Hawkeye is accused of treason when Taylor is shot during an almost disastrous military campaign. The evidence proved it was Hawkeye's rifle ball that shot Taylor. Hawkeye was sentenced to face a firing squad.

Elizabeth's father comes for a visit to force her to go home to Virginia with him. He thinks she's having an affair with Hawkeye, but both deny it. Taylor sees an opportunity to lay his brother's memory to rest, but it backfires on him.