For four gritty years, Colonel Rutherford led a division for the Confederate Commander, Robert E. Lee. During those grueling years, Rutherford never got so much as a scratch. But now that General Grant was cornering the Army of Northern Virginia, Colonel Rutherford's luck ran out. During the battle at Five Forks, while leading his division for General Pickett, a sharpshooter's bullet caught him in the shoulder and ended his Confederate career. From his makeshift field hospital bed Rutherford hears of Lee's surrender and against doctor's orders, leaves the hospital, saddles up and sets out for his home in North Carolina. During the rough ride the colonel begins to suffer severely. To make things worse he meets up with a bandit who wants his horse. They fight and now the colonel begins to bleed badly. He finally makes it to the widow Morgan's yard, and while trying to get water, he faints from loss of blood. His encounter with the widow sets the stage that will change his life forever.