He took an oath and fought for it, but it was the wrong cause.Steaming south on the Mississippi River to enlist in the Confederate Army, Lummy Tullos runs headlong to a war that forces him to leave behind the life he always wanted. His singular purpose to fight is to protect home and family from the blue invader. He leaves Camp Moore with little training and no experience as a soldier in the 27th Louisiana Volunteer Infantry to face the approaching Yankee juggernaut bent on taking Vicksburg. Enduring horrific assaults, sickness, privation, and starvation through a forty-seven day siege, Lummy must conjure up anger from old memories to fight the enemy. Though faithful to his oath to the Confederacy, he soon becomes conflicted about what he learns are the real reasons for the war. Reuniting with old friends and his brothers gives Lummy hope, until tragedy strikes the core of his heart. With death at every turn, it is his comrades in the trenches-gray and blue alike-who cause him to rethink his reasons for fighting for the cause he now questions.

Digging deep into his soul gives him light in the darkness and a hope to survive. Despite facing death daily, Lummy pushes forward until the battle for Vicksburg is lost. As he marches with his defeated army under the conquering Union flag, he realizes the greatest surrender will be within.