tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5453537519496686742024-03-05T20:16:42.017-08:00The My Brother Sam is Dead BlogThe purpose of this blog is to provide information on using the novel My Brother Sam is Dead in the classroom and allow for interaction between myself and those interested in this topic.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545353751949668674.post-6552807275854610662014-06-01T18:29:00.002-07:002014-06-01T18:29:52.731-07:00The War Comes to Redding... an update on my book project.<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The latest chapters from my Historical Fiction Novel. I need to know what you think. Please read this and give me feedback. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chapter Seven- Cattle Thieves!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Up until December 22nd the weather couldn't seem to make up its mind, we had a little of everything- rain, sleet and snow, but after the 22nd Winter really set in. I remember the 22nd because the snow was coming down so hard by mid-afternoon that Mr. Adams sent us home early, which was rare. On my way home I met a teamster at the corner of Limekiln and Lonetown; He was trying to find his way from Lonetown over to the third camp near the Danbury line.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Hello Mister. You look lost. Can I help?" I asked him.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Why that surely would be kind of ya," he said in a funny drawl. "I need to get to third camp before this storm gets any worse."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"You want to use this road," I said pointing West. "follow it to the Limekilns, you can't miss ‘em, they make billows of smoke. From there you’ll cross four fields and come to a beaver pond. Stay to the south side of the pond until you reach a clearing and then turn North, straight ahead you will see a stonewall, just beyond it is the pathway that leads straight into third camp."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Why thank you son, much appreciated." He said with a smile before spurring his horses and heading off through the storm.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The snow was up past my ankles and with the winds picking up I knew it wouldn't be long before walking would become difficult, so I decided to cut across the road and into the pines by the swamp. That's where I saw them, there were three of them and they had someone's calf. There were drag marks across the clearing so I figured it was dead, but still it made my heart hurt to see them butchering it; I ran home as fast as I could.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"What's wrong?" asked my Father as I burst through the barn door.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Soldiers!" I said. "They stole somebody's calf and they're butchering it in the pines!"</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My Father slammed the hay rake he was using down to the ground and cursed. "That's the third calf this week!" He grabbed his gun and headed over to the horse stall. "Tell your Mother I'm riding over to Sanford's. And tell her not to worry, we're going to handle this correctly, without any bloodshed."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mom was worried anyway. Philip and David weren't, they were itching to see what was going to happen to the soldiers.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"What was Dad working on when he left?" Philip asked.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"He was filling the hay feeders." I said.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"We better get on that." said David to Philip with a wink.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I knew what they were up to, they were heading out to the pines to watch.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Just stay out of harms way..." Mom advised them as they left, she knew too.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">From that moment forward it was a long night for the rest of us. We all sat by the fire, not saying much, just waiting for them to return. Baby Will fell asleep on Phineas’ belly while Mom, Abby and me de-shelled acorns, it was methodical work perfect for the occasion.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Outside we could hear the wind howling.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"I sure hope Phil and Dave took the horses," I thought out loud. "the drifts were ankle high on my way home. They must be waist high by now."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Good point. You’d better get out there and shovel a path for the morning." said Mom. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Really?" I said, hoping she was kidding.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Really," she said. "we’ll need a path out to the barn in the morning." Raising an eyebrow to show me she was serious.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Ugh. Me and my big mouth." I thought over and over again as I shoveled my way out to the barn.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I got out there I found that they did take the horses. Father took Winfred our quarter horse and Phil and Dave took the work horses, their stalls were empty too.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I told Mom when I got back.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Good," she said. "let’s get to bed. They may not be back for hours."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She was right, it was well after midnight when they actually got home and we were all fast asleep. We heard all about it at breakfast that morning.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"You should have seen their faces..." David was ecstatic despite his lack of sleep. "They had no idea they were surrounded. They had no idea we were even there, they were so focused on the meat they were cooking that they didn't even see us. While they sat there huddled by the fire, the circle closed slowly around them, tighter and tighter, they never heard us, the winds were too loud, and then, BOOM! we all pounced. It was over in seconds; they were subdued and taken to the guard house at Dearborn's camp."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"What's going to happen to them?" asked Abby.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"That's up to General Putnam," said Father. "But I hope he makes an example of them."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Will they be put to death?" asked Mother visibly concerned.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"I don't think Putnam will do that," said Father. "but I do expect a public lashing."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"What happens next? asked Philip.</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-e9f0a734-5a2f-8c33-8a38-aab325795cd2" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Father’s face twisted, in a thoughtful way. His right hand landed on his right thigh, his left index finger rose to his upper lip, his thumb cupped his chin, his head shook slowly, then he said: </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"I really don’t know how this one will play out. The soldiers will be Court-martialed, because that’s how they handle these situations. But, this one will be interesting because it involves more than just the Army. We knew things could get out of hand with the troops in Redding, but the loss of local livestock and looting has been far more prevalent than anyone imagined and this is the perfect opportunity to put an end to it. It’s a wait and see situation, and we will have to do just that.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He looked up and pondered that thought a moment before clapping his hands together and sending us off to our chores. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As we transferred wood from the barn to the back porch, I thought about how many soldiers had descended on Redding. The main encampment housed about 1,200 soldiers. The second camp, by our house, wasn’t as large but it still held a good 800 to 1,000 soldiers. The third camp over in West Redding was smaller, about 400 soldiers, but when you added them all up and took into consideration that Redding’s entire population was less than 1,200 prior to the war, it wasn’t too difficult to understand why these encampments were straining our resources. Military strategy had placed soldiers in Redding with little consideration given to the impact the soldiers would have on the town. Sadly, their presence was impactful and damaging, and thus, the fate of the soldiers in the guard house was of great interest to many.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">News of Tom’s efforts to help the starving troops had spread quickly, but nothing in comparison to the court-martialed soldiers; At the local taverns, mills and churches opinions flowed freely with many openly expressing the need to quell the soldier’s poor behavior. The local’s displeasure with the troops was well founded- desertion and spying continued to plague the encampments, and all of General Putnam’s attempts thus far to reestablish order, prevent local looting and livestock theft had failed. With three offending soldiers detained, the time for justice was at hand; then the unimaginable happened… another cattle incident occurred on Redding Ridge and a local soldier was fingered as the thief.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What was shocking (to us) was who it was, Tim’s brother Sam! We found out about it on the way to school from Lazarus Gray.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Are you sure it’s Sam, Lazarus?” I asked when he told us.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Yep. I saw him with my own eyes as they marched him into camp.”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“How did it happen? I mean, what did he do?” Stephen inquired.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“He was captured by two other soldiers in the field north of the tavern, the one that runs below Turney’s corn rows. At least that’s what I heard.” answered Lazarus.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I couldn’t believe my ears. “But that’s his own family’s field! Are you telling us that he was brought to the guard house for stealing his own cattle? That doesn’t make any sense.” </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Hey, don’t get upset with me.” said Lazarus. “I’m just answering your question.”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I know, I know.” I said, letting him know I wasn’t mad at him. “It just doesn’t add up. Let’s head over to the encampment after school and see if we can figure out what really happened.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Everyone agreed.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When we arrived at the schoolhouse Mr. Adams wasn’t himself, he was visibly upset, and no one said a word as we settled into our seats; We didn’t have to.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mr. Adams’ hands were on his hips and he was slowly pacing back and forth. “Boys…I’m really not sure what happened this weekend but as of yesterday, one of our own, Sam Meeker of Redding Ridge, has been detained and could face court martial trial as early as this Wednesday.”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The majority of us already knew about Sam, but the graveness of his voice really hammered home the severity of the situation. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Several months ago, I invited Mr. Heron here to discuss the dangers the encampments might bring. The concerns we had back then have been validated but from this point forward, we must focus on the positives and learn from the lessons these encampments have to teach us.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 0.8823529411764706; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 18pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We all nodded in agreement and Mr. Adams spent the remainder of the day explaining to us </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">what to expect throughout the Court-Martial process.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><br /></b><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chapter Eight- The Trials </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sam was the final soldier to plead his case. James Gibbons, John Smith and Edward Jones of Brigadier General Jedediah Huntington’s Second Connecticut Brigade were the first and all but Gibbons had pled “not guilty”. Gibbons standing silent and shaking with emotion, was asked several times to state his defense but remained despondent. The judge, realizing his condition decided to move forward and redirected his attention to Sam. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Samuel Eliphalet Meeker of Brigadier General Samuel H. Parsons’ First Connecticut Brigade… how do you plead?” </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Not guilty your Honor.” </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Very well.” said the judge adjusting himself into an upright position in his seat to focus again on Gibbons. “Private Gibbons, step forward.”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gibbons looked into the crowd nervously before mustering the courage to do so. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Private Gibbons,” said the judge in a surprisingly compassionate manner. “do you have any witnesses; anyone to speak on your behalf?” </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gibbons nodded.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Will the witness and/or witnesses for Private James Gibbons please step forward.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The room was staggered to see Anne Sullivan, a local girl of just sixteen years of age, quietly weave her way through the crowd to present herself before the court. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As glares darted, brows furrowed, and shoulders shrugged around the room, Anne Sullivan stood bravely prepared for questioning. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Intrigued by the reaction of the crowd the judge quickly began his interrogation: “Please state your name and your relationship with the prisoner.” </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“My name is Anne Sullivan, I met James Gibbons soon after his Brigade arrived here in Redding two months ago and I’ve done work and drawn </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">provisions</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> at his encampment for the past 23 days.”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“And your relationship?” Asked the judge, clasping his hands together and leaning forward until his elbows gently came to a rest on the table. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Our relationship is irrelevant. That’s not why he stands trial today. James Gibbons is innocent of the charges placed against him, James Gibbons is not a thief.” </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What do you have to share that proves to us the Private Gibbons isn’t a thief? We have witnesses, several in fact, that have stated that he is guilty of stealing and butchering Thomas Bartram’s calf on the night of December 22nd.” </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Anne Sullivan’s reply was brief: “James did not steal that calf, Jones and Smith did. James’ only fault is for being at the wrong place at the wrong time and I am to blame for that. James is innocent.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The judge’s eyes narrowed, “Why are you to blame for James’ involvement in this incident?”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She didn’t have to answer, her father was present and came forward in her defense. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“James was at our barn that afternoon, and I too can vouch for his innocence.” </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Thank you Squire Sullivan, but I must ask- why did Private Gibbons visit your barn on the afternoon in question?” </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“He came to </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">declare his intention to marry my daughter your honor.”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Loud gasps and frenzied whispers diffused through the crowd until the judge’s gavel came crashing down upon the table. With the room silenced and order restored the judge returned to questioning.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What I am hearing is that it is plausible that Private Gibbons was not present when Private’s Jones and Smith stole Thomas Bartram’s calf, however, what I am not hearing is how Private Gibbons became a part of that crime. That is important, because he was apprehended </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">with</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> them.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The judge turned to James- “Why were you there?” </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once again Gibbons stood silent. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Private Gibbons, your life is on the line here and if you can’t muster up the courage to step forward and plead your case like the young lady you wish to marry and her Father just did for you, you will never see her </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">again. Now please tell me, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">why were you there?”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The time had come, and Private Gibbons decided to speak.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I left the Sullivan’s and was making my way back to the encampment when I encountered Private’s Jones and Smith just west of Colonel Read’s near the pines. I didn’t see them, they saw me and ambushed me near the swamp. I tried to get away but the snow was deep, I fell and they overtook me. Both of them are soldiers in my encampment, though I had not seen them for days. They often leave the encampment and go to enemy lines under the guise of seeking provisions. Our commander and General Putnam have knowledge of this. I was told that if I helped them with the calf, they’d let me go. We haven’t had much to eat at the encampments this winter and they had had enough. They were planning on making their way to British lines via Long Island Sound after eating the calf.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“So, you’re saying that you were there essentially as a prisoner Private Gibbons?”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Yes Sir.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Interesting. Brigadier General Jedediah Huntington. Please step forward to answer several questions with regard to this case.” </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brigadier General Huntington was a man of slight build and height and from where we were standing all we could see were people making room to let him pass as he made his way to stand before the judge. Several close to me crudely remarked about his lack of height. However, at his arrival before the judge his intellect not his physical appearance became the focus and it became unmistakably clear why he held the rank that he did. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Brigadier General Huntington, are you aware of Private’s Jones and Smith? And, if so, have they been reprimanded previously for similar acts of insubordination and/or treason under your command?”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With his chest out, his feet together and his hands clenched quietly behind his back, Huntington calmly delivered a concise synopsis of his knowledge, his feelings and his recommendation for the case. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Jones and Smith were both court martialed by my Brigade several weeks ago on similar charges. Private Jones was found guilty and sentenced to sixty lashes for stealing and selling a horse; Private Smith was found guilty of desertion and sentenced to one hundred lashes on the naked back. The leniency shown these soldiers at that time obviously did little to curb their behavior and it is my opinion that they will continue with their treasonous ways, as will others, unless this court acts with the resolve to return order and discipline to the army. My recommendation is to sentence them both to death by hanging in the presence of each and every soldier stationed here in Redding.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The judge seemed to agree. “Very well, I will pass your recommendation on to the General.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gasps and frenzied whispers again diffused through the crowd. ‘</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Had the Brigadier General just sentenced these soldiers to death</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">?!’ Again the judge’s gavel came crashing down upon the table.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Brigadier General Huntington, how do you feel about the case against Private Gibbons?”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Huntington’s reply was succinct: “There is no case. Let him go immediately.” </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Thank you Brigadier General, you are free to return to your ranks.” </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As Huntington made his way out of the building the Judge signalled to have Sam Meeker come again before him. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sam made his way over to the judge and stood before him for questioning. The Judge’s demeanor had clearly changed, his body language was rigid; his face, cold and detached. It didn’t look good for Sam. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With Sam before him, the Judge looked over his notes and said: “Private Meeker, you have been charged with cattle theft and desertion of duty. You have pled not guilty. These are very serious charges Private, what do you have to share in your defense?”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sam explained to the judge why he left his post and what had transpired after he had. “Your honor, I left my post that night to check on my family, they live next door to Captain Betts, and while I was there we heard commotion outside… loud noises, cows bawling, men shouting. I ran out to the fields to investigate what was going on and because of the moonlight, which was reflecting off the snow, I saw two men, the soldiers that arrested me, butchering one of our cattle in the field north of our home. I approached and accosted them, but they turned on me, bloodied my nose, knocked me down and tied my hands behind my back. From that point forward, I was the cattle thief, not them.” </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Private Meeker, you do understand that the credibility of your testimony is diminished by your family’s religious affiliation and the lack of a witness besides your family, don’t you?”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Yes sir. But have you asked them what they were doing up on the Ridge that night? If I was with General Parsons, why would they be up there as well?”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Perhaps they were looking for you. How long were you visiting with your family?”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“About an hour sir.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Just an hour?”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Well, maybe a little more but…”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Private Meeker, your role as lookout for Brigadier General Parsons was awarded to you because you have intimate knowledge of the Ridge. There are few in our ranks that know the Ridge as well as you do, and yet, on the evening in question you were overtaken by two soldiers in fields hundreds of yards away from your post, within feet of a butchered cow; Very troublesome Private, because, let me repeat, you were hundreds of yards away from your post, within feet of a butchered cow. Do you understand my </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">quandary?”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With tears streaming down his cheeks Sam silently shook his head. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Judge went on: “I understand your desire to be with your family, we all miss our loved ones, however, deserting your post is a serious charge; especially now, and couple that with sworn testimony from two soldiers that </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">you</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> killed a local’s cow with the intent to butcher and eat it and we have a very serious charge. If we, as an Army, do not address the troubling breakdowns in discipline and morale that we have and still are experiencing, we, as an Army, shall fail. I will not play a role in that failure.” </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Very suddenly, the trial had taken a drastic turn for the worse.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sam was shocked by what the Judge’s words implied, “Sir, please hear me out- General Parsons lets me see my family all the time! My family lives right next door and why? why would I kill my own cow?! It doesn’t make any sense!! They! The two soldiers you mentioned are the cattle thieves, they killed and intended to butcher the cow, not me!! I caught them at it, I swear. We heard them, I ran out into the fields to stop them. I swear. You can ask my brother Timmy, he was there, ask him and my mother, they were both…” </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But the Judge had heard enough, his decision was already made.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“SILENCE!” The Judge boomed, rapping his gavel so firmly on the table that its hammer split from its handle: “This court has decided the following sentences- Privates Jones and Smith, deserters, spies and cattle thieves, are sentenced to hang by the neck until dead; Private Sam Meeker, a cattle thief who deserted his post on Redding Ridge, is sentenced to death by firing squad. This court is adjourned until further notice pending Major General Putnam’s approval.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As the court cleared, Sam stood hunched and weeping. He was clearly dispirited, the case against him was strong and even though he was innocent, he didn’t stand much of a chance given the circumstances. From the rear entrance of the building that served as the court house, a dark figure entered and slowly made its way over to Sam, picking its way through the crowd methodically, careful not to bring attention to itself, intently watching the guards that would soon usher Sam away. Within 5 feet of him, the figure stopped and waited; waited for Sam to notice, he did.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sam looked up in astonishment, “Reverend Beach, you…”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Of course I came Sam, I obey God, not men.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sam fell into his arms and they stood that way silently for what seemed an eternity. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reverend Beach broke the silence, “Sam, words cannot describe my sadness; words cannot erase your fear; words cannot take away the pain you shall soon bear for this Army and words cannot right the wrongs that this war has brought to our community. However, that being said, you must remember that what no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined is what God has prepared for those who love him. I urge you to trust in the Lord with all your heart and stand strong in this hardship, the Lord will take care of the rest.”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">These words resonated with Sam, he lifted his head from the Reverend’s chest with renewed spirit, and despite his teary eyes, smiled and nodded in agreement. The Reverend smiled back. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The room darkened as the sun disappeared behind the hills outside causing Sam to take a step back and turn to see if the guards were anywhere near. They were. Respectfully they had been watching and waiting for Sam and the Reverend to finish their good-byes. The time had come for Sam to be brave, and he was. With both hands bound and tied to his feet, Sam was led to the guardhouse. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chapter Nine- Clemency Denied</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">General Putnam quickly approved the sentences and ordered that they be implemented on Saturday, between the hours of ten and twelve, with all troops present. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reaction to the decision reverberated around town with fervor- some rejoicing; some lamenting.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Me and Stephen were on the lamenting side of the table, feeling badly for Tim and pondering what we could do to lessen his sorrow when Tom came running up the hillside…</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Jonas! Jonas!! Come. Follow me to my hut; Stephen! Go to Colonel Read’s, get his boiling pot and meet us by the mill pond. He’s waiting for you and has his oxen team ready with the pot loaded.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What’s the matter Tom?” I asked.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Hurry Jonas!!” Tom was already at full stride, waving his arm wildly, urging me to follow him.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He was serious. I got up and ran, ran as fast as I could. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By the time I got to his hut Tom already had three foraging bags ready and waiting to be transported down to the mill pond. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Take them, take them down to the river Jonas.” </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What is it?”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Medicine.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Medicine for what?”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Jonas!!! TAKE THEM!”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I grabbed the bags and ran.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I made it to the mill pond just as Stephen was charring the fire. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I’m ready for some tinder, can you grab some Jonas?”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Sure.” I said, going to get some dry grass and pine needles.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While I was gone, Tom arrived and aligned the ox cart in a way that allowed us to easily get the pot over the fire. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I added the tinder and little by little the flames grew stronger. Luckily, there was a lot of birch bark available and we added that next; Oak twigs and branches went on top of that pile, (which lit up quickly) and as soon as there were coals, we added dried logs and the fire seemed ready.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“How hot do we need it Tom?” Stephen asked.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Hot enough to boil water.” was his answer. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Okay. We’re there.” Said Stephen.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The pot weighed close to 150 lbs. and the heat from the fire made it difficult to maneuver the pot into place but with the help of a winch hoist we managed to get it positioned over the fire and started filling it with water. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once the water was boiling Tom emptied the contents of the bags into the pot.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What are we doing Tom?” I asked.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“We need to steep these pitcher plant leaves into tea.” </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Why?”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“There’s a smallpox outbreak at the middle camp. Nasco, Tepan and Titus, one of the African American soldiers are sick; very sick. This tea will break their fevers and then we can get them out of here.” </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“We?”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Yes. We… you, me and Stephen.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What about my family?”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Do you think they’d help too?” </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His question caught me off guard. “Well, that’s not what I meant, but, yes, I think they would.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Good. Go home and ask them. I’m going to take the tea to the soldiers at their encampment and stay there overnight. Meet me here tomorrow morning and we’ll discuss our trip North.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“North?”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Yes. We’re going to Kent.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Kent? Why Kent? That’s at least two days from here if we’re walking.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I’ll explain everything tomorrow Jonas. Go home, rest, let your family in on what’s going on with the soldiers and if they have interest in helping us have them join you when you return tomorrow morning. Okay?”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Okay.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">----------------------------</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Philip and David listened intently as I explained what Tom seemed to be proposing; both nodding in agreement. It matched both their personalities perfectly… Philip was adventurous and David was compassionate.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Philip spoke first, he always does. “So what you’re saying is that Tom is looking to secretly remove these soldiers from their encampment?” </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Yes.” I said, “That’s how I understand it and he wants to take them to Kent, Connecticut.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Why?” asked David.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I think that’s where the soldiers are from, at least that’s what I believe he once told me.” I answered.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“No. I mean, why does he want to remove them from their encampment?” said David clarifying his question. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Because they are sick with smallpox.” I said. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Is it contagious?”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I don’t know. I’ve never even heard of smallpox. We can ask tomorrow.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Okay,” said David “but let’s ask Tom that question </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">before</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> we get anywhere near the soldiers.