april 19, 1775, british regiments from the boston area march to concord and lexington in search of weapons hidden by colonial rebels. regiments are ambushed on their return. sergeant noland black [protagonist] is shot, falls unconscious, and awakes on the same date and place, but exactly 200 years into the future. found by reenactors, he is initially reassured by their uniforms, then thrown into anxiety when confronted with the modernism of 1975. three individuals find noland, care for him, verify his origin, and exposed him to advances and civilities of the 20th century. enamored of his female caregiver, he desires to remain. but when he learns the results of the american revolutionary war, he wants to return to the past to declare the futility great britain has initiated. since his transit is inexplicable, return to the past would be as great a mystery. noland's experiences establish his future destiny.