Chapter 12 Summary

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. The news comes from one of the men who was taken away by the British, who was with Father when he died. Father told this man to tell his family that he loves them and that he forgives Sam, who is a good but headstrong boy. Soon afterwards, Betsy tells them that Jerry Sanford also died on a prison ship, and his body was sunk in the Sound. Even Betsy is discouraged by the war. The actions of the British seem beastly. She says that the war has gone on too long, and Sam should have come home.

A year passes, and Tim grows more...