A small home near a forest houses a 17-year-old girl named Clarinda, her husband, Davy/David, and their toddler son, Matt. The family's corn field is dry and hasn't produced any corn due to soldiers trampling their fields. The family owns one large big who eats near the doorstep of the house. Clarinda hopes that the pig will survive until they can butcher it and eat it. Davy reassures her that the pig will last them all of winter. Davy is wearing his Confederate uniform and Clarinda begs him to not leave for the war, but Davy explains that the army needs him. Clarinda reluctantly agrees and decides to make chicken and dumplins for the family. As she cooks, Davy holds their child and plays with him. Clarinda serves up the food and Matt eagerly reaches for the food before a sudden noise rings out. The family hears soldiers marching near their home. Clarinda climbs up to the loft with Matt and urges Davy to join them, but Davy refuses. Clarinda grabs one of the chickens that is inside their home to prevent it from making noises. Davy stands by the door and watches as men in blue Union uniforms walk through their fields and kidnap their pig. Davy finally goes up to the loft and lies down, peering through the cracks in the wood at the Union soldiers. Finally, the soldiers begin to walk away towards the nearby forest. Clarinda urges Davy to stay in the loft a little longer, but Davy runs outside and climbs onto a tree to get a better view of the soldiers. He makes a turkey call by whistling, which excites the soldiers. The soldiers, thinking there's a turkey around, begin to spread out in search of the bird. With the Union soldiers mostly separated from each other, Davy fires and kills one of the soldiers. Davy then shoots and kills another soldier. However, as he aims for the younger soldier, the soldier sees him and shoots Davy. Davy falls from the tree and dies while the younger soldier celebrates his shot. One of the older soldiers, however, does not celebrate, knowing the man probably lived in the home they just left.