Private Stanley is saying good-bye to his wife and daughter when his tent-mate calls him to join the regiment, which is about to go into action. Just before the advance, Stanley notices that the heavy firing is in the direction of his home and he leaves the firing line, going to his home in order to save his family. A shell hits and bursts in his home and sets it on fire. He carries his little daughter to his mother, who lives in the same town. When the roll is called Stanley is missed and the Sergeant’s squad start out to learn his whereabouts. Stanley, from his mother’s window, sees the soldiers coming and his old mother tells him to exchange clothes with a civilian who has just died. He does and thereby effects his escape, but is caught in the woods and brought before the Sergeant. As they are unable to learn his identity, they send for his daughter; but the child intuitively realizes that something is wrong and says that the dead man in that house is her father. The Sergeant departs with his men and Stanley goes to the general’s headquarters, tells the true story and is restored to his place in the company.