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I shook my head in agreement, Philip did too. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">----------------------------</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was a fitful night’s sleep for me, I tossed and turned enduring a strange mixture of odd dreams and ponderous thoughts about what we may be doing, what we may encounter and what dangers may lay ahead. Kent was a ways away from Redding but not completely foreign in our minds because Tom had told us so many stories about it over the years. I wasn’t worried about Kent, but I was worried about getting to Kent. So worried, that I asked Tom about it as soon as we arrived back at the millpond.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Tom, how are we going to do this? It’s not like going to Danbury or Ridgefield, that’s easy, but this, this is different, this is a very dangerous trip.” </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">David didn’t give him a chance to answer.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Tom, Jonas is right, before we can even consider this trip, we need to know if we are at risk of getting sick too. Are these soldiers contagious?”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tom answered with complete honesty. “Smallpox can be very contagious David, it killed many of our people long ago, but from what I know and what I have seen, these soldiers are not highly contagious right now. The tea we made for them yesterday broke their fevers, and should prevent mouth sores from forming. That’s important because in most cases, when the mouth sores form, the sick become highly contagious. So far, the sores have not formed, but that does not mean we can be careless, we must carefully prepare ourselves for the worse and take precautions to prevent any chance of transmission along the way.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">David seemed relieved. “Good. So you’ve thought this through.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“So what’s the plan?” Philip was completely onboard and eager to move forward. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tom smiled engagingly back at Philip. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What takes place this Saturday Philip?”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“The executions. Everyone knows that.” </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tom didn’t say a word, didn’t have to. His sly grin said it all. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“That’s brilliant!” shouted David. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Philip looked confused.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“You don’t get it Philip?” David asked in astonishment.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“No, what do the executions have to do with transporting sick soldiers?”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Everything.” Tom said laughingly.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">David, playing along, dropped a clue, “What were General Putnam’s orders when he approved the sentences?”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I don’t know…” Philip was having a really hard time connecting the dots.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">David shook his head in disgust, “He ordered that they were to be executed together(to make an example), and…”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Philip finally got it, “oooooh, and ALL troops must be present to witness the executions. Wow, Tom. That </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> a brilliant.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I wasn’t buying it. “What makes you think the Army will leave the encampment unguarded Tom? There’s plenty of spies in these parts, Tories too. Wouldn’t that open up a pretty good opportunity for an ambush?” </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tom shrugged his shoulders. “I never said there wouldn’t be guards.” </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">David smiled broadly. “What do you know that we don’t Tom?”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“The Army moved their military hospital from Bedford, New York to Danbury this past Summer. Soldiers have been transported back and forth between Redding and Danbury for treatments and convalescence since the troops arrived here. What we’re doing is in no danger of raising red flags; You three are teamsters and I’m the Indian interpreter.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What about Titus?”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“We talked about that last night.” Said Tom. “Titus won’t be going with us to Kent.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Why not?”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“His situation is different.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“You don’t think he’d make it?”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“No, it’s more than that. Nasco, Tepan are Native American Indians and Titus isn’t.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Where will he go?”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“It’s not well known, but, up on Redding Ridge (on the Newtown side of town) there are two freed slaves.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Thomas and Venus??”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yes. Thomas and Venus. How do you know them?”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“My Dad sells them wood when they need it and they’ve had a lot of projects lately.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tom smiled. “Do you think your Dad would make a special delivery to the Freeman’s if we asked him?” </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“You mean Titus?”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tom nodded hopefully.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I think we’d have better luck asking my Uncle Henry, I can ask him for you. Do you want me to?”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Yes.” said Tom “Tell him we’d like to meet him at the corner of Wolf’s Pit and Sunset Hill on Saturday at 10:30am.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What about Nasco and Tepan?” asked David.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“They’ll be with us too. After we deliver Titus to Henry, we’ll head north on Taylor Road toward Shelter Rock and the military hospital.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“But aren’t we going to Kent?” Interrupted Philip.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Yes. But we need to do so carefully and convincingly, remember we are teamsters transporting soldiers to the military hospital. If we take an outside route, our story has no credibility.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Do we have to go all the way to the military hospital?” David asked. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Not quite,” said Tom “we’ll be using Limekiln Brook and the Still River to make our way through Danbury, so we’ll only go as far as Shelter Rock by road; then it’s all water travel from there.” </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Philip was thrilled. “This is going to be the adventure of a lifetime!”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I wasn’t so sure, it still seemed dangerous to me. I managed a weak smile and tried to look as confident as my brothers, but deep down inside I was nervous and my stomach was in knots.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Meet me at my hut after dinner tonight,” said Tom “I want to go over the plan several times before Saturday, we all need to know what to expect, what to do and when to do it.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“David, make sure you ask your Uncle about transporting Titus this afternoon. If he can’t do it, we’ll need to find someone else quickly. Can I count on you to ask him?”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Of course.” said David nodding affirmatively. “Consider it done.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Good. See you all tonight.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chapter Ten- The Trip to </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Weantinoge</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Begins</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tom’s planning abilities were legendary. For decades he’d led expeditions for both John and Zalmon Read and in that role had honed the skills of a hunter, tracker, survivalist and guide. His knowledge perfectly fit the needs of the trip and in our planning sessions we’d been over each and every scenario possible. As I layed in bed waiting for the sun to rise, I was absent of fear; there was no need for it, I knew exactly where we were going and what to expect.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-------------------------</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The encampment was empty when we arrived. General Putnam had warned a zero tolerance policy for attendance at the executions and that warning was heeded. Our presence was announced by the guard at the gate, and we were all checked for weaponry and patted down; formalities we all found amusing given the camp’s vacancy. Passing inspection we made our way to the make-shift infirmary at the very far end of the camp and prepared ourselves and the wagon to extract the soldiers safely. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We had already broken the wagon into thirds, one third per soldier, and lined each with canvas and bed sheets to prevent them from touching or rolling into one another along the way. None of the soldiers had yet to show any signs of sores or rashes but we needed to remain diligent, smallpox was highly contagious and we had to be mindful of the danger.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My sister Abby had helped Tom create three canvas stretchers with extended handles that allowed us to carry each soldier individually to the wagon without touching them or the sheets they were wrapped in. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Titus was loaded on first, followed by Nasco and Tepan. Tom said if Uncle Henry positioned his wagon the way we had requested him to later, it would be a fast, easy exchange from one wagon to another, and our risk of discovery would be lessened considerably. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The final detail was the canvas tarp cover we placed over the wagon, it had enough space to circulate air for the soldiers and it protected us from breathing in anything that might go airbourne as we traveled. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We left the camp and turned left towards Bethel at approximately 10:15am. The road was empty, the sky was clear and there wasn’t any wind at all. There was only the sound of clip-clopping hooves and squeaking wheels. It was entrancing, I stared ahead and thought of nothing, the sounds enveloped me; it was a calm, surreal feeling. I think we all felt it, no one said a word, we all just looked ahead and listened. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-------------------------</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At the west end of town, Sam, having just witnessed the executions of Jones and Smith and knowing his turn was next, fainted. Reverend Evans, General Poor's Brigade Chaplain, made his way over to him to help him up.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While Evans got Sam back to his feet, the Rev. Nathaniel Bartlett, a pastor in Redding, approached General Putnam in a last minute attempt to save his life. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“General Putnam, Sir, may I have a word with you?”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The General nodded agreeably.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Sir, I plead for your leniency with regard to Private Meeker’s sentence. Commander, he’s only a youth, not more than 17 years of age. Surely a reprieve could be granted with good cause. Perhaps because he is a youth, General Washington could be consulted for his opinion of this case?”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The General shook his head no. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“General, please… He’s a good boy, a local boy, an Anglican church member who joined your Army to fight for this country’s freedom…” </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Emotionless, General Putnam stared blankly at the Reverend and said: “There will be no reprieval today.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Defeated, the Reverend turned and crossed the field to the gallows where Sam was waiting. Sam was visibly weak, relying completely on Reverend Evans to remain upright. Reverend Bartlett he took a deep breath, forced a weak smile and said: “Let your heart not be troubled Sam, you believe in God.” Sam’s eyes dropped downward, this was a new experience for him, his situation was dismal but the Reverend’s kindness strengthened his spirit.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As Sam wrestled with his feelings, the Reverend Bartlett slowly made the sign of the cross and proclaimed: “By this sign you are anointed with the grace of the atonement of Jesus Christ and are absolved of all past error and freed to take your place in the World he has prepared for you.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sam stood squarely for the first time all morning and then, together, all three marched arm in arm from the gallows to the place where Sam was to be shot.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After positioning Sam in front of a wall of trees, Reverend’s Bartlett and Evans exited and Putnam raised his sword, signalling the firing squad to release their safeties.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The hemlocks Sam had been placed against magnified his silhouette dramatically. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His executioners aligned just 40 yards uphill from him had clear shots and when the General dropped his sword, not one of them missed. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-----------------------------------</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The shots echoed through the valley, like rolling thunder. We were halfway through the path to Wolf Pit’s when they crashed into the granite cliffs above us. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Whoooooa!!” Tom pulled the team’s reins back hard when he heard it bringing us to a screeching halt just before the final shot was fired. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We sat a few minutes listening to it reverberate.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Poor Sam.” said David. “The last time we talked, I asked him why he was still fighting and if he was worried about getting killed. He said: ‘Nobody wants to get killed, but you should be willing to die for your principles.’ I wonder if he ever imagined that it would be his own troops that would kill him.”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I doubt it.” said Philip. “Look at how his Dad died.”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“War is never fair.” said Tom. “Sam died fighting in a War he didn’t understand; His Father died ignoring a War he understood completely.” </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We all nodded silently, there was nothing more to say. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">----------------------</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Uncle Henry met us as planned at the corner of Wolf’s Pit and Sunset Hill and we quickly transferred Titus into his wagon. There wasn’t a soul around to witness it. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Good luck boys!” said Uncle Henry gleefully as he spurred his horse team onward.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our route was a lot easier than his was, but he didn’t care. Sunset Hill was home to his girl Harriet and he was happy to help us while simultaneously making himself look good in the process.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For us, driving through Wolf Pit’s was the perfect plan. It was swampy, cold and uninhabited, especially this time of year; pretty much everyone avoided it.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">From Wolf Pit’s, we bounced our way down to Taylor’s Road and followed it to the corner of Shelter Rock. We arrived well before Noon and pulled off near a small landing above the brook. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tom tied up the horses and grabbed his knapsack. “Stay here and if anyone stops to ask questions, tell them that you’re awaiting clearance from the Hospital.” </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We sat tight and awaited Tom’s return.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He didn’t take long. Within 10 minutes he was back whispering to us through the tangle of vines that hung by the wagon.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“David. Philip. Use the wagon as cover and come down to the brook to help me.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That left me all alone with the soldiers and I can’t say that I was all that confident in that role. Traffic was heavy on Shelter Rock Road and I worried that someone would stop and start asking me questions. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Luckily, that wasn’t an issue. Tom, Philip and David were back within minutes to transfer the soldiers to their sled.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They moved slowly and carefully, carrying them individually to prevent any chance of transmitting their disease. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Down at the brook, Nasco and Tepan were loaded and packed heavily with blankets in preparation for their long trek above the ice.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Overhead, clouds colored charcoal grey had overtaken clear, light blue skies; a change of </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">scenery that was either ominous or providing us cover we needed to complete our escape</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“It looks frozen.” said Tom grabbing a rope and jumping across the brook. “But don’t let that fool you. Underneath is moving water, make sure you keep close to shore.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I jumped across to help Tom while </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Philip and David took hold of the rope on the western shore.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“To </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Weantinoge.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">” whispered </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nasco.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“To Weantinoge.” echoed Tepan.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Weantinoge?” I said, turning to Tom. “I thought you said we were going to Kent?”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tom chuckled at my confusion. “Weantinoge” means “The Homeland” and that is what Kent is to them.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Ohhhh. Okay. That makes sense” Then I chuckled too. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-----------------------------------</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We could hear the Falls long before we got near them. Along the way, Tom had told us how important they were to the Indians in this region. Located 40 miles north of Long Island Sound, the Great Falls, blocked large fish, eels, and lamprey who were attempting to travel up the Housatonic River during spawning season. Tom said that for thousands of years it was a very popular spot where Native Americans came to hunt, fish, convene and share the stories of their people.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Above the Falls, a Chief named Waramaug once had a large rectangular house that was lined with a paper-like bark on the interior so that his visitors could draw pictures of the animals and fish they had seen during their time here. It was said that colorful hand drawn </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">pictures adorned each guest room from floor to ceiling.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I found that intriguing and asked if we could see it. Sadly, Tom said, the house no longer existed, it had burned to the ground during a lightning storm many years ago but he promised to show us the Falls on our way back home to Redding. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I agreed to his alternative. At that moment, I was agreeable to anything. We had been dragging the soldier’s sled all afternoon, walking along the shores of a brook that was never meant to be traveled in the way we were traveling it. The tangled mess of trees, briers and brush that lined it had taken a heavy toll on our clothing and I was beginning to worry about what would happen if all the ripping and tearing we’d endured today continued.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Tom, can we stop? I’m tired and cold.” </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">David and Philip quickly backed me, which made me feel less guilty. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“We’re almost there.” said Tom. “Do you hear how loud the Falls sound?”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We all said “Yes.” The thunderous roar was indubitable.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“That means we’re close.” said Tom. “The Falls are just to our right and in about a half mile we’ll have reached the Housatonic River. That’s where we are going to rest tonight and I have a surprise planned when we get there.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We all smiled, our strength renewed by hope and excitement. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The water narrowed about 100 yards up stream and Tom had us all cross over to the west side. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Why are we crossing here, Tom?” Philip asked.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“This is the safest place to cross,” he said. “Crossing here keeps us out of danger and gets us all to the western side before we reach the Housatonic. That’s important, you’ll see.” </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It didn’t take long to see what Tom was saying. The waterway we had been following was for the most part narrow and serpentine, but after we got beyond the Falls it widened considerably. There was a lot of ice and a lot of room for something to go wrong and we were thankful to have avoided it. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We had been walking a good eight (8) hours, we were tired, we were hungry, we were mentally spent and our clothes were tattered. But all that changed when we reached the bend and saw that welcoming glow. Tom had staged it all perfectly- a bonfire glowing over the Housatonic in a light snowstorm surrounded by a large group of smiling faces, it was the ideal ending to a very eventful day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17.25px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>------------------------------------------</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17.25px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17.25px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Feedback... I need feedback. What do you think?</b></span></span></div>
<br /><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545353751949668674.post-4392917058924387712013-09-21T13:40:00.000-07:002013-09-21T14:27:28.931-07:00Historical Fiction Novel Preview of "The War Comes to Redding" by Brent M. Colley<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-23368373-423b-c497-c896-531ad09d2fb6" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Chapter Seven- The Campaign of Starving and Freezing</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Up until about December 22nd the weather couldn't seem to make up its mind, we'd have rain, then snow, then more rain, some sleet, and then rain yet again; the roads were a mess. The corduroy road my Father and the other men had created in front of Colonel Read's this past November had become a popular travel route for the teamsters who used it quite often now. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I remember the 22nd because of all that happened that day. It started off simple enough- On my way back home from school I found a teamster at the corner of Limekiln and Lonetown trying to decide on the best way to go. He was trying to find his way from Lonetown over to the third camp near the Danbury line.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Hello Mister. You look lost. Can I help?" I asked him.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Why that surely would be kind of ya," he said in a funny drawl. "I need to get to third camp before this storm gets any worse."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Then you want to use this road here," I said pointing down Limekiln. "follow it to the Limekilns, you can't miss ‘em and their billows of smoke. From there you’ll cross four fields, and come to a beaver pond. Stay to the south side of the pond and turn Northwest when you reach the next clearing, ahead you will see a stonewall, just beyond it is the pathway that leads straight into third camp."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Why thank ya son, I do appreciate it." He said with a smile before spurring his horses and heading off through the storm.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The snow was really coming down now, it was up past my ankles and with the winds picking up I knew it wouldn't be long before walking would become difficult, so I cut across the road and into the pines by the swamp. That's where I saw them, there were three of them and they had someone's calf. There were drag marks across the clearing so I figured it was dead, but still it made my heart hurt to see them butchering it; I ran home as fast as I could.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"What's wrong?" asked my Father as I burst through the barn door.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Soldiers!" I said. "They stole somebody's calf and they're butchering it in the pines!"</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">My Father slammed the hay rake he was using down to the ground and cursed. "That's the third calf this week!" He grabbed his gun and headed over to the horse stall. "Tell your Mother I'm riding over to Sanford's. And tell her not to worry, we're going to handle this correctly, without any bloodshed."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Mom was worried anyway. Philip and David weren't, they were itching to see what was going to happen to those soldiers.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"What was Dad working on when he left?" Philip asked.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"He was filling the hay feeders." I said.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"We better get on that." said David to Philip with a wink.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I knew what they were up to, they were heading out to the pines to watch.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Just stay out of harms way..." Mom blurted as they left, she knew too.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">From that moment forward it was a long night for the rest of us. We all sat by the fire, not saying much, just waiting for them to return. Baby Will fell asleep on Phineas’ belly while Mom, Abby and me de-shelled acorns, it was methodical work perfect for the occasion.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Outside we could hear the wind howling.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"I sure hope Phil and Dave took the horses," I thought out loud. "the drifts were ankle high on my way home. They must be waist high by now."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Good point. You’d better get out there and shovel a path for the morning." said Mom. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Really?" I said, hoping she was kidding.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Really," she said. “"we’ll need a path out to the barn in the morning." Raising an eyebrow to show me she was serious.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Ugh. Me and my big mouth." I thought over and over again as I shoveled my way out to the barn.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">When I got out there I found that they did take the horses. Father took Winfred our quarter horse and Phil and Dave took the work horses, their stalls were empty too.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I told Mom when I got back.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Good," she said. "let’s get to bed. They may not be back for hours."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">She was right, it was well after midnight when they actually got home and we were all fast asleep. We heard all about it at breakfast that morning.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"You should have seen their faces..." David was ecstatic despite his lack of sleep. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"They had no idea they were surrounded. They had no idea we were even there, they were so focused on the meat they were cooking that they didn't even see us. While they sat there huddled by the fire, the circle closed slowly around them, tighter and tighter, they never heard us, the winds were too loud, and then, BOOM! we all pounced. It was over in seconds; they were subdued and taken to the guard house at Dearborn's camp."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"What's going to happen to them?" asked Abby.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"That's up to General Putnam," said Father. "But I hope he makes an example of them."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"What happens next? asked Philip.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Father’s face twisted, in a thoughtful way. His right hand landed on his right thigh, his left index finger on his upper lip and his thumb under his chin. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"I really don’t know how this one will play out. The soldiers will be Court-martialed, that’s how they handle these situations. But, this one will be interesting because it involves more than just the Army. Loss of livestock and looting has been prevalent since the troops arrived in Redding and this is the perfect opportunity to put an end to it." </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Will they be put to death?" asked Mother visibly concerned.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"I don't think Putnam will do that," said Father. "I expect a public lashing, but, as I said, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I really don’t know how this one will play out. Putnam may have to put someone to death to put an end to this</span>."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">*more soon*</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Why I'm writing this novel:</b><br /><br />The
purpose of my novel is to bring attention to more Revolutionary War
topics than simply battles and timelines with the hope that it will fuel
future study of these topics in local schools and help students become
more aware of the history that surrounds them and push them to explore
interests of their own.<br /><br />In this novel I pick up where My Brother
Sam is Dead left off and tell you the story of what it was like to live
in Redding in the Winter of 1778-79. Your narrator is Jonas Fairchild.
Jonas is 13 years old and lives within walking distance to the middle
encampment. His friend and mentor is a Native American Indian named Tom
Warrups. Tom is in his 30's and lives just up the hill from Jonas and
his family. Through Tom, Jonas learns about Indian culture and their way
of life. <br /><br />Jonas' father owns and operates two saw mills in town
with his brothers. When the army decides on Redding for its winter
encampment, the Fairchild family agrees to help the soldiers more
efficiently cut their hut lumber by showing them how to make saw pits at
each encampment. Little do they know they will be helping the soldiers
in many more ways than this as the story unfolds.<br /><br />More will be
shared as I edit my chapters so stay tuned for updates about this very
insightful first person narrative of what happened when 3,000+ soldiers
and their camp followers arrived to co-exist amongst the Redding
residents in the winter of 1779.</span></span> </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545353751949668674.post-36758639019248750042013-09-06T18:18:00.000-07:002013-09-06T18:19:38.082-07:00The War Comes to Redding- A Historical Fiction Novel<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-23368373-f5fd-dec8-13a4-1367d36a90c9" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Background- Jonas Fairchild is a 13 year old boy living in Redding, Connecticut. It is September 16, 1778.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Chapter One -They're Back-</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"They're back! They're back!!" Stephen had been running and he could barely catch his breath.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Sit down" I said, "Here… sit here." I got up off the log I was sitting on and guided him down to it.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I let him rest a moment then I asked: "Who's back?"</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Soldiers!" he blurted.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"The British?"</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Stephen shook his head and took a deep breath. "No! American soldiers, the same ones we saw this summer; they were over by Colonel Read's near the old wood lot. And this time they had surveyors with them. Why do you think they had surveyors Jonas?"</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I handed him my fishing string to give myself a moment to think about it.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"I don't know for sure, but from what I overheard Isaac Platt talking about at church last Sunday, the troops may be coming to Redding for the Winter."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Isaac and his brother are soldiers in a Massachusetts Regiment, and he said they were heading up to Quaker's Ridge in Pawling, New York later this week to meet up with the rest of General Washington's troops to train and plan out their strategy for the winter. He said there was a good chance he'd be back in Redding late in November if the General got his way."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Stephen looked puzzled: "Redding? You think they're coming here?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This is how my novel begins. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In this novel I pick up where My Brother
Sam is Dead left off and tell you the story of what it was like to live
in Redding in the Winter of 1778-79. Your narrator is Jonas Fairchild.
