The scene where 3 men from the Home Guard rode on horses through the snow was filmed on a bitterly cold day of 10 degrees with a 30 mile an hour wind. To add further challenge to the day, the horse trailer had a flat tire when hauling the horses to the film site. Scott Phelps, Brian Russell and Zack Guider were great sports. They unloaded the horses, got the tire fixed and continued to the film site. Four hours later - "That's a wrap!"
The scene where Will hide under a log in the snow was filmed the day after a 12 inch snow. Jake Bates was not available for filming that day so David Ball, a camera man, served as a stand-in. The trip to the film site required a 4-wheel drive vehicle and a hike through deep snow. David had the honor of crawling under a huge log and being buried in show for the shoot. He kept a smile through it all - albeit an icy smile.
This story is based on the experiences of James Wilburn "Will" Clark and his wife Suzanne Lusk Clark during the Civil War. They lived near Valle Crucis in the mountains of North Carolina. Their story comes from gathering a substantial oral history as well as published local history. Some of the people who kept these amazing tales alive include Suzanne Lusk Clark, John Wesley Berry, Nola Tolley Clark, Violet Carver, Net Berry, Robert Clark, Joe Willis, Bertha Tolley Woodby, Ruby Dare Clark Demyen, Byrl Clark, Judge Walter Garland and Perry Hughes.