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Exploring
What's True and What's False in the Novel.
Activity:
Have students list out events in each chapter and then
research what really happened, recording whether or not the
information is factual.
The
novel My Brother Sam is Dead is historical fiction, the authors
have woven a story using topics and situations that occurred
during the war to give us a better understanding of the war
and its impact on towns, churches, families and individuals.
Some information in My Brother Sam is Dead is factual and
some is fiction, this activity asks the students to take a
closer look at the topics the novel explores and make an attempt
to find facts associated with these topics.
Because
it would be extremely difficult for teachers and students
not familiar with Redding history to locate information that
relates to Redding I have provided that below. Other topics
such as: Uniforms, British Prison Ships, Currency, Cattle
Runs/Drovers, etc... can be researched on and off line.
My
Brother Sam is Dead Chapter I:
Tim:
"Mr. Beach, lived in Newtown but spent Saturday night
here in Redding so he could preach in our church early Sunday
morning."
In
Real Life: From 1733 to approximately 1760, The Rev. John
Beach lived in a house just south of the Christ Church on
the west side of what is now Black Rock Turnpike on Redding
Ridge. Shortly after his first wife, Sarah, died in 1756,
Mr. Beach moved to Newtown full-time. His son Lazarus, lived
about a mile east of the Christ Church, so in *poor weather
it is possible Mr. Beach stayed with Lazarus overnight to
be at service on time. However, Newtown is not all that far
from Redding Ridge so Rev. Beach could have made the ride
without too much difficulty in good weather.
*By
poor weather I mean rain or snow, which made travel laborious
for horseman of the time period.
In
a May 5th, 1772 report, Rev. Beach notes that he has only
missed two services in 40 years:
"It
is now forty years since I have had the advantage of being
the venerable Society's Missionary in this place…Every Sunday
I have performed divine service, and preached twice, at Newtown
and Reading alternately; and in these forty years I have lost
only two Sundays, through sickness; although in all that time
I have been afflicted with a constant colic which has not
allowed me one day's ease, or freedom from pain."
He
also explains why travel in poor weather was laborious for
horseman of the time period:
"The
distance between the Churches…is between eight and nine miles,
and not very good road; yet I have never failed…to attend
at each place according to custom, through the badness of
the weather, but have rode it in the severest rains and snow
storms, even when-there has been no track, and my horse near
sinking down in the snow-banks; which has had a good effect
on my parishioners, that they are ashamed to stay from Church
on account of bad weather."
Mr.
Beach: "I don't think the people of Redding are anxious
to fight, Sam"
In
Real Life: It is difficult to state they were anxious
to fight, but they were certainly prepared to fight. In June/July
of 1775, several members of Redding's East & West militia's
comprised the 10th Company, 5th Connecticut Regiment which
joined other colonial militias for the Invasion of Canada.
Zalmon Read, Ezekiel Sanford, David Peet and Benjamin Nichols
appear as officers in William E. Grumman's recorded history
titled Revolutionary Soldiers of Redding. Most Redding soldiers
returned in November of 1775, though some did remain for the
siege of Montreal that winter.
Tim:
"Tom Warrups was the last Indian we had in Redding. He
was the grandson of a famous chief named Chief Chicken…"
In
Real Life: Tom Warrups, was a Native American Indian,
and said to have been one of General Israel Putnam's most
valued scouts and messengers in the Revolution. He was the
grandson of Chickens Warrups, whose tribe resided in Redding
at the time of first settlement. It was Chickens Warrups'
name that appeared on land deeds to John Read in 1714, and
Samuel Couch in 1724, indicating he was a chief or leader
of the tribe at Redding.
Tom
was not the last Indian in Redding, members of his family
continued to work for the Read family in the Lonetown section
of town. Eunice Warrups, for example, is noted in town records
as late as 1814.
Tim:
"…actually the house is partly a store and partly a tavern,
too."
In
Real Life: The Meeker's Tavern is fictional…in that they
owned and operated it. Stephen Betts operated the tavern and
store on Redding Ridge. Taverns were very important to the
local community. Betts was prominent in town politics, serving
as Town Selectman during the Revolution, as well as several
town committees formed in support of the war. Betts represented
the town in the State Legislature: May, 1782; October, 1782;
May, 1783; October, 1783.
Tim:
"The Brown Bess was the type of gun most everybody around
Connecticut had. It was brown, and got its name from Queen
Elizabeth, whose nickname was Bess…"
In
Real Life: The Brown Bess was a "Long Land" musket with
a 46" barrel length, .75 barrel caliber, and bayonet length
of 16"-17".
Popular
explanations of the use of the word "Brown" include that it
was a reference to either the color of the walnut stocks or
to the characteristic brown color that was produced by russeting,
an early form of metal treatment applied to lessen the shine
of the barrel in the field.
The
word "Bess" is commonly held to either derive from the word
"arquebus" or "blunderbuss" (predecessors of the musket) or
to be a reference to Elizabeth I of England, considered unlikely
as she died more than a century before the introduction of
the weapon. More plausible is that the term Brown Bess could
have been derived from the German words "brawn buss" or "braun
buss", meaning "strong gun" or "brown gun"; King George I
who commissioned its use was from Germany.
My
Brother Sam is Dead Chapter II:
Tim:
"Redding was divided into two-parts: Redding Center and Redding
Ridge"
In
Real Life: Redding was divided and the Ridge is as Tim
describes it. The "empty field" he mentions still exists today,
as does the Christ Church Episcopal. As described in length
in the Chapters of this book, Redding had Presbyterians (Congregationalists)
and Anglicans (Episcopalians). The Anglicans did settle heavily
on Redding Ridge, but there were also Congregationalists among
them.
