| A | B |
|---|
| Amelia Grafton | narrator of story |
| Josh Dechart | teenage boy who is determined to keep Hagerstown Mail running |
| Pa (Wesley) Grafton | father to Amelia, Sky, and Wes; owner of general store |
| Ma (Leigh) Grafton | Mother to Wes, Amelia, and Sky |
| Wesley Grafton | Oldest son of the Graftons who joined the army (Union) |
| Aunt Lou | housekeeper to the Graftons; she is a former slave |
| Sky Grafton | youngest son of Graftons who is interested in the war and soldiers |
| Cole & Travis Jones | friends of Wes Grafton; joined the army with Wes |
| Aunt Charlotte | everyone's friend, town peddler |
| Colonel McClausland | Leader of the Virginia infantry, Uncle to Josh |
| Jinny Pearl | girlfriend to Wes; murdered Rebel soldier |
| Mr. Dechart | runs Hagerstown Mail, has southern leanings, got arrested for printing Amelia's story about the shooting because he criticized the North |
| Mr. Wright | owned tavern, owed money to Pa Grafton, to avoid debt he reported Pa to the Rebels |
| Dewitt Clinton Rench | friend, joined the Rebel side, shot to death, his death impacted Amelia |
| Judge Alvey | looked after Josh while his Dad was away |
| Lutie Kealhofer | snooty, upper class, betrothed to Confederate soldier |
| Grandmother Schuyler | lives in Philadelphia, Ma Grafton's mother, abolitionist |
| Robert Moxley | African American, led colored band |
| Mrs. Jones | mom of Cole and Travis |
| Belle Boyd | famous Confederate spy |
| Elizabeth Fiegley | town "fancy" woman, knows a lot of information about what is happening |
| Dr. Newall | pulled through the streets due to his southern leanings |
| Dr. McKinnow | informed Ma Grafton about her son's injuries |
