North and South (1985)

S1E1 Summer 1842 - Summer 1844

In 1842, Orry Main departs from his family's cotton plantation near Charleston, heading to West Point for two years of military training. On his journey, he encounters Madeline Fabray and quickly falls for her, leading to a promise of correspondence. However, her father insists she marry their wealthy and arrogant neighbor, Justin LaMotte, while he intercepts Orry's letters, making Madeline more susceptible to Justin's lavish attention. At West Point, Orry befriends fellow cadet George Hazard, whose family runs an iron factory in Pennsylvania. Despite facing harsh hazing, Orry impressively bests the drill master Elkanah Bent. Upon returning home, Orry intervenes to stop an overseer from brutally whipping a slave, but his father, Tillet, refuses to dismiss the overseer.