In
1771 the Rev. John Beach writes:
"In
Reading, my hearers are about 300. There is a meeting of Presbyterians
about two and a half miles from our Church, in which the congregation
is not so large as ours. In a manner, all…who live near the
Church join with us."
In
the present day, there are four sections that make up Redding:
Georgetown, Redding Center, Redding Ridge, West Redding.
Tim:
"Redding Ridge being a small place I knew everybody there
- all the kids, and Tom Warrups and Ned, the Starr's black
man."
In
Real Life: I'd call it a stretch to see Tom Warrups in
church but it plays well in the story. Charles Burr Todd,
author of Redding's only published history, described Tom
as "a worthless, shiftless fellow, who lived chiefly by begging"
Kind of rough but he did preface it with "except in war".
The
Rev. John Beach does write that he has converted a good number
of slaves in Newtown and Redding so it is plausible that Ned
would attend church. Ned was the property of Redding resident,
Samuel Smith, and was killed by British soldiers during the
1777 raid of Danbury. Apparently, Ned was among four patriot
defenders who stayed behind and opened fire on British troops
from a house in Danbury owned by Major Daniel Starr. The house
was set ablaze and all inside were killed. There are no official
accounts of Ned being beheaded before the house was put to
flame. That resulted from an investigation after the raid
had taken place, at the request of Samuel Smith. Mr. Smith
was required to provide a report of Ned's death with witnesses
in order to be compensated for his lost "property". It is
in this petition that the accounts of Ned's decapitation surface
and provide the view point and events that Tim witnesses in
my brother Sam is dead.
Tim:
"Church was practically the only time we ever saw some of
the farmers from farther out in the parish - places like Umpawaug.
They wanted to keep up with the news…"
In
Real Life: The colonists in rural locations, like Redding,
Connecticut, relied heavily on "hear-say" for general topics,
and when it came to issues of importance in most cases it
was the opinions of their preachers and ministers that held
the most weight. Therefore it is very likely farmers would
attended church to hear Rev. Beach's position on the rebellion.
Umpawaug
still exists in present day Redding. It is said to have Native
American origins and mean: "Land above the river." The Saugatuck
River runs along the eastern border of the Umpawaug district.
Tim:
"Her grandfather was Colonel Read, Her father was Colonel
Read's son, Zalmon Read."
In
Real Life: Colonel Read was John Read #2. Captain of Redding's
first militia organized in 1739, he was Major of the 4th Connecticut
Regiment in 1753, Colonel of the 4th Connecticut Regiment
of Horse in 1757. He resigned his militia commission in the
Revolution due to advanced age, but served as Justice of the
Peace in cases of confiscated loyalist properties.
Zalmon
Read was Captain of the 10th Company, 5th Connecticut Regiment
in 1757, which marched to Canada and engaged in battles at
St. Johns and Montreal during the French and Indian War. Capt.
Zalmon also assembled and led Redding's militia to Weston
to unsuccessfully challenge Tryon's British troops as they
marched toward Danbury on April 26, 1777. Zalmon and his brother
Hezekiah later converted to the Anglican faith; Zalmon moved
to Bedford, New York after the Revolution, Hezekiah remained
in Redding and was a major landholder.
Sam:
"This is Tory Country. Father, Mr. Beach, the Lyons, the Couches
- most of them in our church are Tories. And they think it's
the same everywhere, but it isn't."
In
Real Life: Tories or loyalists did live in Redding and
Southwestern Connecticut was considered Tory Country. However,
if you review town records during the war they are filled
with entries in support of the war not against the war and
for this reason I'd consider Redding to be Patriot Country.
Members
from both of Redding's militia's (East & West) comprised The
10th Company, 5th Connecticut Regiment, which joined other
colonial militias for the Invasion of Canada in June/July
1775 and Redding's West Company militia assembled, marched
and fought in the Battle of Long Island, the Battle of Fort
Washington and the Battle of White Plains in 1776.
The
first action of the town officials in regard to the war is
found in the records of a town meeting held on April 2, 1777,
when a committee was appointed "to hire a number of soldiers
to serve in the Continental Army." It was also voted that
the "sum or sums said committee promise to or do pay to those
soldiers…be paid by town rates, and the Selectmen are ordered
to and desired to make a rate to collect the money." In the
same meeting a committee was also appointed "to take care
of the families of those soldiers that are in service of their
country."
My
Brother Sam is Dead Chapter III:
Tim:
"…the war didn't affect us much around Redding in the
summer of 1775."
In
Real Life: The summer of 1775 was actually an eventful
one for Redding. As noted above, several members of both militias'
(East & West) comprised The 10th Company, 5th Connecticut
Regiment, which joined other colonial militias for the Invasion
of Canada in June/July 1775.
The
war caused quite a buzz around Redding even before the summer
months: Redding's Loyalists led by the son of Rev. John Beach,
Lazarus, joined with others in Fairfield County to publish
an article in a New York publication proclaiming their loyalty
to the King in February of 1775. In response, another group
led by Ebenezer Couch, called the Redding Committee of Observance
published an article of their own which identified and threatened
the members of the Redding Loyalist Association (74 signers)
with arrest and confiscation of property for said loyalty
to the King. Publicly exposed, many Loyalists opted for Rev.
John Beach's policy of passive resistance during the Revolutionary
period.
My
Brother Sam is Dead Chapter IV:
Patriot:
"Your all Tories here, We want your gun."
