Tom's cousin Rick, an American Civil War enthusiast, helps him try to find out more about his great-great-grandfather Charles's mysterious activities as a soldier in the war. They visit a Civil War expert, Harvey Krupp, who agrees to investigate further on Tom's behalf and invites him to take part in a Civil War re-enactment that he organises.

A car accident leads Tom to meet a beautiful aspiring writer, Ally Keele, and the attraction appears to be mutual. Tom gamely participates in the Civil War re-enactment with Rick, Julie, and Harvey, but war is not all it is cracked up to be. During the battle, he gets a phone call and some news from England. After the battle, Harvey gives him some even more interesting news about his great-great-grandfather which explains a lot of things. Show less