McCracken in Command — James Keene

The Union forces were taking a beating and orders came for retreat. Colonel Brubaker and his 1,000 troops abandoned their position andentrenched themselves a mile away from the battle area. But Captain McCracken ended up routing the Confederates - making Brubaker look a fool. The generals held Brubaker blameless, but every time a good commad turned up, they gave it to someone else. As for McCracken, his glorious mistake started the jinx that kept him in obscurity. The paths of the two men once more crossed, at an outpost in Sioux country. Brubaker was there to take over another second-rate command; McCracken to try out a new military tactic against the hostiles. Brubaker knew whatever was left of McCracken's career was on trial. McCracken was going to make one more misake - a last, violent one. Courtesy of Colonel Brubaker.