The Fighting Ground

“9:58.” Young Jonathan dreams of joining the American Revolution as a soldier like his father, older brother, and cousin. His father was wounded in battle the previous year and won’t let Jonathan join the fight. As father and son work their cornfield, the tavern bell sounds an alarm. Jonathan touches his father’s rifle; his father, eyes fearful, warns his son against leaving to join up, instead encouraging him to return to the house.

“10:15.” Jonathan dashes home and asks his mother, who hates the war, if there’s any news. She’s heard none—she frets about never hearing from her elder son, who’s in Pennsylvania with General Washington’s army—and suggests Jonathan go to the tavern to find out more. He puts on his shoes and runs for the tavern.

“10:25.” As he runs past the creek and woods toward the tavern, Jonathan’s mind swells with thoughts of the glory of war: “It was spring, and warm, and wonderful ripe for war” (10). The tavern bell keeps tolling, and Jonathan decides he’ll ask at the tavern not for news but to join up.

“10:45.” Jonathan approaches the fortress-like stone tavern where, on the green outside, men gather and a boy rings the big bell.