In late spring 1865, in Nevada, a small group of Confederate soldiers still under orders and disguised as civilians, intercept a gold shipment escorted by Union cavalry troops. After a furious battle in which both sides suffer losses, Confederate major Matt Stewart discovers from a dying Union officer that the war ended a month earlier. Doubtful, Matt takes the gold as planned to the scheduled rendezvous with Capt. Petersen, who has been scouting the area disguised as a traveling peddler. Discovering that Petersen knew of the surrender and purposely chose not to tell the men, hot-headed Rolph Bainter kills him. The men debate what to do with the gold and as Matt is the ranking officer, he decides they will take it back to the South for reconstruction aid. The next day, Matt drives Petersen's covered wagon with the men and gold hidden inside. They are soon stopped by a posse looking for the gold thieves, but Matt misdirects them. Later when the mules bolt from the wagon, the men are forced to take over a stagecoach, whose passengers include former Union war nurse Molly Hull and beef contractor Lee Kemper. The posse, actually a group of renegades led by Quincey, return and chase the stage to a way station. The posse captures one of Matt's men, Cass Browne, and drags him to discover the location of the gold, while Matt holds the stage passengers and aging station guard Plunkett and his daughter, Margaret Harris, hostage. Molly reluctantly tends to one of the wounded men at Matt's request. When Kemper accuses Matt and his men of having murdered all of the Yankee Volunteers, Matt explains the truth about the gold. Embittered over the loss of her husband and son in the war, Margaret remains implacable while Molly and Kemper are suspicious. The renegades surround the station and Matt tries to convince them that the gold is hidden near the abandoned wagon. As night descends, Matt elicits promises from each of the hostages to remain silent while he and the men slip out in the dark, but Kemper breaks his word and the men are forced back into the station. Although Matt keeps Rolph from killing Kemper, he gags Kemper. The renegades try to lure Matt out by threatening to hang Cass, but Matt uses the remaining sticks of dynamite from their ambush to distract the posse and rescues Cass. The following day, when Kemper is ungagged for water, he offers Matt a way out in exchange for two bars of gold. Kemper gives Matt an Indian token and explains he has a trading relationship with a local tribe of Paiute Indians and the token will ensure fresh horses and safe passage out of the territory. Kemper also insists a rainstorm is on the horizon, which will supply Matt and the men cover. Matt agrees to the plan. As another night falls, Quincey and one of his men begin digging a short tunnel under the station. Rolph tries to force himself on Molly as she is sitting with the wounded man, which enrages Matt, and the two men have a fistfight. Afterward when Matt consoles Molly, Rolph is angered and tries to shoot Matt. Jamie Groves, the youngest and least experienced of the men, shoots the gun out of his hand and when Rolph tries again, Jamie kills him. Just then Quincey and his man reach the trap door, but Cass stops them from entering. Frustrated, Quincey decides to burn down the station and when one of his men tries to leave, shoots him. As the fire burns through the roof, a thunderstorm breaks out. Kemper panics and flees outside, only to be shot by the renegades. Cass sneaks outside to scatter the posse's horses, but is also killed. As Matt and Jamie prepare to flee, Molly begs Matt not to take the gold. Outside, the storm confuses Quincey and his men, who begin shooting at one another. Believing Matt has escaped with the gold, Quincey races after him. The next morning, Matt and Jamie realize the renegades are dead or gone. Matt surrenders the gold to Plunkett, and he and Jamie promise to return to Molly, Margaret and Plunkett after they are repatriated in Virginia.