In Fort Apache, Col. Thursday is about to move the troops out when he warns Capt. York that he doesn?t want to see any “outside galloping.” What was he referring to?

In Fort Apache, Col. Thursday is about to move the troops out when he warns Capt. York that he doesn’t want to see any “outside galloping.” What was he referring to?

Frank Casale

Flushing, New York

I contacted Western movie authority James Denniston in Jackson, Wyoming. He explains, “Outside galloping” is riding out of formation, with or without orders. Henry Fonda [who plays the colonel] wanted to avoid attracting any attention or being seen by any hidden band of Indians. Fonda meant “don’t send anyone out on their own to reconnoiter.”