Samuel is a 13-year-old boy living on the frontier. Highly skilled at tracking, hunting, and surviving in the wilderness, he provides fresh meat for his family and neighbors. When his settlement is attacked and his parents are taken captive, he utilizes his deep knowledge of the forest to trail the attackers and attempt a rescue.

Olin is Samuel’s father, a man who relocated his family from the city to the harsh frontier. He values intellect, music, and literature over physical labor, lacking his son's natural affinity for the wilderness. His capture by British forces forces Samuel to leave the safety of the woods.

Abigail is Samuel’s mother, an educated woman who shares her husband's love of civilization and culture. She maintains a nurturing presence in her son's life. She is entirely unequipped for the brutal realities of the conflict spreading across the colonies.

Annie is an eight- or nine-year-old girl living on a prosperous farm with her parents. Her quiet life shatters when Hessian mercenary soldiers arrive and destroy her home. She becomes entirely dependent on Samuel for protection as they travel through hostile territory.

Abner appears as an elderly merchant offering miscellaneous goods and services like knife sharpening. Beneath his unassuming exterior, he possesses extensive knowledge of troop movements and maintains a wide network of contacts. He actively shields vulnerable travelers from passing British patrols.

John Cooper is a young rebel marching to join the American forces against the British. He travels with a group of armed men and stops to provide necessary medical care to the wounded. He views the conflict simply, choosing to fight those who commit unprovoked violence.

Caleb is a farmer who maintains a seemingly untouched homestead amid the spreading conflict. He demonstrates significant generosity by feeding a strange boy and sharing information he overheard from passing soldiers.

Ma Clark is Annie's mother, a hardworking frontier woman who manages a successful farm with her husband. She presses extra food upon travelers, showing remarkable hospitality.

Micah owns a farm along the road to New York. While he presents himself simply as a farmer conducting business with a traveling merchant, he covertly exchanges intelligence about the British occupation and helps pass messages.

Matthew is a boatman who operates quietly along the waterways near New York. He assists refugees and escaped prisoners by transporting them across the river to safety, working outside the direct sight of the British army.

Emily is Matthew's wife. Though operating in the background, she supports the covert transportation efforts by preparing essential rations for those making the dangerous journey away from the fighting.

Isaac is a regular visitor to the frontier settlement. He acts as a messenger, bringing the shocking news of the initial clashes between American militia and British soldiers in Lexington and Concord.