The Fighting Ground

“12:30.” Two soldiers sit at the campfire with Jonathan, reassuring him that war is deadly and harsh, and he shouldn’t blame himself for his capture. One of them, a Frenchman wounded at the Rocktown battle, speaks in French to the little boy, who tells his story amid sobs. The Frenchman says there was an argument between the French couple and the Corporal, and things got worse from there. Jonathan learns that, during the Rocktown battle, one American was killed; it was the man who fell against Jonathan, the man who knew his father. The Frenchman says the Corporal is very dedicated to the war effort and is brave in battle, “But when the fighting stops, well, no, perhaps that is something that is different. Then, perhaps, you hope that he… that he is not there” (128). The Frenchman will take care of the little boy and will try to find the lad’s older brother.

“4:30.” The Corporal awakens Jonathan and offers him more johnnycake. The Corporal tells him he’s done very well, but he’s needed once more at the farmhouse. Jonathan doesn’t want to go, but the Corporal gently reminds him that he’s a soldier now and must do as ordered.

“5:00.” The men set off for the road. They carry muskets, and one holds a torch. The Corporal wants to catch the sleeping Hessians at dawn. The men expect they’ll capture the enemy soldiers, but the Corporal seems to have other plans.

“5:30.” The group arrives at a spot on the road across the forest from the farm. The Corporal tells Jonathan to describe the farmhouse. He replies that it’s small, with only one door. The Corporal says, “Ducks in a pond” (134).

“5:35.” The group walks a few hundred yards through the forest to the farm. As dawn edges up in the east, they can just make out the farmhouse. The Corporal tells Jonathan to go to the door, peer inside to see if the Hessians are still asleep, then quickly get out of the way.

“5:38.” Jonathan hesitates. The Corporal orders him forward. Jonathan climbs the fence and stands on the other side. The Corporal grabs his shoulder and reminds him to do exactly as told, and he’ll be safe. Jonathan protests that the Hessians never hurt him. The Corporal reminds him that he wanted to be a soldier and fight the enemy. Jonathan begs, “Please.” The Corporal cocks his weapon and says, “now” (138). Jonathan walks toward the farmhouse.

“5:45.” Halfway across the field, Jonathan stops and looks back. The Corporal signals to him to continue. Jonathan reaches the porch and opens the door. Inside, it’s dark. He walks in.

“5:50.” The fire has died to embers. He hears the men breathing in their sleep. His head throbbing painfully, Jonathan goes to the young soldier and wakes him. He signals that American soldiers are outside. The Hessian, alarmed, goes to the door, opens it, looks out, then slams the door shut and cries out a warning to his fellows. Shots fired by the Americans slam into the house. The Colonel calls out, telling the Hessians to surrender. Jonathan, crouching to one side, knows they can’t understand English. The Germans load their weapons. Jonathan shouts at them to give up—they can’t win. The old soldier grabs him and, arm around the boy’s neck, lifts him up like a shield. Jonathan struggles and repeats his cry that they should surrender. The soldier tightens his grip, and Jonathan can’t breathe. The men step outside. Jonathan, writhing frantically, breaks the old soldier’s grip and runs back inside. A volley of shots ring out, then silence.

“6:10.” Jonathan peers out. The three Hessians lie dead on the ground, surrounded by the Americans. After a moment, all but the Corporal turn and, without a word, walk away.

“6:13.” The Corporal bends down and closes the Hessians’ eyes. He picks up their guns, then says to Jonathan that he must have tried to save them. When Jonathan says yes, the Corporal tells him the Hessians recently bayonetted the wounded. The war, he says, is sometimes a matter of luck. He tells Jonathan to retrieve his rifle from the house. The boy finds it amid the rubble, then swings it against the hearth, again and again, until it’s broken wreckage. He slumps down in sobs. The Corporal puts a hand on his shoulder and tells him it’s time to leave.

“6:40.” They catch up with the other Americans and walk back to camp. Jonathan trails them, alone with his thoughts. They pack up at the campfire and begin the trek home. The Corporal tries to walk with Jonathan, but he tells him to leave him alone.

“9:30.” As they near the tavern, men split off until only four are left. The Corporal has disappeared too. The tavern keeper congratulates the four men, then tells Jonathan his father is worried sick about him. He also asks for his gun back, but Jonathan says, “It’s gone,” and walks away.

“10:30.” Reaching his home, Jonathan hears the sound of a hoe in the earth. He follows the sound to where his father is digging. His father turns, sees him, and asks if he’s wounded. Jonathan shakes his head; his father lets out a sigh of relief. Jonathan understands that his father’s fear had not been for himself but for his son. Jonathan realizes he’s lucky, and he feels grateful to be alive.