My Brother Sam is Dead Chapter Summary – Flashcards

Sam, Tim Meeker' older brother, arrives in uniform at the Meeker tavern one rainy April evening in 1775. Father asks him a series of questions, including who fired the first shot. Sam does not know who fired first.

Tim goes to church and sits in the balcony, hoping to escape thoughts about Sam, but as soon as he arrives his friend Jerry Sanford mentions Sam. Then Mr. Beach, the preacher, gives a saying on Sam's exit to fight.

Tim speaks of the effects of the war on his home life. here is just lots of talk about the war, as there always was.Occasional the arguments get heated, as when Father throws a man out of the tavern for subversion, by which he means criticism of the British army.

He has difficulty thinking of an excuse to sneak away, but while he is chopping wood, he hears the sound of horses. A group of about twenty rebel troops approaches. Tim ducks and hides, but he sees four men stop at the tavern and go inside. He looks through the back door and sees the men threatening his parents.

Tim now sees the war as a reality that is effecting his town. Other people lost guns to the soldiers, and while the people in town do not hunt often, the guns are necessary to keep the wolves away from the animals food is beginning to become hard to find, and soldiers from both sides have been stealing cows.

Tim tries to find a chance to talk to Mr. Heron without his father around, and fortunately Mr. Heron comes into the tavern on his own. Tim tells him that he wants to deliver messages for him and lies that Father said it would be okay, as long as he didn't know.

The end of the summer has arrived. Tim has tried to avoid Mr. Heron, but whenever he does see him, Mr. Heron is polite and does not mention the letter. Although food and supplies are short, the war still seems far away.

Tim and Father arrive after dark to spend the night with their cousins, the Platts. It is a big, talkative family, and they want to know all the news about the Meekers.

The next morning the ground is covered with snow, which means a cold and wet journey for the Meekers. Tim and Father say goodbye to the Platts and begin the trip home. Father rides ahead to look for the cowboys, while Tim stays with the wagon.

Life around the tavern is different with Father gone. Mother believes that he is still alive, because there would be no reason for the Rebels to kill him, but since he is gone their lives are very different. Both Tim and Mother must work all the time to keep the tavern running.

Tim fetches Dr. Hobart, and while the doctor rides quickly to the tavern, Tim walks back slowly. He cleans himself up in the barn and goes in to the tavern to find that many of the townspeople have gathered there.

In June of 1777, Mother and Tim receive news that Father is dead. For some mysterious reason he was sent to a British, not Rebel, prison ship, where he died of cholera and was buried on Long Island Sound.

Tim tries to see General Parsons, but the soldier at the door does not believe him when he says that Sam is innocent. The soldier sends Tim away without listening to him. Tim has no choice but to go home.

The family waits to hear what General Putnam will decide. Tim and Betsy consider several escape plans, but there is nothing they can do. A week later, they learn that General Putnam has refused clemency, and Sam will be executed on Tuesday. Tim is angry and sad at the unfairness of the situation. Sam has fought hard for the Rebels for three years, and now he will be executed, even though he is innocent.