North and South is an American mini-series based on the trilogy of novels by John Jakes which were set before, during and after the Civil War, and followed the various fortunes of the Main and Hazard families. The second series, subtitled Love and War, was first broadcast on 4 May 1986 and was a ratings success, however it didn’t reach the same heights as the first series. Most of the cast returned, however there were some notable recasts including Parker Stevenson as Billy Hazard and Mary Crosby as Isabel Hazard.
As the Civil War gets underway, Orry becomes a military aide to Jefferson Davis (Lloyd Bridges), while George heads to Washington to act as a military aide to Abraham Lincoln (Hal Holbrook). It’s hard to fathom how both managed to achieve these posts as neither were in the military long enough to earn the honour and their positions in society hardly warrant it either. While the senior members of the family are busy advising the top brass, the younger versions are preoccupied with life on the battlefield. While on a scouting mission, Charles comes to the aid of Augusta Barclay (Kate McNeil), who is stealing medicine from Union hospitals for the south. Augusta, a widow, becomes a real source of comfort for Charles over the period of the war and they seem really suited to each other.
Orry and Madeline finally get married when Justin LaMotte conveniently dies after trying to kidnap her again, and it seems like Jefferson Davis is okay with Orry rushing away to mount rescue attempts whenever he feels like it. A bored Ashton meet Elkanah Bent (Philip Casnoff) at a Confederate reception and soon joins him in his smuggling enterprise and his bed. When Bent tells Ashton he knows Madeline is of mixed race, she takes great delight in telling Madeline that she knows her secret and if she doesn’t leave Mont Royal, Orry’s reputation will be ruined. A pregnant Madeline stupidly flees to Charleston to save the poor even though Orry and his mother already know the truth about her and don’t care. The whole Charleston storyline is boring and for someone trying to keep a low profile, Madeline is tracked down easily by Bent.
Meanwhile, Virgilia applies to become a nurse but she is turned away as her past precedes her and she is forced to ask Congressman Sam Greene (David Ogden Stiers) to intervene on her behalf. When Virgilia finally gets a position with the nursing corps, she is surprisingly adamant about treating southern soldiers just as fairly which is good news for Orry when he ends up being her patient. However, when she is accused of letting a southern soldier bleed to death, her anger leads her to pushing over her elderly supervisor, Mrs. Neal (Olivia de Havilland). Believing she has killed the woman, Virgilia flees to Greene who lets her continue to believe she killed the elderly lady but when Virgilia discovers the truth, she kills Greene in retaliation and is sentenced to death. Virgilia really is one of the most interesting characters and this is a particularly sad way for her to end.
While Brett is supposed to be safe in the north with the Hazard family, she confounds everyone when she insists on heading back to South Carolina with her servant, Semiramis, and puts them both in considerable danger. Ashton continues to wreak havoc when Billy suddenly turns up at Mont Royal to see Brett after going AWOL. Brett and Billy spend the night together in the barn, but are discovered by Ashton who threatens to turn Billy over to the authorities. A furious Brett holds Ashton at bay with a pitchfork until Billy makes his escape. While it is nice to see Brett finally stand up to her wicked sister, this storyline is absurd as Brett’s flight home is completely unnecessary and Billy’s subsequent visit leaves him dealing with no consequences after going AWOL.
Since we have two strong bonds between the northern and southern camps, it is inevitable that George, Orry, Charles and Billy will come across each other on the battlefield and will allow each other to escape. George and Orry meet several times and manage to talk about old times before the inevitable arguments start but friendship always comes before duty. As soon as George decides he wants a more active role in the war, he gets captured and has to be rescued from Libby Prison and Constance’s only hope is to get a message to Orry. Orry duly rescues George and he is packed off north in time to spend Christmas with his family where he learns his brother, Stanley, and sister-in-law, Isabel, have been producing shoddy cannons for the union army.
When both sides engage in the final battle, Orry is wounded (again) as General Robert E Lee surrenders and agrees terms with General Ulysses S Grant. With the war over, Charles returns to Augusta only to learn she has died given birth to his son and Billy reunites with Brett. George eventually finds Orry in a hospital and they soon head off in search of Madeline so Orry can finally be introduced to his son. However, it seems tragedy isn’t quite finished with them as they all arrive at Mont Royal to find the house ablaze and Clarissa dead. As they contemplate the destruction, George and Orry pledge to rebuild the bond between their families and George says they will use the profits from the resurrected cotton mill to rebuild Mont Royal.