In
Real Life: Patriotic soldiers did disarm and harass known
Loyalists in this manner. In some cases, Loyalists were tarred
and feathered, arrested, even murdered.
The
Rev. John Beach In 1774 wrote:
"For
some time past, I have not been without fear of being abused
by a lawless set of men who style themselves the Sons of Liberty,
for no other reason than that of endeavoring to cherish in
my people a quiet submission to the civil government…"
In
the autumn of 1775, several officers of the militia, having
collected a number of soldiers and volunteers from the different
towns in Western Connecticut, made an effort to subdue the
Tories. They went first to Newtown, where they put Mr. Beach,
the Selectmen, and other principal inhabitants, under strict
guard, and urged them to sign the Articles of Association,
prescribed by the Congress at Philadelphia. When they could
prevail upon them neither by persuasion nor by threats, they
accepted a bond from them, with a large pecuniary penalty,
not to take any arms against the Colonies, and not to discourage
enlistment into the American forces.
My
Brother Sam is Dead Chapter V:
Tim:
"He'd (Mr. Heron) been elected to the General Assembly in
Hartford, but he'd been pushed out of it by the Patriots for
being a Tory."
In
Real Life: A publication entitled Sir Henry Clinton's
Secret Service Record of Private Daily Intelligence, which
surfaced in 1882, revealed the truth about William Heron's
role in the Revolutionary War…he was a double-agent.
Heron
provided information to both American and British commanders
during the war. The British received information of little
importance, while the Americans received reports that were
far more significant and useful.
He
most certainly fit the profile of a double agent. He arrived
in Redding just before the Revolution, at a time most residents
were more concerned with the threat of war than who their
new neighbors were; it appears local residents barely noticed
his existence until the war was underway. Even to those who
actually spoke to him, his past remained unknown, as he wouldn't
discuss it. He was conveniently situated across the street
from the residence/tavern of Patriot Stephen Betts (headquarters
of General Parsons) and right next to the Anglican Church.
From the comfort of his very own home, he was capable of monitoring
the movements of either side.
Redding
residents clearly viewed Heron as a patriot; throughout the
war they honored him with office, and placed him on committees
to advance the patriot cause. For instance, April 2, 1777,
he was placed on a committee to hire recruits for the Continental
army. June 2, 1779, he was appointed delegate to a county
convention on monetary affairs; Dec. 27, 1780, on a committee
to ascertain the length of time certain citizens of the town
had served in the army; April 16, 1781, on Committee of Correspondence;
Feb. 28, 1782, on a committee to form citizens into classes
for recruiting purposes. For four sessions during the war
he served in the Connecticut General Assembly by vote of his
townsmen, viz.: May, 1778; October, 1779; January, 1780; May,
1781.
Other's
outside of Redding viewed him as a patriot too. Connecticut's
Governor Trumbull provided passes to Squire Heron that allowed
him to freely travel to and from New York for business. General
Samuel H. Parsons, in a letter to George Washington, dated
April 6, 1782, gave his approval of Heron too.
Mr.
Heron: "I have a little job I thought Tim might do for
me. I need a boy to walk down to Fairfield for me."
In
Real Life: One of the ways Heron gained access to the
British lines was to ride to Fairfield, leave his horse with
a Tory there named "Bradley", cross the sound to Huntington
on Long Island, or an adjacent part, and thence make his way
into the enemy's lines at New York.
It
is very possible that messages from Heron to the British commanders
in Long Island were also sent from Fairfield via loyalists
like "Bradley" who received them from unsuspecting messengers
who passed through Patriot country undetected.
Life:
"They've been killing children in this war. They don't
care. They'll throw you in a prison ship and let you rot."
In
Real Life:
Children
of patriots were killed in the war. Relating to Redding, British
General, William Tryon, was said to have an ill-natured propensity
for women and boys. The latter especially he made prisoners
of, and consigned to the horrible prison ships, holding them
as hostages, on the justification that they "would very soon
grow into rebels."
In
addition to prison ships, prisoners were also confined to
the infamous "Sugar House", a Revolutionary War version of
a POW compound. There were actually three "Sugar Houses"-
i.e. sugar warehouses which the British converted into makeshift
prisons. Van Cortland's on the northwest corner of the Trinity
Church lot, Rhinelander's on William & Duane Streets, and
another on Liberty Street, which was the largest and was used
the longest. The most vivid accounts of confinement come from
the journals of prisoners confined in the Liberty Street Sugar
House, a five story stone building which was stifling in summer
and frigid in winter. Food rations were minimal and of poor
quality. Sanitation was deplorable and disease was rampant.
Many prisoners died of mistreatment and/or neglect.
Jerry
Sanford is portrayed as a 10 year old that is taken prisoner
and dies in the prisons of New York in my brother Sam is dead.
Jeremiah Sanford of Redding, Connecticut was taken prisoner
by the British and did die in the prisons of New York but
he was 19 years old not 10 years old. Jerry Sanford's portrayal
as a youth is no fault of the Collier brothers. He was long
thought to be a youth in Redding history, as that is how Charles
Burr Todd portrayed him in both versions of his History of
Redding publications. Jeremiah Sanford's gravestone holds
the truth, it reads:
"Jeremiah
Sanford, who died a prisoner in New York, June 28th in the
19th year of his age."
My
Brother Sam is Dead Chapter VII:
Tim:
"Cloth was getting scarce, and leather, because the Continental
troops needed them for clothing and shoes."
