When the Civil War was declared, it caused great consternation in the home of John Wilson, as he was of Southern birth, while his wife was a Northern woman, and she favored the Federal cause. Their two sons were asked which side they favored. John, the elder, declared he would fight for the South with his father, while Dick, the younger boy, upheld his mother’s cause. Wilson became a Confederate colonel, and John lieutenant under his father’s command. Dick left his old home in the uniform of the North. At the Union headquarters there was a call for a spy to enter the Confederate lines. Dick was glad to be given the commission. General Lee, commander of all the Southern forces, was warned of this spy and the leadership of his son and they search the woods for the spy. Dick, in the meantime, had overpowered a Confederate soldier and taken his uniform. The scouting party come upon him and think him one of their soldiers, until John, riding up, recognizes his brother. Then they know he must be the spy they are looking for and he is captured. They bring him back to camp, and Wilson sends his son to the guard house. After a court-martial the spy is sentenced to be shot at sunrise. The father’s heart is breaking up, but it is his duty as a man and a soldier. The brother of the condemned boy has one last hope, he will appeal to General Lee for clemency. He rides wildly for hours and finally reaches the headquarters of the Confederates. But upon telling his story, he is refused, Lee will do nothing for a spy, Dick is led out to be shot. In the meantime, however, Lee, thinking the matter over, has experienced a change of heart and he dispatches a courier with a reprieve. It arrives just in time to save the boy’s life. John, riding back to camp, cannot believe his eyes when he sees his brother alive. He is told of the reprieve and how his wild ride was not in vain after all.