It describes the southern invasion of Peachtree Province by the commands of General Hesmucet and Marshal Bart. It also describes the infighting inside the northern host (in the east). The power struggle between Joseph the Gamecock and Lieutenant General Bell leads to loss of the Franklin Province. No doubt this was aided by the fact that General Bell (who wins the command of the northern host) kept throwing valuable men in pointless attacks. It was during this novel that General Hesmucet came up with the idea of invading the north westward.