"Davy" "Davy Crockett" "The man who don't know fear" "Davy" "Davy Crockett" "King of the Wild Frontier" "Born on a mountaintop in Tennessee" "Greenest state in the land of the free" "Raised in the woods so's he knew every tree" "Killed him a b'ar" "When he was only three" "Davy" "Davy Crockett" "The buckskin pioneer" "In 1813, the Creeks uprose" "Addin' redskin arrows to the country's woes" "Now old Andy Jackson, as everybody knows" "Is the general they sent to fight the foes" "Major!" "Major Norton!" "Yes, sir?" "Where's that scout I told you to find?" "They say the best man is one of the volunteers, uh, name of Crockett." "Well, where is he?" "As a matter of fact, General, he's out hunting." "Hunting?" "We're short on rations, and he's gone across the river." "Across the river?" "That's enemy territory!" "Rations aren't what you're short on." "It's brains." "He didn't take a gun, sir." "By the eternal, I want this Crockett fella, and I want him right now!" "Fetch him!" "Yes, sir." "Crockett!" "Crockett!" "Davy Crockett!" "Where's Crockett?" "Speak up, man!" "Where is he?" "What's he doing in there?" "He's tryin' to grin down a bear." "Grin down a..." "You backwoods buffoons think the rest of us will believe anything, don't you?" "Crockett!" "Crockett, can't you hear me?" "Come out of there, man!" "I've got a mi..." "You sure spoiled things good." "Now I gotta do it the old-fashioned way." "Yee-hoo!" "Give him what fer, Davy!" "Stick with him, Davy!" "Now, Major, what was it you wanted to see me about?" "Gen..." "Gen..." "General Jackson wants to see you." "Just as soon as we get that b'ar pulled up." "Come on, boys." "It's a fair to middlin' size critter." "Full bellies tonight, boys!" "Hear you want to see me, General." "That's right." "Come inside." "Now, how'd you kill that brute?" "With my knife." "I was figurin' on grinning' him to death, but this here stumble-footed major of yours come along and busted up my concentrating'." "Grinned him to death?" "What in thunderation is that?" "Oh, it's somethin' I been experimenting' with." "You see, there's nothin' so absotutely unresistible as an old-fashioned, good-natured grin..." "Like this." "I started out on 'coons." "I got so good at it, one day an old 'coon throwed up his hands the minute he seen my teeth." ""You got me, Davy!" He hollered, and he skinned down that tree and plopped hisself in my sack before I knowed what was up." "I figured the same thing ought to work on b'ars, but I never got a chance to find out." "The major here come along and busted up my concentrating'." "I wound up havin' to wrastle this particular critter into table meat." "What was you hankerin' to see me about, General?" "We're on the edge of enemy territory." "I want a scouting party to find out what them redskins is up to." "Major Norton and a squad of regulars will accompany you." "Well, that wouldn't make the chore no easier, General." "Just be sure the major brings back the information I want." "Come on, Major." "Some of your boys rode water pretty deep, Major." "Better look to their powder." "Re-prime your pieces!" "From here on, we don't make no more noise than we got to." "No talkin', no straggling', and everybody keep close up." "Better stick closer to us, Major." "You've done nothing but lead us through swamps, canebrakes, and briar patches all day." "I see a trail over there, and there's no sense in not taking it." "Has the general got your wife's address?" "You take that trail, and he's apt to have to write her a mighty sad letter." "We're here to locate Indians, Crockett, and I don't like the way you're doing it." "Now, we'll cover more ground if we separate." "I'm taking that trail." "We'll be back here in this clearing by dawn." "See that you are." "Better fix up a signal to identify ourselves." "Can you do an ol' hoot owl?" "Certainly." "Hoo!" "Hoooo!" "That'll fool the redskins just dandy." "Come on." "War party, big one." "And here comes another bunch." "Head for cover." "That was Red Stick." "What makes you so sure?" "Creeks only got one young chief." "Gotta be him." "Let's leave the horses here." "Looks like Red Stick's finally talked the whole tribe into listening' to him." "I don't know what he said, but I sure don't like it." "I hope they keep that up a spell longer." "We better get back to the major fast." "Hoo!" "Hoo!" "Hoo!" "Hoo!" "Hoo!" "Hoo!" "Hoo!" "Hoo!" "Everybody take cover!" "Take cover, men!" "Sounds like the major really got hisself in trouble." "Yeah, and I suppose we'll have to get him out." " How?" " We'll surround 'em." "You think there's enough of us?" "If we give 'em the ol' Crockett charge." "Forward march!" "Company halt!" "Brigade, charge!" "Company, charge!" "It's the general and the whole regiment!" "On the double now!" "Fire at will!" "Charge!" "Yee-ha!" "Ya-hoo!" "Advance on the line of front!" "Dragoons, dismount!" "Aah!" "Wee-hoo!" "Ya-hoo!" "We got 'em on the run, men!" "Fix bayonets!" "Company B, close up!" "Ad-vance!" "Ya-hoo!" "Whoo!" "Charge!" "Come on, men!" "Ya-hoo!" "Yee-ha!" "Company A reporting', Major." "Here's the rest of us, Major." "Company B reporting', Major." "You mean just two of you?" "Well, two was enough, wasn't it?" "These varmints that attacked you was just a little party." "Yeah, the whole Creek nation is gathering' up there." "You take care of your casualties, Major." "Me and Russel will get the news back to the general, soon as we catch our horses." "The general's expecting' me." "Oh, sorry to disturb you, General." "Never mind." "What did you find out?" "Well, they aim to fight." "They was holdin' a big war dance last night." "Where?" "Back of the mountain, about 18 or 20 mile from where we crossed the river." "Red Stick's there." "Red Stick?" "Oh, I'd sure like to get my hooks on him." "Then we'll have to move fast." "He's whippin' 'em up like a canebrake afire." "Where's Major Norton?" "He had a little trouble." "He'll be along directly." "Sentry!" "What kind of trouble?" "Injun trouble." "Lost a couple of men." "Yes, sir?" "Tell the sergeant major to order the camp struck." "We're moving out of here." "The lookouts are accounted for, General." "Good." "Yeah, when