Recognizing that Maj. Robert Parrish (Dale Robertson) has a history of making peace with Native American tribes, President Ulysses S. Grant (John Hamilton) sends him to iron out a land dispute with Chief Sitting Bull (J. Carrol Naish). Though negotiations seem to be going well, Parrish can't stop the deadly Battle of Little Big Horn. Many die, but when he helps Sitting Bull survive, Parrish is charged with crimes against the government, and he will be executed unless Grant steps in.