My Brother Sam Is Dead

Tim describes his family’s history and the location in which they live. He and his family, as well as their neighbors, belong to the Church of England, also known as the Anglican Church. Tim thinks that Redding is probably a Tory town, a place that will largely support the King. However, Tim is still confused about the conflict between the English and the colonies. He thinks, “[y]ou can see how confusing it was when you realize that sometimes Sam’s side was called Patriots and sometimes they were called Rebels” (26). This terminology seems to be contradictory, and Tim is uncertain how both can be accurate. Likewise, sometimes the people supporting the King are called “Loyalists” and sometimes “Tories.” In addition, the British soldiers are sometimes called “Lobsterbacks,” or “Redcoats,” derogatory terms derived from the red color of their uniforms.

The chapter takes place on a Sunday morning. Mr. Beach preaches a sermon about being loyal Englishmen, but Tim still worries about which side is the right one. After church, Tom Warrups, an Indigenous American who lives nearby, tells Tim that Sam is staying with him. He tells Tim not to reveal Sam’s location. Tim agrees and comes up with a plan so that he can visit Sam at Tom’s hut.

When Tim arrives at Tom’s hut, he finds Sam with Betsy Read. Betsy confronts Tim about what side he is on. Betsy and her family consider themselves Patriots. Her grandfather, Colonel Read, commands the local militia. Although Betsy finds the conflict complicated, Sam does not. He believes that “you should be willing to die for your principles” (35). Sam wants to rid the colonies of English control, and it is that principal for which he says he is willing to die. He also confronts Tim about choosing a side. Betsy and Sam ask Tim to listen to talk in the tavern and pass the information on to the Patriots.

As they are speaking, Tim suddenly notices that his father’s gun is in the hut, and he realizes that Sam has stolen it. Betsy and Sam assert that Sam must have the gun to protect himself in battle. Tim is deeply upset but agrees not to tell.

Tim reports that, although there is a war going on, life seems normal in Redding. He references the Battle of Bunker Hill and the capture of Fort Ticonderoga by the Rebels, but these battles seem far away from everyday life. Father still seems committed to the Tory faction, throwing a man out of the tavern who says that the only good Lobsterback is a dead one.

Throughout the summer, Tim works hard but also enjoys himself with his friend Jerry Sanford, swimming and playing games. He also sees Betsy Read often, who hangs around the tavern, listening to people speaking. She tries to gather information to pass on to the Patriots.

In September, Betsy approaches Tim to ask if he would reveal Sam’s location were Sam to come to Redding. Although Tim has still not decided which side he is on in the conflict, he promises that he will not tell his father where Sam is hiding if he comes back. He only wants to see Sam because he misses him deeply.

Despite Betsy’s information and Tim’s promise, Sam does not return for a long time. Tim longs for Sam to return and hopes that Sam will be proud of him for being able to throw a stone over the tavern and for getting better at arithmetic. Finally, in November, on the first day of snow, Betsy signals to Tim that Sam is back.

Tim is very excited that Sam is in Redding and tries to think of a way that he can leave the tavern to visit his brother without telling his father. While cutting wood in the woodlot, he hears horses and then men shouting. The men are Rebel troops, now part of the Continental Army. Some 20 men and their officer stop at the tavern.

Although he is scared, Tim wants to see what the men want, so he returns to the tavern, slipping from the barnyard into the kitchen. He peeps through a crack in the door to the tavern and sees a terrible sight: a man with a gun holds Mother against a wall and two other men hold Father. The Continental officer threatens Father with his sword and demands that he turn over his gun.

The officer does not believe Father when he says that his son stole the gun from him. Father yells at the officer, and Tim is very frightened. He wants his father to be quiet and not talk back. Tim is beginning to understand that Sam and his father share many traits, and one of them is rebelliousness.

Tim is terrified that Father will be killed if he cannot give the man his gun, so Tim races to find Sam and get the gun back. He attempts to take the gun from a sleeping Sam, but Sam awakens and chases him down. Tim threatens to shoot Sam, but Sam retrieves the gun and explains that if he goes back to camp without the gun, he will be hanged. Together the boys return to the tavern to see what has become of Father. When they find the troops gone and their parents alive, Sam runs away.