we catch Red Stick, this war'll be over." "There's only two ways he's got of gettin' out of that camp." "I got him stoppered." "Now, as soon as the regulars are in position, you volunteers jump in there and stir up them red hornets." "Give it to 'em, boys!" "Fire and fall back!" "Fire!" "Sound assembly." "I reckon Red Stick's tomahawk's got an awful nick in it." "He got away, didn't he?" "Yeah, but a lot of 'em didn't." "Well, much obliged for savin' my scalp." "Calculatin' Mrs. Crockett might have a kiss for you when we get home." "Feelin' better, boy?" "I'll make it." "Just water, huh?" "Don't call it a victory around me, Major." "Their casualties were enormous compared to ours." "We captured three of their chiefs, and they're anxious to discuss terms for a peace." " Peace?" " Excuse me, General." "Well, what do you want?" "Nothin' much." "Dropped in to say good-bye." "Good-bye?" "Where do you think you're goin'?" "Home?" "You're going after Red Stick with the rest of my command." "This war isn't over yet." "We ain't quitting' the war." "Me and my neighbors'll be back directly." "You see, General, we only volunteered for 60 days, and that's long since up." "Catchin' Red Stick's liable to take up the rest of the year." "We gotta see that our families is took care of before we start out on anything like that." "You're confined to this camp." "That's an order." "My missus would worry about me." "Sorry, General." "If he's permitted to leave, it'll destroy the discipline of the whole camp." "He's attached to your command, Major." "Then I'm gonna stop him." "Halt!" "I'm warning you, Crockett, turn back." "Now, Major, you know we're goin' home." "Prepare to fire." "Careful." "Don't burn yourself." "Bring some b'ar meat back when you come, Davy." "Sure." "Anything you want, Major?" "Blamedest bunch of volunteers I ever saw." "When they volunteer to fight, they fight." "When they volunteer to go home, they go home." "Off through the woods, he's a-marchin' along" "Makin' up yarns and a-singin' a song" "Hey, Ma!" "Pa's back!" "Oh, Davy, you're back!" "Hello, Pa." "Hi, Pa." "Whee!" "Well, reckon now's as good a time as any to collect what I got comin'." "Georgie Russel, what happened to you while you been gone?" "Well, Davy allowed as how I had a kiss comin' for savin' his life." "He sure did." "Well, in that case." "You ain't never gonna get a woman that way." "Reckon I gotta learn you how." "I missed you an awful lot." "Missed you too." "The young'uns like to pestered me to death." "Wasn't a mornin' since you went away they haven't said, "Maybe Pa'll be home today."" "Oh, but now, thank the good Lord, you're home for good." "Well, not presactly." "The war ain't quite over yet." "You're goin' back?" "Well, not for a few days." "I ain't goin' back till I get in a supply of meat for you and the young'uns this winter." "You're gonna be gone all winter?" "Well, I hope not, but I don't know how long it's gonna be." "Oh, Davy." "Now, don't take on." "I had enough trouble with the army over me coming home." "My major and I didn't see quite eye to eye on it, but I figured I was right, and you know me." "When I'm sure I'm right, I go ahead." "Headed back to war from the old home place" "But Red Stick was leadin' a merry chase" "Fightin' and burnin' at a devil's pace" "South through the swamps on the Florida trace" "Davy" "Davy Crockett" "Trackin' the redskins down" "Halt!" "Who goes there?" "Just us, me and Davy." "How the devil'd you find us way off down here?" "You left a tall of a good trail, army gear, lame horses, sick men all the way." "That's us all right." "I reckon we better report to the general." "General Jackson ain't here." "He's done been called to New Orleans." "Well, then who's in command?" "Major Norton." "If I'd a know'd that I wouldn't have come back." "Well, come on." "Let's get it over with." "I have to admit, I'm glad to see you, Crockett." "You too, Russel." "I'm at my wit's end." "Most of my men are down with swamp fever." "I'm afraid I've got a touch of it too." "What about Red Stick?" "You still chasing him?" "Ha." "It's a question of who's chasing who?" "Every patrol I've sent out has failed to come back." "He can't have many warriors left." "If we could just locate them, but they can hide forever in this infernal swamp." "Me and Russel are rested up a mite." "It's only fair we take a cut at it." "No, no." "That Indian has cost us enough lives already." "I refuse to let you two go out alone." "Looks like we'll have to start disobeying' orders again." "Baby gators." "Kinda cute, ain't they?" "Eee!" "I'm more scared of snakes and gators than I am of Injuns." "Two days old, maybe more." "Moccasins just about wore out." "Headin' around the lake." "Suppose we scout both sides and meet at the other end?" "If you see any fresh signs, whistle like a thrush." "Like a Tennessee thrush." "Where are others?" "You not come alone." "I come alone." "Creek warriors!" "Hear me!" "Any more of you cussed varmints think I ain't worth listenin' to?" "Speak, white man." "Well, I ain't a soldier." "I'm a settler." "I'm a hunter like you." "Hunter?" "You hunt Indians." "Only because you made war on us." "Your chiefs, the smart ones, have give up." "They found out that war is no good." "White man talk." "War no good because soldiers all die." "How many Creek warriors have died?" "How many women are cryin' for their men?" "How many of your young'uns ain't got no fathers?" "You talk like woman." "Well, I'm talkin' sense, and you know it." "You're brave, Red Stick, and your warriors is brave, but in the end, they're all gonna die, because you're a bad chief." "Because I take many white scalps?" "Because soon, I burn white man's friend?" "No, Red Stick, because you could all go home in peace If you'd just listen to reason." "But seein's you won't," "I reckon I gotta challenge you according' to Injun law." "Indian law no good for white man." "Why not?" "White man's law'd be good for Injun if you'd give it half a chance." "How about it, Red Stick?" "Tomahawks." "Well, it worked on a b'ar." "Ready to listen to reason now, Red Stick?" "I listen." "Turn my friend loose and lay