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EPISODE ONE: The timeline is from June 1861 to July 1861 where the Main and Hazard men take up commissions in their respective armies. Orry becomes a military aide to Jefferson Davis, while George becomes a military aide to Abraham Lincoln. Charles becomes a Confederate cavalry officer and meets Augusta Barclay, who smuggles medicine for the southern soldiers. Meanwhile, Billy joins the US Sharpshooters regiment and Brett faces prejudice in Washington. Justin abducts Madeleine and Clarissa is injured in when he sets fire to the cotton barn. Ashton becomes Bent’s lover and joins his smuggling operation. The First Battle of Bull Run takes place and quickly turns to chaos.
EPISODE TWO: The timeline is from July 1861 to the summer of 1862 which sees Brett making a dangerous trip home to Mont Royal through enemy lines. Orry returns to rescue Madeline and they finally get married when Justin is killed. Orry also breaks apart Bent’s smuggling enterprise which leaves Ashton and Bent vowing revenge. Stanley takes control of Hazard Iron and is persuaded by Isabel to use cheaper but inferior iron for the cannons destined for the union army.
EPISODE THREE: The timeline is from September 1862 to the spring of 1864 which sees Billy and Charles almost kill each other at the Battle of Antietam. The Emancipation Proclamation frees the slaves in the Southern states, and all the slaves leave Mont Royal apart from Semiramis and Ezra. A pregnant Madeline flees Mont Royal when Ashton threatens to reveal her mother was a part-black prostitute. After the Battle of Gettysburg, Billy goes AWOL to visit Brett in South Carolina but they are discovered by Ashton.
EPISODE FOUR: The timeline is from May 1864 to the late autumn of 1864 where George becomes a general so he can participate more fully in the war but is promptly captured and sent to Libby Prison which is run by the psychotic Captain Turner. Orry is wounded and ends up in being nursed by Virgilia who looks the other way to allow him to escape. Later, Virgilia is accused of letting a Southern solider bleed to death and her subsequent loss of temper leads her to pushing over her elderly supervisor, Mrs Neal. Believing her to be dead, Virgilia flees the hospital and seeks refuge with Congressman Sam Greene.
EPISODE FIVE: The timeline is from December 1864 to February 1865 where Charles and Orry rescue George from Libby Prison and he gets safely back home where he learns about the shoddy cannons being made by Hazard Iron. Bent tracks Madeline down to Charleston and attempts to kill her but she is rescued by her gambler friend Rafe Baudeen who is fatally shot by Bent. Bent enlists the help of James Huntoon to overthrow the Confederate government but the coup is discovered and Orry is ordered to arrest Bent for treason. Bent is apparently killed when a barn full of ammunition is accidentally set ablaze. A tearful Ashton admits to having been responsible for forcing Madeline to flee and Orry disowns her again. Ashton also confesses to her affair with Bent and begs her husband for forgiveness, however Huntoon angrily tells her it is too late and vows to divorce her.
EPISODE SIX: The timeline is from March 1865 to April 1865 where the war finally comes to an end with a Northern Victory at the Battle of Petersburg which sees Orry wounded as General Robert E Lee surrenders to General Ulysses S Grant. A weary Charles heads back to Virginia to see Augusta but learns she has died giving birth to his son, while Billy heads to South Carolina to be reunited with Brett. Virgilia learns Sam Greene has been lying to her about Mrs. Neal being dead, so she kills him and is sentenced to hang. George tracks Orry down to a union hospital but they then learn that Lincoln has been assassinated. George and Orry search for Madeline and Orry finally gets to meet his son. Their return to Mont Royal is bittersweet when they find the mansion ablaze and realise Clarissa has been killed by a former slave. In the aftermath, George and Orry vow to renew the bonds between their families and to rebuild Mont Royal.
ORRY MAIN: When the Civil War breaks out, Orry becomes an aide to Jefferson Davis and finally gets to marry his longterm love Madeline Fabray. George and Orry’s friendship is cruelly tested by the war but they never allow duty to get in the way and often let each other escape when they meet on the battlefield.
MADELINE FABRAY: Having suffered cruelly at the hands of Justin LaMotte, Madeline finds refuge at Mont Royal and finally marries Orry when her husband is killed. However, Madeline is chased away from Mont Royal when Ashton threatens to tell everyone about her mother being a prostitute. A pregnant Madeline flees to Charleston where she tries to help former slaves who are now living in poverty.
ASHTON MAIN: Ashton is now married to James Huntoon, a secessionist, but her lust for greed leads her to joining forces with Elkanah Bent who is operating a successful smuggling business. Ashton and Bent’s ventures are ruined by Orry and they vow revenge. When Ashton confesses about her part in Madeline’s flight and her involvement with Bent, Orry disowns her again and Huntoon threatens to divorce her.
BRETT MAIN: Brett is newly married to Billy Hazard but their time together is cut short when the war breaks out. When she hears her mother is ill and alone, Brett makes a dangerous trip through enemy lines to get to South Carolina with her faithful servant, Semiramis. Brett spends the rest of the war at Mont Royal where she is briefly visited by Billy.
