Brian Petri # 59

“Spy of the Sons”

Cannons exploding, guns firing, men shouting, nothing else can be heard along the frontlines of the battle of Lexington. In Johnny Tremain, Johnny’s support for the patriots helps to turn the tide for the Americans in the Revolutionary War. Johnny uses many different means to find information for the Sons of Liberty.

Johnny obtains information about British battle strategy through sources that become crucial for Boston’s freedom. Johnny gathered information from Dove, so he eventually learned from Dove that, “the campaign would start around eight that night...chances of running and shooting.” (p. 212) Johnny becomes sure he knows when the British are planning to strike the colonies. The British will be firing and need to be careful about the horses and equipment they bring along. Johnny’s gathering information possibly saves Boston’s stored supplies.

Johnny learns new knowledge about the British movements by delivering Redcoat messages. When a Redcoat asks Johnny to ride his messages, Johnny replies “might be we could learn things Sam Adams and Doctor Warren and Paul Revere would like to know.” (p.134) Johnny wants to learn about British plans for the Sons of Liberty. He cares enough for the cause that he accepts being ridicules by townspeople for riding British messages. Johnny loves freedom so greatly that he agrees to work for the British.

Johnny’s collected reports changed the course of the war by continuously warning the Sons of Liberty about British strategy. Thought his work, he changes from an arrogant silversmith to a well-respected source of information within the Sons of Liberty. Johnny truly becomes a spy of the sons.