Johnny Tremain: Chapter 9 Summary & Analysis

1. That fall, Paul Revere organizes a spy system of 30 artisans, their apprentices, and their friends. Unlike when the Observers met in the Observer’s office, it raises no suspicions when 30 craftsmen meet in the Green Dragon inn, especially since it’s a Masonic inn and most of the men are Masons. Any intel is reported directly to Sam Adams, John Hancock, Dr. Warren, or Dr. Church. Johnny has his own assignment: to spy on Colonel Smith and the other officers at the Afric Queen. Nobody suspects him since Goblin is still stabled there, and Paul Revere warns Johnny to remain close with Dove. Even Lydia helps. One day, as Johnny helps her hang laundry, she describes how Lieutenant Stranger was sent on a “little business” last night. He spent all night writing letters to Miss Lavinia; Lydia has his torn-up attempts.

Johnny takes the torn-up letters back to the printing office, and he, Rab, and Mr. Lorne put them together. The letters are all about a dance on December 15 that he can’t attend because he’ll be 60 miles north. There’s a fort there; they’re planning to take more supplies. Johnny rushes to Paul Revere and within 10 minutes, Mr. Revere is galloping north, ostensibly to visit his dying grandmother. Before the British even leave Boston, word arrives that the Americans seized a British fort and stole stores.

2. It’s always been Johnny’s fault that he didn’t make friends with Dove. But Johnny finds that Dove is lonely, and it bothers him when the British tease and abuse him. So, Johnny cultivates Dove’s friendship. Dove begins sneaking to the Observer’s office multiple times per day, where Johnny and Rab share their food and let Dove talk. Dove boasts about warning the British officers not to employ Johnny as a rider. He reveals that he knew about Lieutenant Stranger’s plan to ride north—Rab and Johnny didn’t know Dove knew. When he insinuates that he has more information, Johnny runs to the Afric Queen for a bottle of brandy so they can loosen Dove’s tongue. 

Happily drinking, Dove says that in the spring, the British will march and fight. Gage has been told to confiscate rebel stores, and he knows where the stores are. He’s targeting Worcester and Concord, but Dove’s next big reveal is a wildly inaccurate count of British soldiers in Boston. Suddenly crying, Dove says Rab and Johnny are his best friends, and he’s going to bury himself until the war is over. Rab insists that Dove stay until he’s feeling better, but it soon comes out that Dove is supposed to have the Colonel’s horse Nan ready by 4:30—and it’s already four.

Johnny runs to do Dove’s job himself so Dove doesn’t get fired. Colonel Smith has two horses: Sandy, his old reliable war charger; and Nan, a mare with smooth gaits who’s better for hacking around Boston. When he leads Nan into the yard, Lieutenant Stranger lights up. Colonel Smith is ill, so if Johnny gets Goblin, Stranger will teach Johnny to jump. This only increases Johnny’s love and respect for Stranger. On horses, they’re equals—so it’s confusing for Johnny that elsewhere, he’s a strict British officer who looks down on Johnny.

3. One Thursday, as Johnny tries to deliver his papers, Goblin is being especially frisky. Johnny takes him to the Common planning to work out his kinks, but an officer shouts about sending Johnny away—the British are getting edgy. Several soldiers attack Johnny and Goblin and the sergeant, upon seeing Johnny’s dropped seditious newspapers, says Johnny will get 30 lashes. But Johnny notices that Pumpkin is holding Goblin’s bridle, and Pumpkin mouths, “spurs.” Johnny kicks Goblin, who gallops off, dragging a British soldier. Johnny has to cut the bridle to get rid of the soldier, so he clings to Goblin’s neck as the horse weaves through Boston and turns in at the Lytes’, expecting a carrot.

Pumpkin is in the yard, grooming a horse. He tells Johnny that the papers will still get to an eager readership: lots of British soldiers are Whigs, and that’s why there’ve been so many deserters. Still, though, they’ll “fight like hell” when the time comes. Johnny asks a few questions and ascertains that Pumpkin would happily desert—he dreams of being a farmer and having cows. The colonies offer opportunities for poor men like him, unlike in England. Johnny offers to get him a disguise and smuggle him out of Boston in exchange for his musket. Pumpkin agrees. That evening, Johnny pulls out the smocks his mother made him. She had no idea that silversmiths don’t wear smocks—she was so naïve, but she fought for Johnny. Johnny feels “humble and ashamed.”

Though Pumpkin never meets Rab’s uncle to ride out of Boston, it soon seems like he disappeared, and Johnny stops worrying about him. Rab’s eyes glow as he takes Pumpkin’s musket, and he and Johnny begin secretly casting bullets at night. Like all other Whigs in Boston, they’re melting pewter from family members—Aunt Jenifer gives hers to Rab. People make gunpowder secretly, and each Minute Man rolls powder and bullets into paper cylinders to fit his own gun. Rab wraps his in discarded invitations and love notes that Cilla steals from Miss Lavinia.

4. It’s now April, and everyone knows that General Gage will soon strike. He knows the “provincials” have been preparing, and King George is furious about how cautious Gage has been. Minute Men are drilling everywhere, despite the British order to disband. Johnny continues to watch Colonel Smith and listen to Dove, and despite his fears, he continues to ride at the Common. He exercises Sandy and Nan for Smith and is shocked that most horses are quiet and tame.

5. Johnny is riding Sandy and leading Nan around the British camp, doing Dove’s work for him. Earl Percy is parading his brigade on the Common, which is normal. Skirting the soldiers, Johnny heads for the river, where the horses can nibble some sweet grass. Then, he hears the drums rolling somberly. Regiment after regiment marches onto the Common, trapping Johnny. Finally, Johnny realizes what some soldiers are doing by the river: there’s a chaplain, a coffin, a grave, and a firing squad. They’re going to execute a deserter: Pumpkin. Johnny doesn’t watch, but he cries and shakes. Pumpkin just wanted to be a farmer, and now he’s dead. As the firing squad passes Johnny, Johnny thinks the ends of their muskets look like eyes. He doesn’t see how he or anyone else could willingly face those eyes.