CUSTER OF THE WEST
Charge!
Custer.
General.
Didn't recognize you without your horse. Sit down.
Thank you, sir.
Lincoln wants us to write personally to the widows and bereaved mothers.
- You knew Major Bridges, didn't you? - I did.
"Dear Madam, as Commanding General..."
"I had the opportunity to know your late husband, Major Bridges."
"And I was present at his death."
"It may be of comfort to you to know that he died like the coward he was..."
"with his back to the enemy, climbing a fence to get away."
- What did you write? - The usual, of course.
"He met his end unflinchingly, despite the severity of his wounds..."
"and sacrificed his life so that others might live," etc, etc.
"Philip H. Sheridan, Commanding General..."
"Army of the Potomac."
You're staying in the Army, aren't you, Custer?
I like the life. You know that.
And you want me to find a post for you. Someplace lively, interesting.
That's what I'm here for, General.
There are some Indians out west that need killing.
But that's a dirty job.
Not the sort of thing that appeals to you, is it?
No.
No, you prefer a holy war.
Save the Union, onward Christian soldiers, free the slaves.
Well, I suppose I can't blame you.
No one's gonna pin a medal on you for killing Indians and stealing their land.
What's the matter?
I'm concerned about you, son.
You're the only man I know who reached the top of his profession...
and was on his way down before he was 30.
What happens to a boy general when they don't need any more generals?
I don't know.
Tell me.
Well, I suppose the boy general could become a boy farmer or a boy bank clerk.
Or how about a cowboy?
- Oh, I forgot, you don't drink. - You didn't forget.
You didn't forget. You just keep trying.
All right.
I'll make a drunkard out of you yet.
General...
you must have something I'm right for.
I've got a few jobs here. You can have your pick.
I guess you deserve it.
Occupation, garrison in Atlanta.
A soft life.
Sort of like being a prison warden.
No.
Here's another one.
There's an arsenal up in New York State, out of service.
They won't be making any more guns.
But it's government property, so it has to be protected.
I guess somebody's gotta make sure the kids out there don't throw rocks through the windows.
No.
All right.
Here's a job as cavalry instructor at West Point.
Teaching the youngsters how to get on and off a horse.
No, General, no.
- Well, what do you want? - I want action.
That brings us back to the Indians.
They're on the land and we want it. Plain robbery.
You won't be able to tell yourself you're fighting for a noble cause.
You know there must be more than a million of them out there.
You'll be outnumbered a hundred to one.
You'll be fighting against the best light cavalry in the world.
And you'll have to chase the devils over the roughest country in the world:
deserts, mountains, prairies.
You know, Custer, you could become a living legend.
Or get yourself killed.
Dead men make better legends.
It's up to you.
You want to go west?
Mom, over here. Here I am.
Mommy, there's Daddy.
Look, there's Custer!
Libby!
How come they didn't name the boat after you?
Take the flowers, Libby.
Are you really a general, Autie?
You think I hired this uniform?
It's true what everyone's saying. You won the war all by yourself.
- No, I was only in 60 charges. - I know. I fought in every one of them, too.
Alone in bed every night.
You're not the only hero in the family.
Did I tell you they built a statue of you outside the courthouse?
How do I look?
Just as you did getting off that boat. 10 feet tall.
I used to go out there every day and sit beside you and knit.
And I climbed down now and then?
Where's your luggage?
On the boat.
You're going somewhere?
Dakota territory.
This time you're going with me.
Remember what the man said:
For richer, for poorer, for better, for worse.
My bags are there.
Have we got a comfortable cabin?
General Sheridan sent me a message.
This time we're enlisting together, my friend.
Miners. I warned them.
This show being put on for us?
They're telling you, General Custer.
Keep the settlers out of Indian territory or they'll handle things themselves.
You seem to understand the Indian point of view, Benteen.
Watch it!
Grab the stick, Charlie, and try to steer.
Try to steer it. Attaboy!
You're coming to a left. Turn. Push it to the left.
All right, hold it steady now.
We're coming to a right turn now. All right.
What's wrong with it? Turn it to the right!
Come on, to the right. That's it.
All right. You all right, Charlie? Watch it! Watch it! Watch it!
Do it quick! Hurry up! Hurry up! To the left.
Hold it steady, Charlie.
We're coming to a right now, watch it. Watch it. Turn to the right.
We're going over!
Hold it! All right, to the left.
Hurry up. Here we go. To the right.
Hold it now. To the left! To the left!
Right! Right!
Watch it!
Dismount the men. Prepare to fire.
The Indians are well within their rights, sir.
The treaty gives them the authority when they're on their territory.
Dismount!
Fire!
All right, the Indians are out of range. Stop wasting your ammunition.
Cease fire.
Attention.
Present sabres.
