In July 1863 Confederate cavalryman John Morgan has all of southern Indiana nervous by plundering and destroying on a raid. The young men are especially anxious wondering if they will be called upon to resist Morgan by force. As rumors place Morgan near Vernon, 18-year-old Josh tells his family that he will be joining the others to fight, and if necessary kill, to defend his home. Although the family tries to dissuade him, they help him prepare, Eliza making him food, Mattie giving him her New Testament, and Labe bringing him their best horse at Jess's insistence that he be well-mounted. He joins the Home Guard stationed at a bridge south of town, where after a prolonged wait, a solitary rebel scout demands their surrender, which the men refuse with a show of defiance. When no attack follows, the men are scattered along the river to guard fords bypassing the bridge. Late that night a confrontation in the dark throws the Guard into confusion, and when Josh tries to find his horse, he is struck in the head and knocked unconscious. Awaking hours later, he discovers that he stepped off the rim of an unseen cliff and that the "attack" was only local farmers trying to herd their cattle across the ford. Not seriously hurt, Josh returns home to his thankful family, satisfied that he had at least stood up to the challenge, and grateful to God that he is now wiser about war and bravado without actually having to fight.