Kill Cavalry

- I'm General Joseph Wheeler,

Confederate States of America.

What you're looking at here is Savannah River.

That's the line between Georgia and South Carolina.

It's a pretty good-sized river.

We thought it'd keep the Yanks on the Georgia side,

at least until I could muster up my cavalry together.

But it was a hell of a lot of Yanks,

and they had everything they needed to cause us trouble.

Begging your pardon, General.

We received word that Kilpatrick and his men

have crossed the to Savannah River.

Is this 100%

Yes, it is, General.

- We may be able to fall back again,

regroup a little better.

No, we can't keep doing that.

- What would you like us to do, sir?

- We'll make a stand at Broxton's Bridge.

What's your report, Major?

- Everyone we need is across the river, sir.

- Finally. It only took two days.

- That's quite an ordeal, sir. We're talking 60,000 troops.

- What's the scout's report and the enemy disposition?

- Well, they're mainly scattered,

but they're coming together at Broxton Bridge, sir.

What type of troops are they?

- Some solid artillery but mainly cavalry.

- Ah, cavalry. That'd be Joe Wheeler?

That would be correct, sir.

My old friend.

Well, maybe this time I'll get a chance to put

a bullet through his skull.

- Well, that'd be a fine day, sir.

But what else do you need from me, sir?

Who's the best scout you got?

That would be Masterson, sir.

- All right, I want a meeting with him,

you, and me and that's it, you understand?

Yes, sir.

All right, carry on.

Right here!

Let's go!

Take cover, take cover!

Fire!

- Masterson, Maddox says you're the best scout we've got.

- I can find my way around here pretty good, sir.

- Excellent. What I need is good intelligence,

real information about General Wheeler's whereabouts,

you understand?

- Yes, sir. I imagine he's with his troops right now.

- He could be with them, he could be one of them.

He's a slippery son of a bitch.

He's like a snake in the grass, Wheeler is.

You stomp on him, you lift your boot,

and he's not there anymore.

Him and his troops, they just slither away.

So he could be anywhere.

- Well, he has to maintain command of his troops.

They're an army of ghosts, vanished into dust

right outside of Atlanta, and here they are.

- So, do I get a bonus if I take care of business?

- Well, it depends on what you mean by business.

- Well, you want Wheeler dead, right?

Yes, I do want Wheeler dead.

And if you can arrange that,

you'll be very well taken care of financially.

I'm looking for Mama Thorn.

Well, this is her swamp.

- Better watch out around that swamp.

That old swamp witch'll get you.

This ain't her place, is it?

- Oh, no. Her place ain't so grandiose.

- That's who the general wants to see.

- OK, when we get close, y'all hold back.

She don't like a whole lot of people, now.

Come on in, Joe.

Mama Thorn.

- Been a piece since your last visit. What news you got?

- Yanks have crossed the Savannah River.

That I knew.

They're heading this way.

That I didn't know.

How long you figure 'fore they get here?

- Well, they brought what they needed to cross the Savannah

to River. Swamp might slow them down a bit.

- My swamp will slow them down a lot.

Water's cold this time of year. At least a day or two.

- If that. You gonna hightail it?

- I been here a long time. Why should I leave now?

- These boys, they ain't so friendly.

- I've seen plenty of soldiers before.

- These are different. All the way up the line.

What do you mean?

- I know their cavalry commander from way back.

Who's he?

- Name's Kilpatrick. We went to West Point together.

- Sounds like an Irishman. I can handle an Irishman.

- Kilpatrick only answers to one person.

Sherman.

- Both of these men are rough on local folks.

- So they're punishing the people that ain't even fighting.

- That's right. And you need to be careful.

- I ain't worried about these Yanks.

You suppose they'll be asking your whereabouts?

Probably.

- How 'bout if I send them to your family cemetery?

- I just may have to pay my respects after the battle.

You just might.

- Is there anything else you think you will be requiring?

- Yes. Be sure the men have plenty of matches.

I know we lost a lot when they got wet

when we were crossing the uh, swamps.

- Yes sir, but please remember we did purchase

every matchstick in Savannah.

- I know, I know. Just make sure.

Yes, sir.

- And uh, have we heard from the scout yet, Masterson?

Nothing concrete.

However, his reports do confirm our earlier intelligence

that the rebel cavalry is scattered,

and heading in the general direction of Aiken.

- Is there anything else? I have ladies waiting.

- One thing, sir, we are approaching the town of Barnwell,

and it seems a number of clergy and merchants

wish to hold a meeting with you.

- Oh, God. All right, uh, one meeting though.

Narrow it down.

I want to meet with one person, somebody from the clergy,

no merchants, all right.

Two minutes.

One person, one meeting, two minutes. Understand?

Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.

Very well.

- My name is Hugh Judson Kilpatrick.

My highest to rank was Major General,

and that's of course in the real army,

which would be the army of the United States of America.

I've been called ambitious, aggressive, and blustery.

I must say I agree on all counts.

I have also been called fearless.

And that is how I hope I am remembered.

- Rumor has it Wheeler is really really close.

- There's always a rumor, Major Maddox.

What I'm interested in

is what our men have actually laid their eyes on.

- I've got Masterson on his trail. Best scout we have.

- That man is a bloodhound. I'll give you that.

- That's the kind of man we need.

Who the hell is this?

- Who are you? What's your business here?

- I don't mean to make no trouble.

I know you two fellas are very busy.

- Come closer, please, and speak up.

That's as far as you go.

Don't have any weapons on you, do you?

No, sir. I'm Reverend Fuller.

My congregation is the Independent Baptist Church

of Barnwell, South Carolina.

- Why does that ring a bell? Barnwell?

- It's right in the middle of our path to Aiken.

- What's your business with us, Reverend?

- General, Major, when's the last time

you gentlemen went to church?

- It's been quite some time, Reverend.

- Well if you should happen to pass through Barnwell,

I'd like to invite you to services at my church.

The services would be at your convenience, of course.

- Really? Well, that would certainly be a change of pace.

What do you think, Captain?

- Is that why you're here, Reverend?

To ask us to go to church?

That is correct.

Your presence would show the good people of South Carolina

that you and your men would like to have a peaceful

end to this terrible conflict.

- That's not the only reason you're here,

or it's not the primary reason you're here.

Why don't you tell us what that is?

- I heard tell of you fellers burning through

a lot of places, especially since you crossed the river.

- Reverend, we burn any structure that harbors resistance.

Those are our orders.

- As such, I figured if you attended services at my church,

that you would see that we harbored no resistance

and our doors are always open to any

that would love to worship, black or white.

- Well, I don't know if we'll make the services or not,

Reverend, but I will tell you this.