Westbound

Westbound

Year: 1959

Runtime: 69 mins

Language: English

Director: Budd Boetticher

Western

During the Civil War, Capt. John Hayes is posted to a little‑known but vital frontier front, where he must escort a shipment of gold from a remote Colorado town to Union banks. He battles determined Southern sympathizers intent on stopping him at any cost, fueling a personal vendetta for vengeance.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Westbound (1959)

Trace every key event in Westbound (1959) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Hayes is tasked to lead the Overland line

Captain John Hayes is assigned to take charge of the Union's Overland stagecoach line, which ferries gold to support the war effort. He travels to Julesburg, Colorado to meet the Overland headquarters and assume command. The assignment sets the stage for alliances and conflicts that follow.

1864 Julesburg, Colorado
2

Hayes meets Rod Miller and Jeannie

At the Overland HQ, Hayes meets Rod Miller, a one-armed Union soldier, and Miller's wife Jeannie. The encounter introduces a key trio who will influence the line's stability. Their dynamic hints at personal tensions to come.

1864 Julesburg, Colorado
3

Clay Putnam's betrayal and Norma's marriage

Clay Putnam has quit his Overland position and secretly works for the Confederacy. He has the support of Mace and is married to Norma, Hayes's former love, creating a personal vendetta. This setup explains the antagonistic forces arrayed against Hayes.

1864 Overland headquarters / Julesburg
4

Mace targets Rod and the one-armed man

Mace's bandits pick a fight with Rod Miller, taunting him as 'half a man' due to his missing arm. Rod is distraught and unable to cock a pistol, highlighting his vulnerability. The confrontation foreshadows the violence to come.

1864 Julesburg
5

Hayes proposes a local station at the Miller Farm

Hayes asks the Millers if they would operate the local Overland station from their own farm, hoping to keep the route running and protect shipments. Rod and Jeannie become more entangled with the Overland operation. The plan deepens the investment of the Miller family in the line.

1864 Miller farm, near Julesburg
6

Putnam orders destruction and theft

To avoid direct bloodshed, Putnam urges Mace and his men to target Overland facilities instead. He also orders the theft of gold shipments to cripple the Union's supply line. The plan marks a slide toward calculated sabotage rather than open violence.

1864 Overland routes / stations
7

Jealousy and caution strain Putnam's plan

Putnam, consumed by jealousy over Norma and his fear of Hayes's influence, orders his men to avoid bloodshed. He hopes to keep his own hands clean while the operation proceeds. This internal conflict showcases Putnam's precarious control of the conspiracy.

1864 Town / Overland office
8

An attempted hit misses; Rod is shot

One of Putnam's men attempts to kill Hayes but shoots Rod Miller by mistake. Rod survives the shooting but is gravely wounded and humiliated by his missing arm's vulnerability. The blunder escalates the danger facing Hayes and the Millers.

1864 Near Overland station / town
9

Mace drives a stagecoach off a cliff

Mace orchestrates a deadly accident by sending a stagecoach off a cliff, killing several passengers including women and children. The atrocity shocks the town and galvanizes the locals around Hayes. Norma is revolted and decides to leave Putnam.

1864 West of town
10

Norma warns and leaves town

Norma, repelled by Putnam's actions, announces she will leave him and depart toward the East. She warns that Hayes's life should be protected and suggests that she would see Putnam hang if anything happens to him. Her decision marks a personal pivot in the conflict.

1864 Town
11

Final town confrontation; Putnam is shot

A final confrontation in town draws in the townspeople who rally around Hayes. Putnam confronts Mace to prevent more killings and is shot, ending his treacherous plans. Hayes shoots Mace in a climactic showdown, resolving the primary antagonists.

1864 Town
12

Aftermath: Norma leaves; Hayes's future with Jeannie

With Putnam dead and Mace defeated, Norma leaves town to live back East, severing the rivaling relationship. Hayes, meanwhile, appears to have a future with Jeannie, suggesting a reconciliation and a new life beyond the war. The ending emphasizes personal futures over political ones.

1864 Julesburg / Local town

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:09

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