Answer:
Soon, soldiers and civilians began using the nickname Uncle Sam to refer to the United States.
Explanation:
Sentences 11 and 12 are both talking about "using the nickname Uncle Sam to refer to the United States".
In sentence 11, it talks about soldiers. In sentence 12, it talks about civilians.
You can say:
Soon, soldiers and civilians began using the nickname Uncle Sam to refer to the United States.
I would say the setting Hawthorn choose for his book to take place, this Puritan village
Direct objects are only found in sentences with action verbs! :)
