Jeff is a sixteen-year-old Kansas farm boy with an eager desire to experience the excitement of a military campaign. Raised in a free-state household, he holds strong political convictions but initially possesses a naive view of combat. He is naturally hardworking, stubborn, and bonds easily with animals. His straightforward nature often puts him at odds with arbitrary military rules and vindictive officers.

Captain Clardy is a bitter, vindictive Union officer who previously served in the Mexican-American War. He harbors a deep resentment for volunteer soldiers and takes an immediate, intense dislike to Jeff over his name. He uses his authority to assign cruel punishments and enforce his personal vendettas.

Noah is an itinerant printer who joined the Union infantry. Older and sager than the teenage recruits, he prefers walking massive distances over riding horses. He becomes a mentor figure to Jeff, offering him steady advice and literal lifesaving support during the chaos of military life.

Lucy is a beautiful, sixteen-year-old mixed-race Cherokee girl. She is fiercely proud and an unwavering supporter of the Confederacy. She openly despises the Union soldiers occupying her town but finds her rigid political boundaries tested by Jeff's persistent kindness.

Stand Watie is a historical Cherokee leader who commands a hard-riding rebel cavalry unit for the Confederacy. Although he possesses a fearsome, mythic reputation among Union soldiers, he is highly pragmatic and prioritizes the well-being of his men and refugee families over strict military etiquette.

Emory is Jeff's father and a veteran of the Mexican-American War. He walks with a permanent limp after dropping an anvil on his foot. He is a steadfast supporter of a free Kansas state and named his son after his former commanding officer, Jefferson Davis, long before the war divided the country.

Edith is Jeff's mother, a Kentucky native who finds the harsh weather and political violence of Kansas difficult to endure. Despite her fears, she is fiercely protective of her family and actively fights back when their home is threatened. She weeps when Jeff makes his final decision to enlist.

Mary is Jeff's twelve-year-old younger sister. She is tough and resourceful, demonstrating her courage by throwing boiling dishwater at armed men who threaten her parents in their own home.

Bess is Jeff's fourteen-year-old sister. She is dependable and strong-willed, capable of riding for help when the family faces imminent danger from border ruffians.

John is an eighteen-year-old neighbor of the Bussey family. Eager to see the world and tired of arguing with his parents, he drops his chores and joins Jeff on the walk to Fort Leavenworth to volunteer for the Union army.

David is a sixteen-year-old boy living in poverty after his father's death. He joins the army hoping to improve his circumstances but quickly finds himself overwhelmed and isolated in the military camp. His severe homesickness leads him to make desperate decisions early in his service.

Mike is a sixty-year-old Irish teamster who manages the cavalry mounts. He forms a quick bond with Jeff after the boy demonstrates his natural skill with horses, occasionally helping Jeff and his friends bypass strict military protocol during foraging missions.

Sparrow is a Union camp cook who shares a home county with Captain Clardy. He holds a dark secret about Clardy's past, which gives him a dangerous sense of immunity from the captain's usual tyranny.

Jimmy is a fourteen-year-old boy who lied about his age to enlist in the Union army. When discovered, he begs to stay and is reassigned as a drummer boy. He takes his duties seriously and possesses a fierce pride in his service.

Initially viewed by Jeff as a sloppy drillmaster, Pete Millholland proves himself to be a dedicated, fair, and highly competent leader. He actively works to improve himself and genuinely cares for the men under his command, sharing their physical burdens during long marches.

Bill is a fellow soldier in Jeff's unit. He possesses a beautiful tenor voice that frequently entertains the camp around the evening fire. He is practical about the war and actively participates in foraging to keep the unit fed.

Stuart is a Kansas soldier who spent months as a prisoner in Stand Watie's camp, performing hard labor. The experience left him deeply bitter and unforgiving toward the rebel forces.

Jake is a squad leader who presents a tough, muscular exterior and boasts about combat. When actual fighting begins, his bravado vanishes, revealing his inability to handle the pressures of war.

Zed is a quiet, deeply religious boy in Jeff's company. He is terrified of the violence of war and seeks comfort in his faith during moments of extreme stress.