Major Reno reporting, sir. Welcome to the fort.
- Troops are ready for inspection, sir. - Thank you, Major.
I hope the parade met with your approval, sir.
- Very good. One observation. - Sir?
You only play Hail to the Chief to the President of the United States.
- I'll have that corrected, sir. - Thank you.
- Dismiss the men. - Yes, sir.
Order arms.
Benteen.
Dismiss the troops, Sergeant.
Troop dismissed.
Why did you join the Army, Captain?
Come in, Major Reno.
Just asking the Captain here why he joined the Army.
Sit down.
You're a crusader, ain't you?
You saved the Union.
Now you want to save the world. Well, that's not the kind of Army I'm going to run.
Yes, sir.
Now, Major, what made you choose the military way of life?
Well, sir, I was born into it.
I came from a long line of professional soldiers, sir.
My father fought with Andy Jackson, and my brother was at the Alamo.
Father a drunk, too?
I'd like to remind you, sir, that I'm an officer and a gentleman.
I was wondering, Major, if you come from a long line of drunkards.
By the way, that parade of yours out there...
that was the most miserable-looking parade I ever saw in all my life.
How many drinks did you have today, Major?
One or two? Can't remember?
I'll tell you why you joined the Army.
It's because the Army gave you a home.
Because, blind or sober, no matter how many drinks...
you're entitled to the salute.
You're entitled to the respect of every officer and man under your command.
Major...
there's no law that says you can't drink.
But if I find you drunk on duty...
once...
that long line of officers is gonna end right here...
with you, Major.
You like him as much as I do, Benteen.
Troop ready, sir.
- Good morning, Major. - Good morning, sir.
My orders were for a full troop, were they not?
Yes, sir. The rest of the men fell out for sick call, sir.
- Get down, will you, Major? - Yes, sir.
I think that's ridiculous.
Good morning, surgeon.
- Got an epidemic here, have you? - Malingerers, every one of them.
You mind if I have a word with your patients, if they're not too sick?
- They're as healthy as mules. - Thank you, surgeon.
- I want the cook, Major. - Yes, sir.
Now then, soldier.
- What's your ailment? - Breathing, sir.
Comes hard. My lungs, sir.
You don't too look sick to me, Corporal.
Appearances, sir. Inside, I'm rotting away.
I see you've been in the Army a long time, Sergeant.
Sergeant Buckley. 15 years, sir.
- This illness come over you sudden-like? - Yes, sir.
- Must be catching, eh? Yes, sir. - Yes, sir.
All right, cook.
- Many of the men skip breakfast? - None, sir.
- Did they have a good meal? - Yes, sir. Liver and onions.
Liver and onions.
- Flapjacks. - Flapjacks.
- Steak. - Steak.
- Fried potatoes. - Fried potatoes.
- Biscuits. - Biscuits.
Pie and coffee.
Pie and coffee. All right, thank you, cook.
Surgeon...
this epidemic, you think has something to do...
with my orders to move out against the Cheyenne?
General, this epidemic is gonna last just as long as your orders stand.
Unless the men get the right treatment, of course.
What would you prescribe? A little mild exercise, perhaps?
Might be just the thing. I'd try it.
With your permission.
Major, I want all the men out here in 10 minutes with rifles and full packs.
- Yes, sir. - That goes for officers, too, Major Reno.
Yes, sir.
You heard what the man said.
On the parade ground in full field gear in 10 minutes.
Get the lead out! Get going!
Double time.
Double time, hold.
Major.
Keep the pace, Sergeant.
Hut, two, three, four. Pick them up!
Hut, two, three.
Hut, two, three, four.
Major!
Troop, halt.
Troop...
attention!
Right shoulder...
arms!
Present arms.
Forward arms.
All right, soldier.
Dismissed.
Lieutenant, Cheyenne.
What the hell are they doing off the reservation, sir?
I don't know, but we're gonna take them right back.
Hold it, men. Hold it.
There are too many of them.
- Sergeant Gaskins. - Yes, sir.
We'll split the column, take the wagon up the trail.
Yes, sir.
Gentlemen...
we'll go the hard way.
They're headed straight into the desert, sir.
Hard going, dragging guns and wagons through that sand.
Harder on the men, sir. Worse for the horses.
We've got to punish them, sir.
They killed two of our men.
Right.
We'll lose a lot more than two men if we go chasing them down out there.
Now, listen.
There's 35 Indians out there.
If we lose them, every Cheyenne on the reservation...
will figure he can get away with it, too.
Six months from now, we'll be chasing 4,000 of them.
That's gonna be much worse on the men and a lot harder on the horses.
- So give the order, Lieutenant. - Yes, sir.
All right, let's move 'em out.
- Come on, let's get going. - Come on!
We can't move it any further.
