Inclán), Thursday ignores York's advice to treat the tribes with honor and to remedy problems on the reservation caused by corrupt Apache agent Silas Meacham (Grant Withers). Thursday's inability to deal with Meacham effectively, due to his rigid interpretation of Army regulations stating that Meacham is an agent of the United States government, so entitled to Army protection (despite his own personal contempt for the man), coupled with Thursday's prejudicial and arrogant ignorance regarding the Apache, drives the Apaches to rebel. Eager for glory and recognition, Thursday orders his regiment into battle on Cochise's terms, a direct charge into the hills, despite York's urgent warnings that such a move would be suicidal. Thursday relieves York and orders him to stay back, replacing him with Captain Sam Collingwood (George O'Brien). Following Thursday's orders, York spares the younger O'Rourke from battle. Thursday's command is nearly wiped out, but a few soldiers manage to escape back to the ridge where Captain York is positioned. Thursday himself survives, but then returns to die with the last of his trapped men. Cochise spares York and the rest of the detachment because he knows York to be an honorable man. Several years later, a now Lieutenant Colonel Kirby York commands the regiment. Meeting with correspondents, he introduces Lt. O'Rourke, now married to Philadelphia Thursday with a young son. A reporter asks Colonel York if he has seen the famous painting depicting "Thursday's Charge". York, about to command a new and arduous campaign to bring in the Apaches, while believing that Thursday was a poor tactician who led a foolhardy and suicidal charge, says it is completely accurate and then reminds the reporters that the soldiers will never be forgotten as long as the regiment lives. Cast John Wayne as Captain Kirby York Henry Fonda as Lieutenant Colonel Owen Thursday Shirley Temple as Miss Philadelphia Thursday John Agar as Second Lieutenant Michael Shannon "Mickey" O'Rourke Ward Bond as Sergeant Major Michael O'Rourke Irene Rich as Mary O'Rourke Anna Lee as Emily Collingwood George O'Brien as Captain Sam Collingwood Guy Kibbee as First Lieutenant Wilkens, regimental surgeon Ray Hyke as Lieutenant Gates, regimental adjutant Mae Marsh as Mrs. Gates Victor McLaglen as Sergeant Festus Mulcahy Dick Foran as Sergeant Quincannon Pedro Armendáriz as Sergeant Beaufort Jack Pennick as Sergeant Daniel Schattuck Frank McGrath as Corporal Derice (uncredited) Philip Kieffer as a Trooper (credited as Keiffer) Fred Graham as