Augustus McCrae
Augustus, also known as Gus, works as Call's partner. Above all else, he loves intelligent conversations and arguments even when others do not wish to partake in them. He also enjoys his retirement by drinking plenty of whiskey, gambling, and consorting with sex workers, including Lorena. When Call resolves to start a ranch in Montana, Augustus is reluctant to leave their comfortable life behind. Throughout the novel, he accuses Call of seeking out challenges and difficulty in order to recover a sense of purpose. Though Augustus does not take work as seriously as Call does, he still cares about his reputation and image. For example, he physically retaliates against a bartender for insulting him in Chapter 42.
Though Augustus relishes the company of women, he has only truly loved one woman in his life: Clara Allen. The possibility of seeing her after 16 years apart is what prompts Augustus to accompany Call on the cattle drive in the first place. However, when Blue Duck kidnaps Lorena, Augustus risks his life to rescue her, and afterwards takes care of her. They form a close bond that lasts even when Augustus sees Clara again.
After suffering from blood poisoning due to an arrow wound in his leg, Augustus refuses to allow his second leg to be amputated. He chooses death over limited mobility, but not before making Call promise to bury his body near Lonesome Dove.
Woodrow Call
Call, also known as The Captain, is the co-owner (alongside Augustus) of the Hat Creek Cattle Company & Livery Emporium in Lonesome Dove. As a former Texas Ranger, Call never accustomed to their now-quiet existence and retirement. He patrols the river every night even though it has been mostly safe for years. Despite being a natural leader, Call holds himself at a distance from the men under his command. He also refuses to associate with women. The one time he did consort with a sex worker (named Maggie) resulted in the birth of a boy named Newt, whom Call cannot bring himself to claim. This remains a point of contention between Augustus and Call.
Call takes all work extremely seriously, particularly because his decisions could mean life or death for the men working under him. Call's stoic behavior mostly inspires admiration, though a few people (such as Clara) accuse him of being selfish. Following Augustus's death, Call loses his interest in any work, and thus his entire life purpose begins to unravel. Despite having been the initial proponent of starting a ranch in Montana, Call returns to Lonesome Dove at the end of the novel to bury Augustus.
Lorena
Lorena makes her living as a sex worker in Lonesome Dove. Her origins in this line of work stem from men taking advantage of her, but she decides to use sex work to make a living on her own terms. Lorena's dream is to move to San Francisco. Most men in Lonesome Dove express their love for her, though she also inspires feelings of intimidation and even fear. Lorena becomes quite well-known, with other men traveling to Lonesome Dove to pay for her services. When Jake Spoon arrives in town, he charms Lorena so much that she mostly quits making money as a sex worker. She wants Jake to take her to San Francisco, and so they travel alongside the Hat Creek outfit. It quickly becomes apparent that Jake has no intention of taking Lorena to California. During one of his gambling runs, Lorena is kidnapped by Blue Duck. He and his men abuse her until Augustus rescues her. Following this ordeal, Lorena becomes closely attached to Augustus.
Lorena decides to stay at Clara's ranch in Nebraska rather than continue traveling to Montana. There, she receives the news of Augustus's death and goes through a period of intense mourning.
July Johnson
July Johnson serves as the sheriff of Fort Smith, Arkansas. A relatively straightforward man, he organizes his life according to social norms, and dislikes unnecessary complications. After becoming acquainted with a woman named Elmira and her twelve-year-old son Joe, July quickly marries Elmira and brings her home to live with him. He does not understand her dissatisfaction but nonetheless strives to please her.
When Jake Spoon accidentally kills July's brother (a dentist who also served as the town's mayor), July's sister-in-law obliges him to go after Jake. July reluctantly departs and later finds out that his wife Elmira ran away not long after he left. Instead of hunting Jake Spoon, July begins to track down Elmira. Blue Duck kills the party that July travels with, made up of Joe, Deputy Roscoe, and a young girl named Janey. July feels extremely guilty for not preventing their deaths. When July finally finds Elmira, he is forced to accept that she does not want to be his wife.