Jonas is 13 years old and lives within walking distance to the middle
encampment. His friend and mentor is a Native American Indian named Tom
Warrups. Tom is in his 30's and lives just up the hill from Jonas and
his family. Through Tom, Jonas learns about Indian culture and their way
of life. <br /><br />Jonas' father owns and operates two saw mills in town
with his brothers. When the army decides on Redding for its winter
encampment, the Fairchild family agrees to help the soldiers more
efficiently cut their hut lumber by showing them how to make saw pits at
each encampment. Little do they know they will be helping the soldiers
in many more ways than this as the story unfolds.<br /><br />More will be
shared as I edit my chapters so stay tuned for updates about this very
insightful first person narrative of what happened when 3,000+ soldiers
and their camp followers arrived to co-exist amongst the Redding
residents in the winter of 1779.</span></span> </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545353751949668674.post-38872467093550552132013-07-17T18:58:00.001-07:002013-07-17T19:03:09.487-07:00Best Resource for My Brother Sam is Dead<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Recently I released my second e-book to help students, teachers and
parents better understand the historical fiction novel- My Brother Sam
is Dead.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=sr_nr_seeall_1?rh=k%3ABrent+Colley%2Ci%3Astripbooks&keywords=Brent+Colley&ie=UTF8&qid=1313259583">My Brother Sam is Dead Study Guide</a>
is available via Amazon.com's Kindle edition. It is more extensive (67
pages) than any other guide available and the information in it is based
on 14 years of research. I grew up in Redding, Connecticut and was
surrounded by all that Tim Meeker speaks of in this book. There was so
much I could have explored, but I was only 12 years old and never made
those connections. So what this examination of My Brother Sam is Dead
really is, is an opportunity to prevent children of the current
generation from missing out on all this great history. I put a lot of
effort into this book for that very reason.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you purchase or borrow this <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=sr_nr_seeall_1?rh=k%3ABrent+Colley%2Ci%3Astripbooks&keywords=Brent+Colley&ie=UTF8&qid=1313259583">My Brother Sam is Dead Study Guide at Amazon.com</a> you will find in it:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chapter One: <br />About the Book My Brother Sam is Dead </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My
Brother Sam is Dead is told in the first person by 10 year old Tim
Meeker of Redding Ridge. It recounts the hardships endured by Tim and
his family during the early stages of the Revolutionary War. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When
Tim's older brother Sam returns home from Yale College in New Haven to
announce he’s joining the rebel forces, it greatly impacts the rest of
his family who wish to remain neutral and/or avoid a rebellious war with
England. Tim's family is Anglican and thus loyal to the Church of
England; a split with England would greatly affect them...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chapter Two: <br />Setting of the Book My Brother Sam is Dead </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Redding,
Connecticut is located in Southwest Connecticut. Its size is 31.5
square miles, about five miles from north to south, roughly seven miles
from east to west. It encompasses 4.9% of Fairfield County.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I also provide background information on Redding before and after the Revolutionary War.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chapter Three: <br />Real Life vs. Events Fictionalized in My Brother Sam is Dead</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The
intent here is to point out real life vs. My Brother Sam is Dead events
that relate to Redding, Connecticut. The quotes come directly from the
novel; below the quotes are the historical facts these quotes are based
on.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chapter Four: <br />Places you can visit related to My Brother Sam is Dead</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Redding Ridge:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This
is where the Meeker's lived. Be sure to explore the Christ Church
cemetery, you'll be amazed at how many characters from the book are
buried here. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Across the street from the Church looking
North are the fields Tim runs across when he attempts to steal back his
Father's Brown Bess from Sam.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chapter Five: <br />The Characters in the Novel My Brother Sam is Dead</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Read all about the characters in the book and learn about the real life people the characters are based on.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chapter Six: <br />Why has My Brother Sam is Dead been Challenged or Censored in the Past?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Learn why the novel earned a top 10 listing on the American Way's most challenged book list in 1996.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The 67 page <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=sr_nr_seeall_1?rh=k%3ABrent+Colley%2Ci%3Astripbooks&keywords=Brent+Colley&ie=UTF8&qid=1313259583">My Brother Sam is Dead Study Guide</a> is available via Amazon.com's Kindle edition.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Want More? </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">All I have is at my Dropbox Account...<b> </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My Dropbox account is a work in progress so you will always have my
latest research and the most accurate information available. You will
also have access to new maps and photos and resources. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>What’s in the My Brother Sam is Dead Dropbox Folder?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Everything I have collected and written over that past 6 years and
that's a whole lot. The idea behind this folder is to help parents and
teachers better understand what topics the authors have woven into each
chapter of the fictional history novel, My Brother Sam is Dead.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have broken out this resource into three sections:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1). Guide to
MBSD(2 e-books and 8 supporting documents),</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2). Maps, Photos and Visuals
and</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">3). Teaching Resources(includes lesson plans and online quizzes).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><u>All my ebooks are included</u> at this resource and much more. Photos and
maps of everything that occurs in the novel and teaching tools are
included as well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is everything you need and more to get your kids
really excited about the novel and come away with a very good
understanding of why the novel was written.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://sites.fastspring.com/colleyweb/product/6monthsdropboxaccesstomybrothersamisdeadresources">My Brother Sam is Dead Dropbox Access</a></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545353751949668674.post-57178845970691517922013-07-07T10:11:00.000-07:002013-07-07T10:22:42.662-07:00More from my upcoming book- The War Comes to Redding<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid--7d3b713-ba14-1e06-f101-9ae26ca59269" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Chapter Four- Preparing for the Winter Encampments-</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I awoke to light rain on November 14th, it was Tuesday, I had school down in the Center mid-morning so I could have slept a bit more if I wanted but the fall forage had gotten me into the habit of getting up early; I was up and that was that. I sat with my tea cupped in one hand thumbing through my journal with the other, it had been just over two months since Stephen had seen the soldiers over at Read's old wood lot, and as I skimmed over my entries, I was amazed by how much had happened here in Redding over that short stretch of time.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Soon after Stephen's sighting we learned that Colonel Aaron Burr, one of General Putnam's aides and a frequent visitor to Redding, was the one that had advised General Putnam to ride through and consider our township for encampments following his visit with General Heath's Brigade in July. Heath's troops were stationed near the supply depots just North of Redding (in the town of Danbury) which explained all the soldiers we had frequenting Redding back then.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">General Putnam liked what he saw in Redding, and with George Washington's approval three Redding camp locations were selected. Our saw mills bordered two of the three encampment sites and initially the Army proposed that roof slabs and door boards would be cut here and taken to the camps by teamsters. My Father asked them to reconsider because the work to provide the roof slabs and door boards required would bring his regular business to a halt. He showed the Army engineers his saw pits when they visited our mills in October and explained how easy it would be to replicate them at the encampments. They agreed and with Father and Uncle Ephraim's help each camp will be outfitted with saw pits prior to the troops arrival.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We expect the troops here soon, last week the Quartermaster's troops began laying out the encampments and staking the locations where each hut should go. Stephen and me counted the stakes over at the east camp yesterday and there were 116! Most of these huts are going to house twelve men each, at least that is what we were told; which seems unbelievable. If that's really true, there could be over 1,200 soldiers at the first camp alone, that number pretty much equals the number of people living in Redding right now which has caused a great deal of excitement (both good and bad) locally. Some people, like Mr. Lyon feel the troops will be a burden. Others, like Widow Sanford, are thrilled and making preparations to support the troops when they arrive.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">As kids, the dangers and hardships of War are of little concern, all we know is that there will be excitement and activity, and so we are all very much looking forward to having the troops here this Winter. It's pretty much all we talk about.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"The second camp looks different than the first one." said Elijah Pruitt as we made our way to the Center.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"How so?" I asked.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Well, you know how the first camp has all the rows laid out?"</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Yeah..." I said.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"The second camp doesn't have as many rows and some stakes are located along the hillside." Elijah explained.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Hmmmph, I wonder if that's for a reason." I wondered out loud.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Did you see any signs of activity while you were there?" I asked.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"No, just the stakes."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"How many?"</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Don't know, I didn't count them." said Elijah.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Some spy you are!" I laughed.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Hey! I think I'd make a very good spy." Elijah protested loudly.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">By then we were just about to the Center, across the parade grounds is Mr. Adams' house, and we could see him on the front step ringing his school bell and waving for us to hurry. Mr. Adams is our schoolmaster and a deacon at our church. For a long time I wasn't too excited about school days but since Mr. Adams came to town last February, he's really made learning a lot of fun. It's not the same old boring stuff over and over like it was before, Mr. Adams adds in new material like ciphering, debating and surveying along with our regular lessons which we all very much enjoy.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Come on boys! Hurry! We have a guest lecturer today." Mr. Adams called out to us, which got us into a trot and we weren't disappointed when we got there. It was Squire Heron, a local legend in the flesh. I could barely stammer out my hello.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Ha-ha-hello Mist-mister Ha-ha-ha-Heron."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"HELLO!" He boomed in return.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I was startled, but happy and smiling as I quickly scurried to my seat.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Mr. Heron's not very tall and he's what Stephen describes as "pudgy," but he has a strong presence. I can't quite explain it but, he has this air of self-confidence that commands your attention and obedience.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">He lives just south of the Anglican Church on Redding Ridge, he moved there just after the War began. It's believed that he taught at the Academy in Greenfield Hill before coming to Redding, and prior to that had helped survey the old stage route from New York to Boston; but no one knows for sure. He never really speaks of his past except to say that he was born in Cork, Ireland, and attended Trinity College in Dublin. Then, there's that rumor that he's a spy, which makes him the ultimate man of mystery here in Redding, but...</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"OKAY!" boomed Mr. Heron, jarring me from my thoughts.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">He then removed the cover from his Globe, placed his finger on the Atlantic Ocean and said:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Boys, today we are going to explore the topic of Supply and Demand. Does anyone know what goods our State produces?"</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lazarus Gray raised his hand. "Flour."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Yes, that's correct. Our grist mills grind both corn meal and wheat flour. What else?"</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Fish?" Elijah answered hesitantly.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Yes. Fish is one of our top exports, as is our pork and beef." said Mr. Heron agreeably.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"What else?"</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Lumber." I said hopefully.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Yes." said Mr. Heron</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"But, not in the form that you would imagine. Does anyone know what I mean?"</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">He stood with his hands on his hips scanning the room with his eyes.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">No one raised their hand.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Is anyone familiar with charcoal?" he asked and hands shot up throughout the room.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Mr. Heron smiled and said:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Charcoal is a very important good, especially right now. Charcoal and lime are being combined with ore to produce the iron that will become cannons and cannon balls for our Army and Navy. And that is happening right now here in our State."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">He swung the globe around and placed his finger on Connecticut and then he said:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Right now in the Northwestern hills of our State there is a fine example of supply and demand going on. That is what trade is about boys, trade is all about fulfilling the needs of others and the iron furnaces up there in Connecticut's top left corner are doing just that- They are the Arsenal of the Revolution. Their profit, however, depends on the outcome of the War. Under normal circumstances, providing goods and services that fulfill people's needs will make you very wealthy, but the way this War is being financed has altered that and I think it is important that you understand what we may see here this Winter should the Army's provisions run low."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"What we'll see with the soldiers arriving here shortly will be needs that are very basic- the soldiers will need wood for their shelters and fires; they will need food and drink; they will need a water source; some will need clothes, blankets and shoes.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Whether or not all of these needs can be and will be fulfilled is uncertain. There should be enough wood for them and water sources are not a problem, however, food, drink, clothes, blankets, shoes and other goods may not be readily available when they need them. And should things get desperate, unfortunately, money will not be exchanged with the locals to obtain these necessities. The soldiers do not have any money and their officers pay locals for their needs in promissory notes that are for the most part "I owe you's."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Stephen raised his hand.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Yes Stephen." said Mr. Heron</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"So, my Father will not be paid if he grinds flour and corn for the soldiers?" asked Stephen.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Unfortunately, it's not likely. If this winter is anything like last year in Valley Forge, army procurement officers will be employing an impressment policy, which means they will take whatever they need. In past encampments, locals have dismantled their wagons, hid their horses, and driven their livestock hundreds of miles away to avoid having it all confiscated in forced sales to procurement officers."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I raised my hand and Mr. Heron nodded for me to speak.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Why are they stealing from the people who support them?" I asked.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"It's not because they want to." Mr. Heron said frankly. "And the procurement officers leave the owner with a certificate promising future payment. So technically, they are not stealing, but they are taking supplies without proper payment because they have no choice, they need supplies and there is no other way to get them."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">That confused me. "If we don't have the supplies to support the troops, then why are they coming to Redding?"</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"It's a strategic move." He answered.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Has Mr. Adams taught you what a crescent shape looks like?" Mr. Heron asked the classroom openly.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Yes," said Stephen "it's like a half circle."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"That's correct." Said Mr. Heron.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Following the action at Monmouth, New Jersey this Summer, the British troops took up residence in New York City and have been there ever since. General Washington wishes to keep them there as long as he can and has configured a crescent shaped arrangement of encampments from New Jersey to the Hudson River to Long Island Sound to do so. If they wish to move North, they will have to fight their way through the encampments. Redding's position is appealing in this strategy because it has plenty of open land and timber for the soldier's shelters, and it's accessible to supply teams via roads that also make troop movement convenient in all four directions."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I raised my hand again, "Are there supplies in Danbury?"</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Yes," said Mr. Heron "there are supplies and there will be more coming now that we have France's support in this War. However, we still must be aware of the potential problems the troops may face. The supply depots are in Danbury, not Redding, so if the weather is as bad this year as it was last year it will be difficult for the teamsters to get the troops the supplies they need."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I understood what he meant and nodded to let him know.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Are you happy about the War coming to Redding Mr. Heron?" Elijah asked.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Mr. Heron paused for a long moment. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"I have concerns," he said thoughtfully. "I have concerns because as I just was explaining- with War comes uncertainty. The outcome you expect is rarely the one you get. And we will have a very large and diverse group of people here. If there is any trouble it will have to be handled swiftly and with force by the Generals or the safety of both the army and our citizens will be at risk."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">...<i>our citizens will be at risk</i></span>?" My mind began to race again.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">And it wasn't just me, I think it made all of us a little uneasy and Mr. Adams must have noticed because he stepped in at that point to explain.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"What Mr. Heron means is that because three camps have been selected it will bring close to 3,000 soldiers to Redding and no one is sure if that will quiet or rile the locals who would rather see the British win this war."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"That's right." Said Mr. Heron.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"There are many loyal to Crown of England here in Redding, and some may attempt to assist the British by spying on the encampments and sharing what they see. That has been a problem in every Winter encampment thus far and I know that General Putnam is keen on putting an end to it this Winter. Another problem has been desertion by the troops themselves. To solve the soldiers deserting camps and spies infiltrating camps issue, General Putnam has warned that the next offender of either sort (deserter or spy) captured will suffer death as an example."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Again Mr. Adams stepped in- "What Mr. Heron is saying and the reason I asked him to speak to you today is: Change is coming to our town. The troops will only be here for the Winter but the impact of their time here may have an impact that will last a lifetime for many of you. What's to come is largely unknown, but I wanted you to know both the reasons behind the encampments and the dangers the encampments might bring. I wanted you all to be aware of this prior to the soldiers arrival because I know (as Squire Heron has mentioned) with War comes uncertainty. This Winter may be uneventful and perhaps even boring, but I wish to prepare you for events rather than explain why events have occurred to you later."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Over the course of the next two hours, Mr. Heron continued to share his knowledge and answer our questions; we had a lot of questions. There was so much that we hadn't considered. It was a lot to take in for one school day and our walk home was silent.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Well, mainly silent, as we got closer and closer to Colonel Read's we could hear lots of activity- pounding, chopping, crashing, oxen mooing and men barking out orders.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">When we got to the corner of Read's property we discovered why- road work. Every Fall many of the men in our area tend to the roadways in preparation for Winter. We live on what's called a "Cross Highway" that runs east and west past Read's Manor. Normally this stretch of road doesn't get all that much traffic, mainly people visiting my Father's mills or the Limekilns down by Elijah's house. Most of the year it's a decent road, but come Spring it's a different story, it gets swampy, especially in front of Colonel Read's after the snow melts and travel can be difficult.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">My Father was shoveling dirt on top of the logs on the far west end of the area they were working when we got there.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Hi Dad!" I said cheerfully.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Hey Jonas! How was school today?"</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I told him there was a lot to tell and asked if we could discuss that at supper. He agreed and I asked him what they were doing with all the logs. I hadn't seen them do this type of road work before.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"With the troops coming, we are trying to ensure passage for not only the troops but also their supply teams throughout the winter and into spring. This will be a well-traveled roadway while the troops are here and we need to firm up the swampy areas. Placing the trees across the road and covering them with dirt allows carts and wagons coming through here to cross without getting caught up in the mud. It makes for a bumpy ride, but it's effective."</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Neat!" I said.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Jonas," my Father said as he scooped up another shovelful of dirt. "I have to keep working if we're going to get this done today.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I'll see at home, okay?"</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Sure Dad. I'll see you tonight." I said as we turned to leave.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I had work to do too.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Why I'm writing this novel:</b><br /><br /><br />The
purpose of my novel is to bring attention to more Revolutionary War
topics than simply battles and timelines with the hope that it will fuel
future study of these topics in local schools and help students become
more aware of the history that surrounds them and push them to explore
interests of their own.<br /><br />In this novel I pick up where My Brother
Sam is Dead left off and tell you the story of what it was like to live
in Redding in the Winter of 1778-79. Your narrator is Jonas Fairchild.
Jonas is 13 years old and lives within walking distance to the middle
encampment. His friend and mentor is a Native American Indian named Tom
Warrups. Tom is in his 30's and lives just up the hill from Jonas and
his family. Through Tom, Jonas learns about Indian culture and their way
of life. <br /><br />Jonas' father owns and operates two saw mills in town
with his brothers. When the army decides on Redding for its winter
encampment, the Fairchild family agrees to help the soldiers more
efficiently cut their hut lumber by showing them how to make saw pits at
each encampment. Little do they know they will be helping the soldiers
in many more ways than this as the story unfolds.<br /><br />More will be
shared as I edit my chapters so stay tuned for updates about this very
insightful first person narrative of what happened when 3,000+ soldiers
and their camp followers arrived to co-exist amongst the Redding
residents in the winter of 1779.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Future Updates:</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For more previews as I finish new chapters be sure to "Like" me on Facebook or "Follow" me in Twitter...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Readers-Guide-to-My-Brother-Sam-is-Dead/103776809747164">My Brother Sam is Dead Facebook page</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://twitter.com/GuidetoMBSD">My Brother Sam is Dead Twitter account</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You
can also sign-up for my Dropbox Folder. This book and many others will
soon be posted to the Dropbox Folder along with teaching resources for
them.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>What’s in the My Brother Sam is Dead Dropbox Folder?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Everything I have collected and written over that past 6 years and
that's a whole lot. The idea behind this folder is to help parents and
teachers better understand what topics the authors have woven into each
chapter of the fictional history novel, My Brother Sam is Dead.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have broken out this resource into three sections:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1). Guide to
MBSD(2 e-books and 8 supporting documents),</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2). Maps, Photos and Visuals
and</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">3). Teaching Resources(includes lesson plans and online quizzes).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><u>All my ebooks are included</u> at this resource and much more. Photos and
maps of everything that occurs in the novel and teaching tools are
included as well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is everything you need and more to get your kids
really excited about the novel and come away with a very good
understanding of why the novel was written.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://sites.fastspring.com/colleyweb/product/6monthsdropboxaccesstomybrothersamisdeadresources">My Brother Sam is Dead Dropbox Access</a></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545353751949668674.post-24828463116700775722013-06-30T16:38:00.003-07:002013-06-30T16:38:52.201-07:00Why Historical Fiction Novels Are Effective<div id="article-content">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When history teachers bring historical fiction novels into their
classroom they give their students a unique opportunity to explore
history through the eyes of those that lived it. Within historical
fiction novels characters and drama interact with past events in a way
that compels students to see the past at an emotional as well as a
cognitive level.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Once students become immersed in the novel's
setting, character, plot and theme, they become interested and
stimulated by the novel's story. They begin to draw inferences while
reading the novel, about geography, religious beliefs, social attitudes,
modes of transportation, distribution of wealth, social classes, and
laws. They begin to absorb the historical details in the novel without
even realizing they are being instructed. In contrast, if these
same historical facts were presented in a textbook and the teacher asked
the students to memorize them, it is likely that little information
would be retained by many students.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Events become more significant
in historical fiction novels because students must comprehend them in
order to understand the plot of the novel. Students retain the
historical information because it has been understood within the context
of the plot, character, setting and theme of the novel. From this
perspective, students begin to see how a study of the past helps them
better understand the present.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">By providing *references,
strategies and techniques to help students sift through fact and the
fiction, teachers and parents can help students become expert
"nitpickers" on the author's use of historical data and spur stimulating
class discussions in the process.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The impact of a historical novel on
students cannot be minimized. If students respond positively to a good
historical novel, they might:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">a. be motivated to research the novelist's use of historical data.
<br />b. they might begin to discern the novelist's biases and
<br />c. they might decide to search for historical data to support or contradict the point of view expressed by the author.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">or</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">d. find history interesting.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div id="article-resource">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Brent M. Colley is a local historian who promotes Connecticut
History. For a look at his reader's guide to the Historical Fiction
Novel- My Brother Sam is Dead, visit: <a href="http://mybrothersamisdead.historyofredding.com/" target="_new">http://mybrothersamisdead.historyofredding.com/</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My
Brother Sam is Dead is a historical fiction novel told in the first
person by Tim Meeker. It recounts the hardships endured by Tim and his
family during the early stages of the American Revolutionary War.</span><br />
</div>
<div style="overflow: hidden;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
Notes:</span></div>
<div style="overflow: hidden;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="overflow: hidden;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Reference sources for
checking the accuracy of historical data include encyclopedias,
almanacs, biographical dictionaries, dictionaries of history, serious
local and national histories, and numerous other readily available
sources. Students may check school and town libraries as well as local
historical societies and the state library. Primary source materials are
often available locally in church records, deeds, wills, probate
records in town halls, local cemeteries, local tax lists, federal
census, town meeting records, old maps, letters and diaries, sermons,
industrial records, local newspapers and elders who have resided in a
community for a long time.</span></div>
<div style="overflow: hidden;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="overflow: hidden;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545353751949668674.post-80681976718405438842013-06-07T10:15:00.000-07:002013-06-07T17:27:34.443-07:00Religion Affiliations and the Revolutionary War<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Religion was a very important aspect of colonial life and greatly
affected the colonist's positions heading into the War of Independence.
