简介：AttheWestPointMilitaryAcademyin1854,thevillainCadetCarlRader(VanHeflin),adiscipleofthefanaticabolitionistJohnBrown,isdishonorablydischargedforspreadinganti-slaverypamphlets.HisclassmatesJebStuart(Flynn)andGeorgeCuster(RonaldReagan)becomesecondlieutenantsandarepostedtoFortLeavenworth,KansasTerritory,themostdangerousdutyinthearmy—anassignmenttheyrelish.OnthewaytoKansas,CusterandStuartmeetCyrusK.Holliday,inchargeofbuildingtherailroadtoSantaFe,NewMexico,andhisdaughterKit(deHavilland),withwhombothofficersfallinlove. TheKansasTerritoryisbloodstainedandwar-torn,avictimofJohnBrown'srelentlesscrusadeagainstslavery.Meanwhile,RaderhasenlistedasamercenaryinBrown'sarmy,whichhasbeenterrorizingthecountrysidewithbloodyraids.DuringBrown'sattackonafreightwagonundertheprotectionoftheU.S.Army,StuartandCustercaptureBrown'sinjuredsonJason,andbeforedying,thetroubledboyinformsthemabouthisfather'shideoutatShubelMorgan'sranchinPalmyra.Indisguise,StuartridesintoPalmyra,thecenteroftheUndergroundRailroad,butisrecognizedbyRader,whotakeshimatgunpointtoBrown(RaymondMassey).Whiletryingtoescape,StuartistrappedinaburningbarnbutissavedasCusterleadsthecavalrytotherescueanddrivesBrownintoseclusion. BelievingthatBrown'sforcehasbeenbroken,StuartandCusteraresentbacktoWashington,D.C.,whereStuartproposestoKit.However,farfrombeingdefeated,BrownisplanningtoignitewarbyraidingthearsenalatHarper'sFerry,Virginia.WhenBrownrefusestopayRaderforhisservices,RaderridestoWashingtontoalertStuartofBrown'splans,andthetroopsarrivejustintimetocrushtherebellionandhangBrown.…