The story was about a guy named Patent Farquar or something or other. He was a southerner during the American Civil war. Basically a good guy, or at least I get the impression of this. He was at his house with his wife and kids when a scout shows up and tells him about a nearby bridge, stating that any civilians found messing with it will be killed. Well, the dude was seriously wanting to get himself involved in the war, some unknown circumstance had previously kept him from doing his duty in the war. So, naturally, he went out to do some damage to the bridge. Needless to say, he got caught. The story tells about him imaging his escape and journey back to his wife. In the end, he dies. He didn’t escape but died. You think he does for a little while though, makes the ending much more shocking.