- Take it apart. Put it on runners. - Yes, sir.
Break out the tools.
- Give me some water. - No, no, no.
- Give me some water. - No.
- No water. General's orders. - But I'm thirsty.
That's all. Get off it!
Get away. Get away.
No use chasing him, sir. The sun's got him.
Get up, soldier.
The sun will be down in an hour.
We'll all have a drink.
Come on, boy.
Out of range.
- Sergeant Gaskins. - Sir.
Well, now all right. Bring up the cannon.
Yes, sir.
Fire.
All right, Sergeant.
- Move them out. - Yes, sir.
Move them out!
Buckley!
- Sir? - Get a rifle.
Shoot over their heads.
All right.
Knock one down.
Give him another warning.
Knock him down.
Let me get him, sir.
All right.
Wait a minute.
They think the chief turned into a bird.
Shoot the bird down, Sergeant.
Shoot it down.
- Take care of the prisoners. - Yes, sir.
Come on.
How about that Indian up there, General?
You shot him down, Sergeant.
Don't you believe a man can turn into a bird?
Look at them, sir. They've got no fight left in them.
We took the whole Cheyenne Nation with 265 men.
Pizarro conquered Peru with 167.
I've come a long way to tell you men personally...
that I am damn well fed up with these Cheyenne raids.
The whole Army's fed up. Washington's fed up.
Murder, rape, scalping, burning, butchery.
It's our job to put a stop to all that.
And put a stop to it now.
If there's any doubt about the policy of my command...
I'll give it to you in one sentence:
The only good Indian is a dead Indian.
Clear enough?
Very good, General. Very well put, sir.
You don't look too happy, Captain. Don't you approve?
I'm afraid I don't, sir.
We steal their land and break our treaties. We have no excuse to murder them, too.
Another bleeding heart.
The country's full of bleeding hearts. Now we even have them in the Army.
Coffee, gentlemen?
Just for two.
That's all for now.
- I don't suppose you have any whiskey? - No, I'm afraid not.
I know you don't drink...
but you might keep some around for those who do.
I'll fetch some for you from the store.
Thank you.
- Will there be anything else? - Yes.
You might tell me that you're pleased to see me.
After all, your husband is becoming a national hero, thanks to me.
Autie and I are grateful, General. You know that very well.
Well, forget the whiskey. It's bad for the liver anyway.
How's your liver, George?
Fine, General.
Stay healthy, George. Your country needs you.
You're a lucky girl, Elizabeth.
Yes, I know I am, General.
Thank you.
You two must have a lot to talk about. Excuse me.
Now sit down and listen to me.
There's an election coming up. The administration needs a victory.
I promised them one.
Wrong time of the year for a victory. Got to cross too many rivers, you know that.
I just told you it's the right time, George. Election time.
And it so happens the Cheyenne have broken the treaty.
Left the reservation.
Last month, we gave the Cheyenne rifles so they could go hunting.
Now you're telling me to kill them because they've gone hunting.
I read in all the eastern newspapers...
that you're General Custer, the great Indian fighter.
I'm told you have the best cavalry regiment in the United States Army.
And I'm telling you to go out and fight them.
I wish you'd tell me how to surround 10 Indians with one soldier.
No one knows your war record better than I.
I'm betting on Custer's luck.
General...
there's 4,000 Cheyenne in the villages of the Washita...
and I've got 400 soldiers.
George, I'm out on a limb. I can't crawl back.
I think you owe me this one.
Take a dispatch to General Sheridan.
"Despite overwhelming odds, a great victory was won here today."
"Factors contributing to our success were:"
"One, the Indians were asleep."
"Two..."
"the women and children offered little resistance."
"Three..."
"the Indians are bewildered by our change of policy."
"P.S.:"
"Should you require any further contributions..."
"towards your election campaign, be so good as to let me know."
"Your obedient servant..."
"George."
- Who are all these people? - Riffraff and miners, sir.
We caught them crossing into Cheyenne territory.
There's been a gold strike on the reservation, sir.
Scouts...
come on.
- How long has this rabble been here? - Four days, sir.
And we can't keep them here, sir.
Your permission, sir, I'd like to march them back to the railroad and ship them back east.
Gold, Captain, gold.
Send them men away, sir, and they'll just bring back a thousand more.
We've already pushed the Cheyennes out of half their territory.
We can't let these people take the rest of it.
Come in, gentlemen.
Autie, I forgot to give you this letter.
- It's from General Sheridan. - Thank you, dear.
Sorry to keep you waiting, gentlemen. Excuse me.
- All right. - Go ahead, Captain. Tell him.
Tell me what?
- I brought somebody to see you. - Who?
A Cheyenne.
About what?
Talk to him. He's right here.
- Make him any promises? - I only promised him that you'd see him.
Speak English?
