Jacob Zook, an eighteen-year-old Amish farm boy, feels trapped between his religious heritage and his fascination with the world outside of his small Pennsylvania town. These feelings bring him into direct conflict with his very traditional father, who tries to raise his family by the rules of 'the Ordnung,' even though they are living in exile away from the Amish community/Jacob's only option is to leave his family, including his beloved mother and younger brother, Abraham, in order to set out and make a new life for himself. Unfortunately for Jacob, he embarks on this adventure on the 29th of June, 1863. He has no way of knowing it, but his entire world is about to be turned upside down during the first three days of July-in the small town he calls home... Gettysburg.