CHARLES MAIN: Charles joins the Confederate cavalry and he eventually meets Augusta Barclay, a plucky widow who steals medicine from union hospitals to smuggle to the south. Augusta becomes a refuge of sorts for Charles and they eventually become lovers. After the war ends, Charles heads to Virginia to be reunited with her but is devastated when he learns she died giving birth to his son.
CLARISSA GAULT MAIN: With Orry and Charles both gone, Clarissa is tasked with keeping things at Mont Royal running as best as she can but she worries about the cost the war will have on those she loves on both sides. When the slaves are all freed, Clarissa doesn’t hesitate to take to the fields along with Brett and Madeline but it is a monumental task. Clarissa rewards Semiramis and Ezra’s loyalty by giving them a plot of land for themselves.
GEORGE HAZARD: When the Civil War breaks out, George becomes an aide to Abraham Lincoln but he becomes dissatisfied and requests a field position. George is captured by the Confederates and held in Libby Prison which is run by the sadistic Captain Turner who likes to torture the inmates. George is eventually rescued by Charles and Orry, and makes his way back to Pennsylvania. When George learns Hazard Iron has been producing shoddy cannons for the union army, he forces a confession out of Stanley who vows to take full responsibility.
CONSTANCE FLYNN HAZARD: Constance accompanies George to Washington but eventually returns home to Pennsylvania where she steadfastly supports Maude Hazard as she worries about the fate of her sons. when she learns George is a prisoner of war and her appeals to Lincoln are ineffective, she sends a message through the lines to Orry to beseech him to help.
VIRGILIA HAZARD: Virgilia becomes a nurse and is posted to a military hospital where she has to put aside her hatred for the southern soldiers to treat them. When Orry becomes her patient, she allows him to escape. Things go wrong when Virgilia is accused of allowing a southern soldier to bleed to death and she pushes her elderly supervisor over. Believing she has killed the woman, Virgilia flees to Congressman Sam Greene and becomes his lover, When she learns Greene has been deliberately letting her believe Mrs. Neal was dead, Virgilia murders him and is sentenced to hang.
STANLEY HAZARD: While George is away, Stanley resumes control of Hazard Iron and allows Isabel to talk him onto using cheaper iron to make the cannons for the union army. They forge George’s signature on the paperwork so he will be blamed. When George finds out, Stanley confesses and appears contrite about his actions.
ISABEL TRUSCOTT HAZARD: Isabel sees an opportunity to profit from the war by using cheaper materials to produce the cannons for the union army and full intends to blame George. When George finds out, Isabel is defiant and refuses to take any responsibility unlike Stanley.
BILLY HAZARD: Billy joins the US sharpshooter regiment and practically adopts a little drummer boy, Tom, who seems to be taken with him. Tired of the war, Billy goes AWOL and visits Brett at Mont Royal but his presence is discovered by Ashton. When Ashton threatens to report him to the authorities, Brett attacks her with a pitchfork long enough for Billy to escape. Billy heads back to his regiment where he is threatened with being shot for desertion if he ever goes AWOL again.
MAUDE HAZARD: The matriarch of the Hazard family tries to hold everything together at Belvedere and finds great comfort in Constance’s steady presence. Like Clarissa, she worries about how the war will divide their families.
ELKANAH BENT: Having no place in either army, Bent becomes a smuggler of luxury goods and seems to be very successful at it. Still hellbent on ruining George and Orry, Bent sets his sights on getting close to Ashton and Huntoon, Ashton eventually becomes Bent’s lover and a partner in his smuggling business which is ruined when it is discovered by Orry. Bent takes great delight in telling Ashton about Madeline’s past and she promptly heads to Mont Royal to force Madeline to flee. Alone, Madeline becomes a target for Bent’s revenge but it fails when she is protected by a gambler friend. Bent then decides to bring down the Confederate government but is apparently killed when a barn full of ammunition is set ablaze.
JAMES HUNTOON: Huntoon agrees to provide information to Bent about the activities within the Confederate government but he is really acting as a double agent and is reporting back to Davis himself. When Davis learns about Bent’s plans to overthrow the government, Orry is sent to arrest Bent for treason. When Huntoon learns that Ashton has betrayed him with Bent, he refuses to forgive her and implies he will be divorcing her.
SEMIRAMIS: Semiramis is a slave at Mont Royal who becomes particularly close to Brett when they make their dangerous journey back to South Carolina. When the rest of the slaves leave Mont Royal, Semiramis chooses to remain with the family until she has decided what she wants to do now that she is free. Semiramis has long harboured a crush on Charles Main which makes her reluctant to accept the advances of Ezra, another slave who has chosen to remain.
