The Civil War is over, but mine owner Sam Masters (John Anderson) will never be able to forget his tenure as commander of a brutal Confederate prison where 500 POW's died. Now, ex-union officer Colonel Hudson, backed up by a small but vicious group of followers, has arrived to wreak vengeance against Masters. Swept up in the crisis are Sam's daughter Ellen (Verna Bloom, his friend Ben Cartwright (who has doubts concerning Sam's guilt), and Ben's son Hoss, who is being held prisoner by Hudson. MASH fans will appreciate the performance of Larry Linville as Will Tyler, Hudson's most fervent-and prejudiced-follower. Also on hand is flat-nosed crime-film "regular" Charles Dierkop as Sawyer, who may not be as psychotic as he seems. Written by Ward Hawkins, Milton S. Gelman and Alf Harris, "The Fence" first aired on April 27, 1969, then was rebroadcast during the series' eleventh season on December 28, 1969.
by Hal Erickson
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