In the fall of 1864, William, a young confederate soldier led by General Hood, watches his fellow soldiers die of disease, hunger, and cold. He writes to his wife, Lucy, and details the low morale amongst the men. His specific group of soldiers prepare to launch an attack on Franklin or Nashville, but await commands from higher officers. His friends, CW and Georgie, are both miserable but they remain hopeful. Back at his house in North Carolina, Lucy attempts to run the household and care for their children. Their daughter Nellie falls ill. The town people are all weighed at the local mill in an attempt to prevent further deaths from hunger. Lucy finds solace in her books and also enjoys writing, particularly these letters to her husband. Concurrently, Hattie, CW's wife of nine years writes to her husband, but he never writes back. Hattie lives in Virginia where Union troops often ride through her town and take with them food, livestock, and even silver from her home. With winter approaching, some of their children have fallen ill and Hattie is worried. Rationing continues and even then, supplies are dangerously scarce. She grows weaker and witnesses many mothers and wives grow madder by the day when they hear about the deaths of their husbands and sons.