down your arms." "Join the other chiefs in a treaty." "Do that, and I promise the government will let you go back and live in peace on your own lands." "Promises no good." "White government lie." "Davy Crockett don't lie." "Here's my hand on it." "Why you no kill me?" "Maybe because of another law." "We have trouble livin' up to it." "It ain't bad for red man or white man alike." "Thou shall not kill." "Home for the winter with his family" "Happy as squirrels in the ol' gum tree" "Till spring set in and he started to be" "Restless fer places he wanted to see" "Davy" "Davy Crockett" "Itchin' to move again" "Well, for folks who've said good-bye as many times as we have, sure don't get any easier." "I hope this is for the last time, Davy." "Now the Indian war's over, try and find a piece of land you'll be satisfied to settle down on." "I aim to, Polly." "They say that new territory's a paradise." "Don't kill all the b'ars till we get there." "Well, guess I better get goin'." "Now, keep your sights clean, fellers." "Aw, you got plenty of time." "Oh, yeah." "There's gonna be a whole mess of kissing'." "You young'uns hold the fort down now." "Take care of yourself, Davy." "You take care of yourself too, Georgie Russel." "When you get back, I suppose you'll have more outlandish songs about Davy." "Feel one comin' on right now." "Lookin' for a place where the air smells clean" "Where the trees is tall and the grass is green" "Where the fish is fat in an untouched stream" "And the teeming' woods is a hunter's dream" "Davy" "Davy Crockett" "Lookin' for paradise" "You go any further?" "Not me." "I like it fine right here." "Hold on there, Mister." "Who do we see about filin' a claim on some land?" "Why, me." "But you'll have to wait till after I judge a shootin' match." "A shooting' match?" "Any objection to a couple of strangers buying' in?" "Save your money." "You'll be shootin' against Bigfoot Mason." "Reckon we can risk a dollar?" "Sound like they started without you." "You should've waited for me, Bigfoot." "You wasn't here." "Right in the notch, Bigfoot." "Well, that's the last round." "The beef's mine." "Wait a minute!" "This ain't fair judging'." "Them's friends of yours." "Don't hear no complaints from the losers, do ya?" "Hey, what do you figure that beef you won's worth?" "$15 cash money." "Why?" "Never went to a shootin' match in my life without gettin' at least one shot off." "One shot it is." "Hey, Bruno, charge up my other rifle and give her two extra thimbles." "Take care of these cartwheels, and this time, you do the judging'." "Mighty fancy shooting' iron for this part of the woods." "Yeah, ain't it?" "Dead center for Bigfoot." "This'n is dead center too!" "You'll have to fire another round!" "Ah, you was lucky." "Less than a finger off the notch." "Better save your powder, stranger." "Why, you didn't even cut paper!" "Ha!" "That'll take the turpentine outta your bark!" "I was afeared you fired too fast." "Let's take a look." "Ha!" "Why, he missed the whole blamed board!" "I ain't so sure." "Looky here!" "One bullet right on top of the other." "Yee-hoo!" "That's the kind of shootin' makes the old possum squeal!" "Come on." "Here." "You know, you're the first ones in over to them parts." "Nearest neighbor's a Cherokee name of Charlie Two Shirts." "Nice folks." "Thank you, Mr. Russel." ""Davy Cro..."" "You Davy Crockett?" "Why, sure." "Davy Crockett." "Well, no wonder you won Bigfoot's beef away from him." "Didn't seem none too happy about it, did he?" "Yeah." "Bigfoot ain't used to things goin' agin him." "He's got folks pretty well buffaloed around here." "So I noticed." "You know, we had the beginnings of a pretty decent little community here before him and his riff-raff moved in on us." "What are they doin' around here?" "Nobody dares talk much about it, but they been runnin' the Injuns off their land, selling' it to newcomers that don't know no better." "Well, the government guarantees the Indians their lands by treaty." "Ha!" "Treaties don't mean nothin' to Bigfoot." "Why don't somebody stop him?" "Feller that was magistrate here tried." "Went over to serve a warrant on him." "Never come back." "He had the prettiest rifle ever seen in these parts." "Nobody knows what happened to him, but we know where his gun is." "Yeah." "Bigfoot was shootin' with it against Davy today." "That's right." "Crockett, you're the only one I know that could stand up to him." "Will you take on the job as magistrate?" "Well, what would I have to do?" "Well, get us some law and order 'round here." "Well, I ain't crawfishin', but I kinda got my hands full." "We gotta finish our cabin so I can bring my family out." "Ain't no fit place for families as long as them varmints is runnin' loose." "What do you say?" "Well, take some thinkin'." "I'm drier than a powder horn." "Yeah, fetch me some too." "Shh." "Hey." "This what stood your hair up?" "I was sure I seen a man." "Nobody's gonna hurt ya." "Come on out." "Come out of there!" "Who are you?" "Charlie Two Shirts." "Why, he's our neighbor." "Well, what happened to you?" "Three white men come to my farm." "Tell Charlie Two Shirts, "Get off."" "I say, "This my land."" "They say, "Indian got no land."" "I show paper." "This land belong Cherokee." "They tear paper up, then Charlie Two Shirt fight." "Reckon I'm gonna take on that job of magistrate right now." "Hey, Bigfoot." "Lookin' for somebody?" "Yeah." "The man that run my friend here off his land." "I know who you are." "Since when is Davy Crockett a friend of Injuns?" "Always been a friend of the Cherokees." "Got no bones to pick with the others since we signed the peace with 'em." "This land's too good for Injuns." "I'm filing' on it." "No, you ain't." "Injuns got rights." "They're folks same as anybody else." "Take a powerful lot of argument to convince me of that." "That's what I come for." "Why, I've et better men than you whole." "How do you have it, Bigfoot?" "Rough and tumble." "No holds barred." "Now you got him, Bigfoot!" "Aah!" "Ohh!" "And that goes for me too!" "Give him what for, Davy!" "Get him, Charlie." "Come on." "Get up." "I said get up!" "Much obliged, Charlie." "Come