The book opens with a present tense narration that sets the time, players, and place. It is mid-June of 1863. The Army of Northern Virginia is heading north behind the Blue Ridge Mountains, stealthily making its way to Pennsylvania. The Army of the Potomac is also moving, but slower, a characteristic that has plagued it for a long time.
The opposing armies are described, with information on their size, cultural makeup, beliefs, morale, and objectives. Major leaders are introduced, including Robert E. Lee, James Longstreet, George Meade, and Winfield Scott Hancock. Also, the setting is portrayed: hot rainy weather; men feasting on ripening cherries as they march and then suffering the after-effects of this diet; and areas deserted by the local population who suspect the coming conflict.
