My Brother Sam is Dead

My Brother Sam is Dead

Diana LeeKeynote Reading Journal

Written by Christopher Collier and James Lincoln Collier

Diana LeeKeynote Reading Journal

Written by Christopher Collier and James Lincoln Collier

Chapter OneSam returns to the Meeker tavern one evening in 1775 wearing a bright red uniform. He is proud about beating the British Lobsterbacks in Massachusetts. This angers his father who is loyal to the English King. Since Redding is a Tory town, the people around the dinner table argues with Sam.

Tim admires his older brother and continues to ask questions about the war as Sam enjoys the attention. Tim is astonished when his brother tells him later that he is going to steal his father’s Brown Bess. Tim knows it is wrong but keeps it a secret.

Later, Sam and his father has a quarrelabout the gun as Tim silently listens. After the fight, Tim is surprised to seehis brave, stern father crying.

Chapter TwoThrough Tim’s explanations, we can learn that Tim and his family are living in Redding Ridge, a Tory town. He is worried about Sam and wishes to forget about what might happen to him, but people at church keep talking about Sam.

A neighboring Indian named Tom Warrups privately tells Tim that Sam is at his house after church. Tim makes up an excuse to his father and races to see his brother. He sees Betsy holding hands with his brother.

After a while, Betsy, Sam, and Tim have a serious discussion about their opinions of the war. Tim remains worried and confused. Betsy and Sam tries to persuade Tim to be their helper, and Tim reluctantly refuses. He also sees Father’s stolen Brown Bess and Sam pleads Tim not to tell. Tim promises not to and departs, crying.

Chapter ThreeTim explains how the war affects his home life. There are no great changes in the village; there are just lots of people talking about the war as usual.

Betsy one day asks Tim if he would tell his parents if Sam came to Redding. When he replies no, and Betsy tells him Sam might come soon. Tim excitedly waits for Sam one month after another, working hard so that he could have something to boast about to his brother.

Finally, Betsy gives a firm nod to Tim at the tavern, signaling that Sam has arrived at last.

Chapter FourAs he chops wood, Tim sees a troop of soldiers on horseback, approaching to the Meeker tavern. When Tim follows, he sees the soldiers threatening to kill Mr. Meeker if he doesn’t give them the gun, but Father keeps arguing that Sam took it.

When a soldier slashes Father across the cheek with a sword, Tim hurriedly runs to Tim Warrups’ teepee and finds Sam sleeping. Tim sneakily takes the gun and leaves. However, Sam wakes up and begins to chase Tim.

Tim surprisingly threatens to shoot Sam if he gets any closer, but Sam takes the gun back. Tim desperately explains his situation, and when Tim pleads Sam to go with him to the tavern, he resists but changes his mind when Tim calls him a coward. As Sam casually loads the gun, Tim once again admires him. When they reach their destination, the soldiers are gone and when Father and Sam face each other, Father tells Sam to come back but he runs away.

Chapter 5By January, the effects of the war are becoming visible, such as the reports of stolen cattle and food shortages.

One day, Mr. Heron and Tom Warrups visit the Meeker tavern to ask Mr. Meeker if Tim could run an errand carrying some business papers for him. Tim is keen on the idea, but Mr. Meeker remains doubtful and declines the request.

Father later says that Mr. Heron is a political figure of unclear stances and should stay away from getting involved. Tim understands, but soon feels jealous of Sam and angry at Father. He tells Father that he wishes to play at least a small role. Father starts shouting but stops when he realizes that Sam left after he shouted at him. (This also shows his love for his family and that he misses Sam.) Nevertheless, Tim does not obey this time and when he and Jerry go fishing, he plans to use it as an excuse to run the errands.

Chapter 6One day, Mr. Heron orders a keg of rum from the Meeker tavern and Tim is sent to deliver it. When he reaches Mr. Heron’s house, Tim volunteers to run the errand. Mr. Heron agrees and asks Tim to set out with a letter the following morning to Fairfield. Tim lies to his father that he will be fishing all day.

He meets Betsy along the way, and she initially teases Tim about the receiving a love letter. Tim is astonished to hear Betsy say that she is on her way to visit Sam. Tim learns that Betsy knew about Sam’s arrival through Mr. Heron.

When Tim wonders why Mr. Heron hadn’t mentioned about Sam to Tim, Betsy figures that Tim is carrying a spy report on Sam and demands to have it. (Shows her care for Sam.) Tim knows it is his duty to deliver it so he refuses to believe her. They nastily begin fighting over the letter, and finally Betsy grabs it and runs as she reads it. The crumpled, dirty letter says,"If this message is received, then we will know that the messenger is reliable."

