A Thunder of Drums

In 1870, 1st Lt. Curtis McQuade arrives at Fort Canby in Arizona, a remote outpost where he was born. He is assigned to this understaffed post and begins to adjust to life in the frontier under the command of Captain Maddocks. McQuade, inexperienced in field command, faces immediate challenges in the harsh environment.

McQuade's inexperience clashes with Maddocks, a veteran officer who demonstrates that knowledge of the West from childhood does not suffice in the field. They have a confrontational start, highlighting McQuade's need to learn military tactics and leadership skills. Maddocks's skepticism about McQuade's abilities sets the tone for their relationship.

The day McQuade reports, Maddocks buries four troopers killed in a fight with hostile forces believed to be Comanches. A traumatized young girl, survivor of a family massacre, is also brought back, adding a somber mood to the day. This event underscores the dangers faced by the soldiers and the recent violence in the region.

Tracey Hamilton, arriving from the East and soon to marry Maddocks's second-in-command Lt. Gresham, visits the fort. Her presence brings a festive air, contrasting with the somber aftermath of the hostilities. McQuade, who had been romantically involved with her, reaffirms their relationship amid the tense atmosphere.

Gresham leads a patrol to locate the hostiles but deviates from orders. He is discovered to be having an affair with Tracey, leading to a tense confrontation with Gresham when he departs. The affair causes internal conflict among the officers and complicates the mission.

The following day, the troop finds Gresham and his men dead after a failed patrol. McQuade is troubled, fearing his romantic involvement may have contributed to Gresham's downfall. Maddocks focuses on the tactical mistake Gresham made by getting distracted, emphasizing military discipline.

Maddocks divides his remaining troop, sending McQuade and seasoned soldiers to act as bait at a mesa to lure the enemy. This risky tactic aims to attract the hostile forces into an ambush, demonstrating Maddocks's strategic thinking. The operation begins as they prepare for confrontation.

The plan succeeds as the hostile band attacks, and McQuade's group fights valiantly but is overwhelmed. Maddocks arrives with reinforcements to turn the tide, but Sgt. Rodermill is killed in the process. The engagement reveals the true nature of the enemy as Apaches rather than Comanches.

McQuade learns that the attackers are Apaches, not Comanches, which Maddocks had suspected all along. Maddocks’s strategy of out-thinking the enemy is validated, and he sees McQuade's growth in leadership and tactical thinking. This marks McQuade's development as a future officer.

McQuade returns to Fort Canby to find Tracey leaving with the young girl, heading east to her relatives. Maddocks consoles McQuade by sharing his belief that bachelors make the best soldiers, emphasizing the harsh solitude of frontier life. The story closes on McQuade’s reflection on loss and duty.

Maddocks offers McQuade personal insight, telling him that not having a family allows soldiers to focus fully on their duty, as he shares the personal losses he has endured. This advice encapsulates the struggles and sacrifices inherent in frontier military life.