It's the spring of 1864, and times are hard in Washington County, Arkansas, especially for thirteen-year-old Travis Ford. He hasn't heard from his father, a sergeant in the 2nd Arkansas Cavalry, in months. His mother is struggling to make ends meet on the family farm near Poison Spring. All Travis really wants to do is to follow his passion--to make up adventure stories in the style of Alexandre Dumas. But the Civil War keeps getting in his way. When the Confederate Army withdraws and Federal forces--including the First Kansas Colored Volunteers--take control of Washington County, Travis and his family are caught in the middle.