The Mission

In the earlier days of television, a series season was quite long. Season 12 of Gunsmoke contained 29 episodes. The Gunsmoke producers would use various strategies to give actors a break. That's why we occasionally see episodes like this one where Matt is on his own away from Dodge City. The other regular characters enjoyed some well-deserved time off. Likewise, some episodes barely feature James Arness at all. Fans of the show will certainly recall episodes where Matt tells one of the other characters he has to leave Dodge for some reason at the beginning only to return at the very end of the episode. This is one of the "Matt only" episodes.

The Marshal has been sent to Mexico to pick up a prisoner named Jim Bassett that is being extradited to the United States. (Whether a U.S. Marshal would have actually been asked to complete such a task, especially without any assistance, is very doubtful.) Matt runs into trouble when he is beaten and robbed by a couple of fellow Americans in a small Mexican town.

The situation is complicated by a Confederate Colonel and a loyal Sargent who are essentially still fighting the War Between the States as refugees in Mexico. The Colonel refuses to help Matt once he learns that Matt was a Union soldier and is now a U.S. Marshal.

One would think that after being beaten, robbed, and refused help by the Colonel, Matt would simply try to make his way back to the U.S. and regroup. But we all know that is not Dillon's style. He stubbornly continues to pursue the outlaws that robbed him, despite having no jurisdiction in Mexico. (I don't think his authorization to transport Bassett back to the U.S. would have given him the authority to engage in shootouts throughout another country.)

This episode features another outstanding cast. Robert F. Simon and Steve Ihnat make another of their many Gunsmoke appearances. It is always a joy to see Warren Oates, Arch Johnson, and Jim Davis. The acting and entertaining story are good enough to overlook some of the questionable liberties taken with history.

Good episode. From the perspective of 2021 - we found the relationship between the Colonel and the Sergeant very interesting.

Also interesting from a viewing in 2021 - the Confederate Flag and the distrust of the Federal Government.

All of the above and a good story with Jim Davis as one of guest stars - made this a memorable episode.

I have never been a fan of the series making the two week long ride to Mexico for action that could have been just as interesting somewhere closer to Dodge City. But this episode had a very interesting side plot that involved an aging Confederate Colonel, that was never going to accept defeat, which made the entire episode even more entertaining than expected.

The main story involved Marshal Dillon going to Mexico to pick up a wanted killer named Jim Basset. Along the way Matt runs into two rough bandits and a newbie in the form of the Confederate Colonel's son called Reb. The two bandits knock out Matt and steal his horses with Reb riding along for his first action as a criminal.

Only after taking Matt's items did they learn that he was a US Marshal going after Basset. They decide, with help from the extradition papers, to spring Basset from jail and go on a robbery spree all across Mexico. Matt will not only have to deal with the bandits but also the Confederate Colonel that wants no part in helping a Yankee Marshal.

This is an episode that combines two stories to make an very spirited offering in the 12th season. With an interesting script and fine acting this episode proved to be entertaining to the very end. Good watch.