July stays and works on Clara's ranch where she takes care of his baby son, Martin. Over time, July falls in love with Clara but his passivity irritates her.
Jake Spoon
Jake Spoon was a former Texas Ranger alongside Augustus and Call. Like Augustus, Jake enjoys gambling, drinking, and spending time with sex workers. However, the other characters view Jake as weak, selfish, and vain since he allows his desires to sway him even in times when discipline is called for. When Jake comes to Lonesome Dove, his pretty speech about land in Montana entices Call to organize the cattle drive. Jake seduces Lorena and makes her believe that he will take her to San Francisco. All the while, Jake's true intention is to continue his lavish lifestyle while avoiding taking responsibility for shooting Ben Johnson.
Jake enjoys being comfortable, clean, and stylish, and the rough travel conditions on the trail to Montana do not suit him. He leaves Lorena at their camp and goes to gamble in San Antonio, resulting in Lorena being kidnapped by Blue Duck. This marks the end of his relationship with Lorena. Jake eventually falls in with a crew of murdering bandits. Despite not approving of their more extreme crimes, Jake stays with the group until they are all caught and hanged. Rather than allow Deets, Augustus, and Call to hang him, Jake spurs his horse and effectively hangs himself. In his final moments, he feels glad to be among his old friends.
Newt
Newt is a young man who lives at Augustus and Call's ranch and works for Call. After his mother Maggie (who was a sex worker) died, the men at the Hat Creek Cattle Company and Livery Emporium take Newt in and raise him. In comparison with the other characters, Newt is sensitive and gentle. He simultaneously expresses anxiety concerning violence and overidealizes risk and adventure. At the beginning of the novel, Newt is desperate to go out and experience the world. Call allows the boy to join the crew on a night raid in Mexico, and later to accompany the outfit on the trail to Montana. Newt makes some mistakes throughout the journey (such as leaving his horse when he should not, or getting thrown from his horse), but he grows to become capable. Once in Montana, Newt discovers that he is skilled with breaking in new horses. Call enjoys the calm and humble way that Newt goes about his work.
Augustus hints throughout the novel that Newt is Call’s son, but Call ultimately cannot bring himself to name Newt as such. Instead, Call places Newt in charge of the Montana ranch and gives Newt his prized horse, watch, and gun.
Blue Duck
Blue Duck is a Native man who hates European settlers and their descendants. As a result, he opposes their presence in American territory by destroying their settlements, killing men, kidnapping children, and raping women. This outlaw behavior is not reserved solely for white people, however. Po Campo, the Hat Creek outfit's cook, reveals that Blue Duck killed his three sons. Most other characters regardless of their background fear Blue Duck. In this way, he serves as the main antagonist in the story.
Blue Duck kidnaps Lorena and gives her to his crew of men. Augustus eventually rescues Lorena but does not manage to confront Blue Duck. After killing Joe, Roscoe, and Janey (who were July's travel partners), Blue Duck largely disappears from the novel until Call attends his hanging. Rather than be hanged against his will, Blue Duck chooses a murder-suicide by throwing himself out the window along with the sheriff responsible for imprisoning him.
Elmira
Elmira is a former sex worker who longs for the freedom to make her own choices in life. She loves another free-spirited man named Dee Boot, but she regrets having his son due to the responsibility involved. When a group of buffalo hunters treat her too roughly, Elmira quits sex work by marrying July Johnson and moving to Fort Smith, Arkansas. Their marriage quickly deteriorates, but only from Elmira's perspective because she dislikes July and feels desperate to get away from him. After urging July to take her son Joe with him when he leaves to track down Jake Spoon, Elmira also departs Fort Smith. She travels up the Arkansas River on a whiskey boat in search of Dee.
Finding Dee becomes Elmira's sole purpose in life. She travels with a pair of men named Zwey and Luke, and works to exercise her will over them while trying to avoid unwanted sexual encounters. The journey takes a rough physical toll on Elmira since she is pregnant. She gives birth while at Clara's ranch but leaves her son behind as she continues to search for Dee.
Upon Dee's death, Elmira convinces Zwey to take her toward St. Louis, Missouri. It is later revealed that they are killed by American Indians.
