Hawmps!

Howard Clemmons captivates his grandchildren with engaging stories about 1854. He recounts his time as a young U.S. Cavalry Lieutenant embarking on an unusual experiment involving camels as cavalry mounts.

Clemmons arrives at Fort Val Verde, Texas, where he meets Sgt. Uriah Tibbs. Tibbs eagerly awaits Arabian horses, unaware that Clemmons is actually in charge of camels.

As Clemmons inspects the troops, including Nathaniel R. Higgins, he faces a dilemma about revealing the truth regarding the camels. His hesitation is interrupted when a cook accidentally drenches him with dishwater.

While discussing their project at the local saloon, Clemmons and Tibbs encounter an angry Sgt. Naman Tucker, who feels deceived. A brawl erupts, and in the commotion, Clemmons must hide under a table.

The camels finally arrive at the fort, but the cavalrymen are startled and retreat in fear. Clemmons struggles to manage the situation, leading to a chain reaction of chaos throughout the town.

Jennifer, Colonel Hawkins' daughter, visits Clemmons and playfully pours molasses over him in revenge for the chaos caused by the camels. She invites him for afternoon tea, sparking a budding romance.

Hi Jolly begins training the camels, but tensions rise when Tucker harasses Tibbs' men. Clemmons stands up to Tucker, while his stress causes him to faint amid the chaotic training sessions.

In an effort to prove the camels' worth, Clemmons proposes a daring 300-mile race against Tucker's horses. Despite Hawkins declining, Clemmons resorts to trickery about the President's endorsement to rally support.

The race begins amid excitement and cannon fire, with Tucker's horses initially taking the lead. However, Clemmons' men start to catch up as they ride their camels in hot pursuit.

As Tucker and his men fall into the traps of outlaw Bad Jack Cutter at Dagger's Point, Clemmons realizes he must act quickly. Fueled by anger, Clemmons and Tibbs plan a rescue operation.

Clemmons and Tibbs don disguises to infiltrate Bad Jack's gang and rescue Tucker's men. Their initial attempts meet resistance, but they eventually manage to free them despite the odds.

Just as they make their escape, the gang members confront them, leading to an intense gunfight. Yet, Clemmons' cavalry arrives just in time, mounted on their camels, turning the tide of the battle.

Amid their escape, Clemmons loses a critical water barrel. Choosing to push forward into the unforgiving landscape, he believes they will find relief in the mountains instead of returning to the river.

After two days of grueling travel, Clemmons and his men discover an oasis, only to find it is a mirage. Just when things seem bleak, he finds a water source, but Black Jack ambushes him, resulting in another fierce firefight.

After a series of events leading to a confrontation near Dos Rios, Clemmons receives shocking news from Congress. The camel project has been deemed obsolete, forcing him to release the animals into the wild, prompting mixed feelings from his comrades.