North and South - Season 1 - Eps 1: Summer 1842 - Summer 1844
1842: Orry Main leaves the cotton plantation near Charleston that he's heir to on his way to West Point for two years of officer's training. On the way, he meets and falls in love with Madeline Fabray, who agrees to write to him. However, her father needs her to wed Orry's rude neighbor, rich plantation owner Justin LaMotte. Orry's letters to Madeline become intercepted by her father so she becomes susceptible to Justin's generous courting. At West Point, Orry meets fellow cadet George Hazard, son of a Pennsylvania manufacturer. The hazing lives up to its reputation, not least due to drill master Elkanah Bent, who takes particular pleasure in humbling the cadets at sword-practice, but is humiliatingly defeated by Orry. George introduces Orry to his Pennsylvania family and their iron factory. After graduating and returning home, Orry stops an overseer from happily whipping a slave, but his father, Tillet, refuses to sack the sadist.
About North and South

Title: North and South
First Air Date: 1985-11-03
Last Air Date: 1994-03-02
Status: Ended
Rating: 7.4/10 (from 154 votes)
Language: EN
Seasons: 4
Total Episodes: 15
Network: ABC
Genres: Drama, War & Politics
Production Companies: David L. Wolper Productions, Warner Bros. Television, ABC Television
Synopsis
The story of the enduring friendship between Orry Main of South Carolina and George Hazard of Pennsylvania, who become best friends while attending the United States Military Academy at West Point but later find themselves and their families on opposite sides of the American Civil War.
Cast

James Read
George Hazard

Lesley-Anne Down
Madeline Fabray LaMotte

Patrick Swayze
Orry Main

Philip Casnoff
Elkanah Bent

Terri Garber
Ashton Main Fenway

Jonathan Frakes
Stanley Hazard

Kyle Chandler
Charles Main

Cathy Lee Crosby
Judith Main

Mariette Hartley
Prudence

Rya Kihlstedt
Willa