In order to understand why this was significant to My Brother Sam is
Dead's story-line the history of Religion, in England and
America, must be examined. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Religion is a
topic of the pre-Revolutionary period that is often overlooked. Most
of us were taught about the events that led up to the War of
Independence via time-lines focused on England's "Acts" and the American
Colonist's reaction to them. We are familiar with the individuals that
took offense to these actions as "Patriots" or "Rebels" and those that sided with
England as "Tories" or "Loyalists". The reality is that it wasn't a simple matter of
who was right and who was wrong for colonists faced with the difficult
decision of which "side" they were on. My Brother Sam is Dead's authors
make us aware of this in Chapter 2:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Betsy Read: "Timmy are you on your father's side or Sam's?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Tim:
"I wished she hadn't asked me that question. I didn't want to answer it
; in fact, I didn't know how to answer it. 'I don't understand what
it's all about,' I said."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sam: "It's simple, either we're going to be free or we're not."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Betsy: "It isn't that simple, Sam. There's more to it."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There
was more to it as Betsy correctly states- religious affiliation weighed
heavily on colonist's positions on the war, especially in 1775. It's
important to understand that the Meeker's religious beliefs made them
"Loyalists" by default. Sam is unique in that he is an Anglican that is
siding with the rebel cause. The Anglican Church was the Church of
England, their preachers warned of rebellious behavior and prayed for
the health and well being of the King and his Parliament each and every
sermon. Conversely, Congregational ministers thundered anti-British
tirades from their pulpits week after week, praying for the health and
well-being of the troops and their generals. This religious influence
resulted in many Anglicans siding with England and many
Congregationalists siding with America.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ultimately, the
questions will surface…Why? Why was there a separation between the two
religions? Why were Anglicans against a split from England? Why did
Congregationalists support the rebellion? These were the very questions I
asked myself, and what I found was a very extensive history that dated
to 16th century England which clearly illuminated why there was a the
division between the religions at the dawn of the Revolution. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">King
Henry VIII's self-serving actions in the mid-16th century caused a
religious-fission in England that resulted in the formation of
independent churches that would eventually become American Churches:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Beginning
in 1529 and completed in 1536, England which had adhered to the ideals
of the Roman Catholic Church for nearly a thousand years, separated from
Rome because Henry VIII wanted his marriage to Catherine of Aragon
annulled. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When Pope Clement VII refused to grant Henry
VIII the annulment, Henry decided to sever ties with Rome. He named
himself Supreme Head of the Church of England, thus creating the
Anglican Catholic Church, and ensuring the annulment he desired.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Henry
VIII's separation from the Roman Catholic Church, resulted in an era of
religious uncertainty for the Church of England and its followers as
Henry and his successors flip-flopped from Catholic ideals, to
Protestant, to Catholic again, finally settling on a fragile union of
Catholic and Protestant ideals. The Church of England and Anglicanism
lost the favor of many in the process, ultimately spawning a belief that
all existing churches had become corrupted by the impositions of Kings
and Popes. Consequently, great numbers of Englishmen and women sought
separation from the Anglican church and began establishing independent
churches based on Christian fellowship, much like that which gathered
around Jesus Himself. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[*Recently Episcopal theological
conservatives upset by the liberal views of US Episcopalians and
Canadian Anglicans have formed a new North American Church Society. This
is a good topic to explore if you wish to inform students that what
happened in 16th century England still occurs in the present day.]</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The
long-term affects of these "Purists" and their separatist churches, may
have been minimal on the crown, the Anglican Church and its loyal
followers if not for the availability of America soil. From the first
Puritan pilgrimage, which included 35 members of these separatist groups
in 1620, to the start of the English/Puritan Revolution in 1642, six
new colonies would join Virginia in America. All six of these new
colonies were settled by separatists of the Church of England- five
Puritan based religious groups, one Roman Catholic. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">These
separatists would enjoy absolute freedom in the American Colonies while
back in England, puritan revolts led to three Civil Wars between 1642
and 1660. In this period, English King Charles I, was dethroned and
executed, a Republican Commonwealth was established in place of the
monarchy and authority over the settlements in North America ceased. The
American colonists were free to develop their own ideas about political
authority, government institutions and religion for nearly 20 years.
Even Virginia, lacking imperial rule, followed the lead of the
separatist colonies of: Plymouth, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and
Massachusetts Bay, and elected its own governor. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Three
(3) fundamental principles, of *Connecticut's original eleven (11), won
broad support among the American settlers in this time period: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(1)
People can create their own governments by composing a written
constitution or by transforming a charter into a political framework. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(2) People have a right to govern themselves through representative institutions. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(3)
People can most effectively organize church-state relations by
practicing religious toleration and by establishing either a single
church or a system of multiple churches. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">*Connecticut's
eleven principles would become known as the Fundamental Orders, and are
seen as a prototype for the U.S. Constitution by many scholars today.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When
the English government reestablished its monarchy in 1660 and placed
King Charles II (1660-1685) on the throne. The American colonists'
Fundamental Orders were replaced by Royal Charters and old policies,
such as awarding proprietary colonies to the King's supporters returned
to America. Royal bureaucrats began reasserting their central control
over the American colonies by implementing an economic policy known as
mercantilism. Mercantilism involved: The colonies providing the raw
materials, which were sent back to England, manufactured into finished
products and exported. Often colonies were targeted as markets for these
finished products. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Mercantilism Act was soon
followed by a series of Navigation Acts requiring the exclusive use of
English ships for trade in the English Colonies and limiting the exports
of tobacco, sugar and other commodities to England or its colonies, it
also appointed a customs commissioner in the colonies to collect duties
on goods that passed between plantations.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">These acts
were essentially pronouncements of power by the English crown, the
statement being: "The colonies of America would be used to increase the
wealth of the home country." Their position was understandable, for
centuries many powerful nations had prospered on the same strategy. The
difference in America was the origins of the settlements themselves.
Unlike Virginia which was initially established as a trading outpost
funded by English investors for the purpose of exporting raw goods back
to England, a large majority of the American Colonies, especially in New
England, were established by individuals wishing to enjoy the freedom
of practicing their own religious ideals. They did not come to America
to assist the King and his Parliament in exerting their power and
influence, many had departed England in the wake of a string of rulers
whose exertions of power and influence had destroyed the religious
fundamentals they held sacred. There was a deep rooted religious
opposition to the crown that twenty years of neglect had allowed to
flourish and would prove difficult to overcome. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">England
needed a positive influence in the colonies of America and the
promotion of Anglicanism in the 18th century became the means by which
the crown achieved this influence. By establishing and expanding the
presence of the Church of England in America, the crown created <i>via religion</i>,
a loyalty to the King and the British Empire on American soil. This
religious advancement began in the early 1700's via missionaries of the
S.P.G. "Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts"
which was backed by the Venerable Society of London. Though initial
resistance to the Church of England was great, in his "Story of the
Diocese of Connecticut", Dr. Nelson Rollin Burr later observed that: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">by
the mid-1700's, the Puritan authorities in Connecticut "gradually
realized that dissent (conversions to Anglicanism) had come to stay.
They feared that continued intolerance would displease the British
government and endanger their precious charter…the result was a series
of grudging concessions to religious freedom." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The
leaders of Connecticut, conceded religious freedom to the Church of
England in 1727. Religious Tolerance opened new membership opportunities
to the conversion-minded Anglicans and strengthened their goal of
promoting "zeal for the Christian religion, affection to the present
Government (the British Monarchy), and conformity to the doctrine and
discipline of the Church of England." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The influence of
the Church of England spread quickly once tolerance was conceded
growing from a despised minority to the second largest Christian
religious group in Connecticut. This grow was largely aided by the
conversion of Congregational ministers like the Rev. John Beach. By the
dawn of the Revolution, Congregationalists and Anglicans were the
largest religious groups in America and their views on rebellion were as
different as their views on the practice of religion.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Why was Religious Affiliation Important?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Because
we separate Church and State in our society, it can be confusing and
difficult to understand why religion was of any importance in the
Revolution. The reality is Religious affiliation was very important in
colonial times, it determined your views, values and often where you
lived and worked. Here are a couple examples of how Religion's role was
different than it is now and why it was an important element in the
colonists opinion on Rebellion:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1. News and
Information. News and information was not as accessible and plentiful
(in terms of different opinions) as it is today, individuals in rural
locations obtained news and information in the following manner: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Post Riders</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Post
riders brought news and letters to and from towns and cities on
horseback (often passing news biased by their own opinions in the
process). At the time of the Revolution, there were two dozen newspapers
in circulation in all the colonies combined though circulation was not
widespread. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Visitors </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Visitors from other towns
and regions were another source of news and information. Bringing news
from other locations to whomever they were visiting and/or passed
information in taverns along the way to their destination. They too
brought news that was often biased by their own opinions. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Religious Leaders</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When
it came to issues of importance in most cases it was the opinions of
their preachers and ministers that held the most weight. Colonists were
religious people and through their religious leaders they received the
word of God. Rebellion was obviously an issue of great importance to
colonists in America. As tensions flared in the 1770's, Anglican
preachers stressed that Christians were obligated to suffer under an
oppressive ruler, while Congregational ministers asserted that
resistance to tyrants was obedience to God. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Collier's give us examples of this with Mr. Beach's comments in response to Sam's report on the Rebellion:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"I think men of common sense will prevail. Nobody wants a rebellion except fools and hotheads."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"I don’t think the people of Redding are anxious to fight, Sam…I think you'll find that loyalty is a virtue everywhere."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"God
meant man to obey. He meant children to obey their fathers, he meant
men to obey their kings. As a subject of the Lord Our God I don't
question His ways. As a subject of His Majesty, George the Third, should
you questions his ways? Answer me this Sam- do you really think you
know better than the King and those learned men in Parliament?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As
an Anglican, Rev. Beach's opinions reflect his loyalty to the Crown of
England. Rev. Beach's views and opinions differed greatly from Redding's
Congregational Church leader, Rev. Nathaniel Bartlett. Bartlett
sympathized entirely with the Patriot's cause: two of his sons entered
the Continental Army, munitions of the war were stored at his house, and
he himself frequently officiated as chaplain during the encampment of
Putnam's troops in the winter of 1778/1779.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Individuals
had the right to make their own decision on the rebellion, but they
were forced to make it with very limited and heavily biased information.
This influence and the confusion it caused is exemplified by Tim's
comments in Chapter 2:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"He (Mr. Beach) said that
hot-tempered young men who listened not to the voices of their elders
would bring a wrathy God down on their own heads. He said that the Bible
commanded youth to honor their fathers, which made me pretty nervous
for Sam…I knew that God could get Sam if he wanted to; and between
worrying about that and being confused over which side was right I
couldn't concentrate on church much."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2.
Settlements and Towns. Today we live where we choose to. We are free to
take-up residence in any, town, state, country we wish to. Colonists had
choices too, but they were limited…especially in the 17th and 18th
century. Connecticut's earliest "English" settlements, were founded
between 1634 and 1654. These "English" settlements were located on the
Connecticut River and along Long Island Sound, and were inhabited by
individuals with Puritan-Congregational ideals. Over time, new settlers
arrived in Connecticut townships, either from Europe or from other
colonies in America. Puritan-Congregational ideals in many cases did not
appeal to these new settlers but seeing that the Puritan-Congregational
religion was already established and by law it was the only religion
allowed, those with non-Puritan-Congregational views had little choice
but to relocate to a town or settlement that did or head out into the
wilderness to carve out their own utopia. It seems very odd, but many
towns in Connecticut were created in this manner. It is for this reason
towns established in the 18th century, Redding, Connecticut being one of
them, were founded by either non-Puritans or a diverse mixture of
*Puritan/Non-Puritan religious groups which reflected Connecticut's
growth in population and tolerance of religion. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The
point to be made here is that in the 18th century colonists were not
choosing towns based on preferences like: schools, housing costs,
employment opportunities, available amenities, etc…in many cases they
were choosing towns that allowed them the freedom to practice their
religion of choice and live as they wished to. Because these were often
conscientious decisions, the location of one's **community had a
tendency to reflect one's religious preference and later one's position
on the war in the Revolutionary period. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Collier's
made it very clear in the novel that because Sam's parents were Anglican
and lived on Redding Ridge (long settled by those of Anglican faith),
it was presumed they were loyal to the crown by those outside of
Redding. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">*Puritans meaning: Presbyterians, Congregationalists. Non-Puritans meaning: Anglicans / Episcopalians and Baptists.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Keep
in mind, not all Anglicans were against a split from England, not all
Congregationalists were for it. Many Anglicans and Congregationalists
felt a Rebellious split from England was excessive and a diplomatic
approach to the issues was in the best interest of all colonists
involved.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545353751949668674.post-57048884128744053732013-05-28T07:32:00.003-07:002013-05-28T08:15:16.110-07:00Themes in my upcoming novel- The War Comes to Redding<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Right now there is a lot of new information about the Revolutionary War and the encampments at Redding coming out and these findings are much more than, "<i>Hey, that's cool</i>!" these findings fill-in gaps and tie-in groups previously over looked; they really are exciting.<br /><br />My thought with this novel was to deliver some of this new information to readers via a story that's familiar (because it ties to My Brother Sam is Dead) and gives a fresh perspective of the War coming to Redding through the eyes of Jonas Fairchild, a thirteen year old boy. <br /><br /><br /><b>Here are some of the topics you'll find in the novel:</b><br /><br /><br /><b>1.</b> The impact of 3,000 soldiers situated in three encampments arriving with little time for locals to prepare. <br /> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In the novel I make it clear that Redding, Connecticut is a very small town about to double in size over-night. <br /><br />I bring awareness to some of the dangers ahead before they appear in the storyline so readers have a better understanding of their impact when they actually happen.<br /><br /><b>Example from the Novel:</b><br /><br />"<i>Are you happy about the War coming to Redding Mr. Heron</i>?" Elijah asked.<br /><br />Mr. Heron paused for a long moment. <br /><br />"<i>I have concerns," he said thoughtfully. "I have concerns because as I just was explaining- with War comes uncertainty. The outcome you expect is rarely the one you get. And we will have a very large and diverse group of people here. If there is any trouble it will have to be handled swiftly and with force by the Generals or the safety of both the army and our citizens will be at risk</i>."<br /><br />I also explain the views some residents had about the needs of soldiers once they were in Redding through dialog between the characters.<br /><br /><b>Example from the Novel:</b><br /><br />"<i>The soldiers are starving</i>," Abby said at breakfast "<i>isn't there any way we can help them</i>?"<br /><br />"<i>We have</i>." Said Father. "<i>We have provided them with an efficient means to cut their wood at all three of their encampments</i>." <br /><br />"<i>But they haven't any food</i>." Pleaded Abby.<br /><br />"<i>That is not our concern</i>," Father said sternly. "<i>they have the supplies in Danbury and it is the Army's job to get them here. If we give away our stored food to starving soldiers and our supplies run out, then we will be the ones starving</i>."<br /><br /><br /><b>2.</b> Another topic I have woven into the story is the role of the Native American Indian in this conflict. <br /><br />Tom Warrups is a real-life character whose role in the American Revolution I have slightly altered to educate readers about Native American Indian culture and bring awareness to the presence of Native American soldiers in these encampments at Redding. I share Native American Indian Culture via Indian stories that Tom tells to Jonas(his 13 year old neighbor and the story's narrator); tell of the Native American Indian Soldiers via the interactions Tom and Jonas have with the soldiers; and shed light on the fears/questions the Native American Indians had about "Independent" America and what "Independence" would mean for them.<br /><br /><b>Example from the Novel:</b><br /><br />"<i>My people are fearful of what your Independence means for us. Will it be to our benefit or demise? We don't really know. What we do know is that since the white man has arrived in what you call "America," our ancient home lands have been taken and we have been pushed out. For those of us that fight for the Independence of your people we hope this War brings what your Declaration of Independence promises *and* restores for us the rights that we have lost. Do you know what I speak of Jonas</i>?"<br /><br />"<i>Yes</i>." I said, "<i>We memorized the Declaration last year at the schoolhouse</i>."<br /><br />"<i>We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness -- that to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever Any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute a new Government</i>."<br /><br />"<i>That is right," said Tom "and I pray that it is known that the Native American Indian soldiers here in Redding are not 'merciless Indian savages' and recognized that they too are men in pursuit of Life, Liberty and Happiness; fighting for their own unalienable rights</i>."<br /><br /><br /><b>3.</b> Black soldiers or African American soldiers are an important part of the novel. In fact, that is what I am presently working on right now because of information discovered while reviewing documents forwarded to me about the Native American Indian soldiers positioned in Redding. <br /><br /><b>4.</b> The looting of local farms by the starving soldiers and the locals reaction to this looting.<br /><br /><b>Example from the Novel:</b><br /><br />The snow was really coming down now, it was up past my ankles and with the winds picking up I knew it wouldn't be long before walking would become difficult so I cut across the road and into the pines by the swamp. That's where I saw them, there were three of them and they had someone's calf. There were drag marks across the clearing so I figured it was dead, but still it made my heart hurt to see them butchering it. I ran home as fast as I could. <br /><br />"<i>What's wrong</i>?" asked my Father as I burst through the barn door.<br /><br />"<i>Soldiers</i>!" I said. "<i>They stole somebody's calf and they're butchering it in the pines</i>!"<br /><br />My Father slammed the hay rake he was using down to the ground and cursed. "<i>That's the third calf this week!" He grabbed his gun and headed over to the horse stall</i>. <br /><br />"<i>Tell your Mother I'm riding over to Sanford's. And tell her not to worry, we're going to handle this without bloodshed</i>."<br /><br /><b>5.</b> Illness at the encampments due to the cold and the War's on going small pox epidemic. Some modern estimates have the small pox responsible for 100,000+ deaths during the Revolutionary War and because we did have soldier deaths at Redding's encampments I included it as an important element in the story.<br /><br /><b>6.</b> The executions at Redding in the winter of 1778-79, why they occurred and why they were important to the war and Redding going forward are included as well. <br /><br />Desertions and spying were a problem at this point in the War and it was during the Winter of 1778-79 that these issues were dealt with by General Putnam. To give an additional view of desertion and to show that for some it was necessary, the high drama of my novel involves the desertion of several Native American Indian soldiers and a gravely ill Black Soldier. <br /><br /><br /><b>Why I'm writing this novel:</b><br /><br /><br />The purpose of my novel is to bring attention to more Revolutionary War topics than simply battles and timelines with the hope that it will fuel future study of these topics in local schools and help students become more aware of the history that surrounds them and push them to explore interests of their own.<br /><br />In this novel I pick up where My Brother Sam is Dead left off and tell you the story of what it was like to live in Redding in the Winter of 1778-79. Your narrator is Jonas Fairchild. Jonas is 13 years old and lives within walking distance to the middle encampment. His friend and mentor is a Native American Indian named Tom Warrups. Tom is in his 30's and lives just up the hill from Jonas and his family. Through Tom, Jonas learns about Indian culture and their way of life. <br /><br />Jonas' father owns and operates two saw mills in town with his brothers. When the army decides on Redding for its winter encampment, the Fairchild family agrees to help the soldiers more efficiently cut their hut lumber by showing them how to make saw pits at each encampment. Little do they know they will be helping the soldiers in many more ways than this as the story unfolds.<br /><br />More will be shared as I edit my chapters so stay tuned for updates about this very insightful first person narrative of what happened when 3,000+ soldiers and their camp followers arrived to co-exist amongst the Redding residents in the winter of 1779.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Future Updates:</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For more previews as I finish new chapters be sure to "Like" me on Facebook or "Follow" me in Twitter...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://twitter.com/GuidetoMBSD">My Brother Sam is Dead Twitter account</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You
