Billy has loved the slave girl Nellies for as long as he can remember, but Old Albert, the boy's father, has repeatedly warned Billy that if he impregnates the girl, she'll be sold. The old man has had his way with many a pretty slave on the Dayton plantation, so he's fearful his sons might impregnate their half-sisters. Sure enough in 1859, Nellie bears Billy a son. He arranges for her to go North, however, and iniquitous slaver captures her. Billy won't see Nellie again until he fights at Shiloh and Gettysburg and escapes from infamous Camp Douglas.