The book begins with the sound of musket fire in the early morning, stirring the camp into action as British troops attempt a probing raid. However, the skirmish quickly subsides, leaving the soldiers to return to their beds. One of them, a 19-year-old volunteer named William Knox, is too restless to sleep. He is the younger brother of Henry Knox, a respected officer on General Washington’s staff, whom Will idolizes. Will finds himself disillusioned with the monotony of military life, reduced to gathering firewood and hunting for food, far from the heroic battles he imagined. As he sits on Prospect Hill, overlooking the British-controlled Boston, Will’s frustration is palpable. He yearns for action, even fantasizing about commanding heavy artillery against the British fleet.

Major General Sir William Howe, the British commander overseeing the siege of Boston, is in a bad mood because of the ongoing stalemate. Howe surveys the harbor, noting the array of British warships and defenses that have successfully isolated Boston with a blockade. However, he is acutely aware that the rebel stronghold in nearby Cambridge remains out of reach. He dismisses the colonial forces as a motley group of traitors yet grudgingly acknowledges their bravery and effectiveness in battle.