Best Resource for My Brother Sam is Dead

Recently I released my second e-book to help students, teachers and parents better understand the historical fiction novel- My Brother Sam is Dead.

The My Brother Sam is Dead Study Guide 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.

If you purchase or borrow this My Brother Sam is Dead Study Guide at Amazon.com you will find in it:

Chapter One:
About the Book My Brother Sam is Dead

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.

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...


Chapter Two:
Setting of the Book My Brother Sam is Dead

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.

I also provide background information on Redding before and after the Revolutionary War.


Chapter Three:
Real Life vs. Events Fictionalized in My Brother Sam is Dead

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.


Chapter Four:
Places you can visit related to My Brother Sam is Dead

Redding Ridge:
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.

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.


Chapter Five:
The Characters in the Novel My Brother Sam is Dead

Read all about the characters in the book and learn about the real life people the characters are based on.


Chapter Six:
Why has My Brother Sam is Dead been Challenged or Censored in the Past?

Learn why the novel earned a top 10 listing on the American Way's most challenged book list in 1996.


The 67 page My Brother Sam is Dead Study Guide is available via Amazon.com's Kindle edition.

Want More? 

All I have is at my Dropbox Account...

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.

What’s in the My Brother Sam is Dead Dropbox Folder?

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.

I have broken out this resource into three sections:

1). Guide to MBSD(2 e-books and 8 supporting documents),

2). Maps, Photos and Visuals and

3). Teaching Resources(includes lesson plans and online quizzes).

All my ebooks are included at this resource and much more. Photos and maps of everything that occurs in the novel and teaching tools are included as well.

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.

My Brother Sam is Dead Dropbox Access

More from my upcoming book- The War Comes to Redding

Chapter Four- Preparing for the Winter Encampments-

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

"The second camp looks different than the first one." said Elijah Pruitt as we made our way to the Center.

"How so?" I asked.

"Well, you know how the first camp has all the rows laid out?"

"Yeah..." I said.

"The second camp doesn't have as many rows and some stakes are located along the hillside." Elijah explained.

"Hmmmph, I wonder if that's for a reason." I wondered out loud.

"Did you see any signs of activity while you were there?" I asked.

"No, just the stakes."

"How many?"

"Don't know, I didn't count them." said Elijah.

"Some spy you are!" I laughed.

"Hey! I think I'd make a very good spy." Elijah protested loudly.

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.

"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.

"Ha-ha-hello Mist-mister Ha-ha-ha-Heron."

"HELLO!" He boomed in return.

I was startled, but happy and smiling as I quickly scurried to my seat.

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.

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...

"OKAY!" boomed Mr. Heron, jarring me from my thoughts.

He then removed the cover from his Globe, placed his finger on the Atlantic Ocean and said:

"Boys, today we are going to explore the topic of Supply and Demand. Does anyone know what goods our State produces?"

Lazarus Gray raised his hand. "Flour."

"Yes, that's correct. Our grist mills grind both corn meal and wheat flour. What else?"

"Fish?" Elijah answered hesitantly.

"Yes. Fish is one of our top exports, as is our pork and beef." said Mr. Heron agreeably.

"What else?"

"Lumber." I said hopefully.

"Yes." said Mr. Heron

"But, not in the form that you would imagine. Does anyone know what I mean?"

He stood with his hands on his hips scanning the room with his eyes.

No one raised their hand.

"Is anyone familiar with charcoal?" he asked and hands shot up throughout the room.

Mr. Heron smiled and said:

"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."

He swung the globe around and placed his finger on Connecticut and then he said:

"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."

"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.

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."

Stephen raised his hand.

"Yes Stephen." said Mr. Heron

"So, my Father will not be paid if he grinds flour and corn for the soldiers?" asked Stephen.

"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."

I raised my hand and Mr. Heron nodded for me to speak.

"Why are they stealing from the people who support them?" I asked.

"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."

That confused me. "If we don't have the supplies to support the troops, then why are they coming to Redding?"

"It's a strategic move." He answered.

"Has Mr. Adams taught you what a crescent shape looks like?" Mr. Heron asked the classroom openly.

"Yes," said Stephen "it's like a half circle."

"That's correct." Said Mr. Heron.

"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."

I raised my hand again, "Are there supplies in Danbury?"

"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."

I understood what he meant and nodded to let him know.

"Are you happy about the War coming to Redding Mr. Heron?" Elijah asked.

Mr. Heron paused for a long moment. 

"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."

"...our citizens will be at risk?" My mind began to race again.