Been to Washington twice. He's negotiated two treaties...
both of which we broke.
I am George Armstrong Custer.
Officer in the United States Army.
Now, the captain here tells me that you understand English. Is that so?
Good.
Because I want you to understand me very clearly.
I know the only reason you've come here is to threaten me.
If I don't promise to keep the miners out of Indian territory...
you're gonna start killing them.
Isn't that true?
Am I speaking too fast for you?
I understand you.
I hope I can make it plain to you...
that I won't bargain with you about the miners.
I will not be blackmailed into making any promises.
I am not in a position to make any promises.
Whatever I decide to do, I'll do it...
because it is right according to my way.
Right?
I know you've got human rights...
treaty rights, moral rights.
And if ever I should forget any of them...
there's always Captain Benteen here to remind me every day.
But I am not a politician.
I'm not a moralist, not a preacher.
When I say moralist...
I mean, I'm not the best of all men.
I'm a soldier.
The only rights that concern me are the rights of my soldiers.
The only duty that concerns me is the duty of my command.
I'll make it very simple for you.
The fact that we seem to be pushing you clear off the earth is not my responsibility.
The problem is precisely the same...
as when you Cheyenne decided to take another tribe's hunting ground.
You didn't ask them about their rights.
You didn't care if they had been there a thousand years.
You just had more men and more horses. You destroyed them in battle.
You took what you wanted.
And, right or wrong...
for better or worse...
that is the way things seem to get done.
That's history.
I'm talking about history.
You are a militarily defeated people.
You are paying the price for being backward.
And whatever my personal feelings...
and I don't say I have any...
there's nothing I can do to change all this.
Do you understand?
I understand.
Captain.
Major...
see what's going on out there. Try and shut them up.
Yes, sir.
You let me through. Let me through.
- Put that man in jail. - You can't hold us here. Hey!
- What's going on here, Sergeant? - We're gonna have trouble in here, Major.
What are these men doing?
We're digging for gold, sir.
- This is government property, mister. - Save your breath, Major.
We ain't stopping till you let us out of here.
This is a parade ground.
We're gonna keep digging till there's no fort left.
Just one big hole.
Take that pick away from him.
Put those picks down. Put them down.
Lock these men up, Sergeant.
Put them in the guardhouse!
Did he say anything to you?
No, sir, not a word.
Column... sabres!
Sir, the second platoon's gone. Deserted.
Mulligan's platoon?
They went after gold, sir.
Mulligan started it.
Major, get that mob out of here!
Where, General?
I don't care, Benteen.
Open the gates!
Throw them all out!
You're letting them go into Cheyenne territory.
You know that, don't you?
I know that, Benteen. I know that.
Get them out!
Yes, sir.
Open the gates.
Benteen, bring Mulligan back here.
Yes, sir.
Was it an important letter? The one from General Sheridan?
"Unofficially, the President thinks..."
"that the discovery of gold in the Dakotas is wonderful news."
"Best in the interest of the country."
"Expect you to use your own judgment."
You did what you had to.
Yeah.
I used my best judgment.
Yellow as butter. Did you ever see the like, Captain?
You're under arrest, Mulligan.
Mr. Mulligan's the name now, sir, and happy to see you this fine morning.
Come off it, Patty.
I'm taking you back for desertion.
Desertion?
If it's men you need, Captain...
I'll buy you one in my place.
Five. Fifty.
I'll buy you a whole regiment...
and every man in it'll be named Patty Mulligan.
Where are the others, Mulligan?
The trouble started no sooner we were out the gates.
Some wanted to go north, some wanted to go south.
I should've known I couldn't get them to stick to hard work.
For that matter, neither could I.
I just wanted to take off my army boots...
and cool my feet in the clear waters of that stream.
And that's how I found the gold.
Lovely, isn't it?
There's enough here for both of us, Captain.
Think of all the good things a decent man like you could do with it.
Oh, well.
Back it goes.
Sooner or later, some other lucky man will find it.
Well, I...
Now I guess I better put on my boots, huh?
I'll do you no harm, Captain.
You can have your gun back.
Just let me go.
All I ask is your word.
Desertion.
I suppose that's serious business.
At ease, Sergeant.
I was hoping you'd come to see me, General.
- Chaplain tells me you've got new evidence. - That I have.
But, of course, I don't know how to put it like a lawyer.
Tell me in your own words then.
Well, it's so hard.
I don't know where to begin.
All right, take your time. Sit down.
Thank you, sir.
They asked me what I wanted.
"Anything you like, considering it's your last request," says the Captain.
"Then I'll take strawberries."
"And if they ain't ripe, I'll wait."
You get it? I told him I'd wait.
Go on.
I hope you're not in a hurry, General.
If there's any man with his eye on the clock, it's me.
Now, where was I?
