Sitting Bull (1954)

John Litel: Gen. Wilford Howell

Quotes 

• Major Robert 'Bob' Parrish : Those people use this fort to buy their supplies in. They lie in their teeth about where they're going. They go into Sioux territory, slaughter their game, foul their water, and shoot every Indian they see if he's old or harmless enough. The treaties, they don't mean anything to them. They're just words on paper.

  Gen. Wilford Howell : Admitting every word of that to be true, it's outside your province as a soldier. We are all here to obey orders.

  Col. Custer : And orders seem to be something of a stumbling block for you. Major, you've been a burr under my saddle ever since you came west. You were an aide to General Grant when I first knew you, a colonel! Now you seem to be traveling downwards in rank.

  Major Robert 'Bob' Parrish : Well, we seem to be traveling in the same direction, Colonel Custer. You used to be a general.

• Gen. Wilford Howell : It doesn't make sense.

  Major Robert 'Bob' Parrish : It's what Sitting Bull wants. I couldn't change his mind.

  Gen. Wilford Howell : You can't ask a President of the United States to come out here and sit under a tree with an Indian.

  Major Robert 'Bob' Parrish : Grant's a soldier. He'll understand. Can you send a message to him right away, sir? Tonight?

  Gen. Wilford Howell : Of course. It's almost hopeless.

  Major Robert 'Bob' Parrish : Maybe. But it could save us a war.