Andersonville violets

the long version

"When John Rockwell, a Yankee captive at Andersonville, reaches across the prison's "dead line" to pluck a bunch of violets, Confederate guard Jack Foster is supposed to shoot him. Conflicted over thoughts of Lucy Moore, his girl back home, Foster lowers his gun. Spared, Rockwell lives to escape Andersonville, and Foster is discharged in disgrace." "After the war, Rockwell's ambitions lead him to take charge of a rundown plantation in Foster's native Mississippi, where the prisoner and guard find their paths crossing once again."--Jacket.