Mac Traven (Tom Selleck) is a Civil War veteran who fought for the North, while his brother, Dal (Sam Elliott), was allied with the South. In spite of this considerable point of contention, the siblings must work together when they find that other family members have been abducted, along with Dal's girlfriend, Kate (Katharine Ross). Joined by their trouble-making uncle "Black Jack" (Ben Johnson), Mac and Dal relentlessly pursue the criminals to rescue their relatives.