How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Section.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"Those Lexington men. How many were killed on the Green yesterday?"
"Eight," she said.
As he asked his next question, his voice sounded unreal, to himself.
"Happens you know their names?"
She turned a stony face and stared at him. "These are their names," she said. "Let them never be forgot." She stretched out her hands and counted on her fingers. "Jonathan Harrington," she said, "and Caleb, too. Robert Munroe, Jonas Parker, Samuel Hedley, Isaac Muzzy, Nathaniel Wyman, John Brown." (12.2.12-16)
We have to doff our cap here because these are the names of the actual men who were killed in the Battle of Lexington. As Lexington was the first encounter of the Revolutionary War, these eight men are arguably the first people ever to die in battle for the United States of America. What do you think the author intends to accomplish by listing their names?
Quote #8
It was here the men had stood; here upon this Green they had formed a thin pathetic line, a handful of farmers to resist the march of seven hundred British regulars. Here they had died. Oh, it was so hopeless and so brave, you might laugh. And you might cry. (12.3.1)
In a nutshell, the British were going to take the militia stores, and the Lexington militia said no. We have to admit, it seems a little crazy for seventy people to stand up to seven hundred, no matter how well or poorly trained any of those people are. Doctor Warren describes it as "target practice… for them" (11.1.10). What is the significance of the Battle of Lexington in the final two chapters of the book?
Quote #9
This was his land and these his people.
The cow that lowed, the man who milked, the chickens that came running and the woman who called them, the fragrance streaming from the plowed land and the plowman. These he possessed. The skillful hands of the unseen gunsmith were his hands. The old woman throwing stones at crows who cawed and derided her was his old woman—and they his crows. The wood smoke rising from the home hearths rose from his heart. (12.5.49-50)
We have to confess that this part really makes us think of Song of Myself. Was Forbes channeling Walt Whitman? It's entirely possible: it sounds like Johnny has figured out where he belongs. He discovers his identity as an American, and since he's been searching for a sense of belonging and identity since he lost his career as a silversmith, this is a pretty big deal.