on!" "Get goin'!" "What you aimin' to do to us?" "Me?" "Nothin'." "But you're gonna stand trial." "You two varmints have got a lot to answer for." "Now git." "Davy Crockett!" "Howdy!" "Howdy!" "Howdy, Mr. Russel." "Quite a frolic you got goin' here." "Yeah, ain't it?" "Since Davy's been magistrate here, we finally can enjoy ourselves without it turning' into a brawl." "I'll do the tradin' and meet you out by the dance." "Save a pretty girl fer me." "Afore that fiddle gets into your foot," "I got some tiding's for ya." "Come on over to my place." "I'll tell you about it." "You know, folks around here is pretty proud of the job you done for us, Davy." "Since you got rid of Bigfoot Mason and his crowd, honest settlers is movin' in again." "Fact is, there's so many of them, we're gonna get us representation in Nashville." "That's what I want to talk to you about." "We held us a meetin' last night to pick the fella we want to run for state legislature." "You won hands down." "Well, I'm plum flutterated by the honor, but I ain't no politician." "You got the wrong bear up a tree, Judge." "Better get somebody more fitting'." "Like Amos Thorpe, the lawyer tried to get Bigfoot off?" "You wouldn't run him?" "We wouldn't, but the opposition is, and Thorpe's got plenty of money to spend on a campaign." "Yeah, money he made off them Injun land-grabs." "We figure you're the only man has got a chance of beating' him." "Will you run agin him?" "The way you put it," "I ain't got much choice." "Hey, I got a letter fer ya." "Be right back." "Part hands!" "It's only a month old too." "Ain't Polly's hand." "It's mighty poor writing'." "See if you can make it out." "From your sister-in-law, John's wife." "What'd she be writin' me about?" ""Dear David, I take my pen in hand" ""to tell you some very sad news." ""Your beloved Polly was took..." ""Was took down with a fever" ""and died in spite of all we could do." ""The end was peaceful." ""We buried her on the knoll near your cabin." ""Don't worry about the boys." ""They are living with us and getting along fine." ""Little ones need a mother," ""and already, they seem like my own." ""We know you are suffering the greatest loss" ""a man can endure," ""but the good lord knows best." ""Your loving sister-in-law."" "Wish there was somethin' I could say, Davy." "Is there anything I can do?" "Just give me some time by myself." "Now he lost his love, and his grief was gall" "In his heart, he wanted to leave it all" "And lose himself in the forest tall" "But he answered instead to his country's call" "Davy" "Davy Crockett" "Beginnin' his campaign" "Well, here it goes." "My honorable opponent knows I ain't much shucks at speechifyin'." "It's mighty kind of him to let me get up and speak first so's he can make a lie out of everything I say." "Truth is, I don't know nothin' at all about politics." "I'll leave that up to him, but I do know the woods and the folks in 'em, and if you send me to Nashville," "I'll represent you as honest as I can." "Hooray for Davy!" "I reckon that's all I got to say." "If this here speech seems a mite brief, looks like my worthy opponent's all set to make up for it." "If his speech is gonna be as dry as I think it is, maybe we better go over to the tavern and wet our whistles with a little mountain dew." "Yeah, come on, boys." "Just follow me." "Voters of the sovereign state of Tennessee," "I'm well aware of the sacred responsibility you're about to bestow on me..." "Sent up to Nashville the best they could find" "A fighting' spirit and a thinkin' mind" "Davy" "Davy Crockett" "Choice of the whole frontier" "Yes, sir?" "Is Colonel Crockett at home?" "No, sir, but I'm expectin' him directly." "I'm Tobias Norton, an old friend of his." "The Colonel served under me in the Indian wars." "Oh." "Well, would you like to wait for him" " in his room then, sir?" " Thank you." "You remember me, don't you?" "So you're Tobias Norton." "Never did know your first name, Major." "No rank anymore, Davy." "I resigned from the army three years ago." "It's just plain Mr. Norton now." "Well, sit down." "What can I do for you?" "Just a sociable call." "I've been meaning to look you up for some time." "I wish there was somethin' I could offer you." "Oh, no thanks." "I never drink before sundown, Colonel." "Oh, I ain't rightly a Colonel." "That was in the militia out in the canebrake." "Davy, we've been watching your career in the legislature with a great deal of interest." "Just who's "we"?" "Why, General Jackson and myself." "As you probably know, we're opening a political battle with the present administration." "We're going to make Andrew Jackson the next president of the United States." "That's funny." "I had a notion ol' hickory face was travelin' along first rate on his own shanks." "Well, everyone needs help, you know." "I'm sort of a campaign manager, unofficially, of course." "Davy, have you ever been out to the Hermitage?" "No, but I sure heard plenty about it." "How would you like me to get you an invitation?" "I know the general would be glad to see you." "I'd admire that just fine." "Howdy, General." "Welcome, Crockett." "Come in." "I'll be right down, soon as I get my boots on." "Don't hurry, General." "Good afternoon, Mr. Crockett." "Take your hat, sir?" "Oh, glad you could come out, Crockett." "Why, it's been a long time since we've seen each other." "You ain't changed so much, General, 'cept you ain't so fearsome without your uniform." "Yeah, and you ain't so gamey without your buckskins." "Come on in." "Yes, everything's imported..." "Except this." "Been saving' it for home folks." "Can't keep it in a decanter." "It eats the bottom out." "To your health, Crockett." "Ah." "Here's somethin' else I have to keep out of sight." "Exploits of Davy Crockett in the Rocky Mountains." "Why, I ain't never been west of the muddy ol' Mississip'." " Let me see that." " Sure." "Somebody's got a mighty powerful imagination." ""As told by his friend, G.E. Russel."" "Georgie Russel?" "I might have knowed." "Why, they're making you famous." "Next to me, you're about the most famous man in Tennessee right now." "No wonder people's taken to