If you like Audie Murphy, you will like Column South. Murphy, plays Jed Sayer an Army lieutenant trying to keep the peace between the soldiers and the Indians. The problem is a treacherous Brig General named Storey ( Ray Collins), who knows the Civil War is coming and is for the Confederacy, and wants to stir up trouble. Besides that his Commanding Officer Captain Lee Whitlock ( Robert Sterling). Is also for the Confederacy. Yo be honest, Whitlock is a decent man, but is also weak and is easily manipulated by Storey. Jed also has a love interest, Lee's sister Marcy ( Joan Evans), who goes from a person who despises the Indians and will not eat with them (I do not call her a bigot, because she was very naive), to someone more then just a love interest. Spoilers ahead: Jed, Lee and Marcy are part of a squad ordered to leave the fort with few troops knowing the Indians will attack. However, while they are camped out, Jed finds a letter of Whitlock's explaining the plan to help the South, which will result in people dying, while the Confederates led by Whitlock head south ( hence the Title 'Column South'). Jed and the troops loyal to the Union head back to the Fort, but are ambushed by the Indians. Fortunately for Jed and the troops, Marcy explains she is embarrassed by Lee's conduct and is a Southerner with honor also, and the South would be embarrassed to win this way. Whitlock realizes she's is right, and goes back and helps defeat the Indians ( the Indians attacked because they were framed by Storey for a theft of guns and were forced off their land). Storey who was earlier captured by the Indians had to confess his crime, and the Indians went home. Then the Civil War started, and Whitlock and the other Confederates went to join the South, while Marcy stayed with Jed, The last thing Whitlock said is "Take good care of her." I like the character growth in Marcy going from someone who looked down on the Indians, to the person who by saying what she thought, saved lives, and helped her brother regain his sense of duty and honor. Again it is a very good Murphy Western. I give it 8/10 stars.
Review of Column South
