Peter Treegate, now in his sixties and a wealthy shipowner, goes to England prior to 1812, with war on the horizon, to try to talk peace. Meanwhile 18-year-old Manly and his 12-year-old brother, the younger Peter Treegate, head to the Ohio frontier, where they join General Harrison's militia as they do battle with Tecumseh's forces - the "red pawns" in the struggle that became known as the War of 1812.