In
Real Life: This was an issue during the war. Multiple
examples are noted in Charles Burr Todd's History of Redding:
January,
1778, it was ordered that each town must provide: 1 hunting
shirt, 2 linen shirts, 2 pair linen overalls, 1 pair stockings,
12 pair good shoes, and one-half as many blankets for Continental
soldiers. But the towns were so impoverished that, in many
cases, they could not respond to the requisitions and the
soldiers suffered accordingly.
Redding
Town Records: In 1778, the town of Redding petitioned the
Legislature for relief. "49 of her citizens have gone to the
enemy; 6 are dead or prisoners; 9 are in the corps of artificers;
28 are in the Continental Army, and 112 in the trainbands.
Leaving scarcely none to man the farms and produce money or
supplies to meet the Legislature's requisitions." May 8, 1778,
Captain Zalmon Read and Asahel Fitch were appointed to provide
"shirts, shoes, stockings and other articles of clothing for
the Continental soldiers."
July
30, 1779, Micayah Starr, Thaddeus Benedict, and Stephen Betts
were appointed a committee to prepare clothing for the soldiers,
and a tax of 2s. on the pound was levied to pay for the same.
Tim:
"Verplancks Point was on the Hudson River, just south
of a town called Peekskill."
In
Real Life: Verplanck's Point was a defended position of
the Continental Troops during the war, the British assaulted
the forts of Stony Point and Verplanck's Point in 1779. Between
Verplanck's Point and Stony Point was King's Ferry, the most
heavily used crossing on the Hudson River.
On
August 31, 1782, an Amphibious assault was conducted by Continental
troops moving the army from New Windsor to Verplanck's Point
as rehearsal for an assault on Manhattan.
"Washington's
Hill" marks the site of one of the nation's most splendid
military reviews, where Washington and Rochambeau staged a
welcome to the French and American armies in 1782.
Locals
proudly to call themselves "Pointers". Verplanck is the home
of a replica of the ship the Half Moon, with which Henry Hudson
explored the Hudson River.
Peekskill.
By the time of the American Revolution, the tiny community
of Peekskill was an important manufacturing center from its
various mills along the several creeks and streams. These
industrial activities were attractive to the Continental Army
in establishing its headquarters there in 1776.
The
mills of Peek's Creek provided gunpowder, leather, planks,
and flour. Slaughterhouses were an important part of the food
supply. The river docks allowed transport of supply items
and soldiers to the several other fort garrisons placed along
the Hudson to prevent British naval passage between Albany
and New York City. Officers at Peekskill generally supervised
placing the first iron link chain between Bear Mountain and
Anthony's Nose in the spring of 1777.
Tim:
"I knew they were cow-boys. I pulled the wagon's long brake
lever and whoa-ed the oxen."
In
Real Life: Before it had any special application to America,
cowboy was used in England with the obvious meaning: "a boy
who took care of cows." Or he could have been a man, for boy
implied not only youth and boyish attitudes but also low status
in society.
Americans
invented a new meaning for the term during the American Revolution.
Cowboy became the name used in reference to pro-British raiders
who harassed and plundered the rural districts of Westchester
County, New York. Westchester County, was the so-called "Neutral
Ground" seeing the British were in New York City and the Americans
were in the Hudson Highlands.
Anti-British
raiders were called Skinners. Both Cowboys and Skinners, were
comprised largely of tramps and bandits, serving their own
interests more often than those of any cause. Seldom did they
legalize their depredations by accounting for them to their
superiors, and, worse than that, their forays were as frequent
on the stores of friendly civilians as on those of their opponents.
The
first group that cause Life and Tim trouble were not Cowboys
they were Skinners. The second group that comes to the aid
of Life and Tim to drive the Skinners off were Loyalists serving
as a Committee of Safety.
My
Brother Sam is Dead Chapter VIII:
Life:
"I thought we'd curve south a little, hit into Connecticut
at Wilton Parish and then go up thru Umpawaug to Redding."
In
Real Life: Heading south in the present day would have
taken them through Pound Ridge and Vista, New York, into North
Wilton and then on to the Umpawaug section of Redding. This
would have been through Georgetown which borders Redding and
Wilton. The turnpike through Georgetown was the route of the
main highway from Norwalk/Wilton to Redding and points north
in the time period.
My
Brother Sam is Dead Chapter IX:
Tim:
"…I was worried the cow-boys would get me first." Whether
these men are Cowboys or Skinners is a bit confusing. Tim
has good reason to fear either one.
In
Real Life: Cowboys and Skinners were one-in-the-same in
terms of their conduct, it was their allegiance that defined
them as one or the other. Seeing Life dies in a British prison
ship they are likely Cowboys, which is ironic seeing Life
is loyal to the British cause.
My
Brother Sam is Dead Chapter X:
Tim:
"Colonel Read had been head of a whole regiment of militia,
but he'd quit the job. He said it was because he was too old,
but everybody knew that was just an excuse."
In
Real Life: Colonel John Read resigned his militia commission
in the Revolution due to advanced age (75 years old), but
served as Justice of the Peace in cases of confiscated loyalist
properties.
Connecticut
Colonial Records, May, 1775: "This assembly do appoint Gold
Selleck Silliman, Esq., to be Colonel of the fourth regiment
of militia in this Colony, in the room of Colonel Read resigned."
Tim:
"As a matter of fact, we weren't suppose to pray for the King
and Parliament anymore…But Mr. Beach was pretty brave…and
he went on praying for them anyway."
In
Real Life: Shortly after the Declaration of Independence
(i.e., July, 1776) the Anglican clergy of the colony fearing
to continue the use of the Liturgy as it then stood-praying
for the kings and royal family-and conscientiously scrupulous
about violating their oaths and subscriptions, resolved to
suspend the public exercise of their ministry.