New evidence.
Yes, new evidence.
I'll give you a drink.
- Thank you, sir. - All right, sit down.
I was talking about strawberries.
Do you like strawberries, General?
I'm listening.
Lovely fruit.
Once, when I was still a schoolboy...
the teacher asked me to show her where the wild strawberries grew.
I was happy to oblige.
Her being a pretty thing and not much older than myself.
Berry-picking we went.
It was a beautiful day.
The berries were shining against the green like rubies.
And after a while she said to me:
"Mulligan, you're giving them all to me."
And I looked in her basket, and it was true.
Strange.
And then I understood.
I was in love.
It was the first time.
Sergeant, if it's company you want, I'll send back the chaplain.
Come morning, you'll be taking more than a few minutes of my time, General.
We've gotta get to the point.
Yes, sir, that's right.
Sergeant, your appeal has been processed and denied.
Now, you have got to present me with new facts.
Facts.
That's right, facts.
That's what the men all admire about you, General.
You always know all the facts.
You're talking off the point.
I'm talking for my life, General.
You haven't said a single word I could give to a court in new evidence.
You haven't said anything to make me think that you wouldn't desert all over again.
Rules, regulations, court-martials.
I'm talking about the juice in a man's veins.
I'm talking about all of the good times you never had.
"Off the point," you say.
But drinking, girls, smoking cigars, chasing rainbows...
That's the point.
You've got no feelings, General.
There's just an empty place inside.
A hole stuffed with rubbish.
The flag, the regiment...
duty.
You listen to me, Mulligan.
You didn't think twice about the soldiers you left behind to do your job...
or maybe they'd get killed doing it.
All you ever wanted was to strike it rich.
But it wasn't to get rich.
I didn't desert for the gold.
It was for all those other reasons. That's what I've been trying to tell you.
Those are the facts!
I have to go now.
Go on, General.
Go home.
Your wife is waiting for you.
Sergeant, maybe you wanted too much out of life.
Maybe life doesn't have that much to offer.
Guard.
- Tomorrow, sir? - Daybreak.
Order!
Arms.
Ready.
Aim.
Fire.
Mrs. Custer, I want to introduce you...
to His Imperial Highness, the Grand Duke Alexis of Russia.
Madame, it is a great pleasure to meet such a charming person.
Your Imperial Highness, you do us a great honor.
Please, come this way.
You know, that Duke's really a nice guy.
Too bad I never know what the hell he's talking about.
Why don't you learn French? It's the language of diplomacy.
- You trying to tell me I'm not diplomatic? - What's he doing here?
Well, you know we bought Alaska from the Russians.
So we're gonna fight the Eskimos?
Now, George, that's not fair.
You know something...
the first thing the Duke said when he came to Washington:
"I want to meet Custer, the Indian fighter."
It's a fact.
You're a big man along the Volga.
You know something? You're not doing so badly in Washington, either.
You've got a lot of important friends there.
Who?
All right, me.
What is the Duke doing here?
Well, the Duke and a lot of important foreigners are thinking of investing in America's future.
Like what?
Factories, gold mines, shipping.
Railroads?
It's a big country.
You can't cross from one side to the other without going through the middle.
Yeah, and the middle is Indian territory.
They've already had to put up with miners, trappers, soldiers.
Railroad comes soon, they're gonna put up with farmers.
May be a big territory. It's not big enough for everybody.
All right, then something's gotta give, doesn't it?
You know this is gonna cost us an awful lot of soldiers?
I'm just a messenger boy.
I got the message, now you've got it.
They tell me you're not supposed to keep royalty waiting.
Sit down, General.
You said I've got friends in Washington.
I have friends in New York, Boston, and Philadelphia...
because anything I write...
the newspapers will print.
You're gonna write about the Indian problem?
They don't care.
You're gonna tell them you don't have enough army.
They don't care.
Is there anything you care about, Phil?
I won't try to stop you.
If it'll help you sleep any better, go ahead and attack the railroads.
Blast the administration.
Damn the Secretary of War.
You really think that's gonna stop the trains coming through?
Seems like every time we get together, we get into a fight, George.
Phil...
How soon does the railroad come through?
It's here now.
They're laying track along the postman's trail.
"The only good Indian is a dead Indian."
I've said that stupid line to every officer I've sent west.
And do you know something?
The Indian's doing the same thing I'd do if I were in his place.
Fight to the bitter end.
Timber!
Giddyap. Come on you, come along.
Timber!
- You see any hostiles? - Nope.
They're here, all right. I can feel them.
We're turning this nice hunting ground into sawdust.
Just to build a lousy railroad.
When this line gets to San Francisco...
I'm gonna take me a ride and see the Pacific Ocean.
You're never gonna have enough money to buy a ticket.
Says here they're talking about appointing General Custer...