can also sign-up for my Dropbox Folder. This book and many others will
soon be posted to the Dropbox Folder along with teaching resources for
them.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>What’s in the My Brother Sam is Dead Dropbox Folder?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Everything I have collected and written over that past 6 years and
that's a whole lot. The idea behind this folder is to help parents and
teachers better understand what topics the authors have woven into each
chapter of the fictional history novel, My Brother Sam is Dead.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have broken out this resource into three sections:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1). Guide to
MBSD(2 e-books and 8 supporting documents),</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2). Maps, Photos and Visuals
and</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">3). Teaching Resources(includes lesson plans and online quizzes).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><u>All my ebooks are included</u> at this resource and much more. Photos and
maps of everything that occurs in the novel and teaching tools are
included as well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is everything you need and more to get your kids
really excited about the novel and come away with a very good
understanding of why the novel was written.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://sites.fastspring.com/colleyweb/product/6monthsdropboxaccesstomybrothersamisdeadresources">My Brother Sam is Dead Dropbox Access</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><br /><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545353751949668674.post-89610086758457306802013-05-16T09:56:00.003-07:002013-08-07T08:52:10.411-07:00More from my upcoming book- The War Comes to Redding<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Chapter Five- The Troops Arrive in Redding</b><br /><br />It was late November now, the weather was much colder and I was spending a lot more time foraging for wood than I was foraging for food. I was stacking piles of firewood and kindling near the beaver pond when Tom came racing up the hillside.<br /><br />"What is it Tom?" I shouted.<br /><br />"They're here!" he shouted back excitedly.<br /><br />"The troops?" <br /><br />"Yes!!"<br /><br />Tom's excitement was unusual. I dropped what I was doing and headed over to him. <br /><br />"What's so exciting Tom?" I asked.<br /><br />"My people are here Jonas. My people are here in Redding." <br /><br />"Native Indian soldiers?" <br /><br />"Yes!" Tom was beaming with pride.<br /><br />"A lot of them?"<br /><br />"No, no, just a couple, but I didn't expect them to be here, I thought they all went home." Tom explained.<br /><br />"Mr. Heron told us there would be black soldiers with General Parsons, are they here too?" I asked<br /><br />"Yes. They are here too, in good numbers. I counted at least 25 as they marched in and troops are still arriving."<br /><br />"Which camp are they setting up first?" I asked<br /><br />"The middle camp, just three hills over, by the Whortleberry bushes." Tom answered.<br /><br />"Wow, this is real," I thought "just down the road from our house there is going to be a soldier's camp." <br /><br />"Will you show me Tom?" I asked, knowing that he would.<br /><br />"If you can keep up." He said turning to race back down the hill. <br /><br />"Hey! No fair!" I shouted as I sprinted after him.<br /><br />Tom just laughed and kept right on running.<br /><br />I caught him on the backside of the second hill and we both slowed to a trot that got slower and slower as we got closer to the crest of the third hill. From that crest you could see everything.<br /><br />The encampment was well hidden; no one that didn't know about it would suspect it. It was tucked into a hillside on a roadway seldom used, but it had access to a water source, was well wooded and allowed for troop movement if needed. <br /><br />The troops had just arrived so they had not started on the huts yet but it was clear that these troops were well organized. We could see a good number of tents that had already been erected and it looked like either a bridge or a dam was being built along the ridge on the west end of the encampment. <br /><br />"Do you see the rock outcropping on that hill over there?" Tom asked me, pointing northwest of where we were standing. <br /><br />"Mmmm Hmmm." I answered.<br /><br />"That's where the Native American Indian soldiers will be stationed." <br /><br />"Anyone you know?" I asked him.<br /><br />"I think so," he said "the soldier I spoke to earlier said that several Kent Indians had attended The Great Barbecue up on Quaker Ridge this Fall and he believed they were still enlisted." <br /><br />"And you think you know them?" I wanted to know if Tom really knew these Indians from Kent or if he was just saying he did because he visited Kent from time-to-time. <br /><br />"Yes!" was his definitive answer. <br /><br />"Jonas," Tom became very somber "I am going to tell you something that I would rather not have you repeat to anyone... at least not anytime soon." <br /><br />I quickly agreed to keep the secret. <br /><br />"My people are very divided about this War Jonas. Many of my people worry, just as some of your people worry about this War." he said.<br /><br />"What are they worried about?" I asked.<br /><br />"My people are fearful of what your Independence means for us. Will it be to our benefit or demise? We don't really know. What we do know is that since the white man has arrived in what you call "America," our ancient home lands have been taken and we have been pushed out. For those of us that fight for the Independence of your people we hope this War brings what your Declaration of Independence promises *and* restores for us the rights that we have lost. Do you know what I speak of Jonas?"<br /><br />"Yes." I said, we memorized the Declaration last year at the schoolhouse.<br /><br />"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness -- that to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever Any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute a new Government."<br /><br />"That is right," said Tom "and I pray that it is known that the Native American Indian soldiers here in Redding are not 'merciless Indian savages' and recognized that they too are men in pursuit of Life, Liberty and Happiness; fighting for their own unalienable rights."<br /><br />"Amen." I said and we both enjoyed that moment.<br /><br />Looking back to the camp we could see and hear trees coming down just south of the rock outcropping. <br /><br />"They work fast." I said to Tom.<br /><br />"They must work faster," Tom replied "there will be snow tomorrow morning."<br /><br />"How do you know that?" I asked wonderously.<br /><br />A playful grin grew across his face and he said: "The wind told me."<br /><br />"The wind? Yeah right. You're pulling my leg again Tom." I said waving my arm at him dismissively.<br /><br />Tom just kept on smiling and told me I'd owe him a basket full of eggs should it happen.<br /><br /><br /><b>Chapter Six- The Campaign of Starving and Freezing Begins</b><br /><br />Tom was right. It snowed about 6 inches the next day and two days later it rained so hard that a majority of that snow melted into a muddy slush preventing the teamsters from bringing food and supplies to Redding. <br /><br />"The soldiers are starving," Abby said at breakfast "isn't there any way we can help them?"<br /><br />"We have." Said Father. "We have provided them with an efficient means to cut their wood at all three of their encampments." <br /><br />"But they haven't any food." Pleaded Abby.<br /><br />"That is not our concern," Father said sternly. "they have the supplies in Danbury and it is the Army's job to get them here. If we give away our stored food to starving soldiers and our supplies run out, then we will be the ones starving."<br /><br />Abby nodded silently, she knew he was right. I did too but it got me to thinking and after lunch I headed up the hill to Tom's lean-to. Tom wasn't there but he had hung a fishing spear above the door so I knew exactly where he was and headed off in that direction. Along the way I passed Stephen's house and stopped in to see if he wanted to come with me. He was working in the root cellar.<br /><br />"Stephen, Stephen, you down there?" I called.<br /><br />"Yep. Come on down." he answered.<br /><br />"Are you taking them out or putting them in?" I asked.<br /><br />"A little of both." he said <br /><br />When I got down there I saw what he meant. He had all the vegetables sorted and readied to load back into the boxes.<br /><br />"Are you making sand boxes?" I asked.<br /><br />"Yep and I'm almost done. Where are you going?" he replied.<br /><br />"I'm trying to find Tom, I think he's down at Umpawaug fishing." I told him.<br /><br />"Is someone looking for him?" Stephen asked.<br /><br />"No," I said "I want to talk to him about the soldiers situation."<br /><br />"Oh, okay." he said "Help me finish up here and I'll come with you."<br /><br />Sand boxes are how we store root vegetables for the winter, it keeps them fresh for months. <br /><br />The process is pretty simple, you work in layers starting with some moist sand at the bottom of the box, then you work your way up, lining each layer with vegetables and covering them with dry sand as you go. On the top layer you add some more moist sand and you're finished. Stephen had the carrots, and I took on the beets and turnips.<br /><br />We made quick work of it and wove our way over to Umpawaug through Chestnut Woods. <br /><br />{Background- Umpawaug is one of my favorites sections of town, it's swamps, ponds and rivers are always filled with fish. Tom says that when european settlers came to Redding the Indians made sure they would retain access to these places because the fish they caught here was so essential to their livelihoods.}<br /><br />Tom was right where I thought he would be, on the west end of the pond. That area always freezes last and Tom likes to take advantage of it by placing his fishing weirs there. It's where the pond drains into a swampy stream that fish are drawn to and the way Tom narrows down the space with his weirs allows him to spear the fish that get caught up attempting to get through it. Looking at the size of the fish pile behind him, Tom wasn't fishing just for himself. <br /><br />"That's quite a take Tom." Stephen said admiring the pile.<br /><br />Tom just nodded, he was in the process of driving another fish towards his weir. His focus was completely on the fish, slowly and meticulously he followed it until the fish had no where else go and then, BAM! He speared and tossed it on top of the pile. <br /><br />"Why so many fish Tom?" I asked.<br /><br />Tom never took more fish than he needed. <br /><br />"The soldiers are hungry." He said matter-of-factly. "Will you and Stephen bring them to middle camp for me?" He asked. <br /><br />We agreed to and began loading them into one of the sleds Tom had brought for that purpose. <br /><br />"I am going to check the weirs over in Simpaug," Tom said grabbing his second sled. "If you see someone who can help me over there on your way to the encampment send them. I will be where the pond empties into the North Walk River." <br /><br />We agreed to and began loading them into one of the sleds Tom had brought for that purpose. It was about 4 miles over mostly flat land until we got to Stetzell's Farm but from there it got steep. <br /><br />Stephen said, "I think we'd better rest and think about this, pulling these fish up that hill isn't going to be easy." <br /><br />As we were sitting down he asked-<br /><br />"What were you going to ask Tom about?" <br /><br />"I was going to ask him how we could help the soldiers" I answered.<br /><br />Stephen smiled. "I guess he already had the answer." <br /><br />"He always does, especially when it comes to helping others." I said.<br /><br />"Why does he help people anyway? No one here in town seems to help him when he needs it." Stephen asked.<br /><br />"That's not how he thinks." I replied. <br /><br />"How does he think?" said Stephen.<br /><br />"It's tough to explain. Tom says 'With all things and in all things, we are relatives.' which I take to mean that he sees everything as connected and he does not wish to break that chain with his own actions."<br /><br />"It sounds like a good policy to me." Stephen said.<br /><br />"It is." I agreed.<br /><br />"Now, how are we going to make it up that hill? <br /><br />"How 'bout I take the back and you take the front?" I said.<br /><br />"And half way up we switch?" Said Stephen.<br /><br />"Deal." I said.<br /><br />It took us a lot longer than we expected but we made it to the top of the hill and veered off through the woods towards the encampment, taking advantage of the snow that still existed. As we neared the camp we were met by a sentry who stopped us.<br /><br />"Halt." he said "Are you here on offical business?"<br /><br />"No." I said. "We have food for the soldiers."<br /><br />"Who sent you?" He demanded.<br /><br />"Tom." we answered in unison. <br /><br />The soldier furrowed his brow, turned and made a whistle call back to the encampment. Within minutes three soldiers appeared, one of them was clearly a native Indian. <br /><br />Ignoring the others, I asked him directly: "Do you know Tom Warrups?" <br /><br />He did; a broad smile crept across his face. "I do!" he said. "Where is he?" <br /><br />"He's fishing," I said. "for you and all the others at this encampment. These fish are all for you and there are more. He asked us to bring these to your encampment and see if we could find help to get what he has caught down at the North Walk River up here as well."<br /><br />The sentry made a second whistle call, this one a different tone and several more soldiers quickly appeared. The sentry explained the situation to them and within minutes they were headed over to Simpaug.<br /><br />It was the first real meal the soldiers had had in three days. One of the soldiers told us it was getting so bad that they were gnawing on shoe leather flavored with pine sap.<br /><br />Many soldiers came to thank us as we pulled the empty sled out of the encampment and made our way back home, it felt good to help out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Future Updates:</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You can also sign-up for my Dropbox Folder. This book and many others will soon be posted to the Dropbox Folder along with teaching resources for them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>What’s in the My Brother Sam is Dead Dropbox Folder?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Everything I have collected and written over that past 6 years and
that's a whole lot. The idea behind this folder is to help parents and
teachers better understand what topics the authors have woven into each
chapter of the fictional history novel, My Brother Sam is Dead.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have broken out this resource into three sections:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1). Guide to
MBSD(2 e-books and 8 supporting documents),</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2). Maps, Photos and Visuals
and</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">3). Teaching Resources(includes lesson plans and online quizzes).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><u>All my ebooks are included</u> at this resource and much more. Photos and
maps of everything that occurs in the novel and teaching tools are
included as well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is everything you need and more to get your kids
really excited about the novel and come away with a very good
understanding of why the novel was written.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://sites.fastspring.com/colleyweb/product/6monthsdropboxaccesstomybrothersamisdeadresources">My Brother Sam is Dead Dropbox Access</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545353751949668674.post-44294097223183980192013-05-09T10:36:00.001-07:002013-05-09T17:29:45.777-07:00Preview of my historical fiction novel about the Revolutionary War Encampments at Redding CT<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is a preview of a historical fiction novel I have been working on for several months. As many of you already know, I highly respect what My Brother Sam is Dead has to offer its readers through the stories Tim Meeker tells us. The topics and situations the authors wove into the story help us to better understand what people were experiencing and feeling in that time period when we look a little deeper into the content. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My only disappointment with My Brother Sam is Dead is that it ended; I wanted to know more. In the quest to know more I fell in love with a topic that I honestly had no interest in prior to reading My Brother Sam is Dead- The Revolutionary War. This new passion led not only to research but relationships with experts on this topic that boosted my interest levels even higher and inspired me to share my knowledge of these topics with others as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This novel is my attempt to pick up where My Brother Sam is Dead left off and tell you the story of what it was like to live in Redding in the Winter of 1778-79. Throughout this novel I will be weaving in my knowledge (as the Collier's did) of this time period and the situations and issues individuals were dealing with within the content. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Okay, enough talk...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Your narrator is Jonas Fairchild. Jonas is 13 years old and lives within walking distance to the middle encampment. His friend and mentor is a Native American Indian named Tom Warrups. Tom is in his 30's and lives just up the hill from Jonas and his family. Through Tom, Jonas learns about Indian culture and their way of life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This preview highlights their special relationship...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Chapter Three- The Day I Learned of Skunny Wundy</b><br /><br />Mushrooms prefer warm, damp conditions and have a remarkably short life span. Many form, grow and die off completely in a matter of hours. So after a rainy evening, you have to head into the woods as quickly as possible in the morning; especially this time of year. I was up and out the door with my forage pouch well before dawn, my dog Phineas came too. Just over the ridge from our house is a swamp bordered by evergreens that produces the most delicious tasting mushrooms that we call "breakfast mushrooms" because they go so well with eggs. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Today was a big day for my Father, he was meeting with some Sapers and Miners from Washington's Army at the mill so I foraged quickly while Phin hunted frogs. There were so many mushrooms that I had my fill in no time and we were back at the house just as everyone else was getting up. I dropped my pouch off in the kitchen for my mother and headed out to the hen house for eggs.<br /><br />By the time I was to the garden I could hear them, there was trouble- they were squawking, all of them, and it was loud. I dropped the basket and ran, ran as fast as I could. As I came tearing around the corner of the hen house we locked eyes. It was a Fox! and he had our Rooster "Roger" by the tail. <br /><br />"Drop him!!" I yelled.<br /><br />"Git!"<br /><br />I reached for the Sickle hanging from the fence but before I could grab it Phineas came flying across the meadow full speed. Phin was in attack mode and that Fox didn't have a chance.<br /><br />Phin blasted into the hen yard, teeth showing and his hackles sky high. <br /><br />The Fox jumped, turned tail running and never looked back. <br /><br />"Oh, Roger. Poor Roger, are you okay?" I said sympathetically as I made my way over to him. <br /><br />I wasn't sure if he was hurt, but he looked pretty rough. The Fox had left him with just one tail feather. <br /><br />I continued to soothe and re-assure him as I looked him over and tell him how proud I was of him for protecting his chickens. He didn’t seem to have anything else physically wrong with him so I advised him to take it easy for awhile and I placed him on his perch.<br /><br />I went back for my basket, gathered up some eggs and made my way back to the kitchen. <br /><br />My mom was waiting for me at the door.<br /><br />Before I could explain anything she ran me up and down.<br /><br />"Where have you been Jonas? What was so important that's delayed you? You know your Father has a very important day today, don't you?"<br /><br />I tried to explain- "Mom, Mom... I know, I know. I'm sorry, but Roger..." <br /><br />But, before I could get another word out, she cut me short, grabbed my ear and ushered me to the table.<br /><br />I sat down in a heap. Totally deflated. "No one ever listens to me" I thought to myself.<br /><br />Then... "Ouuuuuuuuch!" a completely uncalled for poke to the ribs from Philip. "What was that for?"<br /><br />"Making us all late." said Philip <br /><br />"Yeah, what were you doing out there all that time?" David chimed in.<br /><br />"What was I doing? What was I doing??" <br /><br />"Yes. What were you doing out there Jonas?" It was Father and his tone was cold. <br /><br />I wasn't going to take any chance of getting cut off again, so I just said it.<br /><br />"A Fox attacked Roger." <br /><br />"What?!!"<br /><br />"Is he alright?"<br /><br />"Did we lose any Chickens?"<br /><br />"He's not dead is he?"<br /><br />"What did you do?"<br /><br />The questions were coming from every direction until Father's sharp, clear whistle grabbed everyone's attention, the room fell quiet and I said:<br /><br />"Roger's not hurt, he's in shock but he's not hurt."<br /><br />"Did you kill the Fox? Asked Abby.<br /><br />"No," I said "but I don't think he'll be back here. Phineas has likely chased him half-way to Ridgefield by now and my guess is once Phin let's up that Fox just might keep going and take up residence in New York."<br /><br />Everybody laughed, including Mom who was just coming in with breakfast. <br /><br />"Scrambled eggs and mushrooms, mmmmm." David was so happy he was bouncing up and down.<br /><br />Scrambled eggs and mushrooms is his favorite dish and my Mom's recipe is amazing. <br /><br />She sautes the mushrooms in butter until they soften, covers them with eggs, then waits for the mixture to stiffen, adds a sprinkle of herbs and spice and scrambles them until they're done. It's so good.