"The Puppeteer"

I understand (I think) that Pawnee Croft's great "victory" actually resulted in the deaths of thousands of people. But I do not understand what this had to do with Burnaby's Indian wife (unless it was that she died in the battle).

I'd like to know where the puppets came from, especially the magnificent Punch Burnaby manipulates.

I'm also curious as to whether Denver Pyle was his own stuntman (!) and allowed himself to be set on fire. This would have been particularly dangerous, given his huge wig.

The episode's original title appears to have been "The Mountebank" or "The Montebank". Note that Denver Pyle mispronounces the word.