- as Governor of the Dakota territory. - Can't read.
Can't read, son. Never could.
In my kind of business, a man don't need to read.
Solid gold from my own gold mine.
Chain, too.
Ring, too.
These days, I don't like anything but gold to touch my skin.
Even here in my mouth, son.
See that?
You know why, son? You know why?
I like the taste of gold.
You say there's an article in there about General Custer becoming Governor?
He gets my vote. He's the one that opened up the territories.
The gold territories. Yes, sir, he sure did.
What the hell is this?
General Custer is supposed to be guarding us.
Stay down.
If I can uncouple the car, we can roll down.
I'll cover you.
News of the massacre is all over the eastern papers, General.
Flags are flying at half-mast.
President's declared a day of mourning.
Tell me, General...
why did you choose the Army as a career?
Telegram came from the War Department. Shall I read it, sir?
"To General George Armstrong Custer."
"You are hereby relieved of command..."
"and suspended from active duty."
"You are ordered to report to Washington, D.C..."
"within 30 days from the receipt of this telegram..."
"to appear before a U.S. Congressional Committee..."
"investigating conditions in the Indian territories."
Looks like Washington's looking for somebody to blame for the massacre.
Go on, Major.
"Major Marcus Reno will assume command of this regiment immediately."
Signed...
"Philip M. Sheridan. Commander."
Stand up, Major.
As the new officer in command here, do you have any changes in mind?
A few.
I made this command.
I like it the way it is, is that clear?
Yes, sir.
When this Washington thing is over...
I'll be back. Make no mistake.
I'll be back.
Honored members of the Senate and the House of Representatives...
I have been listening to your debate on the Indian problem for nine days.
There is no Indian problem.
There is only a White problem.
Order! Order!
- Sit down! - Sit down!
Sit down!
You asked...
why we nurse hostile tribes one day and kill them the next?
Why we sign treaties with one hand and shoot them down with the other?
The answer, in a single word, is:
corruption.
The American people have the right to know who is responsible.
The answer is...
look to those who are reaping the profits from this dual policy.
Order in the house!
There is no point in investigating the military.
I defy you to find a single rich officer in the entire United States Army.
There's no soldier with his safe stuffed with gold bonds and railroad shares.
Order! Sit down!
For the guilty parties...
you are gonna have to look right here...
in Washington.
Order, order!
And you are gonna have to look in high places.
Order!
I know the men who are responsible...
and I am gonna give you their names.
Order in the house!
- Excuse me, Major, but the mail just came in. - Good.
Hey, look at this.
Seventh Regiment has made the front page of the New York Herald.
Listen to this:
"Impeachment procedures have been taken by Congress..."
"against Secretary of War Belknap..."
"because of General Custer's testimony."
"Belknap has already tendered his resignation."
Can you imagine that? The Secretary of War.
Listen to this, sir:
"Orville Grant, brother of President Ulysses S. Grant..."
"was accused by General Custer of accepting a $1,000 bribe."
- Where? - Here.
Brother of the President. Can you imagine...
Custer really knows how to hit 'em where it hurts, doesn't he?
I wonder what happens to the General now.
I'll tell you what happens to Custer.
The big brass won't kick him out of the Army.
No, he's too popular for that now.
They got their own way of handling his kind.
You know what they'll do? They'll probably send him off to Europe.
To count the horses in the Russian Army.
Or they'll just leave him on suspension indefinitely, without pay...
until he rots.
He'll just sit around, knock on doors, write letters, and eat his heart out.
Finally he'll wind up in some hotel lobby talking to strangers.
Telling them what a big man he used to be.
And it will serve him right.
- Cold enough? - Did you go for a walk?
No, I only got as far as the lobby.
A fellow there started explaining to me about the Battle of Gettysburg.
So I explained to him about the Battle of Gettysburg.
Anything happen? Any mail?
Yes, there was a letter.
War Department?
No, for me, from Father.
Did you see Sheridan?
No, his adjutant left me word...
that he'd see me this week for sure.
He doesn't want to see you, Autie.
What did your father write?
He wants to have a big family Christmas.
Why don't you go home for Christmas?
Do you good to get out of Washington for a bit.
Not without you.
Things are liable to happen here. I've gotta be on tap.
Let's go back to Michigan.
No, I've gotta stay here.
The Army needs men like me. Sooner or later they'll find that out.
Well, General, you've seen our firepower.
Now, just take a look at the armor plate.
It's two inches thick. It'll stop anything.
- Why'd you bring me here? - You want your command back, don't you?
- What's this got to do with it? - Everything.
Just tell the gentleman you'll sponsor it to the War Department.
Why'd he come to you? Why didn't he come directly to me?
Any questions, General? Any suggestions?
Yeah, I don't see any place for the horses.