<br /><br />After breakfast we all got on to our chores. It was Saturday and there was a lot to do- I had to weed in the garden, go to the wood lot to gather acorns, then head over to the West mill to help my brothers clean out the saw pits. I brought my fishing line just in case there was some time afterward to try my luck in the mill pond.<br /><br />Phin came back just as I was finishing up at the garden, I tried to entice him to come with me to the wood lot but he was too tired. I left him sprawled out behind the barn and headed out to the road. It was getting close to mid-day and increasingly warm, so I took off my hat, rolled up my sleeves and tried to stay in the shade as much as I could as I walked. <br /><br />Fortunately, our wood lot isn't too far from our house and a small stream runs through the back. Upon arrival I quickly scouted for fresh acorns and then made my way over to the stream to cool off a little and sit down for a snack. The water felt good, it was cold and refreshing. Feeling much better, I sat down. But as I opened my bag, I heard a loud crack over my right shoulder. Then a branch snapped, then another and another. Someone was walking towards me. I dropped my bag, made myself small, skurried over to a rock with a dead tree leaning against it, hunkered down and listened.<br /><br />But whatever it was was gone by that point. Branches were no longer cracking, and the forest was silent, eerily silent; there wasn't a sound. "That's strange." I thought. "Things don't just disappear." <br /><br />No sooner had that thought crossed my mind when everything around me shook as something large came pouncing down behind me. <br /><br />"HELLO SNACK!" Said a loud booming voice.<br /><br />I nearly jumped out of my shoes. I was so scared I was frozen, I couldn't even scream. <br /><br />But the fear only lasted a moment, I knew that laugh well. It was Tom Warrups and he got me good.<br /><br />"That was NOT nice Tom!" I scolded when I finally caught my breath.<br /><br />"That was a good one. Jonas very scared. Ha-Ha-Ha! Tom is much pleased with himself." <br /><br />"How did you sneak up on me like that? And what's "Hello Snack!" all about? Is that an Indian saying or something? You really scared me Tom!"<br /><br />Tom's laughter trailed off, he took out a cloth, and wiped off his brow. "Indians don't hunt with guns like the white man Jonas. Indians hunt with arrows and spears. <br /><br />We have to get much closer to the animal to kill it. Our style of hunting requires stalking. With many, many years of practice you too can become a "ghost in the forest" Jonas. I have never told you of Skunny Wundy?" <br /><br />"No." I said, "What's a Skunny Wundy?"<br /><br />"'Skunny Wundy' is a boy in an old Indian legend." He said. "Are you here to collect Acorns for Acorn Bread?" He asked.<br /><br />"Yes. Acorn Bread and Cookies." I answered.<br /><br />"Will you share some with me?"<br /><br />"Yes."<br /><br />"Then I will tell you how Skunny Wundy and the Turtle out smarted the Stone Giant."<br /><br />And Tom proceeded to tell me the Legend of Skunny Wundy:<br /><br />Long ago, there lived a young boy named Skunny Wundy, his name meant "Cross The Creek." He wasn't particularly large and he wasn't particularly strong, but Skunny Wundy was very clever. The one particular talent that he possessed was skipping stones across the water. Skunny Wundy could make a stone skip more times across the river that cut through his village than anyone else in his tribe.<br /><br />Now, the people of Skunny Wundy's village had always traveled along this river. But they only traveled South. Children were always cautioned to never go North, because to the North was the land of the Stone Giants, large fierce monsters who loved the taste of human flesh. Luckily, Stone Giants weren't very bright, so as long as they didn't see people, they usually forgot they existed. Which is why the people of Skunny Wundy's village always traveled South and never traveled North.<br /><br />One day, Skunny Wundy was walking along the river skipping stones and paying no attention to the direction he was going. He walked and walked and walked until suddenly he was startled by a Crow. He stopped, looked around and realized that he was very far from his village and traveling North! <br /><br />Just as he was about to turn and run home, a thunderous voice boomed down from above him:<br /><br />"A PEO-PLE! MY FAVORITE SNACK!" <br /><br />Skunny Wundy looked up, terrified, it was a Stone Giant! He was huge and he was mean and, as the name suggested, his skin looked as solid as granite. Skunny Wundy knew that if he tried to run, the Giant would surely catch him, so he took a deep breath and decided to reason with him:<br /><br />"You don't want to eat me, I'm nothing more than a bite to you!"<br /><br />Reasoning wasn't going to work...<br /><br />"THAT'S OKAY, I HAVEN'T HAD A BITE ALL DAY!" said the Stone Giant, licking his lips.<br /><br />Skunny Wundy knew his only chance was to outsmart the Giant.<br /><br />"How about a contest?" he said hopefully. The Stone Giant looked interested, so Skunny Wundy pressed on. <br /><br />"I challenge you to a stone skipping contest! We'll each skip a stone across the river and whoever gets theirs to skip the most times wins. If you win, you can...eat me. But if I win, you have to let me go free." <br /><br />The Stone Giant thought about it for a moment, scooped up a boulder and said:<br /><br />"OKAY, LET'S GO!!"<br /><br />"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Skunny Wundy said motioning with both hands for the Giant to hold up. <br /><br />"That boulder may work fine for you. But there's not a stone here that I can even lift, let alone skip. How about I come back tomorrow with a stone more my size and then we'll have our contest?" said Skunny.<br /><br />The Stone Giant looked down at him and thought and thought and thought. Skunny Wundy began to worry this trick might not work. <br /><br />But, finally, the Giant agreed:<br /><br />"SOUNDS GOOD!" he rumbled. "I SEE YOU TOMORROW!" <br /><br />Skunny Wundy jumped up, clicked his heals, turned south and ran; laughing the whole way home. <br /><br />But when he got home, he realized something- Yes, he had outsmarted the Giant, but he had also made a promise. He had promised the Stone Giant that he would return.<br /><br />If he didn't show up for the contest tomorrow the Giant might come looking for him. What if the Giant decided to come looking for him, headed south down the river path, and in the process found his people's village and ate up all Skunny's friends and relatives? It would be tragic and it all would be his fault. Skunny Wundy knew that he couldn't do that to his people and decided that despite the personal risk he would return the next day and compete in the stone skipping contest he had agreed to.<br /><br />At daybreak the next morning, Skunny Wundy set off towards the land of Giants, checking the ground for good stones the whole way. Unfortunately, there were none and when he finally reached the spot where the Giant was waiting for him, he knew the stone he had in hand wouldn't skip enough to beat a Giant's throw; it was too light to travel any great distance.<br /><br />"WELCOME BACK, SNACK!" the Giant laughed as he picked up his boulder again. <br /><br />Skunny Wundy watched dejectedly as the boulder skipped out across the water once, twice, three times...gaining speed as it went, by the time it splashed into the water for the final time, the Giant's stone had skipped fifteen times!<br /><br />"HA!! AGH-HA-HA! BEAT THAT, SNACK!" the Giant roared pounding his chest.<br /><br />Skunny Wundy knew his throw would be hard to beat.<br /><br />"Skunny Wundy!" a soft voice suddenly whispered. <br /><br />Skunny Wundy looked all around, but could not find the source of the voice. He heard it again: "Skunny Wundy, down here, down here! Pick me up and use me!"<br /><br />Skunny Wundy looked down to see a tiny turtle at his feet. He picked the turtle up and again the turtle said: "You can you use me!" Then the animal tucked its head, feet and tail into its shell. And as simple as that, the turtle had become a perfect skipping stone. <br /><br />Skunny Wundy smiled and whispered quietly to the turtle:<br /><br />"My life is in your hands, little friend. But we can do this. Together we can do this, together we are one, we will beat this Giant." <br /><br />Then he reared back his arm, took a deep breath and sent the shell skipping out across the water. Once, twice, three times it skipped, he thought with plenty of speed, but on the thirteenth skip, it turned sideways and it appeared that skip would be his last. But as the corner of the shell was about to crash into the water, suddenly the turtle kicked out his legs. The shell flattened and bounced off the water's surface, skipping again and again and again!<br /><br />"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!" bellowed the Stone Giant, FURIOUS that he had lost. <br /><br />He spun and slashed a large pine tree, shattering it like a twig.<br /><br />Then he roared: "AGHHHHHHHHHH!" and Skunny was very frightened, the Giant could not seem to contain his rage.<br /><br />But then the Giant stopped abruptly, looked down at Skunny and said:<br /><br />"GO! LEAVE HERE THIS INSTANT! BEFORE I CHANGE MY MIND!" <br /><br />Skunny Wundy wasn't taking any chances. He quickly blurted: "Thank You!!" and turned and ran as fast as he could until he reached his home. <br /><br />Over the years, Skunny Wundy had many more encounters with the Stone Giants, but that is how he survived his first...with the help of the Turtle Clan.<br /><br />When Tom was finished, I asked him if the story had any special meaning. He nodded and explained that his people had lived on these lands for tens of thousands of years and how they had done this had a lot to do with how they interacted with the Earth and all its creatures. Indians did not work the land, they worked with the land and sought harmony with its creatures. The Turtle in the story symbolizes the Earth. The Turtle helps Skunny Wundy which is symbolic of the Earth helping Man. My people believe we are a part of the earth and it is a part of us, we are brothers working together. Skunny acknowledges this relationship when he says: "Together we are one." <br /><br />"What does the Giant symbolize?" I asked.<br /><br />"The Giant's ways are egotistical and wasteful, he gets his way using force. He takes from the land whatever he needs and when he has what he needs he moves on. The Earth is not his brother. That is why it was important that Skunny Wundy and the Turtle won the contest. It is a story used to teach our children that the Earth is our brother, and we must treat the Earth and its creatures with kindness." <br /><br />I smiled, thanked him and told him if I had any luck at the mill pond later I'd bring him back some trout.<br /><br />He left and I quickly collected as many green acorns as my pouch could hold. By now the sun was at full strength and I returned to the stream to cool off one last time before heading over the mill to help my brothers. <br /><br />As I dipped my hat into the water, three painted turtles plunged from their log into the water- plip, plop, ploop. <br /><br />"Well, I guess I can't count on you guys should any Stone Giants venture this way." I said with a laugh.<br /><br />I picked up a stone, skipped it across the water and started on my way towards the mill.<br /><br /><br /><b>Chapter Four- Preparing for the Winter Encampments-</b><br /><br />I awoke to light rain on November 14th, it was Tuesday, I had school down in the Center mid-morning so I could have slept a bit more if I wanted but the fall forage had gotten me into the habit of getting up early; I was up and that was that. I sat with my tea cupped in one hand thumbing through my journal with the other, it had been just over two months since Stephen had seen the soldiers over at Read's old wood lot, and as I skimmed over my entries, I was amazed by how much had happened here in Redding over that short stretch of time. <br /><br />Soon after Stephen's sighting we learned that Colonel Aaron Burr, one of General Putnam's aides and a frequent visitor to Redding, was the one that had advised General Putnam to ride through and consider our township for encampments following his visit with General Heath's Brigade in July. Heath's troops were stationed near the supply depots just North of Redding (in the town of Danbury) which explained all the soldiers we had frequenting Redding back then. <br /><br />General Putnam liked what he saw in Redding, and with George Washington's approval three Redding camp locations were selected. Our saw mills bordered two of the three encampment sites and initially the Army proposed that roof slabs and door boards would be cut here and taken to the camps by teamsters. My Father asked them to reconsider because the work to provide the roof slabs and door boards required would bring his regular business to a halt. He showed the Army engineers his saw pits when they visited our mills in October and explained how easy it would be to replicate them at the encampments. They agreed and with Father and Uncle Ephraim's help each camp will be outfitted with saw pits prior to the troops arrival. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545353751949668674.post-69129001497472289642013-05-06T13:23:00.000-07:002013-05-06T13:23:21.310-07:00Video Tour of Putnam State Park in Redding/Bethel Connecticut<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://www.educreations.com/lesson/embed/4433380/" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="480"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545353751949668674.post-41265289727090149822013-05-03T09:05:00.000-07:002013-05-03T09:09:26.921-07:00Benedict Arnold, British Major John André and Redding Ridge's William Heron, what do they have in common?<br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the years My Brother Sam is Dead has continued to fascinate me. I learn something new each and every time I read it. </span></span><br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This morning I was reviewing the chapters that involved Mr. Heron. I paused at Chapter 5 after reading this...</span></span><br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Tim:</b>
"He'd (Mr. Heron) been elected to the General Assembly in
Hartford, but he'd been pushed out of it by the Patriots for
being a Tory."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And decided to re-read </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sir Henry Clinton's
Secret Service Record of Private Daily Intelligence, which
surfaced in 1882, revealing the truth about William Heron's
role in the Revolutionary War…he was a double-agent. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That led me to this pretty amazing tie-in to William Heron, Benedict Arnold, Samuel Parsons, Spies and the Revolution. All are connected to </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Redding Ridge where much of the novel takes place.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Tie-ins </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the evening of April 26, 1777, Benedict Arnold arrives in Redding in pursuit of the British, who are burning the military supply depots in Danbury. There is a chance Arnold met with Heron briefly before heading to Bethel.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In November of 1778, General Samuel Parsons takes up residence across the street from William Heron and would remain in Redding until 1781.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Proof of their friendship and Heron's spy activities are shown in a letter </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">General
Samuel H. Parsons wrote </span>to George Washington, dated
April 6, 1782: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I forgot to mention
the name of Mr. William Heron of Redding, who has for several
years had opportunities of informing himself of the state
of the enemy, their designs and intentions, with more certainty
and precision than most men who have been employed. He is
a native of Ireland, a man of very large knowledge and a great
share of natural sagacity, united with a sound judgment, but
of as unmeaning a countenance as any person in my acquaintance...</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He has frequently
brought me the most accurate descriptions of the posts occupied
by the enemy, and more rational accounts of their numbers,
strength and design than I have been able to obtain in any
other way. As to his character, I know him to be a consistent
national Whig; he is always in the field in any alarm and
has in every trial proved himself a man of bravery..."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How William Heron helped expose Benedict Arnold & British Major John André </span></b> </span><br />
<br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In July of 1780, Benedict Arnold was promoted
to Major General in command of West Point, New York. Soon after, Arnold initiated secret correspondence with British
General Sir Henry Clinton in New York City through British
Major John André. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Arnold offered to surrender the West Point Fort
and the Hudson River over to </span></span><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Clinton & </span></span>the British for £20,000 and a
brigadier's commission in the British Army.</span></span><br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On August 30, Arnold sent a letter </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">via William
Heron </span>accepting </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">British
General Sir Henry Clinton</span></span>'s terms and
proposing a meeting to André. Heron was a member of the Connecticut Assembly Arnold thought he could trust. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Heron, in a comic twist, went into New York unaware of the significance
of the letter, and offered his own services to the British as a spy. He
then took Arnold's letter back to Connecticut, where, suspicious of Arnold's
actions, he delivered it to </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">General
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Samuel H. </span></span>Parsons,</span> the head of the Connecticut militia. </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span>Parsons, misinterpreted the letter as a coded business discussion, and laid
it aside. </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="reference-text"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benedict_Arnold#Randall">Randall (1990)</a>, pp. 524–526</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Luckily
for the Americans, Major André was intercepted on September 23, 1780
with dispatches from </span></span><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Benedict </span></span>Arnold that exposed their plans and was detained for trial.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Arnold promptly fled to the British
when he learned of André's capture for he was scheduled to
meet with George Washington that day. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It wasn't until after Andre's
trial that General Parsons realized the significance of the letter
William Heron had delivered to him weeks earlier and immediately forwarded
the letter to George Washington. As a result, André was denied his request of
a soldier's death by a firing squad and instead was convicted
of being a spy and hanged. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><b>An Example of the Spy Letter's mentioned above- </b><br /> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">July 12, 1780 -- Benedict Arnold to John André (Coded) </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><br />
I 293.9.7 to C_t. B. 103.8.2. the 7th 152.9.17. that , a F__ 112.9.17.
and 22.8.29 were 105.9.50 to / 4 9.71 in 62.8.20 with , 163.8.19 A
22.8.19 at with 230.8.13. 263.8.17 I gave Mr. S---y a 164.8.16 /
147.8.261 to be 209.9.216 in C----a and have from 163.8.17 to .163.8.17
.58.8.27 to him. / Such 147.8.21 as I 164.9.5 147.<span class="text_exposed_show">9.16
s which he 24.9.125 me has 169.9.23'd to you / I 129.8.7 .46.9.22'd no
19.8.29 to 175.9.17 . 158.8.8 - or any 177.8.13 . 168.9.13 . ------- / I
105.9.5. soon to 57.9.7 .at 288.9.8 , 198.9.26, and most . 230.8.12. by
--- / 291.8.27 an 149.8.27 with ---255.9.11 . 148.8.22, 182.4.28 in
whom a 175.9.12 / 67.8.28 could be .196.9.16 --- the 177.8.8 is
.103.8.19 to 22.9.3, and / to 66.8.15 -- are 182.8.28, 169.8.25 be .
260.8.5 , 205.9.3 near / that 209.9.18. --- and 192.9.9'd to 224.9.9 on
,188.8.13 or some ---- / 182.8.28 on 188.8.13 sent 185.6.24 to 95.9.124
an .104.8.1 <br /> <br /> 120.9.7, W------- 105.9.5's on the .22.9.14.----
/ of 163.8.19 F----- 172.8.7s to 56.9.8 |30.000| 172.8.70 to 11.94. in
/ 62.8.20. If 179.8.25, 84.8.9'd, 177.9.28. N---- is 111.9.27.'d on /
23.8.10. the 111.9.13, 180.9.19 if his 180.8.21 an .179.8.25.,
255.8.17. for / that, 180.9.19, 44.8.9 --a-- is the 234.8.14 of
189.8.17. I --- / 44.8.9, 145.8.17, 294.9.12, in 266.8.17 as well as,
103.8.11, 184.9.15.---- / 80.4.20. ---- I149.8.7, 10.8.22'd the 57.9.71
at 288.9.9, 198.9.26, as, a / 100.4.18 in 189.8.19-- I can 221.8.6 the
173.8.19, 102.8.26, 236.8.21's--- / and 289.8.17 will be in 175.9.7,
87.8.7--- the 166.8.11, of the .191.9.16 / are .129.19.21 'of ---
266.9.14 of the .286.8.20, and 291.8.27 to be an ---163.9.4 / 115.8.16
-'a .114.8.25ing --- 263.9.14. are 207.8.17ed, 125.8.15, 103.8.60--- /
from this 294.8.50, 104.9.26 -- If 84.8.9ed -- 294.9.12, 129.8.7. only /
to 193.8.3 and the 64.9.5, 290.9.20, 245.8.3 be at an, 99.8.14 . / the
.204.8.2, 253.8.7s are 159.8.10 the 187.8.11 of a 94.9.9ing / 164.8.24,
279.8.16, but of a .238.8.25, 93.9.28. <br /> <br /> July 12, 1780 -- Benedict Arnold to John André (Decoded) </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="text_exposed_show"><br />
I wrote to Captn B[eckwith]-on the 7th of June, that a F[rench]---
fleet and army / were expected to act in conjunction with the
A[merican]--- army. At the same time / I gave Mr. S[tansbury]-a
manifesto intended to be published in C[anad]---a, and have / from time
to time communicated to him such intelligence as I thought /
interesting, which he assures me he has transmitted to you. I have /
received no answer from my Letter, or any verbal Message - I expect soon
/ to command W[est] P[oin]t and most seriously wish an interview with
some / intelligent officer in whom a mutual confidence could be placed.
The / necessity is evident to arrange and to cooperate - An officer
might / be taken Prisoner near that Post and permitted to return on
parole, / or some officer on Parole sent out to effect an exchange. <br /> <br />
General W[ashington]--- expects on the arrival of the F[rench]---
Troops to collect / 30,000 Troops to act in conjunction; if not
disappointed, N[ew]. York is fixed / on as the first Object, if his
numbers are not sufficient for that Object, / Can-a- is the second; of
which I can inform you in time, as well as of / every other design. I
have accepted the command at W[est]. P[oint]. As a Post in which / I can
render the most essential Services, and which will be in my disposal. /
The mass of the People are heartily tired of the War, and wish to be on
/ their former footing - They are promised great events from this /
year's exertion -- If - disappointed - you have only to persevere / and
the contest will soon be at an end. The present Struggles are / like the
pangs of a dying man, violent but of a short duration--- <br /> <br /> As
Life and fortune are risked by serving His Majesty, it is / Necessary
that the latter shall be secured as well as the emoluments / I give up,
and a compensation for Services agreed on and a Sum / advanced for that
purpose - which I have mentioned in a letter / which accompanies this,
which Sir Henry will not, I believe, think / unreasonable. I am Sir,
your humble Servant. / July 12, 1780 J. Moore / Mr. Jn Anderson / P.S. I
have great confidence in the Bearer, but beg Sir Henry / will threaten
him with his resentment in case he abuses the con- / fidence placed in
him, which will bring ruin on me. / The Bearer will bring me 200
Guineas, and pay the remainder to / Captn A----- who us requested to
receive the deposit for Mr. Moore.</span></span></span><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545353751949668674.post-69558505733160932492013-05-02T17:45:00.002-07:002013-05-09T17:31:08.566-07:00Commander in Chief's Orders May 2, 1778<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Head Quarters, Valley Forge, Saturday, May 2, 1778</span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Parole Bavaria. Countersigns Bristol, Burlington.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Commander in Chief directs that divine Service be performed every
Sunday at 11 oClock in those Brigades to which there are Chaplains;
those which have none to attend the places of worship nearest to them.
