The March family, mother and four daughters, make the best of life as their father fights with the Union Army. After a year, the wounded father returns and the family rejoices. But their family picnic takes an ominous turn when he sights enemy scouts.

As the Rebel army advances toward the March family's hometown, father returns to the war. On the way home from church in a heavy rainstorm, Beth finds a stray kitten suffering from the weather, and nurses it back to health.

The Rebel forces arrive and take control of the town. While looking for a wooden box for the kitten Milky Ann, Jo discovers a runaway slave hiding in the storage shed. His name is John, and he has escaped from the Southern army.

Amy and her sisters shelter John under the floor, while Rebel soldiers search for him unsuccessfully. Mother sees him off on his dangerous trip north to safety, supplying him with food and money for the journey. Then the battle begins in earnest.

As the battle becomes more violent, people flee from the town. The March family is finally forced to leave their home.

Amy and her family spend the night on a small hill. Next morning, they return to their house only to find it burned and destroyed. They must move north to stay with Aunt March in New England.