In Kentucky, shortly before the Civil War, Chad's foster family dies during a cholera epidemic. After the funeral, neighbor Nathan Dillon claims that Chad's foster family owed him money. In order to recoup what's owed to him he tries to force Chad to become his indentured servant. When Chad refuses, Dillon and his son jump Chad and a fistfight ensues. Passerby neighbor Caleb Turner takes Chad's side and together they prevail. Caleb Turner offers Chad the chance to live with the Turners. Chad accepts to work on the Turner farm in order to pay for his keep. The arrangement is temporary because Chad intends to head for Lexington as soon as the logging season is over. Later, in Lexington, Chad meets Major Buford at an auction of thoroughbred horses. The Major, who is a childless, widowed landowner, likes Chad and adopts the young man. During the following months, Major Buford tries his best to turn Chad from a mountain man into a southern gentleman. However, at various social gatherings and society balls Chad senses that most rich families don't accept him as one of their own because of Chad's poor country background. Chad has a romance with Margaret Dean but her family rejects him due to his background. Eventually, Major Buford sends Chad to Lexington College. When the Civil War starts, Major Buford proudly presents Chad with the new uniform of a junior Confederate officer. However, Chad, facing a moral dilemma about slavery, tells a heart-broken Buford that he decided to join the Union Army. Crossing the Union lines, Chad seeks his old foster parent Caleb Turner who is a lieutenant in the Union Army. With Caleb's recommendation, Chad is accepted into the Union Army and becomes a mounted courier. He eventually reaches the rank of lieutenant. During an advance into Confederate territory, the Union Army reaches Lexington. There, Chad and Caleb Turner together with their men will finally face the Confederate defenders of Lexington. Among them are Major Buford and Margaret Dean's officer brother and father. These particular Confederates are almost like family to Chad. How will he react toward them during battle ?