It is expected that Officers of all Ranks will by their attendance set
an Example to their men.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFODlFMlR7D_CAtENuQB3yTCg0P8WzVGA8Fszang6tm-ia7HbeFqVk-PSdt4Y0XxdXwvAKjvkcN5B3vK-JpH5FBcsf7s345Ulh8e9BbVp5sjFJRD5qpK2fD1agLmm92Kstz7WjyBmZV9wz4oM/s1600/praying-washington.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFODlFMlR7D_CAtENuQB3yTCg0P8WzVGA8Fszang6tm-ia7HbeFqVk-PSdt4Y0XxdXwvAKjvkcN5B3vK-JpH5FBcsf7s345Ulh8e9BbVp5sjFJRD5qpK2fD1agLmm92Kstz7WjyBmZV9wz4oM/s1600/praying-washington.jpg" height="396" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">While we are zealously performing the duties of good Citizens and
soldiers we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties
of Religion. To the distinguished Character of Patriot, it should be our
highest Glory to add the more distinguished Character of Christian. The
signal Instances of providential Goodness which we have experienced and
which have now almost crowned our labours with complete Success, demand
from us in a peculiar manner the warmest returns of Gratitude and Piety
to the Supreme Author of all Good.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">At a General Court Martial whereof Colonel Febiger was President,
April 27th. 1778, Timothy Flood a soldier in Captain Craige's Company of
Light Dragoons tried for desertion to the Enemy and upon Suspicion of
being a spy and unanimously acquitted; And the Court determine the money
for which the Prisoner sold his horse and the Accoutrements brought
with him out of Philadelphia be delivered for the public Use to the
Person appointed to purchase horses and Accoutrements for Captain
Craige's Company of Light Dragoons.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Commander in Chief approves the sentence and orders it to take place.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">AFTER ORDERS, MAY 2, 1778</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">No fatigue Parties to be employed on Sundays till further Orders.</span><br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/mgw:@field%28DOCID+@lit%28gw110335%29%29"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799. John C. Fitzpatrick, Editor.</span></a></span></h3>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545353751949668674.post-58851656824038919412013-05-01T10:59:00.002-07:002013-05-01T11:00:21.297-07:00New Resource: The American Revolution from McGraw-Hill Higher Education<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This just came my way today and I'd highly suggest reading it and using it as a resource. Great information and well written. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here are the topics you will find in the resource, I have placed a * next to topics that directly tie to My Brother Sam is Dead:</span><br />
<div class="related-links anchors">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<ul class="links">
<li class="anchor-0 first"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://answers.mheducation.com/history/american-history/american-revolution#defining-american-war-aims">DEFINING AMERICAN WAR AIMS</a></span></li>
<li class="anchor-1"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://answers.mheducation.com/history/american-history/american-revolution#the-decision-for-independence">THE DECISION FOR INDEPENDENCE</a>*</span></li>
<li class="anchor-2"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://answers.mheducation.com/history/american-history/american-revolution#responses-to-independence">RESPONSES TO INDEPENDENCE</a></span>*</li>
<li class="anchor-3"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://answers.mheducation.com/history/american-history/american-revolution#mobilizing-for-war">MOBILIZING FOR WAR</a></span>*</li>
<li class="anchor-4"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://answers.mheducation.com/history/american-history/american-revolution#the-first-phase:-new-england">THE FIRST PHASE: NEW ENGLAND</a>*</span></li>
<li class="anchor-5"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://answers.mheducation.com/history/american-history/american-revolution#the-second-phase:-the-mid-atlantic-region">THE SECOND PHASE: THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION</a></span></li>
<li class="anchor-6"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://answers.mheducation.com/history/american-history/american-revolution#the-iroquois-and-the-british">THE IROQUOIS AND THE BRITISH</a></span></li>
<li class="anchor-7"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://answers.mheducation.com/history/american-history/american-revolution#securing-aid-from-abroad">SECURING AID FROM ABROAD</a></span></li>
<li class="anchor-8"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://answers.mheducation.com/history/american-history/american-revolution#the-final-phase:-the-south">THE FINAL PHASE: THE SOUTH</a></span></li>
<li class="anchor-9"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://answers.mheducation.com/history/american-history/american-revolution#winning-the-peace">WINNING THE PEACE</a></span></li>
<li class="anchor-10"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://answers.mheducation.com/history/american-history/american-revolution#loyalists-and-minorities">LOYALISTS AND MINORITIES</a>*</span></li>
<li class="anchor-11"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://answers.mheducation.com/history/american-history/american-revolution#the-war-and-slavery">THE WAR AND SLAVERY</a></span>*</li>
<li class="anchor-12"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://answers.mheducation.com/history/american-history/american-revolution#native-americans-and-the-revolution">NATIVE AMERICANS AND THE REVOLUTION</a>*</span></li>
<li class="anchor-13"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://answers.mheducation.com/history/american-history/american-revolution#women%E2%80%99s-rights-and-women%E2%80%99s-roles">WOMEN’S RIGHTS AND WOMEN’S ROLES</a>*</span></li>
<li class="anchor-14"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://answers.mheducation.com/history/american-history/american-revolution#the-war-economy">THE WAR ECONOMY</a>*</span></li>
<li class="anchor-15"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://answers.mheducation.com/history/american-history/american-revolution#the-assumptions-of-republicanism">THE ASSUMPTIONS OF REPUBLICANISM</a></span></li>
<li class="anchor-16"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://answers.mheducation.com/history/american-history/american-revolution#the-first-state-constitutions">THE FIRST STATE CONSTITUTIONS</a></span></li>
<li class="anchor-17"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://answers.mheducation.com/history/american-history/american-revolution#revising-state-governments">REVISING STATE GOVERNMENTS</a></span></li>
<li class="anchor-18"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://answers.mheducation.com/history/american-history/american-revolution#toleration-and-slavery">TOLERATION AND SLAVERY</a></span></li>
<li class="anchor-19"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://answers.mheducation.com/history/american-history/american-revolution#the-confederation">THE CONFEDERATION</a></span></li>
<li class="anchor-20"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://answers.mheducation.com/history/american-history/american-revolution#diplomatic-failures">DIPLOMATIC FAILURES</a></span></li>
<li class="anchor-21"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://answers.mheducation.com/history/american-history/american-revolution#the-confederation-and-the-northwest">THE CONFEDERATION AND THE NORTHWEST</a></span></li>
<li class="anchor-22"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://answers.mheducation.com/history/american-history/american-revolution#indians-and-the-western-lands">INDIANS AND THE WESTERN LANDS</a></span></li>
<li class="anchor-23 last"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://answers.mheducation.com/history/american-history/american-revolution#debts-taxes-and-daniel-shays">DEBTS, TAXES, AND DANIEL SHAYS</a></span></li>
</ul>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545353751949668674.post-12793112304425517872013-05-01T08:28:00.000-07:002013-05-01T10:50:16.077-07:00My Brother Sam is Dead Information<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For
everything I have on My Brother Sam is Dead, sign up for my Dropbox Account:
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://sites.fastspring.com/colleyweb/product/6monthsdropboxaccesstomybrothersamisdeadresources">My Brother Sam is Dead
Dropbook Sign up</a>.</span></span><b> </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This Dropbox includes<u> all my materials</u> and is
updated often.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I used to sell CD's with this material but Dropbox is even better than a CD because I can add to the Dropbox account whenever I want and you can access the Dropbox account from anywhere. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a look at what is in it:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb5001oxSmCFD0_ipDbg-XgmsSpiCWiDZ85QV5BdlOVD-895Lij2iEC-h14PbdkZpv8rYO7mRMJjVjwJLX9f9KK8SQZIFCNIWc3xYBIC7SDjbyhfLNzGqnY1kqrb97RREb54wj-H023BdAf70/s1600/dropbox-MBSD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb5001oxSmCFD0_ipDbg-XgmsSpiCWiDZ85QV5BdlOVD-895Lij2iEC-h14PbdkZpv8rYO7mRMJjVjwJLX9f9KK8SQZIFCNIWc3xYBIC7SDjbyhfLNzGqnY1kqrb97RREb54wj-H023BdAf70/s1600/dropbox-MBSD.jpg" height="299" width="640" /> </a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">When you enter the My Brother Sam is Dead Folder you will see two of my e-books and a link to the resources folders. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivHdOHAZ6_Ug6oIQC11U6a1lD5rYEwgAcF63LNnVpILy89QXFMZORSwzpvL8tKPEgLcjA1BvmJI6hKn7oUfCufyApBmgfcu4rWKXS5aRHvo4zKMJJ0n12Ccod6aUgecZRbDtS7EB9s3sTngxM/s1600/dropbox-MBSD2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivHdOHAZ6_Ug6oIQC11U6a1lD5rYEwgAcF63LNnVpILy89QXFMZORSwzpvL8tKPEgLcjA1BvmJI6hKn7oUfCufyApBmgfcu4rWKXS5aRHvo4zKMJJ0n12Ccod6aUgecZRbDtS7EB9s3sTngxM/s1600/dropbox-MBSD2.jpg" height="360" width="640" /> </a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When you enter the Guide to MBSD folder you have access to all my documentation which I left it in Word format so you can copy and paste it into your own lessons and presentations.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX8kwZXkvCQp4ATdGJDl9J3B_NsIZYJL5vg3S07dskgFScbo1u9F1H0OyfedTaEFMOeuvgoghQ1HTsPCl8Cl58tOJTFRUywyJckeLBoXF-XgHgd1ZMm0rLeJ2KyxW8mHpYtJa7LJOwrHLR9d8/s1600/dropbox-MBSD-Visuals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX8kwZXkvCQp4ATdGJDl9J3B_NsIZYJL5vg3S07dskgFScbo1u9F1H0OyfedTaEFMOeuvgoghQ1HTsPCl8Cl58tOJTFRUywyJckeLBoXF-XgHgd1ZMm0rLeJ2KyxW8mHpYtJa7LJOwrHLR9d8/s1600/dropbox-MBSD-Visuals.jpg" height="408" width="640" /> </a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Photos and Visuals folder has every photo I've taken and every photo I've used in my presentation over the years. I have them broken out by topic to make them easy to find. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNCtMzizmi_4Msj2z2X9XMWclY0UZ0hnXDK5m_JI4gpFz2ZaaBxVfmsxjFrT87jQVsccgOHnwfsrTKLZd-GhT-1k_iMc8Ge_et4ZIs7Fm2J5KuGG90Xh9neg4jlgWa5VMrI_TKMkb7svHlF_Q/s1600/dropbox-MBSD-teaching.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNCtMzizmi_4Msj2z2X9XMWclY0UZ0hnXDK5m_JI4gpFz2ZaaBxVfmsxjFrT87jQVsccgOHnwfsrTKLZd-GhT-1k_iMc8Ge_et4ZIs7Fm2J5KuGG90Xh9neg4jlgWa5VMrI_TKMkb7svHlF_Q/s1600/dropbox-MBSD-teaching.jpg" height="304" width="640" /> </a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> The Teaching Resources area has a lot of great stuff. I have lesson plans I've created as well as lesson plans others have created. You will also find Maps, my collection of My Brother Sam is Dead Topics, Rev War Documents (primary source) and Suggestions for other books that use historical fiction.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've priced it at $12.99, but you can find coupons that knock the price down to $8.99 at the <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Readers-Guide-to-My-Brother-Sam-is-Dead/103776809747164">My Brother Sam is Dead Facebook Account</a></b> for the Novel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've put a lot of effort into this resource because this book is really amazing and I want kids and teachers to get more out of it than just the story. The story is very good but the topics they have woven into the story are what really makes this novel special.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The My Brother Sam is Dead Dropbox Account:
<a href="http://sites.fastspring.com/colleyweb/product/6monthsdropboxaccesstomybrothersamisdeadresources"><b><br />My Brother Sam is Dead
Dropbook Sign up</b></a>.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Teachers that wish to promote this resource and earn money doing so can email me at:<br />bcolley@colleyweb.com </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span> </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545353751949668674.post-78491486191415539282013-04-30T11:42:00.000-07:002013-04-30T11:43:09.648-07:00African American soldiers in Redding's encampments<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">While doing research over the weekend about the number of African American soldiers in Redding's encampments I came across this:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"As for blacks in the Connecticut
regiments, we have brigade returns for August 1778 showing 148
black soldiers in Parson's brigade and 62 in Huntington's brigade.
At that time the 6th Connecticut Regiment was serving under Brigadier
General Parson."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: <a href="http://www.americanrevolution.org/rees.html">http://www.americanrevolution.org/rees.html </a></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I fo<span style="font-size: small;">und this interesting because both Parsons and Huntington were in Redding for the Winter of </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">1778 to 1779<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">and <span style="font-size: small;">have <span style="font-size: small;">now started to look<span style="font-size: small;"> a little deeper to see if all 210 Black and Indian soldi<span style="font-size: small;">ers came to Redding.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'll update as soon as I have more informatio<span style="font-size: small;">n</span>.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545353751949668674.post-42033972988094746452013-04-26T07:40:00.000-07:002013-04-26T08:29:38.556-07:00My Brother Sam is Dead and the British Raid of Danbury<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In Chapter 10 of My Brother Sam is Dead, Tim has many feelings about the War but he has yet
to experience the war up close. That changes on Saturday morning April 26, 1777 while Tim is tending to the kitchen garden on the side of his house.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Tim narrating:</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> "I began hearing
from a long way away a heavy muttering noise. It sounded a bit like thunder,
but not exactly. It made me uneasy. I jammed the spade in the ground and went
out front of the tavern to have a look up and down the road. The sound seemed
to be coming from the southwest over behind the church somewhere…And then I saw
Ned, Samuel Smith's Negro, come running up the road. At the same moment Captain
Betts, popped out of his house next door. Captain Betts was in the Rebel
militia. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">"What is it, Ned" he shouted. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">"British Troops,
Captain," Ned shouted. He ran on by. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">"The noise grew
louder. I watched, and all at once through the hedgerows I caught a glimpse of
movement and things flashing. In a moment the vanguard appeared around the
bend…On down the road toward me they came. It was a frightening thing to see.
They just kept coming on and on as if nothing in the world could stop
them." </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">With the war in his front
yard, Tim experiences many realities in a short frame of time: </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">1. The British troops are
numerous, organized, and impressive looking: "Oh, those troops were
impressive looking with all those belts and buckles and powder horns and
bayonets and so forth dangling about their red uniforms. How could people like
Sam expect to beat them?"</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">2. There are split
loyalties in his own neighborhood: "It gave me a funny feeling to realize
that while Mr. Heron was giving the British officers rum and beef, Captain
Betts and Mr. Rogers were sitting a hundred yards away trying out a way to kill
them." </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">3. That he's a Tory.
"Suddenly I realized that I was. Father's capture had done that." </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">4. War turns men into
beasts. "At first when the troops had arrived, swaggering around so bold
and gay, I had really admired them. But seeing them take Jerry Sanford off like
that gave me a sick feeling in my stomach." </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">5. He doesn't want to be a
Tory anymore. After watching the British kill Ned and the others in Captain
Starr's house he realizes that neither side of the war is worthy of his
support.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">These events really happened... </span></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span>
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: white;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">April
26, 1777 British Raid on Danbury, Connecticut </span></b></span><span style="color: black;"><b></b></span></b></span></b><br />
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>British
Raid of Danbury, 1777 </i></span></div>
<div align="left">
<br /></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
British Army's march through Redding Ridge is the only direct
contact Redding residents had with British troops in the Revolution.
It created much excitement and afforded the Collier's an opportunity
to bring that excitement to life in my brother Sam is dead.
Twenty-four vessels carrying around 1,550 regular British
troops and some 300 Loyalist militiamen from "Browne's Provincial
Corps", many of whom were originally from Connecticut, arrived
on the shores of Compo Beach in Westport, Connecticut on April
25, 1777. Their mission: destroy the rebel military supply
depot at Danbury, Connecticut.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span>
<br />
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lord
Howe, the commander of the British troops, stationed at New
York City, had long meditated an attack on Connecticut and
news of provisions being stored at Danbury provided the incentive
he desired. Howe chose William Tryon, the deposed British
governor of New York, as Commander and two military men: Brigadier
General James Agnew, second in command and Brigadier General
Sir William Erskine as third in command for the expedition. </span></div>
<div align="left">
<br /></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tryon
had been Governor of New York up until the Revolution and
was said to have been consumed with "an inveterate hatred
and thirst for revenge" on the rebel Yankees. He had a special
grudge against Connecticut, the sturdy little colony that
had thwarted him in a variety of ways: "Her horseman had scattered
organs of revolutionary propaganda through the streets of
New York; her "Sons of Liberty" had plotted against him even
in his own city; treated with contempt his proclamations,
using them as specimens of the governor's pleasant humor." </span></div>
<div align="left">
<br /></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tryon
had the further merit of being intimately acquainted with
the towns and landscape of Connecticut. He had been as far
inland as Litchfield, had probably visited Danbury, and had
been dined and feted at Norwalk, Fairfield, and New Haven.
He seems to have acted as a *guide to the expedition while
giving **Agnew and Erskine the responsibility of tactical
operations. </span></div>
<div align="left">
<br /></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Via
40 or 50 flatboats the troops disembarked at Compo between
five and six in the afternoon, and that same evening marched
to Fairfield, about seven miles distant, where they encamped
for the night. </span></div>
<div align="left">
<br /></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">News
that the British had landed at Compo, encamped at Fairfield,
and would march through Redding the next day, was conveyed
to the residents at an early hour, and occasioned the greatest
consternation and excitement. Money and valuables were hastily
secreted in wells and other places of concealment; horses
and cattle were driven into the forests, and the inhabitants
along the enemy's probable route held themselves in readiness
for instant flight. </span></div>
<div align="left">
<br /></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On
receiving intelligence of the landing at Compo, Captain Zalmon
Read mustered his company of militia, and forthwith marched
to intercept the invaders. At a place called Couch's Rock,
in Weston, Connecticut, they came suddenly upon a British
flanking company and were taken as prisoners. Town selectman,
James Rogers, Timothy Parsons, Russell Bartlett and 13 year
old, Jacob Patchen were among the prisoners. In Charles Burr
Todd's History of Redding, Todd relates that: </span></div>
<div align="left">
<br /></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Timothy
Parsons, had a fine musket which he particularly valued; this
a British soldier took, and dashed to pieces on the stones,
saying it should waste no more rebel bullets." </span></div>
<div align="left">
<br /></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meanwhile,
Colonel Joseph Platt Cooke, commander of the 16th militia
regiment in Danbury, had followed General Gold S. Silliman's
instructions and sent all available men from Danbury to Fairfield.
Silliman mistakenly assumed that the British intended to attack
Fairfield. Other troops were sent toward the Hudson River,
in response to a number of ships the British had strategically
positioned there to confuse the American generals. This left
the Military Depot at Danbury in a vulnerable state. </span></div>
<div align="left">
<br /></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On
the morning of the 26th, at a very seasonable hour (11am-12
noon), the British troops arrived and halted at Redding Ridge.
During the halt the main body of the troops remained under
arms on the green in front of the Anglican Church. Tryon,
Agnew, and Erskine were invited into Esquire William Heron's
home (the first house south of the Christ Church Episcopal,
no longer in existence). Here they were reported to have been
"hospitably entertained with cake, wine, and it is presumed,
many hopeful prognostications of the speedy collapse of the
rebellion." </span></div>
<div align="left">
<br /></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shortly
after their meeting, a file of soldiers entered the house
of Lieutenant Stephen Betts, a prominent patriot who lived
across the street from the church and seized him. Daniel Sanford,
his son, Jeremiah Sanford (19 years old), and 16 year old,
Benjamin Lines, met a like fate. Three of Redding's loyalists
joined British Troops on this day: Samuel Hawley, James Gray,
and Joseph Lyon. Lyon had been in hiding for 33 days. </span></div>
<div align="left">
<br /></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As
the army prepared to resume its march north, a horseman was
observed spurring rapidly down Couch Hill Road (present day-
Sunset Hill Road) toward them. He was within musket shot before
discovering their presence and though he turned to fly when
he saw their red coats, he was shot, and severely wounded
in the attempt. He proved to be a messenger from Colonel Cooke
in Danbury, bearing dispatches to General Silliman. His name
was Lambert Lockwood. Tryon had formerly known him in Norwalk,
where Lockwood had rendered him a service, and Tryon seems
to have acted on this occasion with some kindness, as he released
him on parole, and allowed him to be taken into a house so
his wounds could be dressed. </span></div>
<div align="left">
<br /></div>
<div align="left">
</div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All
in all, the British troops spent one to two hours on Redding
Ridge before resuming their march to Danbury with the ***Redding
militiamen captured in Weston, Patriots Stephen Betts, Daniel
Sanford, Jeremiah Sanford and a non-combatant (B. Lines) captured
in Redding. One British soldier, Bernard Keeler, deserted
at Redding Ridge and lived in town until his death in 1827.
</span></div>
<div align="left">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As
the British marched toward Danbury, the remaining patriots
of Redding anxiously awaited the approach of the Patriot troops
in pursuit. At length they came in view, marching wearily,
in sodden, disordered ranks, a small army of five hundred
men and boys, led by Brigadier General Silliman. They were
comprised of soldiers from the companies of Colonel Lamb's
battalion of artillery, with three rusty cannon, a field-piece,
part of the artillery company of Fairfield, and sixty Continentals;
the rest were an untrained assemblage, chiefly old men and
boys. </span></div>
<div align="left">
<br /></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was eight o'clock in the evening when the New Haven troops
arrived at Redding Ridge-an evening as disagreeable as a northeast
rainstorm with its attendant darkness could make it. Here
the troops halted an hour for rest and refreshment. At the
expiration of that time a bugle was heard from far down the
turnpike; then the tramp of horsemen was heard and presently
Major General Wooster and Brigadier General Arnold, dashed
into the village of Redding Ridge. </span></div>
<div align="left">
<br /></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On
hearing that the British were so far ahead, it is said that
Arnold became so enraged that he could scarcely keep his seat,
and his terrible oaths fell on his auditor's ears like thunder
claps. Wooster at once assumed command, and the column moved
forward through the muddy and heavily rutted roadway as far
as Bethel, where it halted for the night. </span></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At
Danbury, but three miles distant, Tryon's force was at rest,
and might have been annihilated by a determined effort, but
the Continental command was hampered by the weather conditions,
heavily rutted roadways and fatigue.</span></div>
<div align="left">
<br /></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Benedict
Arnold to McDougall, West Redding, April 27th, 1777, 10am:</span></div>
<div align="left">
<br /></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "Last
night at half past eleven, General Wooster, General Silliman
and myself with six hundred militia arrived at Bethel, ****eight
miles from Danbury. The excessive heavy rains rendered their
arms useless, and many of the troops were much fatigued having
marched thirty miles in the course of the day without refreshment." </span></div>
<div align="left">
<br /></div>
<div align="left">
</div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
British had reached Danbury at approximately 5:00 pm and driven
off the Patriots who had been attempting to remove supplies.
Later that evening, seven patriot defenders who had stayed
behind opened fire on British troops from a house in town
owned by Major Daniel Starr, among the patriots was "Ned",
a slave of Redding's Samuel Smith. *****Two companies of British
regulars charged and put the dwelling to the torch killing
all the men inside. </span></div>
<br />
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before
their departure early the next morning, the British had destroyed
much of the Rebel's depot: barrels of pork and beef, barrels
of flour, bushels of grain, hogsheads of rum and wine, thousands
of shoes, stockings and tents among other supplies. Provisions
the Continental troops would long for come the winter of 1778-79.
</span></div>
<div align="left">
<br /></div>
<div align="left">
</div>
<div align="left">
<br /></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Notes:</span></div>
<div align="left">
<br /></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>*</b>Tryon
was aided by local Tories who had fled from the area and joined
the British army. The locals intimate knowledge of the roadways
and landscape in and around Southwestern Connecticut was a
vital asset to the British troops. </span></div>
<div align="left">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>**</b>Agnew
was injured at some point during the weekend and Erskine took
over as second in command.; He was very capable in that role.
Earlier that winter, Erskine had led a foraging expedition
to New Jersey in which "he routed the rebels with great slaughter;
he took no prisoners." </span></div>
<div align="left">
<br /></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">***Betts,
Bartlett, Lines, Patchen, and most of the Redding militiamen
would all eventually return to Redding. Daniel Sanford, Jeremiah
Sanford, Daniel Chapman, and David Fairchild died in captivity
while being held in the "sugar houses" of New York, where
sanitation was deplorable and disease was rampant.</span> </span></div>
<div align="left">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">****distances
from Danbury vary from 2.5 miles to 8 miles, depending on
who is reporting back to their superiors. In this case Arnold
incorrectly states they were 8 miles from Danbury; They were
within 3 miles of Danbury, at the intersection of Elizabeth
Street and Blackman Avenue. </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span><br />
<br />
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> *****This
was the story behind the beheading of Ned in My Brother Sam
is Dead. </span></div>
<div align="left">
<br /></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I
will continue to provide free content here and at my History of Redding <span style="font-size: small;">web<span style="font-size: small;">si</span>te</span>,
but for those who wish to have access to <u>all</u> I know</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">,
I have created a Dropbox account that has everything I've
found and created. All can be downloaded from the Dropbox.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Access is <b>$12.99</b> and that is unlimited access. Friend the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Readers-Guide-to-My-Brother-Sam-is-Dead/103776809747164">My Brother Sam is Dead Facebook page</a> and <span style="font-size: small;">receive a <u>$4 discount</u>.</span></span></span> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://sites.fastspring.com/colleyweb/product/6monthsdropboxaccesstomybrothersamisdeadresources">My Brother Sam is Dead Dropbox</a> information. This resource includes all my e-books, photos, maps, primary source materials, lesson plans and online self-grading quizzes. Plus much more.</span><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545353751949668674.post-13854328317183703542013-04-22T16:38:00.000-07:002013-04-22T16:38:51.467-07:00Book Preview for Earth Day- The Legend of Skunny Wundy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbgaIV6xXKYJGC2VkXTw_4CBOkVNk1O0VvEtRyWpHKhVwWxwNnOnDfeFbsOQJY7R7o-mXdGWQa7UJKTyHJVzbmeDB3QNmadlfWa7AnUFuABuUrpn0wRwBS69U6C47ExRySThyphenhyphenqkKaBiCWFs6Y/s1600/stone-skip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbgaIV6xXKYJGC2VkXTw_4CBOkVNk1O0VvEtRyWpHKhVwWxwNnOnDfeFbsOQJY7R7o-mXdGWQa7UJKTyHJVzbmeDB3QNmadlfWa7AnUFuABuUrpn0wRwBS69U6C47ExRySThyphenhyphenqkKaBiCWFs6Y/s320/stone-skip.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">In honor of Earth Day, The Legend of Skunny Wundy</span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"> <br />
Long ago, there lived a young boy named Skunny Wundy, his name meant
"Cross The Creek." He wasn't particularly large and he wasn't
particularly strong, but Skunny Wundy was very clever. The one
particular talent that he possessed was skipping stones across the
water. Skunny Wundy could make a stone skip more times across the river
that cut throug<span class="text_exposed_show">h his village than anyone else in his tribe.<br /> <br />
Now, the people of Skunny Wundy's village had always traveled along
this river. But they only traveled South. Children were always cautioned
to never go North, because to the North was the land of the Stone
Giants, large fierce monsters who loved the taste of human flesh.
