Cale Wallace has experienced more tragedy than any sixteen-year-old should know. After joining the 30th Pennsylvania Infantry in 1861 to fight for the North during the Civil War, he has made and lost many friends, including a special dog and a former slave. His heroic actions lead him through injury and a prison camp, yet he still perseveres.
But life is not all difficult for Cale. Romance and relationships help fill the void created by the horrors of war. Through his journal, Cale communicates with his mother and sisters back home in Gettysburg, and they provide some of the stability he so desperately seeks. Once Cale meets his true Captain, though, his life is forever changed.