The Sheridan Story

"The Sheridan Story" is the 16th episode of The Rifleman Season One and the 16th episode overall. Directed by Arnold Laven and written by Cyril Hume, it aired on January 13, 1959.
==Synopsis==
Lucas McCain hires an injured and bitter Confederate veteran to work on his ranch, but a Union cavalry patrol shortly arrives as well, looking for a place to spend the night.
==Watch==
==Plot==
Lucas McCain is working on his ranch when an elderly Confederate veteran with a crippled arm named Frank Blandon arrives, asking for water. Despite his rough appearance, Lucas offers him a meal, and Frank asks for a job. Initially declining, Lucas changes his mind and hires Frank, providing him with room and board for $10 a month.
The next day, Frank is working in the field when he is attacked by wasps. When Lucas tries to help him and takes his shirt off, he and Mark notice that Frank’s arm never fully healed. While Lucas comforts Mark from seeing the grizzly wound, a Union cavalry patrol led by General Sheridan arrives at the ranch. Lucas recognizes Sheridan from his service in the war, and invites the patrol to stay the night.
Later, Mark informs Lucas that Frank is drunk, and they stop him from attempting to drink horse liniment. Frank expresses his desire to leave to get away from the Union soldiers, but Lucas convinces him to stay and finish plowing the field. That evening, Frank, now intoxicated, approaches Sheridan and recalls how they met during the Battle of Missionary Ridge. Frank had Sheridan in his sights but hesitated to shoot, before Sheridan spotted him and shot out his shoulder. Despite not remembering, Sheridan apologizes for injuring him during the battle, but Frank pulls a pistol, saying it’s the South’s turn now.
Sheridan calls Frank a traitor to the Confederacy for chickening out of shooting him which might have tipped the balance of the war towards the Confederacy, which causes Frank to start self-loathing. Sheridan, realizing Frank’s pain, apologizes for his harsh words and praises Frank’s bravery, suggesting that General Lee would have been proud of him. He then inspects Frank’s wounded shoulder, and the patrol’s medical officer offers to perform surgery to properly heal it. Frank initially refuses but agrees after learning that modern medicine will prevent him from feeling pain. Sheridan orders his men to escort Frank to a hospital the next morning for the operation, recognizing him as one of his special veterans.
==Cast==
===Main===
*Lucas McCain - Chuck Connors
*Mark McCain - Johnny Crawford
===Guests===
*Frank Blandon - Royal Dano
*General Sheridan - Lawrence Dobkin
*Colonel Cass - Frank Wilcox
*Colonel Cushman - Bill Meigs
*Medical Colonel Stroud - Stephen Chase
*Lieutenant McClaren - Fritz Ford
Category:Episodes
Category:Season One episodes
Category:Episode pages with completed plot sections
Category:Episodes with no fatalities