Name: Miriam Schwartz

Age: 38

Occupation: Homesteader

Appearance: She has curly brown locks tied back and typically wears jeans for riding, a man's shirt and her old Union Army jacket, which is now showing signs of age. She is still lean and muscular for her age, thanks to years of work on the homestead.

Personality: Miriam is a little rough around the edges and it is only getting worse with age. She is independent and fiercely protective of her three sons.

Possessions: Springfield Model 1861 rifled musket, her service weapon from the war days which she has kept well-maintained used now as a hunting rifle. A Colt Army Model 1860 revolver, converted to use modern .44 brass cartridges, is glued to her hip. She also carries a large bowie knife, a trophy from her war days and her personal riding horse is a copper gelding named "Edward."

Backstory: Miriam is a hardened veteran of the civil war. She was born in Wilmington, North Carolina in 1847. In 1864 she enlisted in the union army under the name "Samson Schwartz" to avoid marriage. She served in the XXIV Corps until the war's end in 1865 when her unit blocked Robert E. Lee's escape at Appomattox and forced the surrender of the Confederate Army. After the war, Miriam moved out west to homestead just outside the town of Longwater where she has lived for the last 20 years. She never married, but has had three boys out of wedlock - Benjamin, Jesse, and Daniel aged 16, 14, and 10 who help around the homestead.