It is 1846 in Los Angeles and Captain Gillespie of the US Marines has declared martial law. The city had surrendered without a fight in August and Gillespie was left as military commander. Former Governor Pio Pico and his brother Andres Pico meet with Gillespie to protest his measures. However, Gillespie promises to intensify them. When Gillespie later arrives at a local saloon to arrest a blustering drunkard, Andres has had too much. He incites the populace to rise up against the Americans. Despite warnings from his elder brother, Andres sets out with a force of 80 men to confront the army of General Stephen Watts Kearny. Though he beats them, he sees the wisdom of his brother's counsel and proposes surrender. However, when told he would be treated as an outlaw and sent to prison for his attack on the American army, he threatens to fight on. Meanwhile in San Diego, General Kearny meets with Commodore Stockton, declaring his desire for vengeance and exaggerating the force that defeated him at San Pasqual. Will Andres and Kearny fight again for a final bloody massacre?
Andres Pico is the titular Firebrand, a man eager to fight an unwinnable war. The episode leaves out much of the history but gets the gist correct. Lt. Archibald Gillespie had been left in charge of Los Angeles by John C. Fremont and then promptly triggered a revolt. The ride of Juan Flacco detailed part of this story. Andres and his band of Californio Lancers trounced two companies of US Dragoons at San Pasqual in early December 1846 (this battle happens entirely off screen, missing a great chance for some action in this snoozefest of an episode). Of note, Gillespie had joined Kearny by this time and was present at the battle. Kit Carson managed to reach San Diego and summon reinforcements from Commodore Stockton to assist/rescue the threatened dragoon column. Though the show implies this was the only battle, Kearny did get his opportunity to fight. The battles of Rio San Gabriel (Jan 8, 1847) and La Mesa (Jan 9, 1847) preceded the signing of the Treaty of Cahuenga (Jan 13, 1847).
The casting is uninspired. These actors are playing random roles with little regard to the real people. The Pico brothers come off best, which is appropriate as this is their story. The uniforms aren't correct. The actor playing Fighting Bob Stockton is bald, the one playing General Kearny has a mustache, and a random Mexican drunkard has a revolver (uncommon in the era). Overall, I was embarrassed for Ronald Reagan that he did the intro and outro for this turkey.
Skip.
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