In Monroe, Michigan in 1849, the boy George “Autie” Custer meets the girl Libbie Bacon, daughter of well-to-do Judge Daniel Bacon. They do not cross paths again until she graduates from the Young Ladies' Seminary and Collegiate Institute.
Five years later Libbie's mother dies, leaving Daniel a widower with Libbie to care for. She frets about being “Poor Motherless Libbie” and “helps” her father find a new wife. They settle on Rhoda.
At a party, Libbie hears rumors of war between the States. Several months later, the Civil War begins. Now she frets about finding a suitable husband, as men leave for the military. Daniel advises her not to seek a military suitor.
In a serious daughter-to-mother talk, Rhoda calms Libbie and counsels her to wait until graduation from seminary before worrying herself too much.
At the graduation, valedictorian Libbie meets Captain Custer, who has returned to Monroe on leave. They are mutually attracted, but he plays his hand like a pro. Later at a party, she sees she may have a rival for Custer's attention in Fan Fifield. She laments that she cannot compete with the vivacious Fan, imagining her seeing the two of them marry.
At the pretext of visiting her friend, Nettie, Libbie rushes to the boarding house where Custer is lodging. During their flirtation, she gives him a photo of herself. Custer finagles his way into helping Libbie and a friend depart at the train station. Daniel becomes suspicious, and after Libbie returns he confronts and counsels her again. Libbie becomes angry.
During a brief conversation with Fan, Libbie believes Custer will marry Fan.
A montage of cavalry action with Custer.
During another brief conversation with Fan, Libbie learns Custer has been promoted to brevet general and that he showed Libbie's photo to Fan. Libbie is furious. She tells Nettie she has renounced him.
While Libbie is hanging out at the boarding house, the wounded Custer unexpectedly returns and rekindles his courtship. She rebuffs him, declaring she only wants to be friends, but later at a costume ball, she submits-if Custer can convince her father. He returns to military duty.
In a conversation with Daniel, Libbie confesses her love for Custer, and Daniel agrees to receive letters from him. After checking into Custer's character, he gives permission to marry, and the two are married in Monroe in 1864.
During their honeymoon, the two visit West Point, and Custer makes Libbie promise she will have him buried there if he is killed in battle. Libbie demands to be with him wherever he is stationed.
At a cavalry camp in Virginia, Custer's servant Eliza comes to stay. Libbie is teased by the troopers. Later, she is terrified when he leaves for a raid. Eliza convinces her to move to Washington, D.C.
From Washington, Libbie writes to Custer of her impression of the city and how much she desires to be a good cavalry wife.
Custer reports to Major General Sheridan, who explains his battle strategy.
At Yellow Tavern, Virginia, Custer's cavalry has a battle with Confederate General Stuart. In a letter to Libbie, he writes of his undying love for her.
After a parade in D.C., Custer is promoted to brevet major general. Libbie feels some of the other officers are jealous of him.
At a Martinsburg, Virginia train station, Libbie tells Custer of her desire to start a family. He tells her that his brother Tom will be joining them. Tom later reports for duty.
In D.C., Libbie and her cousin Rebecca sew a guidon for Custer's cavalry. They discuss his safety.
The war ends and Libbie receives an invitation to go to Richmond on the president's gunboat. In Richmond, Custer joins her, bringing the table the Confederate surrender was signed on.
Libbie's father gives her advice before passing in 1866.
Now that Custer's service appears to be ending, she believes he will seek civilian employment, but he shocks her by announcing that he has accepted a commission in the reorganized cavalry.
Custer receives his appointment to the Seventh Cavalry from Secretary of War Edwin Stanton.
He is stationed at Fort Hays, Kansas. While Custer is away, Libbie and her friend Anna Darrah go out for a walk with Lieutenant Thomas Weir, and are shot at by sentries. Two nights later, the women battle a flood that engulfs the camp.
While cleaning up after the storm, Libbie is ordered to go to Fort Riley.
Custer receives a letter hinting that Weir and Libbie are having an affair. He rushes to Fort Riley and confronts Weir. Libbie has a nightmare that Custer is savagely killed in battle with Indians.
Custer plans to take Libbie to Fort Wallace, but is ordered to Fort Harker where he is arrested for absenting himself from his command. At Fort Leavenworth, he is found guilty and suspended for one year. The couple returns to Monroe for a year off.
In the western plains, a train is attacked by Indians. Custer receives orders to return to duty.
The Seventh Cavalry attacks Chief Black Kettle's camp.
At Fort Hays, Custer explains his philosophy to his officers and senior non-commissioned officers. Tom Custer shows Libbie his Indian trophies.
Libbie and Eliza have a heart-to-heart conversation about loneliness and following the cavalry.
Custer announces a transfer to Dakota Territory. Libbie expresses her anxiety to him.
In 1873 the Custers arrive at Fort Abraham Lincoln. In their quarters, they discuss “the Indian problem.” Custer exclaims his happiness. At a party, the guests also discuss “the Indian problem.”
In May 1876, the Seventh departs for Custer's final campaign. The officer's wives follow for a short time, and Libbie and Custer say their farewells.
Libbie returns to the fort, where she corresponds with Custer via mail.
She hears that General Crook has been defeated at the Rosebud River, and she begins to seriously worry.
Some of the wives are gathered on a porch when an Indian scout announces that Custer's entire command has been killed. The women don't believe it, but are worried. That evening, Libbie receives word that it is true.
She returns to Monroe and attends a memorial service.
A friend tells her that President Grant has blamed Custer for the debacle. She vows to defend him. She agrees to provide information to a friendly dime novelist.
In a conversation with Custer's father, she worries about providing for herself and the Custer parents. The Army deliver's one of Custer's favorite horses.
Libbie and her sister-in-law Maggie discuss Libbie's financial woes. She resolves to seek employment in New York City. There she is hired by the Society of Decorative Arts.
In Monroe, she learns from an attorney the sorry condition of Custer's estate.
She attends Custer's funeral at West Point.
Libbie begins receiving bad news. First, she learns Major Reno has been exonerated for his conduct at the Little Big Horn, and then a committee was formed to erect a statue of Custer without her input.
The statue is dedicated, and Libbie is furious. She begins a campaign to have it removed. She is successful, and the statue is removed in 1884.
Things begin going Libbie's way as her first successful book is published, wherein she attempts to clear Custer's name. Her second book also is successful, and she begins the lecture circuit. In one lecture, she describes how the Little Big Horn debacle was not her husband's fault.
In 1910 a Libbie-approved statue of Custer is erected in Monroe.
In Libbie's New York City apartment, Libbie explains many things to two reporters. Afterward, she reminisces about being young and with Custer again.