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.

"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."

"That's right." Said Mr. Heron.

"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."

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

"Hi Dad!" I said cheerfully.

"Hey Jonas! How was school today?"

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.

"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."

"Neat!" I said.

"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.

I'll see at home, okay?"

"Sure Dad. I'll see you tonight." I said as we turned to leave.

I had work to do too.


Why I'm writing this novel:


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.

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.

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.

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.
Future Updates:

For more previews as I finish new chapters be sure to "Like" me on Facebook or "Follow" me in Twitter...

My Brother Sam is Dead Facebook page
My Brother Sam is Dead Twitter account

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.

What’s in the My Brother Sam is Dead Dropbox Folder?

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.

I have broken out this resource into three sections:

1). Guide to MBSD(2 e-books and 8 supporting documents),

2). Maps, Photos and Visuals and

3). Teaching Resources(includes lesson plans and online quizzes).

All my ebooks are included at this resource and much more. Photos and maps of everything that occurs in the novel and teaching tools are included as well.

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.

My Brother Sam is Dead Dropbox Access

Complete Guide to My Brother Sam is Dead Preview

Here is a preview of my latest e-book-The Complete Guide to My Brother Sam is Dead

In Chapter Three- My Brother Sam is Dead Maps of Redding, Connecticut
You will find maps of Redding, Connecticut which help provide a visual of the locations in the novel.

You will see:

- Where Redding, Connecticut is located.

- Map of Redding that relates to My Brother Sam is Dead.

- Map of Westchester & Fairfield County that relates to My Brother Sam is Dead.

- Modern map of people and places related to My Brother Sam is Dead in Redding.

- Map of Westchester & Fairfield County with stars showing Tim and Life's cattle drive route to Verplancks Point.

- Map of Lower Fairfield County showing the route the British Troops took in April of 1777.

- Link to an Interactive Google Map of all the locations that relate to the novel.

My latest e-book-The Complete Guide to My Brother Sam is Dead is available at Amazon.com. Kindle prime members can download it for free.

The Complete Guide to the Novel is now available in Word Format: My Brother Sam is Dead Guide

My Brother Sam is Dead Topics

My Brother Sam is Dead is told in the first person by Tim 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; a split with England would greatly affect them.

Tim Meeker is a metaphoric symbol of one third of the American population during the war. He portrays the American that is uncertain which side is right and does not wish to choose a side until forced to, sometimes referred to as a "fence-sitter". Sam and Life are examples of the other two thirds: the Rebel/Patriot and the Tory/Loyalist.

Through Tim Meeker we learn of the issues, the concerns and the conflicts of the rebellion on a personal level. Each chapter touches on a number of topics and issues that provide readers with a better understanding of the affects the American Revolution had on individuals, their families, their churches, their towns, their neighbors...in short, it allows readers to see the war from the position of those that lived through it. This is one of the greatest strengths of the novel; it quietly weaves all of the topics and issues of the early years of the American Revolution into a tragic story of a 10 year old boy’s role in a war he doesn't understand.

My Brother Sam is Dead begins in April 1775 and ends in February 1779...a very volatile period of the American Revolution as it was not clear which side would win the war. Many were either still confused about the issues or unwilling to solidify a position on the issues. As the story unfolds the consequences of the war prove devastating to the Meeker family as the rebelliousness of Tim’s brother, Sam, and the pacifist position taken by Tim’s father, Life, result in the ironic deaths of both, symbolizing the atrocities and unfairness of war.

The novel highlights many of the problems and events that impacted towns like Redding, CT. Several of these topics are:

Trying to stay neutral while living in a town that everyone assumes is a loyalist settlement. Redding's Anglican church leader and its members preferred not to rebel from England. This was well known across the State and resulted in Redding Ridge being labeled as an area heavily settled with loyalists/tories.

Currency Issues-The Meeker's own a tavern/store, and keeping it running is hard work. Even prior to the Revolution, to make money, each year Tim's Father and brother Sam would travel to New York State to sell cattle they received from people who owed them money. During the war it becomes even more difficult as paper money and commissionary notes destroy local economies and businesses.

Sacrifices- Since Sam has sided with the rebels and wasn't there, Tim's responsibilities have increased ten-fold. Jobs Tim and Sam used to share all now fall on Tim's shoulders. Father (Life) takes Tim on his yearly cattle run to New York. They have to travel without a Brown Bess (musket/gun used for protection), which Sam had recently stolen. Life is captured on their return trip, leaving Tim to take care of his mother and himself for the rest of the novel. Tim is forced to grow up over night seeing he is now the man of the house, with his father in prison and Sam fighting with the patriots.

