when the diverse factions of dundee's force are not fighting each other, they engage the apaches in several bloody battles. though they rescue several young children captured by the apaches, the americans lose most of their supplies in an ambush, forcing them to raid a village garrisoned by french troops supporting emperor maximilian of mexico. however, there is little to loot, and dundee ends up sharing some of his dwindling food with the starving mexicans. beautiful resident teresa santiago (senta berger), the austrian widow of a doctor executed for his support of the rebels under benito juárez, causes further tensions between dundee and tyreen as they compete for her attention. dundee makes it easy for his french prisoners to escape. when they return with reinforcements as he had expected, dundee surprises them in a night attack and makes off with badly needed supplies. after the successful raid, the men of the command begin to get along. however, one of the confederates, o.w. hadley (warren oates) attempts to desert. dundee is forced to order his execution, which again divides the men.