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In 1865, at the end of the Civil War, many residents of Missouri, a border state, remain divided by their allegiances.  In Rosy Ridge, in the Ozark mountain region, neighbors still examine the color of a man's britches to determine on which side he fought.  Memories of the brutal war are being kept alive in Rosy Ridge by a recent rash of mysterious barn-burnings in the area.  The night raids appear to be indiscriminate, as barns of both Confederate and Union sympathizers are being set ablaze.  The most recent victim of the night raids, Gill MacBean, an impoverished war veteran who fought for the South, becomes embittered by the attacks and vows revenge.  At the urging of his wife Sairy, however, Gill forsakes vengeance, and instead devotes himself to rebuilding his home.

One night, the MacBean family takes in a passing young vagrant, named Henry Carson, whose britches are so faded that Gill is unable to determine his loyalties.  The amiable harmonica-playing visitor is given food and shelter by the MacBeans, and it is only after the passing of many days that Gill discovers that Henry is a Northerner.  By that time, though, Henry has won the admiration of the MacBeans, especially that of Gill's daughter, Lissy Anne, who has fallen in love with the guest.

Believing that the time has come for the residents of Rosy Ridge to bury their differences, Henry proposes a town party in which everyone, regardless of their allegiance, will be invited.  The party, organized by storekeeper Cal Baggett, gets off to a bad start when one of the guests refuses to dance to a Northern song.  The tension mounts when the guests divide into two groups, the Northerners on one side, the Southerners on the other.  Though he initially finds it difficult to choose sides, Henry eventually chooses to align himself with the Northerners, a move that shocks the MacBeans.  A brawl ensues, after which Gill refuses to allow Henry to return to his home.

Lissy Anne, heartbroken by her father's decision, leaves Rosy Ridge with Henry.  Vowing to bring his daughter home, Gill sets out with his rifle and bloodhounds to find her.  Gill brings Henry and Lissy Anne home, after which Henry confesses that he fought alongside Ben, Gill's son.  Henry tells the MacBeans that Ben, who was fatally wounded in a battle and died in his arms, made him promise that he would go to Rosy Ridge and help his family work the farm.  Gill, moved to tears by Henry's confession, invites the young man to stay and gives his blessing to marry Lissy Anne.

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Notes
Working titles for this film were The Yankee and The Night Raiders.  The MacKinlay Kantor novel on which this film is based was first published as a serialized story in The Saturday Evening Post in three issues from June 5, through June 19, 1937.  In the film, the character of "Ben" is shown in flashback as "Henry" describes their meeting.  An Aug 1945 HR news item notes that King Vidor was originally set to direct the picture.  According to a June 1946 HR news item, first James Stewart and then Gregory Peck were set to star in the film.

The picture marked the screen debut of Janet Leigh (1927 - 2004), who was born Jeanette Helen Morrison.  Various August 1946 HR news items indicate that Leigh's name, at the time MGM announced her for a role, was Jeanette Reems.  Another HR news item announced that MGM had changed Leigh's name to Ann West.  According to HR, Leigh was discovered by Norma Shearer, who recommended her to producer Jack Cummings.  An August 1947 NYT article notes that Shearer discovered a picture of Leigh while thumbing through a family photo album at a northern California ski lodge, where Shearer was vacationing.  Shearer reportedly showed the photograph of Leigh, the lodge keeper's daugher, to MGM executives, and they immediately sent for her.  Leigh, who had never acted, danced or sang professionally, was signed to the leading role only three weeks after arriving in Hollywood.

According to HR, most of the film was shot on location in Santa Cruz, California, with some scenes filmed in Sonora and Kennedy Meadows, California.  The film marked the final picture of MGM cameraman Sidney Wagner, who died of a stroke on July 7, 1947.  Wagner was working on the film The Bride Goes Wild at the time of his death.