pointing' me out." "Oh, it's not only these yarns, Crockett." "You been making quite a name for yourself in local politics." "Soft soap ain't good for nothin' but washing' dirty hands, General." "Well, it's a fact." "Now, you listen to me." "I'm going to run for president." "My enemies'll try to lift my scalp if I get to Washington City, but I intend to take theirs first, if I can get the right kind of help." "Crockett, I want you to run for Congress." "Congress?" "General, you sure an old head wound isn't troubling' you just a little?" "I mean it." "I want men I can trust, men I know are with me, men that can get the rest of the country behind me." "Well, if I was to do what you ask, and I did get in," "I wouldn't be takin' orders from you, General." "I'd be takin' em from them that elected me." "Ah, that's just the answer I hoped I'd get from you." "The votes were counted, and he won hands down" "So they sent him off to Washington town" "With his best dress suit" "Still his buckskins brown" "A livin' legend of growing' renown" "Davy" "Davy Crockett" "The canebrake congressman" "Mornin'." "Good mornin'." "Just a minute, Your Honor." "Hiya, Davy." "You old bushwhacker, I wondered when you were gonna show up." "You old b'ar wrastler you!" "How the heck are you?" "Hey!" "I put up with your singin' them lies about me, but printing' 'em for everybody to read's goin' too fer." "Well, they helped put you here, didn't they?" "Yeah, and now I gotta live up to 'em." "Do you think I can go in there dressed like any self-respectin' congressman?" "No, I gotta go in there like the King of the Wild Frontier, thanks to you." "Davy, that's downright ungrateful." "Here I come all the way from the Obion River just to wish you luck on your maiden speech." "Well, you just get yourself up there in gallery." "You're gonna hear a real gullywhumper." "Before we get to the order of business for the day, the chair will recognize the new gentleman from Tennessee, the honorable David Crockett." "Mr. Speaker and gentlemen, the feller around called the Master-At-Arms tells me a new congressman's supposed to make a self-introducin' speech." "Well, here she goes." "I'm David Crockett, fresh from the backwoods." "I'm half horse, half alligator and a little touched with the snapping' turtle." "I got the fastest horse, the prettiest sister, the surest rifle and the ugliest dog in Tennessee." "My father can lick any man in Kentucky and I can lick my father." "I can hug a b'ar too close for comfort and eat any man alive opposed to Andy Jackson." "Now, some congressmen take pride in sayin' a lot about nothin', like I'm doin' right now." "Others don't do nothin' for their pay but just listen, day in and day out." "I wish I may be shot if I don't do more than listen." "And the next time I get up before you," "I'll have somethin' to say worth sayin'." "You made yourself real at home here, ain't you, General?" "Buildin' that stable out there for your racehorses?" "Man's got to have some way of gettin' his mind off his troubles." "This job's twice as tough as fighting' Indians and ain't half the fun." "I know what you mean." "Seems like there's more government business being' done at fancy dress balls than there is on the floor of Congress." "Man's got to skin a cat any way he can, Davy." "You ought to know that by now." "What's important is keepin' men like you behind me, solid." "You put a strain on a feller sometimes, Mr. President." "You're bound to make mistakes, same as anybody else and you made a couple of humdingers." "Davy, the President can't think of just one group." "We're growin' too fast." "Why, there's nearly 13 million of us now." "We're bust at the seams." "We need room to grow." "Expansion, that's what I'm thinkin' of." "Expansion!" "And by the eternal," "I'm not lettin' anything stand in the way of that." "Good morning, Congressman." "I'd like to speak to you a moment." "Excuse me." "I see you ain't combed all the nits out of your hair, Davy." "Norton's changed." "He's been a lot of help to me." "This is great luck, Davy." "I was planning to see you later in the day." "How long have you been in town, Russel?" "I've got it all arranged." "You're going on a speaking tour of all the big Eastern cities." "Just a minute." "I got work to do." "That can wait." "This is more important." "I've talked it over with the President, and you're the logical choice." "Well, now hold on." "Why me?" "Don't you realize you've become a national figure?" "Everybody's heard about you." "Now they want to see you in person." "You can do a great service for the country." "How?" "By telling' some more of then backwoods jokes?" "I'm serious, Davy." "This tour is an opportunity." "You've got to think ahead." "General Jackson's in his second term." "In three years, they'll be electing a new president, and some of us have been seriously considering you." "Under the circumstances, you can't afford to pass this up." "Will it be convenient to leave Sunday?" "Well, I guess so." "Excellent." "I'll arrange your passage." "I enjoyed talking to you, Russel." "Davy, you used to have a motto..." "Be sure you're right and then go ahead." "Well, I sure hope you're right." "Him and his jokes traveled all through the land" "His speeches made him friends to beat the band" "His politicking' was their favorite brand" "And everyone wanted to shake his hand" "Davy" "Davy Crockett" "Helpin' his legend grow" "Citizens of Philadelphia, this here is the most beautiful rifle gun I ever hope to see." "She's such a pretty little lady, I think I'll give her a name." "Betsy suit you folks?" "Now, you all heard about me baggin' 105 bears in one winter?" "Well, Betsy here ain't gonna come to no such use." "I don't get no joy out of killin' critters like that no more." "Why..." "Why, the last bear I treed, I brung home alive." "We tamed him, and now he sits at the table like a man." "Named him Death Hug." "I wouldn't wonder if he's smart enough to travel someday and maybe go to Congress." "Now..." "Now, I hate long-winded speeches and this one's long enough." "I'll always treasure this here testimony of your friendship." "With a gun like this, a man