Committees of Safety- These committees were formed early in the war to disarm people who could potentially give aid to the British. Life is an Anglican and thus seen as a Loyalist/Tory, by the local Committee of Safety which comes to the Meeker Tavern to disarm him. When Life tells them his son has sided with the Patriots and taken his gun, they initially don't believe him and rough him up.

Cowboys and Skinners- Life is captured on their way back to Redding on their cattle run by cowboys. Cowboys and skinners were groups of raiders who harassed and plundered the rural districts of the boundary between American and British forces in Westchester County, New York. Westchester County, was the so-called "Neutral Ground" seeing the British were in the Bronx and the Americans in Peekskill, New York.

The British march though Redding and capture several Patriots there on their way to Danbury, CT to destroy the rebels/Patriot's provisions of war which were being stored there. The Patriot soldiers arrive in Redding in pursuit of the British and Sam is with them so he gets to see his mother and Tim again.

Winter Encampments- General Israel Putnam's division of the Continental Army encamped at Redding in the winter of 1778-1779 and Sam Meeker is a soldier in one of Putnam’s camps. One evening, Sam slips away from camp and returns home to spend time with his family. While they discuss the war and related topics, Sam hears commotion outside…Patriot soldiers are attempting to steal their cattle! When Sam intervenes he is out numbered and beaten. Back at camp he is falsely accused of and court-martialed for deserting camp and stealing cattle. General Putnam having long dealt with ill-equipped troops, deserters and traitors, feels he needs to set an example in order to maintain discipline amongst his army. Sam, unfortunately, becomes one of the two examples that winter, and is executed.

Hardships of War- Tim's Mother goes a little crazy due to the stress of losing her husband and son to a war she doesn't support. Tim lives to be very old. He had a wife, children, even grandchildren. But his mother never recovers from Life and Sam's deaths.


For more information, analysis and online quizzes:
The My Brother Sam is Dead Study Guide is available via Amazon.com's Kindle edition.

The Complete Guide to the Novel is now available in Word Format: My Brother Sam is Dead Guide 

Or visit my website: http://mybrothersamisdead.historyofredding.com/

Best Education E-books Featuring History

I am very proud and happy to announce that my e-book:

Chapter by Chapter Summary & Analysis of My Brother Sam is Dead (Brent M. Colley's Guide to My Brother Sam is Dead)

Is currently the #4 selling paid e-book on Amazon Kindle's Best Sellers in Education History List.


Thank you to all who have promoted it and helped me get this far. If you have read this e-book and it has been helpful- please consider writing a positive review for me. That would really help my efforts and get these e-books in front of more teachers and parents.

I created these e-books because I have seen children react positively to this novel and learn a great deal from it. I think that it is important that teachers and parents understand the topics that are woven into each chapter so that they can help their students and children get all they can out of it.

The impact of a historical novel on students cannot be minimized. If students respond positively to a good historical novel, they might:

a. be motivated to research the novelist's use of historical data.
b. they might begin to discern the novelist's biases and
c. they might decide to search for historical data to support or contradict the point of view expressed by the author.

or

d. find history interesting.

My Brother Sam is Dead Chapter 14: Summary and Analysis

Below is an example of the type of summary and analysis you will find in my e-books.


Chapter 14: Summary and Analysis

On Saturday, February 13th, Colonel Read came up from the encampment to let Tim and Susannah know that General Putnam had refused their plea for clemency. The unfairness of war is voiced by both Tim and Colonel Read as it is a very important theme in the novel.

Tim is too emotional to sit through the church service for Sam and the others, his Mother is too depressed to even attend.

Susannah: "I'm not going, they can murder who they like, church who they like, but I'm not going. For me the war is over."

The tavern is closed and as far as Susannah is concerned it can remain that way. Tim, feeling angry and bitter, sharpens his father's bayonet with the intention of heading to the encampment to free Sam.

Susannah: "Going to get yourself killed, son?"

Tim: "I'm going to save my brother"

Susannah: "No, you're going to get yourself killed. Well you might as well. Let's have it all done with at once. How does that old line go? Men must fight and women must weep, but you'll get no more tears from me. I've done my weeping for this war."