That's right, sir. There won't be any.
The cavalry is a thing of the past.
The object of war is to defeat the enemy, isn't it?
And it doesn't matter how?
No, sir. It doesn't matter how.
All right, sir. Thank you for the demonstration.
- Autie, please take another look at it. - What for?
All right, I'll tell you.
It was Sheridan's idea. He came to me and said:
"Have George sponsor the train. He'll get the credit for it..."
"and that will give me an excuse to bring him back."
But it's useless.
The War Department will never accept it.
They already have, General.
The contracts are drawn and ready to be signed.
What do you need me for, then?
Sheridan's suggestion.
We're just trying to cooperate.
How about it?
War isn't just killing, you know.
It's a contest. It's a man against a man.
That's a machine.
Personal kinds wouldn't count. Honor, duty, loyalty.
Everything a soldier lives by would be wiped out.
All you have left is statistics.
How many men would the machine murder today?
Hundred, thousand, ten thousand?
If this is the future, I don't want any part of it.
And where does that leave you?
With the Indians.
What's next on the program?
It's not a program, it's an invitation from Sheridan.
- It's the officers annual reunion party. - When?
Tonight.
That would be a good chance to talk to him.
Yeah.
Help!
♪ If you want to be a soldier ♪
♪ Join the Seventh Cavalry ♪
♪ Learn to fight with General Custer ♪
♪ Learn to fight for Kentucky ♪
♪ You must fight for Oklahoma ♪
♪ Kansas, Maine, and Tennessee ♪
♪ You must fight for Pennsylvania ♪
♪ You must fight for Missouri ♪
♪ If you want to be a soldier ♪
♪ You must fight for glory, oh ♪
♪ You must fight with General Custer ♪
♪ You must fight for Idaho ♪
♪ You must fight for Massachusetts ♪
♪ Michigan and Delaware ♪
♪ You must fight for Indiana ♪
♪ You must fight for Ohio ♪
♪ If you want to be a soldier ♪
♪ Join the Seventh Cavalry ♪
♪ Learn to fight for General Custer ♪
♪ Learn to fight for Kentucky ♪
♪ You must fight for Oklahoma ♪
♪ Kansas, Maine and Tennessee ♪
♪ You must fight for Pennsylvania ♪
♪ You must fight for Missouri ♪
Libby.
Listen, I'm gonna put you in a cab. You're going back to the hotel.
You're not coming back with me?
No, I'll go to Sheridan's party.
Have a whiskey, be one of the boys.
Not tonight. You can talk to him tomorrow.
No, I need a drink.
Come on, come on, move out!
Whiskey.
Excuse me.
This the best table you got?
I'm afraid so, sir. Everything else is taken.
- All right, bring us a bottle of champagne. - Certainly, sir.
Well, when did you get here?
Six months ago, but you didn't have time to see me.
Don't tell me George Custer's been drinking.
I've not only been drinking. I'm drunk.
Well, good. It's about time.
Come on, sit down.
Join the party.
Take it easy. That's not sarsaparilla.
I came here to see you.
No serious talk tonight, George. Tomorrow.
My regiment's gotten orders.
There's gonna be another big Indian war. Is that right?
I tried to get you back, but after you shot your mouth off in Congress, I couldn't.
The President hates your guts.
Why the hell did you have to name his brother Orville?
Who's gonna command my regiment?
I don't know.
What do you mean you don't know? You're the one who decides.
George, for nine days I sat in that congressional hearing room...
waiting for you to name me.
You didn't.
Okay, I appreciate that. I haven't forgotten.
But I can't budge the President.
I never let you down, Phil.
Sixty charges I led for you in the Civil War.
Sixty. I remember every one of them.
All you ever said to me was, "Go get them."
I went and got them.
I never said, "I can't budge them."
Things have changed, George.
You mean you've changed.
How long has it been since you got on a horse, had somebody take a shot at you?
All you do is run errands for railroads and politicians.
You used to be a soldier.
I wonder how your scalp would look on my wall.
You listen to me, General.
When the war ended, you came to me for a job. I offered you your pick.
But you turned down everything.
You wanted action. Those were your words: "I want action."
And you got it.
You got glory, too, didn't you?
That's all you ever cared about.
That's what's the matter with you, George. You're a glory hunter.
Now, George, this is a party and we're all a little bit drunk.
So we're gonna forget everything that's been said here tonight. All of it.
Maybe you're right, Phil.
Dear, I need pen and ink. I've got to write a letter.
A letter to the President?
Any objections?
Would you like to dictate it?
Yeah, I'll dictate it.
Whenever you're ready, Autie.
"To His Excellency..."
"the President of the United States," etc., etc.
"Dear, sir..."
"I have written to you during the past months three times..."
"without the courtesy of an answer."