could put a rifle ball through the moon." "First chance I get, I'm gonna try." "Thank you." "What are you doin' here?" "What silver's under your toenail now?" "Remember you tellin' me how helpful Norton was to you?" " Yeah." " He helped you, all right." "Right out of Washington City 'cause you was in the way." " In the way of what?" " The President's Injun bill." "They ain't brought that onto the floor?" " It's in debate right now." " What?" "Couple of your friends are tryin' to stall it off, as best they can, but there's no tellin' how long they'll be able to hold out." "Looks like my tour's over right now." "How's the quickest way back?" "The way I come, in the saddle." "I know where we can get fresh horses." "Haven't you been able to force the vote yet?" "The opposition won't yield the floor." "Get them to call that vote." "Why, Davy, I didn't expect you back for a week." " I know." " Now, Davy, if you're worried about the Indian bill, it's all over." "They've already passed it." "They'll have to change their minds." "I'm warning you, Crockett, go in there, and you're committing political suicide." "Know what I think about your kind of politics?" "I yield to the gentleman from Tennessee." "Mr. Speaker, fellow members of the Congress of these United States," "I've stood before you a good many times in fights and fun, and we've had a laugh or two for the good of the country and our own digestions." "But you can fold up your grins and put 'em away, for you'll hear no jokes from Davy Crockett today." "You have before you somethin' called an Indian bill." "I don't aim to keep you here much longer arguing' about it." "You've had enough of that already." "But afore it comes to a vote, I just want to remind you of somethin'." "Expansion is a mighty fine thing." "Sure, we gotta grow, but not at the expense of the things this country was founded to protect." "The government's promises set down in the Indian treaties is as sacred as your own word." "Expansion ain't no excuse for persecuting' a whole part of our people because their skins is red and they're uneducated to our ways." "You wouldn't be doin' the settlers no good voting' for this bill." "You'd only be makin' rich men out of the land-grabbers and speculators that have been tryin' to get it passed." "Now, just who are these scallywags?" "Well, one of 'em could be the President himself, using' this Congress for his own purpose." "But I've known General Jackson for half of my born life, and I'm sure he's got nothin' but the good of the country at heart." "No, it's just a few thievin' varmints hangin' on by givin' dinners and fancy parties, reaching' for whatever they can get ahold of." "But they're a no account lot 'bout as natural as flies around a molasses barrel." "The real scallywags in this here capital of the brave and free is us, you and me, and I'm the worst of the lot." "Reckon I've missed as many sessions as any of you, out shootin' my mouth off, when I should have been here tending' to business." "It's nobody's fault but our own if a bill like this gets passed." "We got a responsibility to this strapping', fun-lovin', britches-bustin' young b'ar cub of a country." "We got a responsibility to help it grow into the kind of nation the good Lord meant it to be." "If we ride up and show that we were the kind of men our friends and neighbors figured we was when they sent us here, a bill like this would never live long enough to even get on our desks," "let alone come to a vote." "He knew when he spoke his career was done" "But he spoke out strong, and his point he won" "Then packed his gear and his trusty gun" "And lit out a-grinnin' to follow the sun" "Davy" "Davy Crockett" "Hittin' the trail again" "Oh, there you are." "Say, Davy, ain't you gonna get no sleep?" "I've been doin' some thinkin'." "Me too." "You know, we're pretty fer down the river." "Ain't it about time we decided where we're goin'?" " Always have had a pretty good idea." " Where?" ""Texas independence threatened." ""General Santa Anna vows to expel settlers."" "Texas?" "Why, we got the whole eternal country to choose from, and you gotta pick..." "Well, there's nothin' there but a mess of trouble." "Americans in trouble." "Yeah, a bunch of crazy fools, tryin' to take on a whole army." "They're so far away from the rest of the country, they know they ain't gonna get no help." "Bunch of rock-headed idiots that won't quit because they think they're right." "How soon you reckon we'll be headed out that way?" "Right after we get to Little Rock." "A magnificent birthright flung willfully into the gutter, a superb inheritance of mind and body squandered recklessly in the muck of the common herd, talents dissipated, courage abandoned, character destroyed." "Gentlemen!" "Gentlemen!" "The very one for whom I've been waiting." "You know, sir, 'tis truly written," ""Hope springs eternal."" "Now, I've been thinking that I might yet find redemption in the company of some peerless paragon of manhood and virtue such as yourself." "You too, of course." "In other words, you sort of want Davy to be your backbone." "Backbone?" "Well, that's putting it rather bluntly, sir." "I am, in point of fact, offering the Colonel my incomparable companionship." "Me and Russel are figurin' on heading' down Texas way." "That ain't no place these days for a riverboat gambler with wobbly knees." "There are times when cowardice is a virtue, my dear Colonel." "It makes choosing a course so very simple." "Now, I know nothing of this Texas of which you speak, but I do know the fury of the outraged minions of the law, and as a consequence, I fear what lies behind me far more than the unknown which lies ahead." "Now, surely, sir, you'll not deny me the pleasure of your illustrious company." "Well, look, in the mornin', don't forget this was your idea." "He heard of Houston and Austin and so" "To the Texas plains, he just had to go" "Where land was free and there was room to grow" "And freedom was fightin' another foe" "Davy" "Davy Crockett" "King of the Wild Frontier" "Well, there she is," "Texas." "There's plenty of room out there for every dream I ever had." "Yeah, there's room, all