In 1861, two classmates who graduated from West Point named Clay Clayburn (James Craig) and Will Denning (Guy Madison) have instantly become best friends. However, unfortunately, the two men happen to have the same love interest for the same beautiful young woman named Kathy Summers (Barbara Payton). When the Civil war broke out, unwittingly, the two men find themselves on the opposite sides of the law. Four years later, Major Clay is assigned by General Johnston to lead a band of twenty volunteers to Devil's Mountain in order to stop the Union Army from marching towards Atlanta. When Kathy discovers that Will is the leader of the Union battalion, she decided not to inform Clay. As the two men have to battle their way for what they believe in, Kathy on the other hand has to stop the animosity between them even if it means having to risk her life.