“The Last Patrol” is episode five of season one of The Time Tunnel.
At the end of the previous episode, “The Day the Sky Fell In”, Doug and Tony had gone back further than previously. They had arrived in what they thought was the Southern U.S., and Tony had taken some buckskins. There were redcoats in the woods and come under fire. In this episode, the two are captured by a patrol and taken to the commander of the regiment, as spies. Doug tells the commander, a colonel, that there’s been a mix-up, that they are non-combatants. Colonel Southall says they will be tried and, afterwards, shot as spies.
The colonel is telling his captain that the troops need to be ready at dawn. The captain, Hotchkiss, is concerned because the woods between here and New Orleans are full of American troops. Southall says that is where they will stay. as they are outnumbered. Southall wants another patrol sent out, and also wants a court martial convening immediately.
Doug and Tony are in irons. Doug has an idea where they are and asks the soldier guarding them if he really thinks they can beat General Jackson. He does. Doug and Tony realise they are in New Orleans, in time for the last battle of the War of 1812. A bloody and useless one according to Doug. The colonel then comes over and orders the leg irons be taken off them.
In the present, Tik-Toc has got a timelock on the period but not a fix on Doug and Tony yet. General Kirk gets a call; he tells the person on the line that General Southall is cleared and to send him in. The general explains that Southall is attached to the British Embassy; he has a special interest int he War of 1812 as an ancestor of his was in it. General Southall comes in and confirms that the regiment holding Doug and Tony is the Seventh. The Bitcher’s regiment; that’s what they called his ancestor. He led the Seventh into a bloody slaughter instead of outflanking the fortifications. The date is the day before the battle, and General Southall recommends they get their men out. He’s told it’s too dangerous. The general’s response is that if they move with the regiment, they will have no chance.
Doug and Tony are being tried. Their protestations of innocence are not helped by the fact that the buckskins Tony took and passes signed by General Jackson in the. The colonel says that if they simply found the buckskins, all they are guilty of is theft. He doesn’t believe that though. He wants details on Jackson’s troops. With an answer, he sentences them both to be executed by firing squad, immediately. Tik-Toc is trying to get a fix on the two to transport them out, danger or not.
Before being executed, the colonel speaks to Doug, suggesting that he be exchanged for one of the colonel’s own men who was captured. Doug says to free Tony instead. Tony is being asked something similar by Hotchkiss, and he says the same, suggesting Doug be the one traded. In the present, General Southall is not impressed by his ancestor.
Colonel Southall expected Doug and Tony to react that way and has Tony brought to his cabin. Tony will earn his and Doug’s freedom by escorting Captain Hotchkiss to the American lines, and to come back by dawn. If Tony is willing to sacrifice his life for his friend, why not his honour? Tony fills Doug in on what is going on; Doug points out that Tony has no more knowledge of the local area than Hotchkiss. Tony thinks the future is already set; Doug says that history doesn’t record everything. Such as the execution of two spies ion the wilderness. The colonel briefs Hotchkiss on what he is to do, and says he doesn’t expect Tony back. He’s already been sentenced to be executed.
Tony tries to lead Hotchkiss through the woods, and they stumble across an American patrol. Hotchkiss wants to follow, and they spy General Jackson. He could shoot him, but Tony believes he won’t. Because he can’t be certain to kill Jackson and will not jeopardise his mission for personal glory. Hotchkiss wants to get closer, then they stumble across another American patrol, and this one captured them. Tony manages to escape, but Hotchkiss is captured. The officer he’s led to doesn’t seem impressed with him claiming to have British rank when he’s out of uniform. Tony, however, needs Hotchkiss alive, because he thinks he needs him to free Doug. Meanwhile, in the present, General Southall wants to go back in time as well.