All
the churches were thus for a time closed, except those under
the care of the Rev. John Beach…He continued to officiate
as usual during the war. Though gentle as a lamb in the dealings
of private life, he was bold as a lion in the discharge of
public duty; and, when warned of personal violence if he persisted,
he declared that he would "do his duty, preach, and pray for
the Kings till the rebels cut out his tongue."
Tradition
has preserved a few examples of his experience during the
War of Independence:
In
one, it is related that a squad of soldiers marched into his
church in Newtown, and threatened to shoot him if he prayed
for the king; but when, regardless of their threats, he went
on, without so much as a tremor in his voice, to offer the
forbidden supplications, they were so struck with admiration
for his courage, that they stacked their arms and remained
to listen to the sermon.
In
another, a band of soldiers entered his church during service,
seized him, and declared that they would kill him. He entreated
that, if his blood must be shed, it might not be in the house
of God. Thereupon they took him into the street, where an
axe and block were soon prepared
"Now,
you old sinner (said one), say your last prayer."
He
knelt down and prayed: "God bless King George, and forgive
all his enemies and mine, for Christ's sake."
One
of the mob then pleaded to "let the old fellow go, and take
some younger man instead."
Tim:
"…And I was doing this one Saturday morning early toward the
end of April -the 26th, to be exact - when I began hearing
from a long way away a heavy muttering sound. It sounded a
bit like thunder…"
In
Real Life: On the morning of the 26th, at a very seasonable
hour (11am-12 noon), the British troops arrived and halted
at Redding Ridge. During the halt the main body of the troops
remained under arms on the green in front of the Anglican
church. Tryon, Agnew, and Erskine were invited into Esquire
William Heron's home (the first house south of the Christ
Church). Here they were hospitably entertained with cake,
wine, and it is presumed, many hopeful prognostications of
the speedy collapse of the "rebellion." Shortly after their
meeting, a file of soldiers entered the house of Lieutenant
Stephen Betts, a prominent patriot who lived across the street
from the church and seized him. Daniel Sanford, his son, Jeremiah
Sanford (19 years old), and 16 year old, Benjamin Lines, met
a like fate.
Tim:
"The British column was disappearing around the bend,
but a couple dozen troops had stayed behind. They were kneeling
on the road in a line firing at Captain Starr's house…"
In
Real Life: Captain Daniel Starr's house was located in
Danbury not Redding and Ned was the property of Redding resident,
Samuel Smith. Ned was killed by British soldiers during the
1777 raid of Danbury. Apparently, Ned was among four patriot
defenders who stayed behind and opened fire on British troops
from a house owned by Major Daniel Starr. The house was set
ablaze and all inside were killed. There are no official accounts
of Ned being beheaded before the house was put to flame. That
resulted from an investigation after the raid had taken place,
at the request of Samuel Smith. Mr. Smith was required to
provide a report of Ned's death with witnesses in order to
be compensated for his lost "property". It is in this petition
that the accounts of Ned's decapitation surface and provide
the view point and events that Tim witnesses in my brother
Sam is dead.
One
account of the house burning is as follows: "Soon after the
arrival of the enemy, four persons, inflamed with a momentary
madness of enthusiasm, had placed themselves in a large and
valuable house of one Major Starr, to fire upon and resist
a British Army! As the troops proceeded up the street, they
were fired upon from the windows of Starr's house by these
rash adventurers, who seemed here to have placed themselves
in reality upon the last threshold of liberty. They repeated
their firing a few times, it is said, with effect. But a dreadful
retaliation followed. An exasperated enemy thrust them into
the cellar of the house, barricaded the doors, and set the
house on fire, which was burnt to ashes, together with these
unhappy men. These persons were Joshua Porter, Eleazer Starr,
one Adams, and a negro."
My
Brother Sam is Dead Chapter XI:
Wounded
Man: "But we were expecting some Continental troops. You've
heard of General Benedict Arnold, I expect? He and General
Silliman and some others have been chasing the British up
from Compo…"
In
Real Life: As the British marched toward Danbury, the
remaining patriots of Redding anxiously awaited the approach
of the Patriot troops in pursuit. At length they came in view,
marching wearily, in sodden, disordered ranks, a small army
of five hundred men and boys, led by Brigadier General Silliman.
They were comprised of soldiers from the companies of Colonel
Lamb's battalion of artillery, with three rusty cannon, a
field-piece, part of the artillery company of Fairfield, and
sixty Continentals; the rest were raw levies, chiefly old
men and boys. It was eight o'clock in the evening when the
troops arrived at Redding Ridge- an evening as disagreeable
as a northeast rainstorm with its attendant darkness could
make it. Here the troops halted an hour for rest and refreshment.
At the expiration of that time a bugle was heard from far
down the turnpike; then the tramp of horsemen was heard, and
presently Major General Wooster and Brigadier General Arnold,
dashed into the village of Redding Ridge.
On
hearing that the British were so far ahead, it is said that
Arnold became so enraged that he could scarcely keep his seat,
and his terrible oaths fell on his auditor's ears like thunder
claps. Wooster at once assumed command, and the column moved
forward through the muddy and heavily rutted roadway as far
as Bethel, where it halted for the night at the intersection
of Elizabeth St. and Blackman Ave. At Danbury, but three miles
distant, Tryon's force was at rest, and might have been annihilated
by a determined effort, but the Continental command was hampered
by the weather conditions, rutted roadways and fatigue.
