The story begins in 1864, the last four months of the Civil War. Savannah Ga. has learned that General Sherman was coming to their city. The residents panic and pack up their belongs sure that Sherman would do to Savannah what he did to Atlanta Ga. The heroine, Sally, is driven out of town by the last man she would have chosen,even though Kent is her brother-in-law. Kent's brother was off fighting in the war. Their destination is St. Augustine Fl. Where her cousin Claire lives. Along the way they will face many obstacles, some by way of nature, and the Northern soldiers. More problems arrive once Sally and Kent are in love. They are convinced that Frank has been killed in the war. There is also a battle to fight with Sally's Uncle Temple, a greedy, vindictive, imitation of a man. Sally loathed him. She does her best to avoid him when he comes to St. Augustine looking for her. Frank survives the war, and comes to take her back home to Savannah which was saved by the wrath of General Sherman. The story comes full circle when Sally and Kent dream of their lives together, along with the three children they found in Brunswick Ga.