Ford is a young soldier in Jeff's squad. He experiences the severe physical trauma of battle firsthand and relies on his friends for emotional support during his painful medical treatment.

Belie is an elderly Cherokee woman who claims neutrality in the ongoing war. She explains that she has family fighting for both the Union and the Confederacy, illustrating the deep divisions within the local community.

Mrs. McComas is a Confederate civilian managing her farm while her husband is away. She takes pity on Jeff due to his youthful appearance, offering him food in exchange for chores, establishing his first humanizing connection with the enemy side.

Mrs. Adair is Lucy's older, married sister. She is calm, polite, and even-keeled, acting as a stabilizing force in the household when Lucy's temper flares against the occupying Union soldiers.

Mrs. Washbourne is the dignified matriarch of the Washbourne family. Despite having a husband and sons fighting for the Confederacy, she displays a motherly warmth and maintains her manners when dealing with decent Union soldiers.

Lee is Lucy's brother and a scout for the Confederate army. He is a brave, young soldier whose participation in the war causes his family constant, agonizing worry.

General Blunt is a former doctor turned Union commander. He ignores standard military decorum in favor of pragmatic, decisive action. He rewards bravery and recognizes the strategic value of placing capable soldiers in undercover roles.

Lieutenant Orff is a capable, ruthless Union officer. He wields a highly efficient repeating rifle that amazes his men, demonstrating the rapid technological advancements changing the nature of the war.

Jim is an experienced Union scout who accompanies Jeff into enemy territory. He is quick-thinking and invents the cover stories required to infiltrate Confederate camps safely.

Initially known only by his "Surly Voice," Sam Fields is a skinny, redheaded Confederate sergeant. He is highly suspicious of newcomers and deeply motivated by the loss of close friends in the ongoing conflict.

Heifer is the elderly, facially deformed cook for Stand Watie's men. He happily trades insults with the soldiers and proves to be an excellent cook. He forms a strong paternal bond with Jeff, offering him food, dry clothes, and protection.

Hooley is a goofy, easy-going mixed-race Cherokee soldier serving in Stand Watie's outfit. He accepts Jeff easily and provides camaraderie during the tense lulls between battles.

Major Adair is a trusted officer and personal friend to Stand Watie. A lawyer by trade, he mixes easily with his enlisted men and processes new recruits into the Confederate ranks.

Leemon is a young enslaved man owned by a Chickasaw farmer. He openly discusses his desire for personal freedom and shows a keen interest in the segregated Union regiments operating out of Fort Gibson.

Mrs. Jackman is the wealthy matriarch of a mixed-race Cherokee family. Referred to respectfully as "Aunt Maggie" by rebel leadership, she capably manages her large plantation and organizes her family's retreat to safety when Union looters threaten the area.

Mr. Jackman is a Confederate soldier serving under Stand Watie. He leaves his plantation in his wife's hands while fighting, occasionally returning to share critical military news with the household.

Jill is the eighteen-year-old eldest unmarried daughter of the Jackman family. She takes immense pride in her romantic connection to the Confederate military.

Janice is sixteen years old and shares her older sister's vocal pride in the Confederate soldiers fighting under Stand Watie.

Patricia is the thirteen-year-old youngest Jackman daughter. She deeply loves her horse and is emotionally devastated when Union looters raid their property.

Marjorie is one of the married Jackman daughters. She lives on the family plantation while her husband fights in the Confederate army, spending her time growing hyacinths and playing the piano.

Sophie is a married daughter of the Jackman family whose husband serves in the rebel army. Her experiences reflect the severe personal losses suffered by families on the home front.

Hannah is an enslaved woman working for the Jackman family. She serves as Jeff's primary nurse during his illness and is the only servant who chooses to remain with the family after Union sympathizers ransack the plantation.

Aunt Phoebe is Bill Earle's fastidious relative living in Missouri. She maintains a strictly clean household and insists that soldiers scrub themselves and shed their lice-ridden clothes before entering. Her former slaves choose to stay with her after gaining freedom.