At the end of the Civil War, Gabby and Roy return from service with the Confederate Army to take possession of half-interest in a Texas ranch willed to Gabby by his aunt Lucy. Upon arriving at the ranch, the pair discover that the other half is owned by Colonel Denbigh, a Union officer with whom they had an unpleasant experience during the war, and his daughter Ellen. However, Denbigh is content to leave the running of the ranch to Roy and Gabby when he is appointed military governor of the district and subsequently dispatches a squadron of cavalry to police the territory. Unknown to Denbigh, the squadron, led by Captain Jeffries, is comprised of a gang of renegade soldiers who initiate a reign of terror by robbing and maiming the ranchers. When Roy accuses Jeffries’ men of using unlawful tactics, Denbigh promises to investigate, but before the inquiry can begin, Jeffries bushwacks Denbigh, declares martial law and confiscates the ranchers’ firearms. When the renegades seize the opportunity presented by Denbigh’s death to undertake more ruthless plundering, Roy organizes the ranchers to oppose them. Through a ruse, Gabby and Roy reclaim the ranchers’ guns, and after a rousing shootout between the raiders and the ranchers, Roy shoots Jeffries and restores peace to the valley. More on Wikipedia or Mubi
Watch Southward Ho! (1939)
