A former Civil War cavalry officer sets out to help a notorious gang of vigilantes keep to the straight and narrow. However, his plan comes unstuck when a mercenary rival frames the former soldier for murder - leaving him forced to turn to the one-time outlaws for aid. Western adventure, starring Robert Ryan, Claire Trevor, Walter Brennan and Jack Buetel.

After the North defeats the South, Union Maj. Jeff Clanton heads to Missouri to provide the Confederacy's Quantrill's Raiders a chance to claim allegiance to the Union, thereby clearing their wanted status. But standing in Clanton's way are the corrupt lawmen Joad and Fowler, who would rather keep the men outlaws to collect the reward on their heads. After Joad and Fowler frame Clanton for murder, he manages to escape, becoming an outlaw himself.