Colonel Francis Smith Character Analysis in Johnny Tremain

Colonel Smith is an overweight, unhealthy officer who lives at the Afric Queen during the British occupation of Boston. Johnny carries post for him regularly, and he also spies on the colonel. This becomes easy once Colonel Smith hires Dove to care for his horses, Sandy and Nan. Dove has no filter and tells Johnny almost everything that he hears his employer say, leading Johnny to discover that the British have chosen Colonel Smith to lead the regiments to Lexington and Concord. Johnny finds this an odd choice, as Colonel Smith is not known for his military intelligence. Colonel Smith is severely injured in the ensuing battles, and Sandy becomes stuck in a pit.

Colonel Francis Smith Character Timeline in Johnny Tremain

The timeline below shows where the character Colonel Francis Smith appears in Johnny Tremain. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...which owns the stable, has been taken over by British officers, led by Colonel Francis Smith. Goblin is now the only horse in the stable not owned by the British. Johnny... (full context)

Johnny has a letter to deliver for Colonel Smith, so he tacks Goblin up and lets him prance in the courtyard. But Colonel Smith... (full context)

...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... (full context)

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... (full context)

...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.... (full context)

...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... (full context)

...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... (full context)

...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... (full context)

...of Minute Men. Gage, though, doesn’t know the war has started. As soon as Colonel Smith learned that Paul Revere had been able to alert everyone, he sent back for Earl... (full context)

...Beacon Hill, Johnny joins others who assumed, like him, that they’d be able to see Smith’s troops. Sure enough, he can see “a scurry of red ants.” And as night falls,... (full context)

...all men, even lowly privates, receive fair treatment. The third boat bears a gray-faced Colonel Smith and Lieutenant Stranger, who’s seriously injured. Johnny fights his desire to help his sort-of friend.... (full context)

...tavern owned by a prominent Son of Liberty, Johnny learns what happened after Lexington. Colonel Smith marched to Concord, destroyed stores, and then there was a small battle at North Bridge.... (full context)

...he walks, he notices signs of the retreat. He passes men trying to pull Colonel Smith’s Sandy out of a pit, and then he passes a burial party. When he comes... (full context)