As originally broadcast in 1989, this episode included two partial scenes that have since been edited out of the DVD release. 1) How Dish got his name: apparently, at some point, he drank from a pail of dishwater; and 2) the amendment of Deets' name on the Hat Creek sign: everyone always just called him Deets. His first name, Joshua, was added later, which is why it appears after Deets, and in smaller letters. Together, these two scenes took up about a minute of screen time.
When Bolivar says that General Robert E. Lee freed the slaves, he was inadvertently referring to the story that Robert E. Lee did indeed free the slaves he inherited from his father. Supposedly, Robert E. Lee thought it was wrong for one human to own another.
The character of July Johnson first appeared in the 1968's Bandolero. That Johnson was the sheriff of Val Verde, played by George Kennedy. Bandolero was made three years before Larry McMurtry first started the development of Lonesome Dove, which languished for 12 years.
Wilhelm Scream: During the horse rustling sequence in Mexico.
Helena Humann (Peach Johnson) appeared in Tender Mercies (1983) starring Robert Duvall (Gus). She appears as woman with groceries. He won an Academy Award for his part.