Cold Mountain takes place during the American Civil War. Though the war is not portrayed directly in the novel, the traumatizing effects of the conflict are evident. Throughout the novel, both Inman and Ada learn to confront and slowly heal from the traumas they have endured.

Inman is haunted by his memories of battle. He is traumatized by seeing so many people killed, by his own role in the killing, and by the indifference of the ruling class. He cannot continue to fight in the war, so he deserts from the army. However, although Inman wants to escape the trauma of the war, the traumatizing effects of the conflict cast a long shadow that stretches all the way back to Cold Mountain. Escaping trauma thus becomes not just a physical journey, but also a psychological journey. Inman’s physical wounds may heal, but his nightmares only intensify; he is forced back into violent situations by other men who cannot leave the war behind. From Veasey to Junior to Teague, there is no way for Inman to truly escape the conflict.

Ada’s trauma is quieter. At the beginning of the novel, she is still trying to process her grief over her father’s death.