The Dakotas

Episode 0

A Man Called Ragan

Mon, Apr 23, 1962 60 mins

In the pilot for this series, which originally aired as an episode of "Cheyenne", Marshal Frank Ragan, who has already given his resignation, comes to town to learn what happened to his friend Johnny Wilson. But it is apparent that everyone in the town wants him to stop investigating, especially town boss Ben Stark, who is willing to kill to keep him from finding out too much.

Episode 1

Return to Dryrock

Mon, Jan 7, 1963 60 mins

When J.D. Smith was a gunfighter, he was run out of town and only one friend stood up for him. Now that friend has been murdered, and J.D. is going to find who killed him and why.

Episode 2

Red Sky Over Bismarck

Mon, Jan 14, 1963 60 mins

A woman whose son is part Indian asks Marshal Ragan for help because she's afraid of the local authorities.

Episode 3

Mutiny at Fort Mercy

Mon, Jan 21, 1963 60 mins

Deputies Stark and Porter return Davids, an escaped prisoner, to Ft. Mercy which is commanded by the tyrannical Capt. Ridgeway. When the other prisoners riot, Stark is taken hostage and subjected to a life-threatening ordeal.

Episode 4

Trouble at French Creek

Mon, Jan 28, 1963 60 mins

A female mine owner drives her workers so hard that they finally walk out. Furious, she hires a band of vicious gunfighters to keep the miners under control. Marshal Ragan is called in to set matters straight.

Episode 5

Thunder in Pleasant Valley

Mon, Feb 4, 1963 60 mins

A wealthy rancher's daughter is kidnapped by an outlaw gang, and Marshal Ragan tries to stop him from paying the ransom while his deputies search for the kidnappers.

Episode 6

Crisis at High Banjo

Mon, Feb 11, 1963 60 mins

Several years ago Marshal Ragan's wife was murdered, and he never caught the killer. Now he has--a man named Johnny Fox, who admits to Ragan that he was paid to kill her. Ragan is torn between his desire for vengeance for his wife's murder and his wanting to know who paid to have her killed and why.

Episode 7

Requiem at Dancer's Hill

Mon, Feb 18, 1963 60 mins

Marshal Ragan and his deputies go after the leader of a posse that captured a wanted man, but instead of turning him over to the authorities, they hanged him on the spot.

Episode 8

Fargo

Mon, Feb 25, 1963 60 mins

Deputy J.D. Smith runs up against a local sheriff who runs his small town like a medieval kingdom, ruling with an iron hand and demanding obedience and tribute from his "subjects".

Episode 9

Incident at Rapid City

Mon, Mar 4, 1963 60 mins

A cavalry unit tells Deputy Stark that rancher Lloyd Mitchell has sold them spoiled food and some of the troops were poisoned, and demands that Stark turn Mitchell over to them. Stark suspects that not everything is as it seems, however, and begins to believe that the "cavalry" unit may not be quite what they appear to be, either.

Episode 10

Justice at Eagle's Nest

Mon, Mar 11, 1963 60 mins

A conflict is brewing in Eagle's Nest between farmers and cattlemen. The farmers bring in Judge Daniel Harvey to "enforce" the law, which outrages the cattlemen. Marshal Ragan, believing that the judge's methods will result in a range war, decides to look a bit deeper into the judge's past history.

Episode 11

A Walk Through the Badlands

Mon, Mar 18, 1963 60 mins

While in the Badlands looking for a band that's been conducting raids, Ragan and the deputies join with a group of cavalry officers after the same men---a breakaway group led by one of their own captains. Soon the marshals begin to have doubts about the lieutenant in charge, and arguments over the use of the limited amount of water bring conflict.

Episode 12

Trial at Grand Forks

Mon, Mar 25, 1963 60 mins

A visiting German countess is tried and sentenced to death in Grand Forks for the murder of her husband. Marshal Ragan finds it odd that she refused to defend herself at the trial and decides to find out why, but he has to hurry--there's not much time left before her execution.

Episode 13

Reformation at Big Nose Butte

Mon, Apr 1, 1963 60 mins

J.D. Smith must choose between his responsibility as a marshal and his loyalty to his recently released but now dying gang leader.

Episode 14

One Day in Vermillion

Mon, Apr 8, 1963 60 mins

Marshal Ragan and his deputies have to protect an Indian Chief from the wrath of an Indian hating town while the chief has to negotiate a peace treaty from the stern peace commissioner.

Episode 15

Terror at Heart River

Mon, Apr 15, 1963 60 mins

Tensions arise between runaway railroad workers and the citizens of Heart River.

Episode 16

The Chooser of the Slain

Mon, Apr 22, 1963 60 mins

Deputies Stark and Porter are forced to kill a man in self-defense, but no one believes them. Marshal Ragan has to find the only witness to the shooting who can clear the two, otherwise they'll be hanged for murder.

Episode 17

Feud at Snake River

Mon, Apr 29, 1963 60 mins

Brothers Simon and George Deus decide to become wealthy entrepreneurs and go into business together. However, when Simon starts running farmers off their land so he can take it, George opposes him and trouble brews. Marshal Ragan tries to rally the farmers behind George and against Simon.

Episode 18

Sanctuary at Crystal Springs

Mon, May 6, 1963 60 mins

Deputies Del Stark and J.D. Smith are forced to shoot and kill the Barton brothers as they attempt to take over a church and hold the pastor hostage. A surviving Barton brother threatens to kill the preacher if Del and J.D. don't surrender themselves to him.

Episode 19

A Nice Girl from Goliath

Mon, May 13, 1963 60 mins

A girl's false testimony during a murder trial sent an innocent man to the gallows. Now she learns that the man's brother is coming after her, and she asks Del to protect her.

Episode 20

Black Gold