-Smith. Edmund Kirby-Smith.

He's now chancellor at the University in Nashville.

Can I read this for you?

If it pleases you.

"Ransom's regiment on detached service,

"January through May, 1865.

"Probable he did not receive surrender order

"before Sunday 4, June '65."

It's a probable lie. One rebel protecting another.

Kirby-Smith was a turncoat a West Point graduate and a turncoat.

Why don't we cut to the heart of the matter?

Cody Ransom is prepared to face the charges.

Now, all he wants to do is surrender his regiment

or what's left of it officially and properly,

so that its colors may be retired,

and his men paroled so that they may return home

in peace and safety.

Absolutely out of the question.

Major, his wife and child are with him.

Why don't you receive them with compassion, at least.

Receive them?

They're on their way here, now, to Virginia City.

Sergeant?

Summon the men, on the double, mounted.

Major, you'll answer for any violence you do.

Ransom stole that woman from under me.

He made a laughing stock of me.

I'll talk about restoring him when my place

on the promotion roster has been restored.

But first, I'll have him on my terms.

Forward, ho!

- Stand aside, young man. - Major Donahue?

Move your men out of my way.

Confidential orders for you, sir.

Very well. Out of my way.

I advise the major to open those orders.

You advise me? You popinjay.

Make that Lieutenant Popinjay, sir.

Otherwise Wells.

Aide to General Philip Sheridan,

Commanding General, Division of the Missouri.

Now, I advise the major to open those orders.

I'm gonna ride in with Cody Ransom.

I want a clarification of this order. I want to send a wire to St. Louis.

I want a personal confirmation from Sheridan himself.

If I'm going to be recalled, he... he...

Here, Major, why don't you just write it out yourself?

Troop. Halt.

Detail, tenhut.

Do I address the officer in command?

Yes, sir. Lt. Edward Wells,

Headquarters and Headquarters Division of the Missouri.

On detached service, sir.

I am Cody Ransom,

Colonel Commanding 19th Arkansas Mounted Rifles.

I wish to report...

The due and directed surrender of the officers, men,

and the military equipage of my regiment.

Sir, you may keep your sword.

I request that the colors...

And the guidon be preserved.

Sir, I have orders here which are to be read aloud

to you and your men.

With your permission, Mr. Cartwright.

These orders are addressed to Lt. Wells.

"In view of its loyal and superior service

"to the cause of the late Confederate States,

"the surrender

"of the 19th Regiment of Arkansas Mounted Rifles

"is to be accepted with honors,

"its colors and personal records

"to be remanded to the safekeeping

"of one of its paroled officers.

"In view of his own exemplary service,

"Colonel Cody F. Ransom is to be received with clemency,

"and held free on his own recognizance,

"pending full investigation of the allegations against him."

And it's signed by...

Yes, sir, I think the top three signatures.

Yes.

Among 20 some endorsing signatures, Colonel,

are those of General W.T. Sherman,

General Philip Sheridan,

U.S. Grant, Commander in Chief.

All right?

Cody? Cody?

- We'll see you later then. - Thanks again.

Is my daddy gonna get well, Uncle Ben?

Of course he is, dear.

It's going to take a little while though.

He's gonna bring back some real good medicine

and a friend of his another doctor to help him out.

I can help out, too.

Yes, he's gonna need some good nursing,

and a lot of cheering up.

I can tell him I love him.

Well, why don't we go upstairs and you can tell him that right now?

Yeah. Can I show him my bunny?

I think that would be fine.

Well, come on, let's go get it.

What's the matter with you men? Hop Sing cook good food.

Come eat. Come eat.

We're ready, it's just that our stomach's a bit balky.