During the Civil War, actress Pauline Cushman, is recruited as a spy for the North. Sent to Tennessee, she befriends a Southern Captain and travels with him dressed as a man and posing as his Camp-d-aid. She gathers military intelligence until captured by soldiers. Held captive at a country inn, she meets Colonel John Morgan who takes a fancy to her and after a night of wining, dining and intimacy he lets her go. Caught again with military documents, she’s sentenced to hang by General Braxton Bragg . She slips a letter through to the Secret Service. General Rosecrans orders an invasion of Tennessee forcing General Braggs to withdraw three days before the execution. Captain Morgan orders Pauline left behind. She’s given honorary rank of Major. Back on stage she tours the wild west. In Abilene, Kansas, she nearly dies in theater fire, but is rescued by badly burned Jere Fryer. She nurses him back to heath, they marry and buy a ranch in Casa Grande Arizona where she becomes first female sheriff in history. Her marriage soon falls in jeopardy when her reputation as tough sheriff drives Jere to another woman. Pauline takes drastic action to save her marriage.