My
Brother Sam is Dead Chapter XII:
Tim:
"In June of that year, 1777, we found out that father was
dead…we found all this out from one of the men who'd been
taken away during the raid on Redding that spring."
Life
dying in a British prison ship is ironic seeing Life is loyal
to the British cause. But it highlights the hardship of the
loyalists who chose "passive resistance" in the war…they were
caught in the middle of a war they didn't support, suffering
injustices when attempting to go on with their lives as they
always had.
In
Real Life: Redding prisoners taken away during the raid
were: *Redding militiamen captured in Weston (James Rogers,
Timothy Parsons, Russell Bartlett, Daniel Chapman, Thomas
Couch, David Fairchild, Ezekial Fairchild, Jabez Frost, Daniel
Meeker, Jonas Platt, Oliver Sanford, Nathaniel Squire and
13 year old, Jacob Patchen were among the captured.), Patriots
Stephen Betts, Daniel Sanford, Jeremiah Sanford and a non-combatant
(Benjamin Lines) captured on Redding Ridge.
*Betts,
Bartlett, Lines, Patchen, and most of the Redding militiamen
would all eventually return to Redding. Daniel and Jeremiah
Sanford, Daniel Chapman, David Fairchild died in captivity
while being held in the "sugar houses" of New York, where
sanitation was deplorable and disease was rampant.
Tim:
"We couldn't get over to Verplancks Point that fall. The
Rebels were holding all of northern Westchester County - Peekskill,
Verplancks, Crompound, all of it.
In
Real Life: By the time of the American Revolution, the
tiny community of Peekskill was an important manufacturing
center from its various mills along the several creeks and
streams. These industrial activities were attractive to the
Continental Army in establishing its headquarters there in
1776.
The
mills of Peek's Creek provided gunpowder, leather, planks,
and flour. Slaughterhouses were an important part of the food
supply. The river docks allowed transport of supply items
and soldiers to the several other fort garrisons placed along
the Hudson to prevent British naval passage between Albany
and New York City. Officers at Peekskill generally supervised
placing the first iron link chain between Bear Mountain and
Anthony's Nose in the spring of 1777.
Though
Peekskill's terrain and mills were beneficial to the Patriot
cause, they also made tempting targets for British raids.
The most damaging attack took place in early spring of 1777
when an invasion force of a dozen vessels led by a warship
and supported by infantry overwhelmed the American defenders.
Another British operation in October 1777 led to further destruction
of industrial apparatus. As a result, the Hudson Valley command
for the Continental Army moved from Peekskill to West Point
where it stayed for remainder of the war.
Sam:
"I'm going to be in Redding for a while, General Putnam, is
bringing a couple of regiments here for winter encampment.
We're going up to Lonetown and hole up until spring."
In
Real Life: General Israel Putnam's division of the Continental
Army encamped in Redding in the winter of 1778-1779. This
division was comprised of General Poor's brigade of New Hampshire
troops under Brig. General Enoch Poor, a Canadian Regiment
led by Col. Moses Hazen, and two brigades of Connecticut troops:
2nd Brigade Connecticut Line regiments commanded by Brig.
General Jedediah Huntington, and the 1st Brigade Connecticut
Line regiments commanded by Brig. General Samuel H. Parsons.
This division had been operating along the Hudson (Eastern
New York) during the fall, and as winter approached it was
decided that it should go into winter quarters at Redding,
as from this position it could support the important fortress
of West Point in case of attack, intimidate the Cowboys and
Skinners of Westchester County, and cover lands adjacent to
Long Island Sound. But another major reason was to protect
the Danbury supply depot, which had been burned by the British
the year before but resurrected to keep supplies going to
Washington's army.
Colonel
Aaron Burr, one of General Putnam's aides and a frequent visitor
to Redding, had suggested that Putnam look over the area for
a future winter encampment during a summer visit to General
Heath's Brigade in Danbury. Putnam found the topography and
location ideal. Three camp locations were marked and later
prepped by artificers and surveyors under the direction of
the Quartermaster staff: the first in the northeast part of
Lonetown, near the Bethel line, on land owned by John Read,
2nd (now Putnam Park). The second was about a mile and a half
west of the first camp, between Limekiln Rd. and Gallows Hill
in the vicinity of present day Whortleberry Rd. & Costa Lane.
The third camp was in West Redding, on a ridge about a quarter
of a mile north of West Redding Station (vicinity of present
day Deer Spring Drive & Old Lantern Road).
During
the winter encampment, James Sanford, enlisted with the teamsters
for General Enoch Poor's New Hampshire brigade. The teamsters
were responsible for bringing daily supplies to camp from
the military stores in Danbury, Connecticut. James' enlistment
was contrary to the loyalties of his family, which is similar
to Sam Meeker in my brother Sam is dead. His younger brother
John, who is said to have visited him at camp everyday, is
a good candidate for the real life Tim Meeker.
Susannah:
"You mean your troops are stealing from your own people?"
In
Real Life: Given the conditions, it is difficult to blame
the soldiers that took matters into their own hands and ventured
out of camp in search of provisions. The citizens of Redding,
did not see things this way, those who initially felt quite
honored by the selection of their town for the army's winter
quarters, soon grew tired of soldiers looting their livestock.
The soldiers position was that they were the one's fighting
the country's battles and plundering the neighboring farms
was within their rights as men of war. To them a well-stocked
poultry yard, a pen of fat porkers or field of healthy heifers
offered irresistible cuisine when compared to the horse-beef
they were being offered back at camp. After a time, however,
the wary farmers foiled the looters by storing their livestock
over night in the cellars of their houses and in other secure
places. Others butchered their stock as Sam urges his family
to do.