Luckily, Stone Giants weren't very bright, so as long as they
didn't see people, they usually forgot they existed. Which is why the
people of Skunny Wundy's village always traveled South and never
traveled North.<br /> <br /> One day, Skunny Wundy was walking along the
river skipping stones and paying no attention to the direction he was
going. He walked and walked and walked until suddenly he was
startled by a Crow. He stopped, looked around and realized that he was
very far from his village and traveling North! <br /> <br /> Just as he was about to turn and run home, a thunderous voice boomed down from above him:<br /> <br /> "A PEO-PLE! MY FAVORITE SNACK!" <br /> <br />
Skunny Wundy looked up, terrified, it was a Stone Giant! He was huge
and he was mean and, as the name suggested, his skin looked as solid as
granite. Skunny Wundy knew that if he tried to run, the Giant would surely catch him, so he took a deep breath and decided to reason with him:<br /> <br /> "You don't want to eat me, I'm nothing more than a bite to you!"<br /> <br /> Reasoning wasn't going to work...<br /> <br /> "THAT'S OKAY, I HAVEN'T HAD A BITE ALL DAY!" said the Stone Giant, licking his lips. <br /> <br /> Skunny Wundy knew his only chance was to out smart the Giant.<br /> <br /> "How about a contest?" he said hopefully. The Stone Giant looked interested, so Skunny Wundy pressed on. <br /> <br />
"I challenge you to a stone skipping contest! We'll each skip a stone
across the river and whoever gets theirs to skip the most times wins. If
you win, you can...eat me. But if I win, you have to let me go free." <br /> <br /> The Stone Giant thought about it for a moment, scooped up a boulder and said:<br /> <br /> "OKAY, LET'S GO!!"<br /> <br /> "Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Skunny Wundy said motioning with both hands for the Giant to hold up. <br /> <br />
"That boulder may work fine for you. But there's not a stone here that I
can even lift, let alone skip. How about I come back tomorrow with a
stone more my size and then we'll have our contest?" said Skunny.<br /> <br /> The Stone Giant looked down at him and thought and thought and thought. Skunny Wundy began to worry this trick might not work. <br /> <br /> But, finally, the Giant agreed:<br /> <br /> "SOUNDS GOOD!" he rumbled. "I SEE YOU TOMORROW!" <br /> <br /> Skunny Wundy jumped up, clicked his heals, turned south and ran; laughing the whole way home. <br /> <br />
But when he got home, he realized something- Yes, he had out smarted
the Giant, but he had also made a promise. He had promised the Stone
Giant that he would return.<br /> <br /> If he didn't show up for the
contest tomorrow the Giant might come looking for him. What if the Giant
decided to come looking for him, headed south down the river path,
and in the process found his people's village and ate up all Skunny's
friends and relatives? It would be tragic and it all would be his fault.
Skunny Wundy knew that he couldn't do that to his people and decided
that despite the personal risk he would return the next day and compete
in the stone skipping contest he had agreed to.<br /> <br /> At daybreak the
next morning, Skunny Wundy set off towards the land of Giants, checking
the ground for good stones the whole way. Unfortunately, there were
none and when he finally reached the spot where the Giant was waiting
for him, he knew the stone he had in hand wouldn't skip enough to beat a
Giant's throw; it was too light to travel any great distance.<br /> <br /> "WELCOME BACK, SNACK!" the Giant laughed as he picked up his boulder again. <br /> <br />
Skunny Wundy watched dejectedly as the boulder skipped out across the
water once, twice, three times...gaining speed as it went, by the time
it splashed into the water for the final time, the Giant's stone had
skipped fifteen times!<br /> <br /> "HA!! AGH-HA-HA! BEAT THAT, SNACK!" the Giant roared pounding his chest.<br /> <br /> Skunny Wundy knew his throw would be hard to beat.<br /> <br /> "Skunny Wundy!" a soft voice suddenly whispered. <br /> <br /> Skunny Wundy looked all around, but could not find the source of the voice. <br /> <br /> He heard it again: "Skunny Wundy, down here, down here! Pick me up and use me!"<br /> <br />
Skunny Wundy looked down to see a tiny turtle at his feet. He picked
the turtle up and again the turtle said: "You can you use me!" Then the
animal tucked its head, feet and tail into its shell. And as simple as
that, the turtle had become a perfect skipping stone. <br /> <br /> Skunny Wundy smiled and whispered quietly to the turtle:<br /> <br />
"My life is in your hands, little friend. But we can do this. Together
we can do this, together we are one, we will beat this Giant." <br /> <br />
Then he reared back his arm, took a deep breath and sent the shell
skipping out across the water. Once, twice, three times it skipped, he
thought with plenty of speed, but on the thirteenth skip, it turned
sideways and it appeared that skip would be his last. But as the corner
of the shell was about to crash into the water, suddenly the turtle
kicked out his legs. The shell flattened and bounced off the water's
surface, skipping again and again again!<br /> <br /> "NOOOOOOOOOOOO!" bellowed the Stone Giant, FURIOUS that he had lost. <br /> <br /> He spun and slashed a large pine tree, shattering it like a twig.<br /> <br /> Then he roared: "AGHHHHHHHHHH!" and Skunny was very frightened, the Giant could not seem to contain his rage.<br /> <br /> But then the Giant stopped abruptly, looked down at Skunny and said:<br /> <br /> "GO! LEAVE HERE THIS INSTANT! BEFORE I CHANGE MY MIND!" <br /> <br />
Skunny Wundy wasn't taking any chances. He quickly blurted: "Thank
You!!" and turned and ran as fast as he could until he reached his home.
<br /> <br /> Over the years, Skunny Wundy had many more encounters with
the Stone Giants, but that is how he survived his first...with the help
of the Turtle Clan.<br /> <br /><span> --------------------------</span><wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span><span>--------------------------</span><wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>-----------<br /> <br />
The above is an Indian legend that I reworked to fit into a historical
fiction novel I'm working on about Redding and the Revolutionary War. The storyteller
is Tom Warrups, a local Native American Indian that is teaching his
neighbor (a 13 year old boy named Jonas) about how his people interacted
with the Earth. Below is a little from their discussion after Tom tells
Jonas this story:<br /> <br /> When Tom was finished, I asked him if the
story had any special meaning. He nodded and explained that his people
had lived on these lands for tens of thousands of years and how they had
done this had a lot to do with how they interacted with the Earth and
all its creatures. Indians did not work the lands, they worked with the lands and sought harmony with its creatures. The Turtle in the story
symbolizes the Earth. The Turtle helps Skunny Wundy which is symbolic of
the Earth helping Man. <br /> <br /> My people believe we are a part of the
earth and it is a part of us, we are brothers working together. Skunny
acknowledges this relationship when he says: "Together we are one." <br /> <br /> "What does the Giant symbolize?" I asked.<br /> <br />
"The Giant's ways are egotistical and wasteful, he gets his way using
force. He takes from the land whatever he needs and when he has what he
needs he moves on. The Earth is not his brother. That is why it was
important that Skunny Wundy and the Turtle won the contest . It is a
story used to teach our children that the Earth is our brother, and we must treat the Earth and its creatures with kindness." <br /> <br /> <b>Happy Earth Day!</b></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><span class="text_exposed_show">p.s. Parents or Teachers that wish to receive chapters of "The War comes to Redding" as I finish them can contact me at: bcolley@colleyweb.com.<b><br /></b></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545353751949668674.post-50621469728031023732013-04-16T09:03:00.000-07:002013-04-16T09:11:44.501-07:00Discussion Topics for Chapter Two of My Brother Sam is Dead<div align="left">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #000066;">My Brother Sam is Dead
Chapter II: </span></b></span></div>
<div align="left">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Tim provides background information about his
town, neighborhood and religion at the onset of chapter two.</span></div>
<div align="left">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Tim:</b> "Redding was divided into two-parts:
Redding Center and Redding Ridge"</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #000066;">you can discuss <a href="http://mybrothersamisdead.historyofredding.com/my-brother-sam-is-dead_setting.htm">Redding,
Connecticut</a> - where is it and why it was divided in
two parts (Anglicans and Presbyterians). </span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Tim:</b> "Church was practically the only
time we ever saw some of the farmers from farther out in the
parish - places like Umpawaug. They wanted to keep up with
the news…"</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #000066;">you can discuss how information
was shared in colonial times and how these methods led to
biased opinions on very important issues.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #000066;">you can also discuss Religion in
colonial times.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Sam:</b> "This is Tory Country. Father,
Mr. Beach, the Lyons, the Couches - most of them in our church
are Tories. And they think it's the same everywhere, but it
isn't."</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #000066;">you can discuss how a township could
gain a reputation for being "Tory Country".</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #000066;">you can also discuss who <a href="http://mybrothersamisdead.historyofredding.com/my-brother-sam-is-dead_loyalists.htm">Tories
or Loyalists</a> were and why they were opposed to the rebellion,
what they endured, etc...</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The most important
comment Tim makes in chapter two is "What kept confusing me
about it was that the argument didn't have two sides the way
an argument should, but about six sides." Tim is speaking
of "opinions" people had of the British government's policies
following the French and Indian War. These new policies hampered
America's economic and geographical growth via: </span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Taxes </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Trade restrictions
</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The Presence
of British troops in America (and cost of having them here)
</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> British efforts
to prevent westward expansion of the colonies </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The Political
corruption of Royal Governors </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The anger over
these policies had reached a boiling point and as Tim states:
"..it wasn't going to be just arguments anymore." The reason
Tim's comment is so important is that the debate over rebellion
was a complex topic with many sides that needed to be examined
and decided on by the American colonists prior to a rebellion.
Issues like: economics, government, religion, and safety in
the American Colonies should they gain Independence from Great
Britain were very important questions that really did not
have answers before the events at Lexington and Concord thrust
the American citizens into war with the British. </span><br />
<div align="left">
<br /></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="color: #000066; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Below
are some examples of the loyalist's concerns regarding the
rebellion:</span></div>
<ul>
<li>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The British
Army was powerful and experienced. Many men, 40 years
of age or older, had fought along side the British soldiers
in the French and Indian War. They had experienced, first-hand,
the skill and tenacity of the enemy. </span><br />
</li>
<li>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Land to the
West of the Appalachian Mountains was occupied by Indians,
the Spanish and the French, not Americans. Would the colonists
be able to defend themselves from attacks from any one
of them without the assistance of the British Army? </span><br />
</li>
<li>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Successful
businesses and merchants worried that if America split
from England they would be at risk of losing their prosperity.
Tobacco farmers are an example of those who actually did
suffer as a result of the American Revolution. </span><br />
</li>
<li>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Without a
plan for self-government in place how would the colonies
function politically?</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For more chapter discussion topics from My Brother Sam is Dead, visit:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://mybrothersamisdead.historyofredding.com/my-brother-sam-is-dead-chapters.htm">http://mybrothersamisdead.historyofredding.com/my-brother-sam-is-dead-chapters.htm</a> </span><br />
<br />
<div align="left">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I
will continue to provide free samples of my content at the above link, but for those who wish to have access
to <u>all</u> I know</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">,
I have created a Dropbox account that has everything I have ever created for the novel. It's AWESOME! I promise. :)</span><br />
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://sites.fastspring.com/colleyweb/product/6monthsdropboxaccesstomybrothersamisdeadresources"><b>My
Dropbook Sign up</b></a> is hosted by FastSpring.com &
linked to my company: Colley Web Services, LLC. Access is $12.99.If you type in the code: REDDINGRIDGE you get it for $8.99.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
</ul>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545353751949668674.post-12268864747366580132013-04-01T07:07:00.000-07:002013-04-01T07:09:52.807-07:00New My Brother Sam is Dead Help ResourcesI loved reading the novel My Brother Sam is Dead when I was a kid, it was exciting; it was sad; it had soldiers; it had mystery, but I never really understood it as the authors wished to me to. But after reading it again several years ago(as an adult), I got it. I understood why it was written and I saw all the topics that the authors had woven into each chapter.<br />
<br />
At the time I re-read the novel I was in the process of recording the history of Redding in digital format. I was and I still am gathering information about Redding, Connecticut and posting it online so everyone else can enjoy it too. (My website is: <a href="http://historyofredding.com/">HistoryofRedding.com</a>)<br />
<br />
What I realized was that a lot of what happened in the book really happened and a lot of the characters were real. So what I started doing was looking at the novel as less of a story and more as a lesson in what happened in Redding at the start of the American Revolution.<br />
<br />
That's when the connection between the real and the fictionalized became clearer and the topics the authors had woven into each chapter started to flow out. It was at this point I began creating my resources to help parents, teachers and students understand the novel better.<br />
<br />
From the website, there grew an entire sub-site dedicated to My Brother Sam is Dead and then came online self-grading quizzes, and then an e-book and another and another. And that was great for a while, but then as more people read my e-books they expressed a need for more information and information they could use (as needed) to take this novel to new levels in their classrooms and homes.<br />
<br />
Enter Dropbox.<br />
<br />
Until Dropbox I could not get people the files and information they needed without a lot of work. I burned thousands of CD's and it was a lot of work. A lot of work and there were shipping issues and it just wasn't working. But Dropbox fixed all of that. With Dropbox I am able to give people access to all my files and they have access to my files from any computer they are on, it's awesome.<br />
<br />
My Dropbox account is a work in progress so you will always have my latest research and the most accurate information available. You will also have access to new maps and photos and resources. <br />
<br />
<b>What’s in the My Brother Sam is Dead Dropbox Folder?</b><br />
<br />
Everything I have collected and written over that past 6 years and
that's a whole lot. The idea behind this folder is to help parents and
teachers better understand what topics the authors have woven into each
chapter of the fictional history novel, My Brother Sam is Dead.<br />
<br />
I have broken out this resource into three sections:<br />
<br />
1). Guide to
MBSD(2 e-books and 8 supporting documents),<br />
<br />
2). Maps, Photos and Visuals
and<br />
<br />
3). Teaching Resources(includes lesson plans and online quizzes).<br />
<br />
<u>All my ebooks are included</u> at this resource and much more. Photos and
maps of everything that occurs in the novel and teaching tools are
included as well.<br />
<br />
This is everything you need and more to get your kids
really excited about the novel and come away with a very good
understanding of why the novel was written.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://sites.fastspring.com/colleyweb/product/6monthsdropboxaccesstomybrothersamisdeadresources">My Brother Sam is Dead Dropbox Access</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQzVWlAn2ZhIOgxgTBCLHLBLeUIITzUHKMCXfuGtHcUBGgoKkIqJvvplmODnvj5Hdh7zqN262EvWii-Qds_Hhbip0-loWJT08px8S059f5bE1x3BMTov31SMlI8HZ8VN94aHHI_L5kiVvUBY/s1600/dropbox-access.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQzVWlAn2ZhIOgxgTBCLHLBLeUIITzUHKMCXfuGtHcUBGgoKkIqJvvplmODnvj5Hdh7zqN262EvWii-Qds_Hhbip0-loWJT08px8S059f5bE1x3BMTov31SMlI8HZ8VN94aHHI_L5kiVvUBY/s1600/dropbox-access.jpg" height="119" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545353751949668674.post-37079459487117064952012-08-25T07:21:00.000-07:002012-08-25T07:21:39.329-07:00Summary of My Brother Sam<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Back to School Special-</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Until September 10th, my <a href="http://sites.fastspring.com/colleyweb/product/mbsdchapterbychaptersummaryanalysis">Chapter by Chapter Summary of My Brother Sam is Dead</a> is just $2.00!!</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
This Chapter by Chapter Summary & Analysis of the historical fiction
novel: My Brother Sam is Dead- Includes classroom discussion ideas and
sample questions for students. </div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
I walk you through each and every chapter of the novel pointing out what's important and why the authors included it in that chapter.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Example text:</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
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</div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chapter 7: Summary and
Analysis </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The summer
of 1776 has ended and Tim's family begins preparing for the winter months in
Chapter Seven. The war is still distant and though no one is really desperate,
provisions, like cloth and leather, are running short locally because the
soldiers need them for clothing and shoes. Sam has sent two letters and
Susannah plans on sending one back to him. Life disapproves but to Tim's
delight is overruled and turns his attention to planning his annual cattle run
to the Hudson River.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
cattle run to Verplancks is essential to Tim's family, as he explains: </span><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tim:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> "The idea of our trip was
to drive cattle to Verplancks Point where we could sell them, and then use the
money to buy supplies we needed at the tavern and store." </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A
cattle run across Westchester County was
dangerous and Life, knew it: </span><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Life:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> "The woods are full of
those cow-boys over there. They claim they're patriots gathering beef for the
troops, but really they're nothing more than thieves. And we don't have our gun
anymore." </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Despite
the danger, Life doesn't have much of a choice but to take Tim with him, as he
states: "There's nobody else to do it." </span><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Bonus Material included free-</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Background material on each of the families and
individuals fictionalized by the authors in the novel. Tim Meeker,
William Heron, John Read, Jerry Sanford, Tom Warrup, and many, many
more. Find out who is real and who is fictional in the novel.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
But you must hurry, this is a back to school offer that shouldn't be missed-</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Until September 10th, my <a href="http://sites.fastspring.com/colleyweb/product/mbsdchapterbychaptersummaryanalysis">Chapter by Chapter Summary of My Brother Sam is Dead</a> is just $2.00!!</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545353751949668674.post-62945101879628088112012-08-14T09:25:00.000-07:002012-08-14T09:25:20.389-07:00Free Summary of the Historical Fiction Novel "My Brother Sam Is Dead"<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
My new free <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Summary-of-the-Historical-Fiction-Novel-My-Brother-Sam-Is-Dead&id=7207178">Summary of the Historical Fiction Novel "My Brother Sam Is Dead"</a> and the topics that have been woven into the novel is available at EzineArticles.com</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
"My Brother Sam is Dead is a historical fiction novel told in the first
person, through the eyes of ten year old Timothy Meeker. It recounts the
hardships endured by Tim and his family during the Revolutionary War.
When Tim's older brother Sam joins the rebel forces, it impacts the rest
of his family who wish to remain neutral and/or avoid war with England.
Tim's family is Anglican and thus loyal to the Church of England so a
split with England would greatly affect them..."</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Read more about "<a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Summary-of-the-Historical-Fiction-Novel-My-Brother-Sam-Is-Dead&id=7207178">My Brother Sam Is Dead</a>"</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545353751949668674.post-46546454027864150292012-08-06T08:11:00.000-07:002012-08-06T08:11:28.994-07:00Summary & Analysis of My Brother Sam is Dead<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Chapter by Chapter <a href="http://sites.fastspring.com/colleyweb/product/mbsdchapterbychaptersummaryanalysis">Summary & Analysis of the historical fiction novel: My Brother Sam is Dead</a>- </div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Includes classroom discussion ideas and
sample questions for each and every chapter of the novel. </div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<b>Example text- </b></div>
<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Classroom Discussion</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What
do we learn about in Chapter 13?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We
learn that General Putnam is focused on ending the disorderly behavior
undermining both the safety and reputation of his army. Despite the efforts of
both Tim and Susannah, it is clear that Putnam intends to see that Sam’s
sentence is carried into effect. We also learn what the encampment looks like
via Tim’s meeting with General Putnam. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What’s
Important?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The
importance of this chapter is the recognition that in 1778-79 Putnam and his
officers were dealing with:</span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Desertions, which thinned their ranks.</span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Spies, who provided important information to the British.</span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Theft, which angered local farmers and residents.</span></div>
<br />
<b><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial;">Classroom Conversations:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There
was disaffection and insubordination in the army within this time frame.
Desertions were frequent, and spying by the Tories was almost openly practiced.
To put a stop to these practices it was vitally necessary for General Putnam to
see that these sentences were carried into effect. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Bonus Material-</span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Backgrounds on each of the families and
individuals fictionalized by the authors in the novel. Tim Meeker,
William Heron, John Read, Jerry Sanford, Tom Warrup, and many, many
more. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This Chapter by Chapter </span><a href="http://sites.fastspring.com/colleyweb/product/mbsdchapterbychaptersummaryanalysis" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Summary & Analysis of the historical fiction novel: My Brother Sam is Dead</a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span>is the most complete summary & analysis of the novel that you will find anywhere.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545353751949668674.post-15246655612997152852012-07-30T17:01:00.000-07:002012-07-30T17:02:07.676-07:00My Brother Sam is Dead Facebook PageMy Brother Sam is Dead is now on Facebook. If you'd like to read daily posts on my research and ask me direct questions about the novel in a community format-<br />
<br />
"Like" my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Readers-Guide-to-My-Brother-Sam-is-Dead/103776809747164">My Brother Sam is Dead Facebook Page</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-545353751949668674.post-9893864892034666202012-05-18T08:10:00.001-07:002012-05-18T08:12:39.773-07:00Lecture- 4,000 years of Native American Occupations in ReddingMay 19, 2012 at 12pm <br />
Redding, Connecticut's Community Center<br />
Lonetown Road, Reddding CT<br />
<br />
<a href="http://preview.tinyurl.com/8xprzt7">Redding Archaeology; Open Spaces and University Excavations</a><br />
<br />
Over the last few years, Redding's open space and planning policies have led to the preservation and study of important archaeological sites. Several college and university archaeological field schools have brought hundreds of students from around the world to unearth Redding's illustrious past.<br />
<br />
You are invited to attend a lecture describing Norwalk Community College's research in Redding. They have uncovered evidence of over 4,000 years of Native American occupations at Gallows Hill.<br />
<br />
Lectures will be presented on Saturday afternoons at the Redding Community Center.<br />
<br />
May 19, 2012 at 12pm <br />
Redding, Connecticut's Community Center<br />
Lonetown Road, Reddding CT<br />
<br />
<br />
View the lecture details:<br />
<a href="http://preview.tinyurl.com/8xprzt7">Redding Archaeology; Open Spaces and University Excavations</a><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0