As they have done in Chapter 13, the Collier brothers paint a picture of the encampment at Redding via Tim's narrative. Tim's comments about the lack of trees, the lines of huts, the muddy road, the corrals, etc… are written for more than dramatic effect. In real-life there were not many trees left in the encampments of Redding during the winter of 1778-79, there were lines of huts, muddy roads, wagons and cannons, officer's quarters. They even place the prisoners in the correct location. The 1778-79 guardhouse was not located within the encampment, but on a road in close proximity to General Putnam's headquarters. So we are given a glimpse of the winter encampment through Tim's eyes and entertained by the well orchestrated climatic representation of Tim sneaking around the encampment, stalking guards and dodging bullets as a bonus really.


Tim narrating: "I began to slip down the steep hillside from stump to boulder…I stopped and I stared. I couldn't see anybody moving around…I glanced at the guard…he didn't move for several moments…and I suddenly realized that he was asleep. I took the bayonet out of my belt and clutched it tight in my hand. If Sam could killed people, so could I…I stood up and charged…the guard stirred. I drove my feet faster…"Halt." He shouted. He swept the musket up, the bayonet pointing straight at me, twenty feet away…"Sam" I shouted, and "Sam" again as loud as I could. The guard lunged at me. I lifted the bayonet and threw it in the air. It flashed in the moonlight, spinning lazily over and over and fell into the stockade. Then I turned and began racing as fast as I could across the snow for the safety of the boulders on the hillside. I had gone only three paces when the musket went off with a terrific roar…I dashed onto the slope, and then began staggering upward, zigzagging from boulder to boulder to keep protection at my back. Behind me there was shouting and running and the sound of a horse being wheeled around…I reached the trees at the top of the ridge and flung myself flat. They'd never get me now…I rolled over and looked down…I stared into the stockade. There was no action there, no people moving at all. Lying in the center of that square of snow, something shiny glistened in the moonlight. And I knew it had all been a waste. The prisoners weren't in the stockade anymore."

Tim has a bullet wound to show for his efforts at the encampment, but nothing severe. The following day is Sam's execution and Tim attends knowing Sam would want somebody there, Susannah refuses to go. Tim's narration of the executions is straight forward; he simply tells us what happened. A sad, abrupt ending; a fate many soldiers suffered during the War of Independence.

Sam's execution at the hands of his own troops is symbolic of the atrocities of war, it is also an accurate portrayal of actions that needed to be taken by Generals like Israel Putnam in the early stages of the American Revolution. The more horrific these executions were, the less likely the soldiers who viewed them would be to disobey their Generals orders later.

What do we learn about in Chapter 14?

In Chapter 14 we get a sense of the frustration and anger Susannah has at this point in the war:

A. She has lost her husband, who passively resisted the rebellion
B. She’s about to lose her eldest son, who has actively participated in the rebellion.
C. She’s watching her youngest son sharpen his father's bayonet with the intention of heading to the encampment to likely get his self killed.

But the truly important content in Chapter 14 is Tim’s first person account of the executions. Sam's character takes the place of John Smith’s execution in the novel. Which are very close to the real-life events that occurred that day:


“The soldier that was to be shot for desertion was but a youth of sixteen or seventeen years of age. The Rev. Nathaniel Bartlett, who was pastor of the Congregational Church in Redding for a period of fifty years, officiated as chaplain to the encampment during that winter, and was present at the execution. He interceded with General Putnam to defer the execution of Smith until Washington could be consulted- for reason the offender was a youth; but the commander assured him that a reprieve could not be granted.

John Smith was described as "extremely weak and fainting" as he was led by Poor's Brigade Chaplain, the Rev. Dr. Evans, approximately 200 yards from the gallows to the place he was to be shot.

Putnam gave the order and three balls were shot through his breast: he fell on his face, but immediately turned over on his back; a soldier then advanced, and putting the muzzle of his gun near the convulsive body of the youth, discharged its contents into his forehead. The body was then placed in a coffin; the final discharge had been fired so near to the body that it had set the boy's clothing on fire, and continued burning while each and every soldier present was ordered to march past the coffin and observe Smith's mangled remains; an officer with a drawn sword stood by to ensure they complied.”

Classroom Conversations:

1. It is important to help the students understand why Sam was killed. There was disaffection and insubordination in the army in 1777 & 1778. Desertions were frequent, and spying was almost openly practiced. To put a stop to these practices it was vitally necessary to the safety of the army, to see that these sentences were carried into effect. These executions were a warning to the other soldiers; it showed them what would happen if they disobeyed orders and it was very effective.

Sam's death is another ironic twist in the story: A father and son's loyalty to their beliefs results in death at the hands of their own troops. Life died on a British ship and Sam is executed by American soldiers.


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