Clara Allen
Clara plays an important role in the book even before she physically appears. Years before the novel's present day, Clara was courted by both Augustus and Jake. Augustus reveals that Clara is the only woman he ever truly loved, and he only agrees to go on Call's cattle drive because he intends to see Clara. She lives in Ogallala, Nebraska with her husband and children.
Clara's own perspective becomes more central later on in the novel, and she is portrayed as an independent, strong-willed, and assertive character. She loves working with horses, and when her husband is fatally injured, Clara takes over running the ranch. She simultaneously conducts business and runs her household, though she also delegates tasks to those living with her.
One of Clara's dearest ambitions is to raise a son, but her own three sons died years before. Her two daughters, Betsey and Sally, are strong and healthy. When Elmira gives birth and leaves her son behind, Clara adopts the baby and names him Martin.
Joshua Deets
Deets is one of the original Hat Creek outfit members. The others respect him for his finely honed tracking abilities, his physical orientation, and his ability to intuit and sense things like oncoming storms or attacks. As a Black man, Deets faces racism and discrimination, especially from strangers on the road. Even among men in the outfit, there are those who avoid talking to him directly because he is Black. However, Deets treats everyone with respect and kindness. For example, he looks out for Newt and comforts him in moments of need.
Throughout the trip, Deets expresses unease about leaving Texas. Specifically, Deets feels that it is wrong to journey into other people's land because misunderstandings cause violent conflicts. This anxiety proves correct when Deets dies during an altercation with a Native man who assumed that Deets was planning to harm a child, when in fact Deets was attempting to help the boy. Overall, Deets wishes they had remained in Lonesome Dove so that he could continue his routine of doing chores and enjoying nature. One of Deets's favorite things to do after a long day of work is sit with his back against the water trough and gaze at the moon.
Dish Boggett
Dish is among the first cowboys that Call hires to go to Montana. The nickname "Dish" comes from the fact that he once drank dirty dishwater. Dish has a proud streak and dislikes being teased, looked down upon, or being told to perform manual labor that he considers beneath him. Like many of the other cowboys, Dish enjoys drinking, gambling, and hiring sex workers. He is also in love with Lorena and would do anything to be with her, but she does not return his affections.
During the cattle run, Dish proves himself as an extremely capable cowboy. As a result, he earns the position of top hand and is often placed in charge of the outfit when Call and Augustus are not there. After the group reaches Montana, Dish eventually asks for his wages and goes to Clara’s ranch where he hopes to woo Lorena. However, she barely acknowledges him.
Roscoe Brown
Roscoe Brown serves as July’s deputy sheriff in the town of Fort Smith, Arkansas. Roscoe enjoys a quiet and simple existence, and arresting a local drunk man is about the limit of what he feels comfortable doing. Roscoe's peaceful life gets interrupted when Peach (July's sister-in-law) urges him to go after July to deliver the news that Elmira disappeared. Reluctantly, Roscoe leaves the town and struggles to find July. On the way, Roscoe encounters a strong-willed woman who wants to marry him. He considers staying with her but ultimately his sense of duty toward July pushes him onward. Roscoe gets killed alongside Joe and Janey by Blue Duck when the group separates from July and Augustus.
Janey
Janey is a young girl who follows Roscoe after he stumbles upon the house where she is kept imprisoned by an abusive old man. Despite her youth, Janey proves herself adept at foraging and cooking food, traveling on foot, and throwing rocks during fights. She helps rescue herself and Roscoe when a group of bandits accosts them. Janey prefers to run while others travel on horseback. When Blue Duck attacks her, Joe, and Roscoe, Janey puts up a fight but is ultimately killed alongside her companions.
Pea Eye Parker
Pea Eye is one of the original members of the Hat Creek Cattle Company who once served as a Texas Ranger. He is extremely loyal to Call, and he follows orders without question. Augustus describes Pea Eye as tall and awkward looking, and both Call and Augustus are aware that they cannot expect Pea Eye to make plans or take the initiative on things. According to Augustus, Pea Eye excels at skills such as carpentry, blacksmithing, well-digging, and harness repair. Pea Eye's slow and careful manner renders him somewhat incapable during fights, and Pea Eye fears being attacked by Native warriors above all else. His fears are eventually realized when he and Augustus have an altercation with a group of indigenous men. With Augustus severely injured, Pea Eye is forced to seek out help. He makes his way back to the outfit and informs them about what happened. Unlike Augustus, Pea Eye survives to reach Montana.
