Johnny Tremain: Chapter 10 Summary & Analysis

1. Spies that General Gage sent out return on April 14, 1774. The next day, a Saturday, Gage posts orders everywhere that grenadier and light infantry companies (which are part of larger regiments) are off duty for special training. Lieutenant Stranger, a light infantry officer, laughs that this “looks like something.” Altogether, this accounts for 700 men. Johnny notices men sharpening bayonets and polishing cannons, but is that noteworthy? He seeks out Paul Revere at Dr. Warren’s; the men have no new information. 

Johnny stays on a sofa there into the evening, listening to the chatter about what the British might be planning. He wakes from a dream and learns that Mr. Revere is planning to row to Lexington, where Mr. Hancock and Mr. Adams are hiding, to warn them—and to warn men in Concord to hide weapons. Mr. Revere and Dr. Warren come up with a plan to alert a messenger, Billy Dawes, who will relay whether the British will move out by land or over the river. Johnny follows Mr. Revere out, and Dr. Church appears out of nowhere and asks what’s going on. Mr. Revere refuses to say—he no longer trusts Dr. Church.

2. It’s now April 16th, a Sunday. As usual, Boston is at church. But Rab thinks that there will be fighting within the week and insists on going to Lexington. Johnny feels ill as he studies his friend, now 18 and a man. Johnny offers to come along, hoping Rab will accept. But Rab says Johnny must stay in Boston and keep listening to Dove. Johnny snappily tries to get Rab to say that he’ll miss him, but Rab just laughs. Thinking of the firing squad, Johnny doesn’t want Rab to go. He doesn’t look up as Rab puts a hand on Johnny’s shoulder, says Johnny is bold, and then leaves. From the window, Johnny watches Rab say goodbye to Aunt Jenifer and Uncle Lorne, but by the time he runs to say goodbye himself, Rab is gone. Everything is silent, except for the men drilling—even on a Sunday.

3. After a quiet Monday, things pick up on Tuesday. Sergeants tell the grenadier and light infantry companies to be ready for an expedition at moonrise. So, everyone knows the men will move, but not in what direction they’ll go. Johnny spends the day at the Afric Queen, helping serve officers in the dining room. He can’t interpret any of Colonel Smith’s behaviors, but he is certain that Dove knows less than he does (Dove is too wrapped up in his own misery to pay attention). But, before heading out for the evening, Johnny checks on Dove one last time. Dove is polishing a saddle. He complains that Colonel Smith hit him because he polished the wrong saddle—Dove had no idea Smith even had a campaign saddle. It’s only now been unpacked.

Realizing this could be important, Johnny offers to help. As he polishes the stirrups, he notices that this saddle has an extra girth and lots of places to attach maps, flasks, and other kits. Johnny invites Dove (who’s lying in the hay now that Johnny is helping) to join him for dinner, but Dove says he’s way too busy. He's supposed to have the saddle ready by six and Sandy ready by eight. With a few more questions, Johnny learns that this won’t be a peaceful ride—and that the troops will be moving by boat. They’re not going far, either to Lexington or Concord, and Smith is in charge. Johnny pets Sandy while Dove presents the saddle to Smith. Dove returns jubilant—he’ll have the day off tomorrow, since Smith will be gone until evening.

4. Johnny reports directly to Dr. Warren. Dr. Warren and his men are very interested to hear that the British troops expect to be back in Bostin within a day—and that Smith, an unintelligent colonel, is in charge. Outside, the men can hear soldiers marching, and a spy arrives to say he’s seen the soldiers boarding boats for Cambridge. Dr. Warren sends Johnny to fetch Billy Dawes and Paul Revere. At Billy’s house, Johnny says it's time. Billy is dressed like a drunken farmer, and his wife spills rum on him and giggles. He’ll pay off a guard at the Neck. As soon as he’s gone, his wife stops laughing—she clearly knows how serious this is.

Johnny runs for Paul Revere’s house, the light infantry and grenadier companies getting in his way. Mr. Revere sends Johnny to see if there’s more than one warship in the river, and then to Robert Newman—Newman is to hang two lanterns. Johnny observes only one warship in the river, but he knows men across the river in Charlestown are waiting for the signal. They’ll saddle a horse for Paul Revere, who will summon the Minute Men. Then, he runs for the Newmans’. He follows Mr. Revere’s instructions and meets Newman in a back alley to give the instructions.

When Johnny returns to Dr. Warren’s surgery, the doctor and Mr. Revere are seriously discussing Dr. Warren’s safety. Then they start laughing and part happily, not like they might never see each other again. Johnny sneaks down to watch the British embark, joining many others. He watches Sandy step onto a boat and notices that Major Pitcairn, who’s a marine, is also boarding the boat. This could be important, so Johnny decides to tell Dr. Warren. Back at the surgery, he learns that Billy Dawes made it past the guards on the Neck and is now riding a fast horse. Dr. Warren tells Johnny to go to sleep, and Johnny sleeps soundly. As dawn arrives, shots are fired in Lexington—but still, Johnny sleeps.