The movie is set during the American civil war. The fight was not going well for the northern as the southern had inflicted a heavy loss on them. To avert further losses, the railway engineer Colonel Marlowe comes up with a plan. This plan was to avoid fighting until they arrived in a new town station which would translate to an average of 35 miles a day.
Later on, a military doctor by the name Major Henry Kendal shows up. He appears to be torn between performing his duty and the horror of war and constantly seems to have problems with Colonel Marlowe. They march on and are soon attacked by a patrolling enemy. Afterwards, they decide to rest at a house at the invitation of Miss Hannah Hunter. They discuss on the way forward