It's the late 1860s, and the U.S. government has yet to reclaim Texas as a state. A group of opportunistic and amoral Northerners head south to claim the territory as their own. Though Texas lawman Capt. Porter (Randolph Scott) believes it's his duty to honor the local leaders, he can't ignore the corruption of the Yankee politicians who are giving him orders. When Confederate veteren Ben (Charles McGraw) is unjustly sentenced to death, Porter decides he has had enough of his new bosses.