欧文·索帝斯是南北战争名将，被贬谪至阿伯契堡垒当指挥官，为恢复往日荣耀，将责任压在每个骑兵上，引起官兵的厌恶。而同来的女儿费拉，却很快获得官兵女眷的友谊。费拉与奥洛克中尉发生恋情，欧文以家世无法匹配反对。后来边境发生印地安人屠杀巡逻骑兵事件，欧文派约克上尉去墨西哥请印地安人回保留地，约克圆满达成。欧文却耍谋略骗科奇斯，想将印地安人赶回保留地，双方谈判，众酋长要求将败类米强逐出保留地，欧文要求无条件回保留地。谈判破裂，欧文下令攻击，约克反对被调为补给队。一场战役下来，兵败如山倒，欧文与官兵一同赴死，保住了骑兵队的荣誉。In John Ford's sombre exploration mythologising of American heroes, he slowly reveals the character of Owen Thursday, who sees his new posting to the desolate Fort Apache as a chance to claim the military honour which he believes is rightfully his. Arrogant, obsessed with military form and ultimately self-destructive, Thursday attempts to destroy the Apache chief Cochise after luring him across the border from Mexico, against the advice of his subordinates.