Joe Boot
Joe is July’s stepson and Elmira’s son from her relationship with Dee Boot. Joe forms a friendship with July based on the clear fact that Elmira dislikes them both. Elmira never wanted to have children and cannot wait until Joe is old enough to go off on his own. She finds an opportunity to get rid of Joe earlier than expected, and she insists that Joe leave with July on the hunt for Jake Spoon. Joe is aware of his mother's lack of interest in him, but he is still eager to experience the world and grow to become a capable man. He feels resentful and emasculated when Janey exhibits her own skills. Ultimately, Joe is killed alongside Janey and Roscoe.
Bolivar
Bolivar is a former bandit who works as the ranch cook. He periodically visits his family in Mexico, but he mostly stays away due to his wife's bitter disappointment in him. Though Bolivar is not fond of his wife, he dotes on his daughters and dreads the day that they will leave home to get married. At the Texas ranch, Bolivar's favorite activity is incessantly whacking the dinner bell with a crowbar. Everyone hates when he does this, but he continues this habit without explanation. The other men do not enjoy Bolivar's cooking, which largely consists of beans and tough meat.
Bolivar abandons the cattle drive and opts to go back to Mexico to see his family. When Call returns to Lonesome Dove at the end of the novel, he finds Bolivar at the ranch ringing the dinner bell.
Allen O'Brien
Allen O'Brien immigrated to the United States with his brother Sean, leaving his young wife behind in Ireland. Despite his lack of experience, Allen impresses everyone with his willingness to work hard. Sean's death deeply impacts Allen, who suffers from homesickness. He sings traditional Irish songs to the cattle that elicit feelings of sadness and grief in anyone who listens.
Sean O'Brien
Sean O'Brien accompanies his brother Allen to the US, where they are hired as part of the Hat Creek outfit. Like his brother, Sean has no experience riding horses and driving cattle but is eager to learn. While crossing the Nueces River, Sean accidentally strikes a water moccasin nest. He dies from his wounds.
Po Campo
When Bolivar resigns as the outfit's cook, Call goes to Austin and hires a man named Po Campo. Although the other men are at first skeptical of Po Campo's cooking, they quickly come to appreciate his delicious and creative meals. Po Campo prefers to walk rather than ride animals, which he does for multiple reasons. Firstly, walking allows for Po Campo to forage all manner of ingredients, including herbs, plums, insects, and eggs. Secondly, Po Campo appreciates going at a slower pace of life. He often shares his wisdom with those willing to listen, like Newt. Most of the other men appreciate Po Campo's friendliness and cooking skills. He accompanies the outfit all the way to Montana, where he stays on as the primary cook.
Xavier Wanz
Xavier owns the Dry Bean Saloon in Lonesome Dove. Originally from New Orleans, Xavier worked in a fine dining establishment and attempted to bring his appreciation for upscale dining to Texas. However, his fastidiousness goes largely unappreciated. No one cares that Xavier constantly wipes down the tables, wears white shirts and a limp shoestring bow tie, and has formal manners. Most men come to the Dry Bean due to Lorena being the resident sex worker. Xavier himself occasionally pays for her services. When Lorena plans to leave Lonesome Dove, Xavier proposes and offers to take her to San Francisco. She refuses. When Call returns at the end of the novel, he finds out that Xavier set the Dry Bean on fire while still inside, thereby destroying the establishment and himself.
Jasper Fant
Jasper joins the Hat Creek outfit as one of the cowhands. He is known for being "reliable, if not brilliant" (Chapter 15). Jasper's intense phobia about crossing rivers stresses him out during the journey, but he survives to reach Montana.
