Bonanza

From the archive

Set in Nevada in the 1860's, Bonanza chronicled the adventures of the Cartwright family who owned a large ranch called The Ponderosa. Ben Cartwright and his three sons, Adam, Hoss, and Joe fought for what was just and decent in a time where lawlessness was common. The widowed patriarch Ben Cartwright had three sons, each by a different wife: the oldest was the urbane architect Adam Cartwright, who built the ranch house. The second was the warm and lovable giant Eric, better known by his nickname "Hoss." And the youngest was the hotheaded and impetuous Joseph or "Little Joe." They all lived and worked on The Ponderosa. Nearby Virginia City helped populate the episodes with guest starring characters from all over America. Broadcast between September 1959 and January 1973. Filmed by the National Broadcasting Company at Paramount Studios. "The Mission" Season 2 Episode 2 Hoss befriends an old drunk named Charlie Trent, who at one time had been the best scout the Army had. He led John C. Fremont and his Expedition across the Great Salt Flats. When the Army's current scout, Lewt Cutter, refuses to obey Captain Pender's orders, he is fired and replaced by Charlie, whom the Captain knew from his earlier days. Charlie, along with Hoss, must guide the troops and a shipment of gold across the desert. This is Charlie's chance to redeem himself, but Cutter and his men are waiting in the desert to bushwack the troops and steal the gold.