Henry 'Little Onion' Shackleford, a newly freed teenager joins abolitionist John Brown on a holy crusade to end slavery. Onion encounters Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman, and he finds himself as a part of the famous 1859 raid at Harpers Ferry.

Ethan Hawkeas John Brown
Joshua Caleb Johnsonas Henry 'Little Onion' Shackleford
Hubert Point-Du Jouras Bob
Beau Knappas Owen Brown
Nick Eversmanas John Brown Jr.
Ellar Coltraneas Salmon Brown
Jack Alcottas Jason Brown
Mo Brings Plentyas Ottawa Jones
McKinley Belcher IIIas Broadnax
Quentin Plairas Shields Green / 'Emperor'
Mark Richard
Ethan Hawke