Thirteen year old Cory Cromwell from a small town 20 miles north of Philadelphia is angry about his deceased father, and frustrated by a school bully. He convinces his distraught, widowed mother to approve his joining the Union Army as a drummer boy. Cory discovers his nemesis, the bully, follows Cory into army life and continues to torment him. Cory soon learns that a far more serious foe is stalking him. A cat and mouse game emerges with Cory as the prey. A mysterious, dark soldier from his father's past becomes an ever present danger to threaten Cory's very survival. This fate combined with the mortal dangers of the battlefield put enormous pressure on Cory. Crushed by indecision and grief for the loss of a friend, Cory breaks down. With much soul searching, Cory begins to understand his father's failings and hidden values. Cory pulls himself up with a renewed spirit only to meet the dark soldier in a final struggle for survival.