During the American Civil War, Union troops are about to hang a man, a Southerner, from the Owl Creek bridge. As he goes over the side with the noose around his neck the rope breaks and he manages to unbind his hands and feet. As he swims downstream, he has images of home and his lovely wife. He also manages to evade the troops who are trying to stop him. Just as he reaches his destination however, his true circumstances are revealed.