Sgt. Vinson (Joel McCrea) is the hardnosed Indian-hating member of ‘C’ Troop, who takes command of the remaining troops after they are ambushed by Apaches and their commanding officer, a lieutenant, is killed. The few survivors include a bunch of disgruntled veterans such as the anti-authoritarian Irishman named McGurney (Forrest Tucker), a thirty-year-old new recruit who is a college grad drifter named Travis (John Russell) and the unpleasant whiner Pendleton (George N. Neise). Following orders to go to Fort Crane, Vinson first ambushes about fifty Apaches on a war party who are at a waterhole. Outnumbered four to one, the soldiers take heavy casualties but win after a long fight. When the last Apache surrenders, Vinson kills him and the men even think more unkindly of their gruff leader than before. Vinson decides to push on to Fort Crane by taking a dangerous shortcut through hostile restricted Indian territory rather than wait for reinforcements at the secure waterhole after privates Tucker and Moss, the only survivors of the massacred main column, show up at the waterhole.