The Civil War has raged for twelve months. Colonel Paine leads his troops in the bayous and swampland of Louisiana and finds that the military maneuvers are often poorly conceived and ill-advised. He defies an order from his commanding officer which leads to his arrest and probable court-martial. Solomon becomes his trusted friend and attendant, along with a slave woman, Nettie. She has endured unspeakable cruelty and bitterly rejects Solomon's affection and his dreams of a better life.
James Hanger has recovered from his amputation and manufacturers artificial limbs for other crippled veterans. Grappling with shortages of supplies and financial hardships, he finds that his naiveté makes him an easy mark for unscrupulous mercenaries which puts his life in peril. James begins to question social norms that have guided him since birth, causing strife between him and his family and friends.
All the while, the piles of bones keep mounting as the war continues with no end in sight.