The film opens in 1932 during an historical event, known as the
Bonus March.
World War I veterans are protesting and rallying in
Washington, D.C., demanding immediate cash redemption of bonus certificates that were due to be paid in 1945. Troops from the
U.S. Cavalry and
Infantry are present for crowd control. Major John Hardesty, orders the mounted cavalry to present their sabers, in order to hold back the protesters. First Sergeant or "Top" John Libbey and three fellow soldiers refuse to draw their swords because the demonstrators are men with whom they served during the war. As a consequence, their military careers are tarnished and they are relegated to duty at a remote post in
Texas. Two years later, young Lieutenant Marshall Buxton arrives at his new post. During his interview with retiring Colonel Stuart, it is revealed that he has been assigned to this post because he attacked another soldier for hurting his horse. Many other men are there because of insubordination. Lieutenant Buxton meets Sergeants Libbey, Quinlain, Mulcahey, and Shattuck, who together manage the herd of remounts. Commanding officer Colonel Stuart is replaced by Colonel Hardesty (on Hardesty's promotion). Hardesty's mission is to aid the transition to a mechanized army. To accomplish this, the horses at the outpost will have to be destroyed. When Buxton is ordered to take the herd to be killed, he tries to tell Colonel Hardesty that he cannot have that on his conscience. Hardesty refuses to change his mind, telling Buxton that he will do as ordered or face a
court-martial. While watching the first 100 helpless horses being shot in a mass grave, Lieutenant Buxton decides to end the massacre and drive the remaining herd to safety. The other sergeants agree to help him. A manhunt ensues that forces the renegade men and horses north. Along the way, the men get a little help from the retired Colonel Stuart, who is in good standing with the
U.S. War Department, and from Stuart's daughter, Jessica, who is a journalist. Many of the horses are lost during the journey, due to exhaustion and injuries, but Buxton is still determined to save the ones that are left. The original plan is to take the horses to the
Indian Reservation in Montana, where they will be safe, but because of Hardesty's Armored Division they are forced to go north to Canada. When they cross the border, the Americans cannot follow. When they reach the
Canada–US border, they make a final run with the herd. Jessica brings a letter from President
Franklin D. Roosevelt, granting them pardons, but they are already being fired on by
light artillery. None of the shells hit them, because the Gunnery Sergeant, who does not believe in shooting American soldiers, "accidentally" set the range incorrectly. Buxton's men and the remaining horses make it across the river and are met by the
Royal Canadian Mounted Police, who are on their side. Lieutenant Buxton decides to return to the United States to face charges, hoping to do something in court to stop this kind of thing from happening again, Sergeant Libbey decides to head further north, to
Alaska, and the others decide to stay in Canada. == Cast==