Lt. Lance Caldwell (Rock Hudson) is sent to Fort King in Florida to serve under Maj. Harlan Degan (Richard Carlson), who wants to rid the area of the Native American Seminole tribe. This plan sits poorly with Caldwell, whose childhood friend -- and rival in his pursuit of the lovely Revere Muldoon (Barbara Hale) -- is the tribe's chief, Osceola (Anthony Quinn). Tension between the Seminole and the army rises, and, when a guard is killed at the fort, the lieutenant is blamed for the murder.