Cavalry veteran Sgt. Wade McCoy (Chuck Connors) immediately butts heads with his new supervisor, Lt. Jonathan Davenport (George Neise), over the latter's lack of experience on the treacherous route known as the "Tomahawk Trail," but Davenport's unfamiliarity with the territory proves deadly when a trip to Fort Bowie finds the troop under Apache attack. Crazy from the heat, Davenport turns on his men, forcing McCoy to go against his commanding officer in order to save the lives of others.