Nick Cantarella was a Captain in the United States Army during the Second Great War. He was taken captive by the Confederate States and interned in Andersonville, Georgia where he became friendly with Major Jonathan Moss. When a tornado ripped through the prisoner of war camp he and Moss managed to escape and hooked up with a band of Negro guerrillas, led by Spartacus. After U.S. forces overran Georgia, Spartacus and his group quickly joined up with them. Cantarella and Moss were taken into custody until their identities were confirmed. Cantarella was promoted to major.