Mackenzie's Raiders

General Ranald Slidell Mackenzie was indeed a real historical figure. His tragic end, in which he descended into madness, has obscured his outstanding record of achievement. While I remember this show from when I was a boy, it did not do justice to the real man. Mackenzie brought peace to the southern plains, accomplishing in a few short years what Texans had tried to achieve for three generations. While commanders like Custer, George Crook, and Nelson Miles are better remembered today, Mackenzie and his crack regiment, the 4th Cavalry, deserve to be remembered and at least equally well known. Not only did Mackenzie stop the predatory raiding of the Comanches, he dealt with them equitably in peacetime. He was most proud of having stopped wars without spilling blood. He deserves better than to remain obscure.

I remember watching this with a little friend of mine from nursery school. We were 4 or 5 years old, but already experienced in running around pretending to shoot at each other and imaginary Indians and bad guys. (I was already fairly sympathetic to Indians in westerns, thanks to my Mom, who had explained some basic history to us). I liked the theme music, too.... I have only given it a 7 out of 10 rating, since I think it was probably not distinguished by great stories or extraordinary acting, but as a young fan, I was a devoted follower, and was crushed when it was canceled. It would be nice to see it on Nick or TVLand, or on DVD, but it's probably not in the cards, alas.

Haven't seen it since the 60's , but somehow my sister found a kid's T-Shirt with a couple of horses and Mackenzie Raiders printed on it a couple of years ago!!!

How a T-Shirt of a 50's American western series that hasn't been shown on Australian TV in 40 odd years turns up in 2nd hand store in Brisbane, Australia I don't know but my boy now wears it around .

Though my memory grows dim it was a good series although they always had to stop their pursuit at the border and that did irk me at the time , if I can remember that it still must!

With a lot of 50's television westerns now getting released on DVD I hope they get around to releasing some episodes and I hope I am not disappointed if they do .

I didn't care for it but i bought it for the guest stars. Blood in the rio ep had John Milford who is just a gorgeous hunk of man flesh. Pistol whipped ep had Charles Maxwell, another gorgeous goon, Jack Elam who is wonderful was in an ep. However i must complain - Nimoy & Jaffe are not Indians!

I've spent the last few weeks viewing 38 episodes on Youtube (one appears not to have been uploaded). Annoyingly a third or so of the latter episodes lack their final minute or two of plot.

The series compares well enough with other TV westerns of the 1950s period that I vaguely recall, though I would like be able to see the apparently-lost "Boots and Saddles" before saying which is best.

The latter did have rather more vivid characters whom I can still recall 60 years later, whereas Colonel Mackenzie is supported by a somewhat drab cast: the succession of junior officers look mostly the same and the personalities of the two NCOs most often seen never develop. Perhaps having a civilian scout appearing regularly would have helped - Chiricahua Corporal Killeagle appears in the penultimate episode and could have featured in earlier ones.

At least there very little contrived love interest (though in one episode the colonel does have to deal with an infatuated lady admirer), and now and then a familiar face appears: Doug McClure, Jack Elam, Morris Ankrum, John Doucette and - before stardom as Mr Spock - Leonard Nimoy.

One might carp at patrols away from the fort for several days with no apparent supplies - or did they live off the land? And each episode commences with the voice-over announcing that Mackenzie's illegal forays into Mexico risked death by hanging - so why do the soldiers not wear civilian clothing? One might as well be hung for a sheep as for a lamb! Still, I did enjoy the 850 minutes of viewing.