Train engineer, Johnnie Gray, loves his train, "The General", and his crush Annabelle Lee. But after being rejected by the Confederate military, not realizing it was due to his crucial civilian role, Annabelle and her family question his loyalty and shun him as a coward. A year later, after having his train stolen by Union spies with Annabelle on board, Johnnie must single-handedly recapture his beloved locomotive and Annabelle through enemy lines.