what is the authors intent for chapter 13

Connection to the past is the main idea of chapter 13. Granpa shares stories from his past as parables to help Little Tree understand his own history. In the story, Granpa has a surprising connection to the Union soldier. Both want to help the family and both have a good understanding of working the land. Although separated by ethnicity and culture, they have an equally appreciative sense of nature and how to nurture, rather than work against it. This is probably Granpa's first realization that someone he would normally distrust, a soldier, can be trustworthy and kind. When all seems as perfect as it can be, with a great crop of corn and new friendships between the family and the soldiers, the regulators destroy everything.

This parallels what happened to the Cherokee, being killed or forced off their land years before. The handful of dirt expresses the soldier's love of the land, similar to that of Granpa. This story helps Little Tree understand that, while ethnicities separate folks, kin is still possible with a shared sense of spirit.