right." "Too much of it." "A desolate, desiccated desert, untouched by the hand of man and God alike." "Well, there's somebody around, and they know we're here." "Indians?" "Probably Comanches." "Comanches?" "You mean the barbaric hoard they call the..." "The Cossacks of the Plains?" "Yep, same critters." "Hadn't we better be gettin' out of here?" "Whoa." "What unearthly manifestation is that?" "Supposin' we find out?" "There's your Comanches." "Reckon that's what stampeded 'em." "That Injun's crazy." "He's headin' straight into that prairie dog mound." "Well, don't just stand there!" "Give me a hand!" "Bite off more than you could chaw, Davy?" "Well, he might not look it, but he's a powerful lot of Indian." "If we could patch him up, he'll make us a real good guide." "I just can't hardly wait to sink my teeth in this buffalo meat." "Your friend's awake." "Good." "Think I'll have a palaver with him." "Can the Colonel actually converse with that aborigine?" "Watch." "He's tellin' Davy somethin' about himself, but I can't get it all." "Near as I can make out, this Indian's had a hard time." "He's been on many war parties and never got a scalp." "The medicine man took a shine to his squaw and kicked him out of the tribe, and on top of that, his pony fell down, and he lost the buffalo." "With all his busted luck, you sure you still want him for a guide?" "It's lucky we ran into him." "If we'd have kept on the way we was goin', we'd have lost our hair." "Lost our hair?" "Mmm, smells good." "He's says he's willin' to join us and lead us to a white settlement." "Well, I, for one, do not trust that perfidious savage." "You better trust him." "He's the only one that knows the trail to the next water hole." "Buenos dias." "Mornin'." "Supposed to be a settlement of Texans down this way somewheres." "Know where it is?" "You mean San Antonio de Bejar?" "Yeah, that's her." "San Antone." "It is not safe to go over there, senores." "General Santa Anna has already taken Bejar." "Santa Anna's taken the town?" "Where are the Texans?" "In the Alamo, an old mission across the river." "Looks like we got here a mite late, Davy." "Let's see if we can make up fer it." "You must not go there, senores." "The Alamo has been surrounded by a big army, and there's many patrols all over." "We got through the Injun country without any trouble." "Company, forward!" "They don't look very friendly." "Let's git." "Cover 'em!" "That was a tight squeeze." "You men all right?" "Yeah, I reckon." "You in command?" "No, I'm second." "Colonel Bowie's the commander." "Jim Bowie?" "The feller that invented the knife?" "That's him." "Come on." "He's been laid up." "He took a fall helping us mount the cannon." "The fever's been giving him the devil ever since." "Colonel, we have some more reinforcements." "I'll see your men are taken care of." "Thank you." " Colonel Bowie?" " Yeah." "I just brought a company in, and I figured I ought to report." "I'm Davy Crockett from Tennessee." "Davy Crockett?" "I should have known." "By the great eternal, I never hoped to see you in this neck of the woods." "Sit down, sit down." "I can't get rid of this cough." "Now, tell me, how many men did you bring?" "Four, including myself." "Four?" "Two acres of wall to defend." "It'd take at least a thousand troops to man this garrison adequately, and I've got less than 200 volunteers." "200 stubborn men can do a tolerable lot of fighting'." "Crockett, I'm gonna be honest with you." "This miserable excuse of a fort is our last chance." "If we can't hold Santa Anna here until Houston reorganizes our army," "Texas is lost." "Well, we'll just have to hold her." "Right." "But just between you and me, I want to tell you what we're up against." "You know, we're practically encircled?" "And on top of that, we don't have enough rations left for a good-sized family dinner back home." "Powder?" "Well, there's just about enough left for a turkey shoot." "I don't have to tell you, Davy, that none of this goes outside this room." "Sure, Colonel." " These 200 you got?" " Yeah?" "Ain't there anymore Texans around?" "Well, we've been sending messengers out." "One did get back from Gonzales with 32 men." "There's a fair-sized force down at Goliad." "We sent a courier out a few days ago, but I don't think he made it." "Got a fresh horse?" "I'll take a crack at gettin' through." "No, Davy." "We need your breed of men here..." "Half horse, half alligator?" "We both know the amount of powder in the gun's not near as important as the spirit of the man behind the sights." "Half of any battle's knowin' you're gonna win." "Crockett, for the first time since I've been here," "I believe we can hold out." "With ol' Betsy here and this here Arkansas toothpick of your'n, how can we lose?" "Look at that camp out there." "Every morning, there's twice as many as there was the night before." "I bet there's 2,000 of them by now." "What interests me is why Santa Anna called that truce, sent for that messenger." "Whatever it is, it ain't good." "With His Excellency's compliments." "Crockett, come down here." "Listen to this, Colonel." "Oh." "It's so flowery, it must have been written by some other attorney." "Roughly translated, it means we surrender on his terms or..." "Well, I ain't much authority on surrendering'." "Neither am I." "All right!" "His Excellency's offered to let us surrender." "He's waitin' for an answer, let's give it to him." "Fire in the hole!" "Get down!" "They say that war is the most exalted experience a man can endure." "To me, it's the most miserable and untheatrical method of suicide." "Shelled us all night and shelled us all day, ain't hit a man yet." "You ain't got nothin' to worry about, Thimblerig." "Ain't nobody gonna hit you." "You're too shifty." "You volunteers better get some food and a little rest while you can." "Sorry, Moriarty." "No rest for the gunners and officers." "Go get some food." "You too." "Take your relief, men." "I'll get yours for you, Davy." "Some of the boys are gettin' worn pretty thin, Colonel." "Four days and no casualties yet." "It's incredible." "I wonder how much longer our luck will hold up." "Luck?" "This ain't