Capt. Tom Benson played by Randolph Scott had fallen under disfavor with his superior officer and future father in law Col. Kellogg played by Russell Hicks because of his absence from his command at the Battle of the Little Bighorn (not depicted). Col. Custer (referenced only) just prior to the battle had given Benson a verbal order, "Benson, I want you to show the gumption to ride off to Fort Supply and bring back that girl and marry her..." of which he couldn't confirm at the military inquest. Facing the prospect of a court martial he jumped at the chance to lead a detail to recover the bodies of the officers of the 7th Cav. to show he was not a coward. Unbeknownst to him a witness, Cpl. Morrison played by Harry Carey Jr., who also had been ordered from the field prior to the massacre therefor he had survived but had been put on courier detail before the inquiry. After Benson had left the fort and was making his way to the battlefield Morrison returns bearing the good news to Benson's fiancé, Martha Kellogg played by Barbara Hale, but not reporting it to the Col. He instead rides in pursuit of Benson to give him the good news on one of two look alike horses that Custer had ridden. He ends up getting killed by a lone brave which is needed to have the horse gallop to the battlefield riderless just in time to spook some Indians who had surrounded the detail and save the day. But all seems to be forgiven back at the Fort because of Benson's completion of his mission despite the fact that he hadn't proved that a verbal order had been given. But that's Hollywood for you.
Review of 7th Cavalry
