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Sam Comes Home From Yale
Sam comes home from Yale. He is in uniform and very proud. This is the first time we learn Sam is in the war. We learn that Sam is clueless about the war because he doesn't know who really started it in the first place, the Rebels or the British. We learn that Sam and his father,Life, argue a lot. Life doesn't like the idea of his son being in the war partly because he is a Tory and partly because he has experienced war himself. He knows more about the war and the world than Sam does. -
SAM IS KICKED OUT OF THE HOUSE
Sam is kicked out of the house by father because of their disagreement. We learn that Sam and Life are alike because they are both headstrong and opinionated. He instructed Sam to not come back unless he is dressed as his son. Life wanted his son to look like he came back from school,not war,This makes Sam's relationship with his father more distant.He then heads to Tom Warrups hut. We meet the last Indian in Redding. Tom doesn't mind people staying in his hut. Life cries after Sam leaves. -
BROWN BESS
Sam comes home from war and nobody knows why. He wants to get the family gun,Brown Bess. Sam needs the gun in order to fight. Back then,soldiers had to bring their own weapons to fight with in the war. The family won't let Sam take the gun because they need it for protection of their own. The family could get attacked by Rebels or Tories could find out that Sam is a Rebel and attack the Meeker family. -
THE REBELS INVADE THE TAVERN
The Rebels invade Redding in order to disarm the Tories. They go into the tavern and threaten father for Brown Bess. Sam already took the gun though. Tim is secretly watching and quickly runs up to Tom Warrup's hut to get the gun from Sam. When he gets up there Sam is sleeping with the gun and Tim takes it from him. Sam wakes up and chases after him, Tim almost comes close to shooting his brother. When they both get into the tavern Sam and father stare at each other and Sam runs away. -
THE LETTERS
Mr. Heron gives Tim a job. The job is to deliver some letters to Fairefield. Tim wants to go but father won't let him. It is dangerous. Father already lost one son to the war and he doesn't want to lose another. Father knows that they are secret 'buisness" letters and doesn't want Tim to get hurt. Tim only wants to deliver the letters because he wants to boast to Sam about it. This shows Tim wants Sam to be proud of him and not think of him as little.Life says no but Tim secretly does it anyway. -
TRIP TO VERPLANCKS
Tim takes a trip with father to Verplancks. He was excited because Sam is usually the one who goes with him. They travel a long way in order to stock up the tavern. He wants to show Life he is as good as Sam. On the way there they get bothered by cowboys and it starts to snow. On the way back Life gets taken by the cowboys. When mother found out she kept saying he'll come back. After Life is taken, Tim becomes more mature. With Sam at war and Life taken, he takes the role of father. -
BRITISH TROOPS CAME
A whole winter passed and father had still not come home. British troops rode into Redding because they wanted to find out who the Rebel leaders were. It is then that Tim finally realizes he wants to be a Tory because father's capturers were Rebels. All of a sudden, the Rebels start shooting at the British troops and fire broke out. Tim gets to witness how both sides fight. The fight showed that the war is getting closer to Redding. After it ended, Tim didn't want to be a Tory anymore. -
SAM VISITS HOME
Sam comes home for a visit after 2 years. He looked old. Mother begs Sam to stay home but he refuses. We find out Life has been dead for a month. He was sent to a Britsh prison ship and died from disease. He left a message for the family. He said " Make sure my family knows what happened. I forgive Sam, he's headstrong. Now I will enjoy the freedom of war." -
PATRIOTS ARE LOSING
The Rebels are doing bad in the war. Prices are going up and nobody has any money except for the British. Merchandise was short in supply. Tim and his mother felt bad so they were giving away supplies to the people. They used credit and let people pay them back later. Tim didn't care about Sam as much as he did in the beginning. -
WINTER ENCAMPMENT
Sam comes back to Redding for a winter encampent along with all of the troops. Sam tells Tim to put away the animals because they will be stolen by the Rebels. The troops don't care because Redding is a Tory town. That night, 4 cattle were stolen. Sam ran after the 2 men that stole them. The soldiers tied up Sam and accused him of being the cattle theif becuase they were frightened of General Putnam, head of the Rebels. Sam is locked in a cabin and trial is set for Feb. 6,1778 -
SAM'S TRIAL IS HERE
Sam's trial arrives and Tim is nervous. Mother has been drinking since Sam was taken. Colonel Read said they were going to execute Sam, which mother already knew. The date of the execution is set to Feb.16,1779. Until then Sam is locked in a hut. General Putnam wants to prove a point to all the soldiers by killing any Rebels that do wrong. In efforts to save Sam, Tim writes General Putnam a letter stating what really happened. The General said he'd consider it. -
TIM'S PLAN
General Putnam says no, Sam will be executed. Tim wants to save Sam. That night, he heads to the stockcade with a knife. The stockcade is where the execution is taking place. He notices the guard is not alert. His plan is to kill the guard and release the prisoners. Tim went ahead but then the guard woke up and started chasing him. As Tim was running he looked back and saw nobody in the stockcade, the prisoners have been sent somewhere else. It was all a waste. -
SAM IS DEAD
Tim arrived at the execution but mother didn't want to go. Tim doesn't go up front because he feels it's better to stay hidden. It's finally Sam's turn and he has a bag over his head. Right before Sam is shot Tim screams. Sam is then shot and falls backward, jerking a lot. Then he stops jerking and is declared dead. -
EPILOGUE
After Sam dies, Tim has nothing else to do but chores. Mother never completly gets over Sam's death and has never worked for an officer or continental since. War went on for 3 more years and mother and Tim eventually closed the tavern. Tim started studying surveying and calculating with Mr. Heron . He moved to Pennsylvania, married, and had children. Tim built his own tavern called Wilks Barre.