Tim:
"Of course the ordinary soldiers didn't have much fun.
For one thing, there was always snow. It came down in a great
blizzard about a week after the troops had started to build
the encampment."
In
Real Life: Brigade orders out of Parsons' command on December
27th reveal a desperate lack of food:
"The
General of the brigade informs the officers and soldiers that
he has used every possible method to supply flour or bread
to the brigade. Although a sufficiency of every article necessary
is at Danbury, the weather had been so extreme that it is
impossible for teams to pass to that place. Every measure
is taken to supply flour, rum, salt and every necessary tomorrow,
at which time, if a quantity sufficient comes in, all past
allowances shall be made up. The General, therefore, desires
for the honor of this corps and their own personal reputation,
the soldiery, under the special circumstances caused by the
severity of the season, will make themselves contented to
that time."
The
journals of private Joseph Plumb Martin (stationed with the
8th Connecticut in Parsons' middle camp) show the desperate
lack of food and poor weather conditions continued through
January:
"We
settled in our winter quarters at the commencement of the
new year and went on in our old Continental Line of starving
and freezing. We now and then got a little bad bread and salt
beef (I believe chiefly horse-beef for it was generally thought
to be such at the time). The month of January was very stormy,
a good deal of snow fell, and in such weather it was mere
chance if we got anything at all to eat."
Report
out of the New Hampshire division (main camp, present day
Putnam Park), Dec. 22, 1778:
"a
severe snow storm..."
"
Report out of the New Hampshire division, Dec. 25, 1778:
"Christmas
Day. The Weather is so cold we take but little notice of the
day..."
"
Report out of the New Hampshire division, Dec. 26, 1778:
"
we have a very severe snow storm..."
Tim:
"I thought General Putnam gave strict orders against stealing."
Sam: "Oh he did, and knowing General Putnam he'll hang any
soldier he catches stealing. He's tough as nails but he's
honest."
In
Real Life: General Putnam was more concerned with deserters
and spies while he was in Redding. Nothing had so much annoyed
Putnam and his officers during the campaign of the preceding
summer on the Hudson than the desertions which had thinned
his ranks, and the Tory spies, who frequented his camps, under
every variety of pretext, and forthwith conveyed the information
thus gathered on the enemy.
To
put a stop to this it had been determined that the next offender
of either sort (deserter or spy) captured should suffer death
as an example.
Sam:
"The other day some of the men were actually talking mutiny."
In
Real Life: The troops went into winter quarters at Redding
in no pleasant humor, and almost in the spirit of insubordination.
This was particularly the case with the Connecticut troops.
They had endured privations that many men would have sunk
under: the horrors of battle, the weariness of the march,
cold, hunger, and nakedness. What was worse, they had been
paid in the depreciated currency of the times, which had scarcely
any purchasing power, and their families at home were reduced
to the lowest extremity of want and wretchedness.
The
frustrations caused by the deprivations brought to a head
the attempted mutiny on the morning of December 30th at Huntington's
camp. The troops had decided on the bold resolve of marching
to Hartford, and airing their grievances in person to the
Legislature then sitting. The two brigades were plotting their
escape when the threat of troop desertion was brought to Putnam's
attention. He, with his usual intrepidity and decision of
character, threw himself upon his horse and dashed down the
road leading to his camps, never slacking rein until he drew
up in the presence of the disaffected troops.
"My
brave lads," he cried, "whither are you going? Do you intend
to desert your officers, and invite the enemy to follow you
into the country? Whose cause have you been fighting and suffering
so long in-is it not your own? Have you no property, no parents,
wives, children? You have behaved like men so far-all the
world is full of your praises, and posterity will stand astonished
at your deeds; but not if you spoil it all at last.
Don't
you consider how much the country is distressed by the war,
and that your officers have not been any better paid than
yourselves? But we all expect better times, and that the country
will do us ample justice. Let us all stand by one another
then, and fight it out like brave soldiers. Think what a shame
it would be for Connecticut men to run away from their officers."
When
he had finished this stirring speech, he directed the acting
major of brigades to give the word for them to march to their
regimental parades, and lodge arms, which was done; one soldier
only, a ringleader in the affair, was confined to the guard
house, from which he attempted to escape, but was shot dead
by the sentinel on duty- himself one of the mutineers. Thus
ended the affair.
In
January, Private Joseph P. Martin related two more uprisings
in his camp journal, both were thwarted by regimental officers,
but indicate some discontent among the troops still lingered.
After that many of the Connecticut troops were placed on patrols
at Horseneck, Stamford and Norwalk. Some were sent over to
"no-man's land" in Westchester County and several hundred
troops were sent to New London for guard duty and the construction
of Fort Griswold.
My
Brother Sam is Dead Chapter XIII:
Tim:
"In the morning I went back to Captain Betts' house to talk
to Colonel Parsons."
In
Real Life: Parsons' 1st Brigade Connecticut Line regiments
wintered with General Israel Putnam's division of the Continental
Army encamped in Redding in 1778-9 and Parsons was headquartered
at Stephen Betts house/tavern. He remained headquartered on
Redding Ridge until 1781.
