William O. Steele's Newbery Honor Award-winning book about the Civil War chronicles the tale of Chris Brabson, a young man who lives in Tennessee's mountain country and sides with the Confederates. He hates Yankees with all his heart because they've stolen from him and his family, leaving them with little food for the winter. They stand for everything that's gone wrong with his world. Then, to Chris's dismay and embarrassment, his older brother, Jethro joins up with the Union as a soldier.

When Chris spots a Yankee wagon train and reports it, he expects the consequences will be immediate and shattering. The news that Jethro has become a wagon driver is almost more than Chris can bear, and he goes frantically searching among the Yankees for his brother. Along the way, he realizes that the Yankee soldiers are very similar to him and not the evil, hateful people he imagined.