- Mark Evans: I've often wondered why we Indians are such bad drinkers. You know why?
- Captain Grey Holden: No, I'm afraid I don't.
- Mark Evans: Because whiskey deadens the reality of the times. Reality for the red man is rage, hatred, despair.
- [raiders attack a Cherokee village while a U.S. army detachment does nothing to prevent them from burning the Indians' teepees]
- Col. Tryker: The only way you're going to stop this sort of thing is for your people to move off of these lands.
- James Evans: You've got the chief's answer to that.
- Col. Tryker: Yes. Yes I have, but I also have my orders and I can't wait any longer. I'm riding out tomorrow to make arrangements for the tribe to be taken to a new Indian territory. I'll be back in a week. I hope by that time you'll have made up your minds to go peacefully.
- James Evans: We will not move.
- Col. Tryker: They tell me you're an educated man. I hope you realize there isn't any thing you or your tribe can do about this.
- James Evans: We can die.