Young Private in the Confederate army, Willie Prentiss (Kurt Russell, at about 16 years old), is assigned to guard a remote river outpost during the American Civil War. Lonely Willie becomes pals with his Union army counterpart, Corporal Jenkins (James MacArthur). They hold shooting contests, and trade tobacco for coffee. (Spoiler alert, you may want to skip the rest of the summary if you do not want to know some key plot elements). One day Willie accidentally shoots his own commander, Lt. Mosby (Jack Ging), and the Corporal helps him escape court martial by disguising him as an injured Yankee. Willy is shot sneaking home, but manages to make it. He lands up joining the marauders in one exciting caper after another and rejoins Mosby in trying to capture a Union General. In another plot twist, Corporal Jenkins is captured, and is soon in love with Willie's cousin. An enjoyable story with tons of twists and turns.