Characters
Tim Meeker: The main character. He is 14 years old and greatly admires his brother, Sam. At the beginning, Tim doesn't know what side he's on and thinks the war is exciting. By the end though, he knows the consequences of it.
Sam Meeker: Tim's headstrong older brother who runs off to join the rebels. As the title implies, Sam is killed at the end of the book.
Father: Tim's father who wants nothing to do with the war.
Mother: Tim's mother who is very hard working.
Betsy Read: Sam's girlfriend, who is very loyal to Sam and the rebels.
Mr. Heron: The Meeker's neighbor who claims to be a loyalist, but historians believe he worked for both sides.
Jerry Sanford: Tim's friend who dies on a prison ship.
Benedict Arnold: The captain of Sam's company.
General Putman: The leader of the rebels in Redding. He sentences Sam to death.
Colonel Parsons: One of Sam's officers, who is sympathetic toward him.
Sam Meeker: Tim's headstrong older brother who runs off to join the rebels. As the title implies, Sam is killed at the end of the book.
Father: Tim's father who wants nothing to do with the war.
Mother: Tim's mother who is very hard working.
Betsy Read: Sam's girlfriend, who is very loyal to Sam and the rebels.
Mr. Heron: The Meeker's neighbor who claims to be a loyalist, but historians believe he worked for both sides.
Jerry Sanford: Tim's friend who dies on a prison ship.
Benedict Arnold: The captain of Sam's company.
General Putman: The leader of the rebels in Redding. He sentences Sam to death.
Colonel Parsons: One of Sam's officers, who is sympathetic toward him.