Charley is fifteen years old when he leaves his home in Winona, Minnesota for the first time to volunteer as an army soldier. He is strong from working in the fields at home and has a tall, thin build. Although he is young, he has the large hands of a man, “so big they covered a stove lid” (2). Charley lives with his mother and younger brother, Orren; his father was kicked to death by a horse, so Charley is the man of the house. Charley believes in God and desires to do the right thing.

When he first joins the army, he finds his role as a soldier boring. He must constantly perform drills and feels he is only “playacting” (8) at being a soldier. However, when Charley’s unit is called to Virginia from Minnesota, Charley’s eyes are opened to new things on the journey. He enjoys cushioned seats and delicious food on the trains, and is cheered by crowds at many of the stops. He also sees areas in which people live in poverty, and is immediately grateful for the relative comfort in which he lives at home. Finally, he sees an enslaved person and slave-owner for the first time.