In 1864 a young Irish immigrant disembarks at the harbor in New York. Broke and hungry, Michael is easily and immediately coerced into enlisting with the Union Army. The war is soon over and he finds himself still broke in a foreign country, and with no home to return to. He travels to Santa Fe where he meets a wealthy and prominent merchant who influences a change in Michaels plans. He remains in Santa Fe, and with his good looks and affable personality, Michael readily assimilates into the culturally diversified society of Santa Fe. While traveling on a mission along the Gila Trail with a wagon train, Michael shares the hardships and deprivations of his fellow emigrants. It is here that he redeems a promise that had been made to him in Santa Fe.