Apache Rifles

Arizona Territory, 1879.

The Mescalero Apaches led by Victorio,

the proudest and fiercest of all Apache war chiefs,

fled from the San Carlos Reservation.

Once more they would wage war

against the men who had dared to invade their homeland.

Company B, United States Cavalry,

the men who were desperately trying to force Victorio

back onto the reservation.

Pick it up, pick it up!

Come on, look alive!

Look alive!

Come on, pick 'em up, boys, pick 'em up!

Captain Green!

Hey, ho.

Captain Green, I'm Jeff Stanton.

Captain.

Some orders for you.

Being relieved of my command.

Well, good luck, you're welcome to 'em.

Where are the rest of your men?

Well, they're dead.

Three weeks we've been trying to make contact

with those Indians.

Every time we get close to 'em, they,

they hit and run and we're back to chasin' shadows.

They're at home here, Captain.

Just like you'll be back in St. Louis.

I'd be glad to see it.

After this miserable place.

The men and horses are tired, I've pushin' 'em pretty hard.

Not as hard as Victorio's been pushing his people.

I haven't given him time to sleep or even cook a meal.

They don't need it, an Indian can go for weeks

and live on nothin' but lizards and prairie dogs.

We'll have to do the same thing,

if we're ever gonna catch up with him.

I don't envy you, Captain.

These are General Crook's instructions to Victorio.

I hope someday you get a chance to deliver that message.

Sergeant Cobb!

Yes, sir.

Captain Stanton is taking command.

Very good, sir.

Well, Captain, they're all yours, and good luck to you.

I'll need it.

Take care of yourself, Sergeant.

Yes, sir.

How are you, Sergeant?

Good to see you again, sir, it's been a long time.

That it has.

Have the men dismount.

Yes, sir.

Prepare!

Yes, ho!

Men, my name is Stanton!

The mission of this troop remains the same.

Find the Apaches, and to do that,

we're gonna have to cover as many miles a day as they do,

sleep as little as they sleep and live off the land.

To do that, we'll have to travel light.

Get rid of those bed rolls, extra food and clothing.

Sergeant, you've got five minutes to obey that order.

Yes, sir.

All right, you men, you heard the captain!

Get a move on!

What's that you say, Ramirez?

I said, Capitan Stanton, he's as tough as he ever was.

Yeah, well he doesn't look too tough to me.

No?

Let me tell you somethin'.

I fought the Sioux with him.

He can outfight, outride and outlast any boar

or the likes the two of you.

What's he buckin' for?

His father trusted the Indians once too often.

You know, they slaughtered half his command, there was

a court martial and he was cashiered out of the army.

Yeah and the captain's been spendin' the rest of his life

tryin' to make up for it.

Killin' Indians.

We're ready to move out, sir.

Good.

We'll save these horses until we need them.

We'll proceed on foot.

Yes, sir.

Troopers!

Fall into horse, forward!

Steadily!

March!

A small raiding party, sir.

Small raiding party, two weeks we've done nothin'

but chase small raiding parties.

We're gonna have to turn back, sir.

The men and horses can't go on without any rest.

Pick your burial detail, Sergeant.

Yes, sir.

Morgan, Devot!

Break out a couple of shovels!

Well, Corporal?

Maybe eight, maybe 10.

The tracks lead southwest.

About a half-hour, would you say?

See, the edges are still sharp.

The wind hasn't rounded them off yet.

Half-hour is just about right.

Sergeant Cobb!

Yes, sir.

I wanna try something different.

Pick six of your best riflemen,

issue them 50 rounds of ammo,

put 'em in that supply wagon,

tell 'em to keep their heads down.

You'll be in charge of the detail.

And where are you gonna be, sir?

I won't be far away, Sergeant.

Yes, sir.

You, bring a carbine.

You.

You.

All right, you saddle busters, on your feet!

Hold your fire!

How many men did you lose, Sergeant?

None, sir, only three wounded.

Any of them alive, Hogan?

No, sir.

These Apaches rather die than surrender, sir.

Capitan, this one is still alive.

No, Capitan.

This is Red Hawk, Victorio's son.

Are you sure?

He's Victorio's only son.

Be careful what you say.

He went to mission school, he speaks English.

All my people understand you, Captain Stanton.

You are like a wolf who moves among sheep.

Killing for the pleasure of it.

I have orders to talk to your father.

You expect me to tell you where my people are,

so you can kill them?

Sergeant?

Yes, sir.

I want a white flag tied to that guide arm.

Yes, sir.

My father will not trust your white flag,

any more than he will trust you or your people.

Flag's not the bait, Red Hawk.

You are.

You and I both know there's an Apache face

behind every rock out there.

And if I'm wrong, then you're in real trouble.

Just about three hours of this sun

is all any animal will be able to take.

What's he waiting for?

Why doesn't he kill him and get it over with?

Sometimes the ends justify the means.

Captain!

Over there.

The flag of truce.

Yeah, I know, been watchin' it for about five minutes.

Sergeant Cobb?

Yes, sir.

Cut him down.

Yes, sir.

Dress his wound, give him some water,

tie his hands behind his back, put him on a horse.

Corporal, get that flag, you're comin' with me.

Yes, sir.

Captain, you're not gonna ride in there alone,

just the two of ya?

Why not?

If Victorio doesn't go for what I've got to say,

100 men couldn't help us.

Well, translate.

Yes, sir, but I don't think...

My father said your reputation for killing

is well known here, Captain.

Tell the great Victorio I have a message for him

from General Crook.

He wants you to release his son, sir,