luck." "It's the hand of providence." "You really believe that, don't you?" "I sure do." "So do I, Davy." "You call that a serving?" "It's difficult to maintain manly courage on this provender." "Would you care to tempt lady luck, double or nothing?" "Why not?" "My stomach sure ain't gonna miss this." "You hold the stakes, Busted Luck." "And come, my sporting friend." "We'll venture our fortunes with the illusive pea, huh?" "Neither voodoo, hoodoo, nor hindu." "Prestidigitation an old and honorable art." "Now you see it, now you don't." "Choose." "Oh, you'd risk your pittance of food for a chance of a full belly, huh?" "Very well, my hungry aborigine, since you thrust the wager upon me..." "Choose." "There." "How you doin'?" "Keepin' awake." "Hey, Davy, I just found out somethin'." "You know we're sittin' here like a bunch of treed possums?" "We're just about out of ammunition." "There ain't no help comin'." "I knowed that since the day we got here." "We're still holdin' out, ain't we?" "Since the day we..." "You knowed it ever since then?" "Colonel asked me not to say anything about it to the men." "You knowed, and you figured you couldn't trust me after all the tight ones we've been through?" "You couldn't trust me?" "I thought we was in this together." "We're both wore out." "Go get some sleep." "All right." "From now on, it's every man for hisself." " What do you want?" " I had to see you, Colonel." "Was it necessary to wake me up?" "I ain't scared of fighting', but this ain't gonna be no fight." "It's gonna be a massacree." "Not if we get help from Goliad." "But you ain't got it, and you ain't got no way of tellin' if you're gonna get it unless you get a messenger through." "That's what I want to see you about." "What makes you think you can make it?" "I been in and out of b'ar traps all my life and ain't lost no toes yet." "When do you want to try it?" "Right now." "All right, Russel, I'll have Colonel Bowie's horse saddled up." "Good." "Now how do I get to this here Goliad town?" "That's a good question." "Now, look, here's a drainage ditch, sort of a sunken road." "Now, if the moon's behind a cloud, and the sentries are asleep, and if you have more luck than any one man's entitled to," "you might get through their lines here." "Why, that man's deserting." "Deserting?" "That's your friend, Russel, trying to make it to Goliad for help." "Russel?" "If you're worrying about Russel, don't." "He's only been gone two days, and it's nearly 100 miles to Goliad." "Couldn't make it back then." "Not yet." "Anyway, he'd have to wait for darkness." "There she is." "Gun troop, over in that draw!" "Save the big pop gun!" "It eats too much powder!" "They ain't as far off as they think they are." "Are they, Latham?" "Mighty obliging' of 'em to move in so close, Davy." "Moriarty, hold it." "About leading by too much windage." "Raise my sights a mite." "I guess you boys just haven't had enough practice." "He says ol' Betsy'll reach." "That's more like it!" "Hey, it's Russel!" "Open the gate!" "How many men are they going to send us from Goliad?" "They can't spare us none." "You eternal idiot!" "You was safe, in the clear!" "What'd you come back for?" "Just got lonesome, I reckon." "Notched you up like an old razorback." "Ah, they can't shoot for sour apples." "We won't get any help from Goliad." "Crockett, I can't keep this from my men any longer." "You better break it to Colonel Bowie." "And have him moved to one of those rooms in the chapel where there's more protection." "Oh, it's you, Davy." "Mighty good of you to keep lookin' in on me." "When a man's laid up, he gets awful tired of his own company." "Yeah, I'm glad to see a friend's face." "Friends for less than a week." "Pity we didn't meet before." "Russel just made it back from Goliad." "Tell me, did he..." "No help." "I brought those men in here." "Reckon, I better be with them now." "Take it easy, Colonel." "I'll get you outside." "Hornbuckle." "Contreras." "Move the Colonel outside." "I've called you all together because it's time you knew the truth." "Russel brings bad news, men." "The defense of the Alamo rests on us alone." "General Santa Anna has nearly 5,000 men massed against us." "Now, I can't force you beyond patriotism and your own conscience." "While it's still dark, there's time to slip off to safety." "I won't blame any man who doesn't stay." "Those who stay..." "Cross over the line." "Boys, I don't think I can make it myself." "I sure would appreciate it if some of you would help me across." "Thank you, men." "It's been a long time for us, Georgie." "Yeah, a lot of years." "Lot of things to remember." "Play us a little tune." "Why don't you play one, Davy?" "That piece you made up when we was leavin' the green hills of Tennessee." "Figured you'd remember that'n." "Yeah, I remember." "That's the only one you ever writ." "The fellers like it too." "Farewell to the mountain" "Whose mazes to me" "Were more beautiful far" "Than Eden could be" "The home I redeemed" "From the savage and wild" "The home I have loved" "As a father his child" "The wife of my bosom" "Farewell to ye all" "In the land of the stranger" "I rise" "Or I fall" "Mmm-mmm" "Farewell to the mountain" "Whose mazes to me" "More beautiful far" "Than Eden could be" "The home I redeemed" "From the savage and wild" "The home I have loved" "As a father his child" "The wife of my bosom" "Farewell to ye all" "In the land of the stranger" "I rise" "Or I fall" "And you better get a little rest." "That's a capital idea." "It may be our last." "They're on us!" "Here they come!" "Wake up, men!" "Wake up!" "On your feet!" "Aah!" "Wha-hoo!" "We're holdin' em!" "Hey, Colonel, what's that bugle call they were playin'?" "That's their signal for no quarter." "Yeah?" "Well, they'll be playin' that again." "Here they come!" "Aah!" "They've breached the north wall!" "Let's swing the cannon!" "Come on!" "Aah!" "Fire in the hole!" "Give 'em what fer, Davy." "Storybooks tell they was all cut low" "But the truth of it is, this just ain't so" "Their spirits'll live and their legends grow" "As long as we remember the Alamo" "Davy" "Davy Crockett" "Fightin' for liberty"