The drama begins in 1859 when John leaves the Geyser family farm for Pennsylvania, where he gets a job as an artist correspondent for the paper owned by his uncle, Jacob Hale, Sr.
May 1862 the War between the States continues with the Peninsula Campaign. The Hales and the Geysers attend a barn dance. Luke Hale joins the Confederate Balloon Corps. Lincoln signs the Emancipation Proclamation.
