Irwin Springer loves history-especially about the American Revolution. So he is excited when Whit leaves a book about Ben Franklin for Irwin in the library. Unfortunately, Irwin's enthusiasm causes him to temporarily lose good sense. Irwin climbs on a rolling chair to reach the book, which is on top of a tall bookcase. The chair slips, Irwin falls, and he's knocked unconscious.

When he awakens, he's in a forest, where a man is telling him to run. Suddenly, a bullet whizzes by Irwin's head and splats into a tree. Irwin runs, and he and the man hide in some bushes. The men chasing them run up, and to Irwin's amazement, they're Redcoats from the British Colonial Army! Irwin has been transported back in time. He and the man narrowly escape the Redcoats by pulling down a wasps' nest onto the men, but then Irwin and his companion are attacked by the wasps. They jump into a nearby pond and swim to the opposite shore. There, the man introduces himself-as Nathan Hale!

Hale takes Irwin back to the Continental Army camp, where he meets George Washington. Irwin can't believe any of this is happening. He's especially awed when General Washington asks him to take a message to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Irwin doesn't know how to ride a horse, but he certainly can't refuse a request from George Washington. So Irwin runs off to Philadelphia.

In Philadelphia, he meets the patriots, who are debating over whether to sign a document called the Declaration of Independence. Irwin delivers his message, the debate rages on, and finally the Declaration is signed. Ben Franklin tells Irwin to spread the news to every village and town-the United States are free! Irwin does, but his horse stumbles and falls, knocking him unconscious again. When he awakens this time, he's back in the library at Whit's End. It was all just a dream . . . or was it?