Chapter SevenAfter failing to deliver the letter, Tim avoids Mr. Heron and soon forgets about what happened. The Meekers receive two letters from Sam, describing the bad living condition of war life. Mother and Father have an argument over whether they should reply or not. Despite everything, Mother decides to write a letter back to her son.

When Father needs someone to travel up to Verplancks Point with him to sell cattle, he reluctantly decides to take Tim, although he may be too young for such a task.

They purposely set out late, so that they could sell it to urgent consumers. Soon, Tim and Father come across six cow-boys, asking skeptical questions. When they learn that the beef they sell might go to the British, they start to beat him up. Tim is frightened that they might kill his father, and begs them. Just then, a couple of Loyalists appear and Tim and Father from the cow-boys. They spend the night with the Loyalists’ relatives.

Chapter EightFor the first time in his life, Tim meets his cousins, the Platts. Father and Mr. Platt share the effects of war in their towns. Tim and Ezekiel, too, share opinions of the war. Tim feels happy and cozy during his stay.

Tim and Father set out early in the morning. They safely reach Verplancks Point, stopping to spend the night with people acquainted with Father.

Tim is amazed at how beauteous the river is, and even more impressed to see a bigger river at Verplancks Point. When the successful trade is over, Father planned to take a longer but safer way back to the Meeker tavern, but decides to risk bumping into the cow-boys again by going back through Ridgebury.

Chapter NineFather rides ahead to confirm that the coast is clear and rides back once in a while to check on Tim. After quite a while, Tim suddenly realizes that Father did not come to check on him for a long time.

Tim begins to panic and figures that the cow-boys attacked Father. He decides that the safest thing to do is to lead the cattle back to the tavern. As he goes on slowly, he expects the cow-boys to return and starts to think of a plan.

Just as Tim thought they would , the cow-boys return to harass Tim and take the goods. However, Tim innocently asks if they are the escorts and says his father called an escort in case the cow-boys came by. The cow-boys are tempted to stay, but leaves when they hear a dog bark.

Chapter TenMother and Tim become busy (even on Sabbath) afterwards. People pay in commissary notes that would only have value if the Rebels won. He realizes that he speaks of himself as Tory ever since he had seen the cow-boys.

One day, Captain Betts is informed that the British troops are coming. Jerry is sent to tell Mr. Rogers.

A Rebel messenger is suddenly shot at the top of a hill. Tim is sent to inform this news to Dr. Hobart and ask for help. When he reaches near, he spots British troops around Captain Starr’s house. The troops kill all of the men in the house brutally. Tim decides he does not really wish to be a Tory after all.

Chapter ElevenThanks to Dr. Hobart, the wounded man seems to be in a good condition. According to the man, Captain Benedict Arnold planned to bring his army through Redding. Tim starts hoping that Sam would come by. He is also informed that Captain Betts was freed but they still have Jerry with them.

Tim looks for Sam and finally meets him. They come together gleefully in front of the church.

Sam already knows about Father, and has failed to get him out of prison. Mrs. Meeker tries to persuade Sam to return home after his enlistment as Sam refuses. When Sam leaves, Time realizes that despite facing hard times in the army, Sam feels satisfied with being part of something great.

Chapter TwelveFather and Jerry both died on different ships. In his last moment, Father had said that he loves his family and that he forgives Sam. Mrs. Meeker and even Betsy is now fed up with the war.

The prices keep rising as the goods run out. Tim has gathered eight cows, and Sam advises him to butcher it and store it before someone just takes them away.

One night, as Tim and Sam are talking they hear noises outside and figure that four of their cows have been stolen. Tim takes care of the remaining cows while Sam tries to follow the footprints. However, he is caught by two cattle thieves and will be reported to General Putnam.

Chapter ThirteenTim seeks for Colonel Parsons but he is told to come back the next morning. The next morning, he learns that General Putnam is trying to make an example of someone to scare the troops which means Sam does not have much hope.

Tim finally gets a permission note to see General Putnam, and when he does so, General Putnam cuts him off and tells him that his case would be considered.

Then he runs to see his brother. Sam is happy to hear that General Putnam will consider his case. They share a short but meaningful conversation together.

Chapter FourteenGeneral Putnam finally decides to execute Sam. After hearing the news, both Tim and Mrs. Meeker have sunk into depression.

Tim then sets off with a bayonet, unsure of what to do with it. He reaches the encampment and finds the guard asleep. As he makes sounds the guard shoots his shoulder as Tim runs away.

Tim attends the execution and calls out to Sam as he gives Tim a slight grin. When Sam’s turn to get executed comes, Tim shouts “Don’t shoot him!” as Sam is shot once painfully and is followed by another shot that kills him.