In the spring of 1861, Logan and Hugh McLemore leave their home in Alabama and go to South Carolina to join the Confederate cavalry. They fear that they might miss the war if they wait for Alabama to organize its own cavalry. The Carolinians send them to Appomattox, Virginia for training as horse soldiers. They are then shipped off to fight at Bull Run where they are introduced to combat and help drive the Federals back across the Potomac. They capture a few people and much equipment. They meet and operate with the Louisiana tigers who later help them capture a train and take pistols and other weapons. After Logan becomes a sergeant, he goes to learn about guerrilla warfare. He meets Josephine Du Pont who works as a spy for the Confederacy.
On a foraging operation, Logan is captured by Mike Hogan, a civilian interrogator working for the Yankees. During questioning, Hogan beats Logan with a buggy whip, so when Logan escapes he begins an intense effort to capture the ex-policeman and his people. Hogan attempts to shoot down a balloon which Logan is using for recon work, but fails. Logan, now a lieutenant, kills some of Hogan’s people in a firefight, but Hogan himself escapes. The deep hatred between Logan and Hogan continues. There has been little heavy fighting yet, but surely it’s about to begin.