Tim:
"The trial was set for February 6th,"
In
Real Life: To put a stop to soldiers deserting camp and
spies infiltrating camp it had been determined that the next
offender of either sort (deserter or spy) captured should
suffer death as an example. The opportunity to implement this
determination soon arrived. Scouts from Putnam's outposts
in Westchester County captured a man lurking within their
lines, and as he could give no satisfactory account of himself,
he was at once hauled over the borders and into the presence
of the commander-in-chief. In answer to the commanders queries,
the prisoner said that his name was Jones, that he was a Welshman
by birth, and had settled in Ridgefield a few years before
the war commenced; that he had never faltered in his allegiance
to the king, and that at the outbreak of the hostilities he
had fled to the British army, and had been made a butcher
in the camp; a few weeks before, he had been sent into Westchester
County to buy beef for the army, and was in the process of
carrying out those orders at the present. He was remanded
to the guard house, court-martialed and at once ordered for
trial. Putnam had his first example.
On
Feb. 4, 1779, Edward Jones was tried at a General Court Martial
for going to and serving the enemy, and coming out as a spy.
He was found guilty of each and every charge exhibited against
him, and according to Law and the Usage's of Nations was sentenced
to suffer Death: "The General approves the sentence and orders
it to be put in execution between the hours of ten and eleven
A.M. by hanging him by the neck till he be dead."
Two
days after another General Court Martial was held for a similar
offence: on Feb. 6, 1779, John Smith of the 1st Connecticut
Regiment, was tried at a General Court Martial for desertion
and attempting to go to the enemy, found guilty, and further
persisting in saying that he will go to the enemy if ever
he has an opportunity. "The General approves the sentence
and orders that it be put in execution between the hours of
ten and twelve A.M. for him to be shot to death"
My
Brother Sam is Dead Chapter XIV:
Sam's
character takes the place of John Smith in the executions.
Which are very close to the real-life events that occurred
that day.
In
Real Life: The scene which took place at the execution
of these men on February 16 was described as shocking and
bloody, it occurred on a lofty hill (known to this day as
Gallows Hill) dominating the valley between the three camps.
The instrument of Edward Jones' death was erected approximately
twenty feet from the ground atop the hill's highest pinnacle.
Jones was ordered to ascend the ladder, with the rope around
his neck attached to the cross beam of the gallows. When he
had reached the top rung General Putnam ordered him to jump
from the ladder.
'No
General Putnam,' said Jones, 'I am innocent of the crime laid
to my charge; I shall not do it.'
Putnam
drawing his sword, compelled the hangmen at sword's point,
that his orders be obeyed and if Jones would not jump, that
the ladder be over-turned to complete the act. It was and
he perished.
The
soldier that was to be shot for desertion was but a youth
of sixteen or seventeen years of age. The Rev. Nathaniel Bartlett,
who was pastor of the Congregational Church in Redding for
a period of fifty years, officiated as chaplain to the encampment
during that winter, and was present at the execution. He interceded
with General Putnam to defer the execution of Smith until
Washington could be consulted- for reason the offender was
a youth; but the commander assured him that a reprieve could
not be granted.
John
Smith was described as "extremely weak and fainting" as he
was led by Poor's Brigade Chaplain, the Rev. Dr. Evans, approximately
200 yards from the gallows to the place he was to be shot.
Putnam
gave the order and three balls were shot through his breast:
he fell on his face, but immediately turned over on his back;
a soldier then advanced, and putting the muzzle of his gun
near the convulsive body of the youth, discharged its contents
into his forehead. The body was then placed in a coffin; the
final discharge had been fired so near to the body that it
had set the boy's clothing on fire, and continued burning
while each and every soldier present was ordered to march
past the coffin and observe Smith's mangled remains; an officer
with a drawn sword stood by to ensure they complied.
It
was indeed a grisly scene, and many have questioned the accuracy
of the accounts published about it because it seems almost
too ghastly. But it should be said that: boldness, firmness,
promptness, decisiveness- were the chief elements of General
Israel Putnam's character, and at this particular crisis all
were needed. There was disaffection and insubordination in
the army, as has been noted. Desertions were frequent, and
spying by the Tories was almost openly practiced. To put a
stop to these practices it was vitally necessary to the safety
of the army, to see that these sentences were carried into
effect. If the executions were bungling done, the fault was
with the executioners, and not with the General.
Sam's
death is another ironic twist in the Collier's story: A father
and son's loyalty to their beliefs results in death at the
hands of their own troops.
Resources
Available at the History of Redding Website:
The Complete Guide
to My Brother Sam is Dead is now available and in Word Document
format to allow teachers to copy and paste the material into
their own lesson plans if they wish to. Follow this link:
The
Complete Guide to My Brother Sam is Dead ($6.00 in Word
Format)
Resources Available
Online:
- Connecticut
Colonial Records
- Revolutionary
War Research mostly Connecticut information but an excellent
resource
- Connecticut
American Revolution Sites Connecticut Society of the
Sons of the American Revolution (SAR)
- Why
the Revolution Occurred- a very good timeline of events
that led to the colonist revolt, what happenned during it
and how our nation was formed.
- Battles
of the Revolutionary War- Awesome resource showing you
dates, locations and winners and losers.
- Uniforms
of the Revolutionary War
- Revolutionary
War Finances
- Paper
Money and Inflation
- Life
and Death Aboard British Prison Ships
- Names
of Prisoners who died on British Prison Ships
- Washington,
George, 1732-1799. The writings of George Washington
from the original manuscript sources: Volume 13 Electronic
Text Center, University of Virginia Library
- The
Complete General Orders of George Washington October
2, 1778 to 1780
- Religion
and the Revolution The Revolution split some denominations,
notably the Church of England, whose ministers were bound
by oath to support the King, and the Quakers, who were traditionally
pacifists.
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