How does the community respond to John Holbrook leaving to fight in a group of Native Americans?

A
reader should look to the end of chapter sixteen for information regarding this question. The
initial reaction is shock and dismay. Kit, and others, can not believe that John Holbrook would
leave to go fight as a soldier. Kit even states that John is the last person she figured to turn
soldier. The other people then clarify that John did not leave to be a combat soldier. He left
to be a combat medic and put to use the knowledge he has gained in the last year. This
information does not satisfy Kit. She can't believe that John would abandon his current studies
like this. Rachel then suggests that perhaps leaving for the fight is John's way of breaking
with Dr. Bulkeley, and Rachel even goes so far as to suggest it is a good thing. Judith
vehemently disagrees and states that John is being stubborn. It becomes clear that Judith is
upset because she feels that John has abandoned her. Mercy eventually enters the conversation,
and she sort of comes to John's defense. Mercy believes that John did not
want to leave. Rather he felt that he had to leave.
The chapter then ends, and readers do not get much more additional information regarding his
sudden departure because five days after he leaves, Judith gets sick.