When Sand and Dink try to take a wild horse away from Apache leader Ponce Hondo steps in to help Ponce. When he arrives back at the fort he discovers visiting General Rutledge is there to make suggestions for better operations, although he has no knowledge of the Indian wars. Rutledge is a by-the-book officer and has Ponce unjustly whipped for supposedly attacking him during a fight with Sand and Dink, who are drunk and still angry about the wild horse. The General then leads a patrol deep into Apache territory with Hondo who advises against it. Ponce and a superior force attack and have them pinned down. Ponce talks with Hondo and says he does not desire to kill the soldiers but only wants to exact apache revenge on Rutledge. Hondo forces the general to send the soldiers back to the fort and Rutledge goes off with the Apaches for 4 days, Ponce promises Hondo the General will not be killed. The General is humiliated by Apache women and children but receives a drink of water from