How the West Was Won

Made in 1962, How the West was Won was one of those epic dramas featuring an 'all-star' cast. The film tracks the Rawlins family through three generations and their westward movement from Erie, New York to Ohio and on to the Arizona territory. The principle charactor in the story is Zeb Rawlins (George Peppard) although he is not introduced until the first third of the story has gone by. John Wayne plays a bit part during this production, acting as William T. Sherman during the Battle of Shiloh in the Civil War segment of the film. He is limited to two scenes and about 3 or 4 minutes of dialog with General Grant (Harry Morgan).

Zeb Rawlins (George Peppard) is the young, naive son of Eve Prescott (Caroll Baker) who just can't wait to go off and join the fun in the War Between the States. Zeb is bidding his mother goodbye here as she tries to hide her sorrow. Earlier her husband, Linus Rawlins (Jimmy Stewart) joined the Union Army and went off to war.

Generals Grant (Henry Morgan) and Sherman (John Wayne) enter a field hospital on the evening of the first day of battle at Shiloh Meeting House. It is here that we find out that Captain Linus Rawlins was killed during the day's fighting.

Zeb, unaware that his father was killed that day, is drinking from 'Bloody Pond' when he meets up with a runaway Confederate soldier (Russ Tamblyn) from Texas. The soldier tries to talk young Zeb, now disillusioned with what war really is about, into 'skedaddling' with him to California where the war has not yet reached.

While Zeb and his new found friend discuss running away, General Sherman and General Grant stop to talk nearby. This scene is a redo of Sherman's famous spirit-lifting speech to Grant during the actual war.

As Grant and Sherman talk, Zeb's Confederate friend becomes aware of Grant's identity and pulls a pistol to assassinate the Federal commander. Zeb, seeing this, reacts instinctively and kills the man with the bayonet on his broken rifle.

This, of course, is but a short episode in the saga -- soon the story moves on and follows Zeb as he survives the war and moves west to fight Indians -- and later -- outlaws.