IN THE MID-1840S, two families make their way to America. The Waters family emigrates from Ireland, hoping to find a better life in New York City. Meanwhile, in Nigeria, a family is captured by hostile parties and sold to white slavers. At the end of the slavers' harrowing journey across the Atlantic Ocean, Mowori, the surviving member of the family, is sold to a South Carolina plantation owner.

Nicolas Waters, the youngest son of the Waters clan, struggles to find respect, acceptance, and purpose. He finds a home in the U.S. Army as a member of the 3rdIrish Brigade shortly before the breakout of the Civil War and distinguishes himself at the Battle of Antietam. His reward is selection for a special mission, as a spy, at the forthcoming Battle of Fredericksburg.

Eliza, Mowori's daughter, learns that her mother was the victim of rape by her father and leaves her home to seek freedom in the North. Her journey ends in Fredericksburg, VA, where she finds refuge in a house of ill repute run by a female Union Army spy. Gifted with total recall, Eliza becomes a runner for the spy network and meets Nicolas.

Nicolas and Eliza work together as spies as the armies move into place. When the battle is at its zenith, Nicolas returns to his unit and is severely wounded. As the fighting ends, the Union Army recognizes the two as heroes. They fall in love and return to Nicolas' home, where they are married.