Rocky Mountain

A Confederate captain who leads a small band tasked with recruiting California for the Confederacy. He is stubborn, strategic, and loyal to the mission, driving his eight men to take a dangerous gamble in a hostile landscape. Barstow leads a desperate last stand against overwhelming odds, demonstrating decisive leadership even as the plan unravels. His fate is sealed by a doomed effort that culminates in a final act of sacrifice.

The surviving passenger from the stagecoach, she travels to join her fiancé, Lt. Rickey. Her presence anchors the human cost of the raid and the rescue operation, and she shares crucial information that shapes the pursuit. Her resilience is tested by captivity and frontier violence, yet she maintains resolve to reach safety. Her experiences highlight the civilian toll of war on the western frontier.

The stage driver who is caught in the Shoshone attack, he communicates warnings and helps coordinate the escape plan. He forms part of the links between civilians and soldiers, providing practical knowledge of the frontier. Craigie's pragmatism and courage help save lives and steer the group through danger. His actions underscore the civilian side of the conflict amid mounted combat.

A Union Army officer who is captured by Confederate forces but ultimately escapes. He returns with a troop of Union cavalry and plays a pivotal role in the eventual rescue efforts. Rickey's leadership and courage drive the final attempt to save his fellow soldiers and civilians. The climactic moment sees him honor the rebels' sacrifice as he raises the flag in salute.

The man behind the seemingly disparate alias California Beal, he is the Confederate agent aiming to persuade California to raid for the cause. He leaves with his recruit, then returns with more men, revealing the scheming nature of the operation. The revelation that Beal is actually Cole Smith adds a layer of deception to the frontier plot. His actions drive the conflict's political overtones and strategic stakes.

A Shoshone chief leading the war party that attacks the stage and confronts Barstow's rebels. He is a skilled and wary strategist who outmaneuvers some of the pursuing forces. Man Dog embodies the frontier's fierceness and the native dimension of the conflict, evading capture and continuing to press his tribe's interests.