A precocious child, Thomas Benson, has all the resources to pursue his academics until his last year in medical school. Ft. Sumner is fired upon, and the war is on. His mother and his professors do their best to keep Thomas out of the war so he can complete the last year of medical school. However, this angers the war department, and he is conscripted into the military. Instead of sending him to the medical unit, he is sent to the infantry. As he has a college degree, he is given a commission, and sent directly into the war. Being resourceful, he watches his sergeants in battle and tries to emulate them. Slowly he learns to lead and becomes hardened as he sees the worst of the war. He decides to not make any friends as he doesn't want to know the men he sends to their death. Aloof as he is, the men see him as a courageous fighter and a fearless leader. He knows that any day he may be killed and assumes a persona that he is already dead, to preclude fear. He sees himself changing and cannot do anything about it. He turns into a vicious fighter with little regard to anything but fighting the enemy. He survives the war and just wants away from everyone and the war. He decides to go west and find a house on a piece of land and runs a few head of cattle to sustain him in isolation. His story is mixed with adventure and the women he loves.