The Proud Rebel.

A former Confederate soldier, John Chandler (Alan Ladd) has come to an Illinois town with his 10-year-old son David. The boy was struck mute after witnessing his mother's death in a fire, and hasn't spoken a word since. With a flock of sheep blocking their path, John has their expertly trained dog Lance clear the way. The sheep belong to rancher Harry Burleigh (Dean Jagger) and his sons, Jeb (Harry Dean Stanton) and Tom (Tom Pittman)