Inspired by the author's ancestor, William P. Inman of the 25th NC Infantry, who was wounded and likely did desert/return home. However, the epic journey and specific encounters are fictionalized.

A fictional character representing educated, upper-class women unprepared for the hardships of rural life when left alone by the war.

A fictional character embodying resilience, practicality, and deep knowledge of Appalachian survival skills.

While a specific character, Teague represents the documented brutality and abuse of power exhibited by some real Confederate Home Guard units in areas like Western North Carolina, hunting deserters and terrorizing civilians.

Fictional character setting up Ada's situation.

Fictional character, representing outliers and musicians caught up in the war's periphery. (Gleeson did his own fiddling).

The film opens with a graphic and well-regarded depiction of this historical battle's chaos and brutality. Some details are inaccurate (size of crater, absence of US Colored Troops, specific units involved).

Widespread desertion, especially among North Carolina troops, was a major issue for the Confederacy due to war weariness, hardship, and concern for families. Inman's desertion reflects this.

The Home Guard was real, tasked with policing the home front, enforcing conscription, and pursuing deserters.

While not all were like Teague's band, historical accounts confirm that some Home Guard units, particularly in divided areas like Appalachia, acted with extreme brutality and extra-legally.

Accurately portrays the scarcity, loneliness, hard labor, and vulnerability to violence faced by women and families left behind in the rural Confederacy.

Reflects the isolation, internal conflicts (though Unionism understated), reliance on subsistence farming, and the impact of the war on mountain communities.

The detailed odyssey of Inman from Virginia to Cold Mountain, including specific people met and events, is a fictional narrative based on the novel, not a documented historical trek.

Geographically illogical for a deserter traveling from Petersburg, VA, to Western NC. Coastal areas were largely Union-controlled.

The film, like the novel, is criticized for largely avoiding the issue of slavery, which was central to the Confederacy and the war, even in mountain regions. This is seen as a significant historical simplification.

The summary execution or murder of suspected deserters and Union sympathizers by Home Guard units is documented in historical accounts from the region.

Captures the rugged beauty and isolation, but primarily filmed in Romania. While visually stunning, it may not perfectly replicate the specific flora and topography of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The opening scenes effectively convey the grim reality of trench warfare and the catastrophic explosion.

Accurately reflects the architecture and living conditions of the period in the rural Appalachian South.

Costumes are generally well-researched, showing appropriate civilian wear for different social classes and realistic, often worn Confederate uniforms reflecting late-war conditions.

Depicts common Civil War firearms. Some inaccuracies noted, such as the relatively widespread use of advanced Spencer repeating carbines by Home Guard members and civilians, which would have been unlikely.

Effectively portrays the natural environment as both beautiful and perilous, a significant factor in Inman's trek.

Successfully conveys the overall mood of the later stages of the Civil War in the Confederacy – the suffering, division, desperation, and pervasive violence affecting soldiers and civilians alike.

Incorporates authentic Appalachian folk music and traditions (like shape-note singing), enhancing the period setting and cultural context.