Lippy Jones
Lippy moved to Lonesome Dove from somewhere near St. Louis, Missouri. His nickname stems from his large protruding lower lip. He once suffered a gunshot wound that did not properly heal, resulting in a hole in Lippy's stomach. Lippy plays piano at the Dry Bean, but he joins the Hat Creek outfit when they set out for Montana.
Wilbarger
Wilbarger is a cattle owner known for being brusque and to the point. He was originally educated at Yale but craved a more exciting life, so he moved westward and got into the cattle business. At the beginning of the novel, Wilbarger inquires about purchasing 40 horses from Call and Augustus. They return Wilbarger's stolen horses from Mexico, and he goes on his way.
Wilbarger is killed by the Suggs brothers. Call and Augustus sit with him in his last moments.
Pedro Flores
Pedro Flores is a rancher from Mexico who often clashed with Augustus and Call over the years. His death shocks Call, who is used to living with a potential threat nearby. Call, Augustus, and the others steal horses and cattle from Pedro's ranch to supply their outfit before heading to Montana.
Dan Suggs
Dan Suggs is a murdering bandit, gambler, and outlaw who leads his brothers in committing crimes. These crimes range from petty theft to disfiguring corpses. Dan quickly proves himself to be the most violent and sadistic of the three brothers. Call, Augustus, and Deets catch and hang all three of them, as well as Jake Spoon for being an accomplice.
Soupy Jones
Soupy is a former Ranger who used to be friends with Jake Spoon. Call hires Soupy to work on the cattle drive, and Soupy resents Dish for being the top hand. Once Dish resigns in Montana, Soupy transfers his resentment toward Newt since Call left Newt in charge. Soupy eventually withdraws his wages and leaves with another man named Bert Borum.
Big Zwey
Big Zwey is a buffalo hunter who forms an attachment to Elmira after they both ride the whiskey boat. His impressive size and strength intimidate other men, but his simple intellect makes it easy for Elmira to manipulate. Eventually, Zwey is killed alongside Elmira after she convinces him to take her to St. Louis.
Luke
Luke is a buffalo hunter that accompanies Elmira and Big Zwey to Nebraska. Although he is more intelligent than Zwey, his smaller stature gives him a disadvantage. When Zwey discovers Luke attempting to force Elmira to have sex, Zwey assaults Luke to the point of near-death. Elmira nurses him back to health, and Luke eventually parts ways with Elmira and Zwey to head to New Mexico.
Spettle brothers
Though they are not much older than Newt, Call hires Bill and Pete Spettle as cowhands. They grew up in extreme poverty, and their mother immediately accepts when Call asks if they would like to sign on. The Spettle boys are generally quiet throughout the journey. Bill Spettle dies when he gets struck by lightning.
Rainey brothers
Call also hires Jimmy and Ben Rainey as cowhands. Unlike the Spettle brothers, the Raineys grew up well-fed as two of eleven total siblings. They both survive the journey to Montana.
Peach Johnson
Peach Johnson is July Johnson's sister-in-law and the widow of Mayor Ben Johnson. She is large, imposing, and willful, and she convinces both July and later Roscoe to set out on their respective journeys.
Frog Lip
Frog Lip is a Black man who travels alongside the Suggs brothers committing crimes. He rides a white horse but does not worry about being recognizable. Frog Lip is an excellent shot and he matches Dan Suggs's appetite for wreaking havoc in the lives of others. For no other reason than his own amusement, Frog Lip destroys the sod house belonging to a family of settlers.
Frog Lip is fatally shot when the band confronts Wilbarger and his men. Ed Suggs shoots Frog Lip to put an end to his suffering.
Sally
Sally is a sex worker that Jake spends time with in Fort Worth. She prefers living a rough, violent, and hard life through her choice of clientele, use of drugs, and belligerent behavior. Sally dies in a shootout while trying to escape from jail.
Louisa Brooks
Louisa Brooks is a farmer and widow that Roscoe encounters on his search for July. Overall, Louisa strikes Roscoe as unusual due to her love of hard work and her forceful manner. She tries to convince Roscoe to marry her by cooking him a meager meal of cornbread and later forcing herself upon him sexually, but he decides to keep traveling.