"You have refused me the interview..."
"which simple justice demands."
"Because of your intervention, I stand a man..."
"condemned. A man without trial."
Did you get all that?
Read it to me.
"Sir, my regiment has been ordered..."
"to join the expedition about to move against the Indians."
"I appeal to you, not as the President of the United States..."
"but as one soldier to another..."
"to spare me the humiliation of seeing my regiment march to meet the enemy..."
"and I not to share its dangers."
"One soldier to another."
Libby...
I think you might have done it.
Attention. Open the gates!
- Welcome back, sir. - Thank you, Captain.
Welcome back, General.
Thank you.
Let's get right to it, shall we? Now then.
This campaign is gonna be a joint operation.
General Crook from the south. Colonel Gibbons from the north.
Seventh Cavalry from the east.
They'll rendezvous here. Little Bighorn, June 26.
We should've hit them three months ago, General.
From my scout report, there's more out there than a few hostiles.
Yes, sir. They're building up strength every day.
Cheyenne, Sioux, the Oglala, the Miniconjou.
- Give me the reports, Major. - Yes, sir.
General, this could be their big move to push us clean across the Mississippi.
Right, right.
But victory here at the Little Bighorn will break the resistance.
This may be our last chance to fight, Major.
You've lost a button. This one matches.
I'll sew it on. It won't take a minute.
Where's my needle? I had it a second ago.
Where is it? I just had it here.
Doesn't matter.
- But it was just here. - Dear, don't bother about it.
But it would be so simple to sew on if I had it.
Your needle was in my coat.
Forward on!
First platoon, forward!
Second platoon, forward!
Third platoon, forward!
Keep moving.
Come on. Come on.
We've covered a lot of ground, sir. When do we make camp?
We don't, Lieutenant. General's orders. Keep the troops moving.
Yes, sir.
We keep pushing at this rate...
we're gonna reach the Little Bighorn a day before those other two columns.
He wants to win the war single-handed, Benteen.
I don't think he care whether he wins or not as long as he's up there leading that charge.
General, why do you want to get there first?
Because first is first, and second is nobody.
When we cross the river, we'll split to three columns.
Yes, sir.
Three columns.
Sioux. War party.
Maybe 300 or 400.
- Which way are they heading? - They're just waiting.
- Sergeant. - Yes, sir.
Have the men take cover in those trees and set up a perimeter of defense.
Yes, sir. Take cover!
- You see anything? - No, nothing.
There's about 500 Sioux behind that ridge, waiting.
- Where's Custer? - Hasn't shown up yet.
We'll wait, Captain. Have your men deployed in the trees.
- Corporal. - Sir?
- Dismiss the men. - Yes, sir.
All up, forward! Ho!
Halt!
- Hallows. - Yes, sir?
You wait here. I'll go ahead.
- Alone, sir? - With a scout.
Could I go with you, sir? There might be some action.
Hot for glory, ain't you, Lieutenant?
You don't win a general's star staying behind, do you, sir?
Your orders are to take over.
Unless you hear from me direct, you do not advance beyond this point.
- Clear? - Yes, sir.
Cheer up, Lieutenant.
You may get your chance for promotion yet.
- Scout. - Yes, sir.
Halt!
You must lead your peoples back to the reservations.
You must go back.
I have been waiting for you, Yellow Hair.
There are three armies on the way.
They'll wipe you out.
They'll be here tomorrow.
Today is a good day for fighting.
Our fighting...
is over.
It's over, I tell you.
Trains.
Steel.
Guns that kill by thousands. No horses.
It's over.
Steel. Just steel.
No men.
All this...
it's finished!
This is all over!
For the last time, then.
Sound the charge, Sergeant. We're going after Custer.
But, Lieutenant, his orders were to wait.
I'm in command. Sound the charge.
Yes, sir. Troops! Ho!
Your orders were to stay back, Lieutenant!
Sir, we heard fire. It sounded like you were being attacked.
Shape up your column. Get the wounded in the middle.
- Hallows. - Yes, sir.
Take a message to Reno and Benteen. I want their men up here quick.
Yes, sir.
You four at the end of the column, follow me.
Sergeant.
We're gonna have to stand here.
Form a perimeter.
All right, give the order.
Dismount.
Dismount!
I can't tell you what's going on out there, Captain.
He's probably met up with those Indians he's been chasing so hard.
He's found what he's looking for.
Whatever happens, Captain, it's his own doing.
He's getting what he wants. Most of us never do.
Captain...
you might say he's luckier than you and me.
Take your hands off me, Major.
All right. Go on!
But don't you forget, Captain.
For the record...
I'm cold-stone sober.
All right, soldiers.
Hold your fire until I give the order.
Fire!
He's saving you for the last.
I know.
Don't let him take you, General.
Go!