As for the plot of this story, I recommend reading the excellent historical perspective provided by kenstallings-65346. I also agree with the reviewer grizzledgeezer. The strength of this episode is that Tim Driscoll's situation is resolved, but the larger issue is not. As such, this episode can be interpreted as a statement about the horror of war and its lingering effects.
Robert Totten's performance as Corley truly shines among a strong cast of guests. Totten guested in eight different Gunsmoke episodes over the years, and he directed twenty-five episodes between season 11 and 17, including the "Waco" episode from earlier in Season 14. He contributed the story for one Gunsmoke epsiode, Season 13's "Nowhere to Run." A vastly different looking Bob Totten sans facial hair would star in another Season 14 episode, "The Long Night."
Nehemiah Persoff makes another of his many Gunsmoke appearances as the Tim Driscoll character. Louise Latham, who previously appeared in that Robert Totten directed "Waco" episode earlier in Season 14, is Louise Driscoll, Tim's wife.
Talented actor Robert DoQui makes one of his two Season 14 appearances in a Gunsmoke episode as one of Corley's companions named Sadler. DoQui's only other Gunsmoke performance was in the episode "The Good Samaritans" later in the season.
Another fine talent, Kevin Coughlin, plays Tom Driscoll, the son of Tim and Louise. This was Coughlin's first participation in the show, but he would eventually appear in four other episodes before he was hit by a speeding car and killed when he was only 31 years old.
One of the oddest guest performances is from Stanley Clements as the character McInnerny, who snores through most of every scene where he is present.
Those looking for a lot of action and gunplay are likely to find this episode disappointing. It is not often the Gunsmoke writers and producers would delve into historical events in this manner. This is a highly recommended, thought-provoking installment of Gunsmoke.
(A mildly curious side note to this episode: Early in the story, the drunken Corley character is shown shucking and eating raw oysters. The chalkboard in the restaurant reads, "Today's Special, Oysters $2 per dozen." Two dollars in 1875 would be more than fifty dollars today! The price probably makes sense under the circumstances. It seems quite unlikely a restaurant in Dodge City, Kansas during the time this episode is set would go to the trouble of acquiring raw oysters, keeping them on ice - considering the difficulty of making ice during the time, and then offering them at that price. It is not likely many people in the area would have paid that exorbitant amount, even if they had the means.)