Slim Pickens: California Joe Milner

Quotes 

• California Joe Milner : General, I know you're just a'champing at the bit to get back out in the field again, but you gotta admit that garrison duty has got its advantages. Fella's sure apt to hang onto his hair a whole lot longer a'doing it.

  Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer : And the frontier will stay untamed just that much longer.

  California Joe Milner : Assumin' that the frontier ever will be tamed, which I have my doubts about.

  Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer : It will someday, Joe. In spite of savages like Yellow Hawk and fools like President Grant's brother.

  California Joe Milner : Now them's awful strong words, General. I wouldn't go a'spoutin' 'em off just anywhere.

  Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer : It's time someone shouted it everywhere. Too much of the blame is being placed on the Indians, when the fault is as much our own.

• Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer : [examining the decorated yellow arrow that narrowly missed Custer]  Cheyenne, of course, but what else does it mean?

  California Joe Milner : Well, I reckon you might as well know. That's a death arrow. When a chief of the Cheyenne Nation hates another one so bad that, well, one or the other of 'em ain't gonna stay alive much longer, why he let's the other feller know by sending one of them fancy medicine arrows.