Summary

In Chapter 33, Isabel and Ruth were in charge of caring for a company of 45 soldiers. Sibby, a woman in charge of another company, had given Isabel advice on how to best care for the men. When Isabel began to prepare food, she saw someone had brought fresh water but all the firewood was gone. Ruth offered to chop wood. Isabel allowed her to do so even though she doubted her ability and was surprised how capable she was.

Isabel explains next in her narrative how the drums in the camp acted like clocks for them and the soldiers. She describes how more than half the men in the black company had joined the army in hopes of earning their freedom. They treated Isabel with respect and Ruth like their own sister. Henry, one of the older men in the company taught Isabel about...