North Texas, 1870. For three years a delicate peace has existed between the U.S. Army and the Comanche, led by Quanah Parker. The architect of this peace, General Tracy Cameron, has given an impassioned speech in Washington to plead for continued peace with the Plains Indians. His aide, Second Lieutenant Jim Gary, has been assigned to persuade General William T. Sherman that his plan for a military attack on the Comanche would be a deadly error. Meanwhile, Quanah Parker is organizing the Kiowa and Cheyenne to join him in an effort to drive the white buffalo hunters from the plains. As each side forms battle plans, a spark is all that is needed to ignite the frontier into total war