Dee Boot
Dee Boot is a free-spirited gambler who Elmira remains in love with despite the fact that he left her behind. Dee fathered Elmira's son Joe but does not play an active role in Joe's life. Instead, he encourages Elmira to spread a rumor that he died of smallpox to allow Elmira to marry July and escape her rough situation. When Elmira finally finds Dee, he is waiting in a jail cell to be hanged for murder.
Dog Face
Dog Face is one of the two white men in Blue Duck's crew that purchases a share of Lorena when Blue Duck kidnaps her for their use. Although Dog Face is less cruel to Lorena, he still rapes her. She places her hope for survival and escape on his minimal kindness. Dog Face is shot in a confrontation with July Johnson, and other members of Blue Duck's crew scalp and castrate him. Augustus ultimately kills Dog Face.
Monkey John
Monkey John is the other white member of Blue Duck's crew. He is much crueler to Lorena than Dog Face is, and he expresses this cruelty through frequent beatings. Augustus kills Monkey John when he comes to rescue Lorena.
Ermoke
Ermoke is the leader of the Kiowa men in Blue Duck's crew. He abuses and rapes Lorena alongside the others until Augustus kills him.
Bob Allen
Bob Allen is Clara's husband. He works as a horse trader, and he falls into a coma after getting kicked in the head by a horse he was attempting to train. Clara recounts Bob's frequent silences throughout their marriage with some degree of bitterness, but she chose Bob over her other suitors because she knew that his calm simplicity was a better match for her. Bob always desired sons to help him with physical labor, but the three sons that he and Clara had all passed away. Clara cares for Bob until his death.
Cholo
Cholo works for the Allen family on their ranch. Devoted to Clara, Cholo helps take care of Clara and her daughters, and he always respected Clara for her skills and tenacity. Cholo has an ability to work well with horses and to craft beautiful things. Clara once bought him a good quality winter coat that saved his life.
Maggie
Maggie was a sex worker that Jake Spoon and Call once visited for her services. Maggie is Newt's mother, and the men at the Hat Creek Ranch took Newt in to raise upon her death. During her life, she formed an attachment to Call that the latter did not want. Call greatly regrets his time with her, and as a result is unable claim Newt as his son.
Martin
Elmira gives birth to a baby boy that she leaves at Clara's ranch. Clara, her daughters, Cholo, and everyone else who works there dotes on the boy, who Clara names Martin.
Hugh Auld
Hugh Auld, also known as Old Hugh, is a fur trapper who finds the wounded Augustus and lends him his horse to seek medical help in Miles City. Auld is described as extremely short, and his back never quite straightened after an accident setting a heavy animal trap. Call hires Auld to transport supplies, and Auld eventually becomes close friends with Po Campo.
Dr. Mobley
Dr. Joseph Mobley is the alcoholic doctor who amputates one of Augustus's legs. Augustus threatens to shoot the doctor if he tries to cut the second leg off. Dr. Mobley regrets not performing the second amputation while Augustus was still unconscious.
Mosby Marlin
Mosby is a man from Lorena's past who she lived with after her parents died. Rather than marry Lorena as he promised, Mosby took her to live with his mother and sisters, who treated Lorena cruelly. Mosby himself exploited Lorena by pimping her out to make money until she eventually left with Tinkersley.
John Tinkersley
Lorena accompanies Tinkersley to San Antonio, where he becomes the second man to exploit her by pimping her out and taking the money. He also hits Lorena for expressing her opinions, leading her to try and kill him. When Tinkersley leaves Lorena in Lonesome Dove, he spreads rumors that she is a murderer.
Aus Frank
Aus Frank is an eccentric old man that Augustus meets while searching for Lorena. Years before, Augustus and Call arrested Aus and imprisoned him, which causes Aus to respond to Augustus with hostility in the present day. Aus spends his time gathering buffalo bones and making huge piles out on the plains. Blue Duck spares him out of amusement.
Jennie
Jennie is a sex worker who lives in Dodge City. For three years, she was best friends with Elmira until the latter left Dodge. Jennie advises July not to keep pursuing Elmira.
