Book one of the Moonglow series
Will- After being assigned to be a Major with a small reserve unit in Pennsylvania, he quickly realizes that the union army has trouble trusting a southerner as a leader.
Pat- Pat's husband joined the union army to protect his country. Pat decides that she should also protect her country if she can manage to keep her gender a secret.
Peter- Peter is a slave. After he and his family are sold to a cruel owner, Peter runs away so he can try to start a new life in the north.
Jennifer- Jennifer has a bad feeling about the war. She feels that her husband and kids will die and the war will never end, much like her oldest daughter. She has to experience the trouble of maintaining a family while you country is being torn apart.