Chapter 2

We'll have to! It's our only hope. But how, when, and where? I had hoped that we might get information that would guide us in our plans. Well, we haven't got it! Now, much as I hate to make any move without full and complete information, I don't see what else we can do. The river will be frozen over in a week or ten days. That means that the enemy can cross over and chase us whither they please! If we are to do anything, we've got to do it now! I've called you here to lay this before you. Will you follow me on a blind chance?

ALL

Yes! We will! You can count on us, sir. (_etc._)

WASHINGTON

I want you all to realize that this is a desperate chance. Failure means--well, we might as well face it--it means the end of our cause; but success--well, gentlemen, we can only hope and pray for success! (_knock_) Will you see who's at the door, Colonel Reed?

REED

Yes, sir.

WASHINGTON

Tell whoever it is to come back later--I'm in council.

REED

Yes, sir. (_a mumble at the door_) I beg pardon, sir, they've just brought in a prisoner.

WASHINGTON

Good, tell them to wait outside.

REED

They say, sir, it's Honeyman the Tory, and you left orders--

WASHINGTON

Honeyman? Excellent! Gentlemen, I must ask you to leave me.

ALL

Yes sir, General, of course. (_etc._)

WASHINGTON

You may hold yourselves in readiness for action. I'll issue the orders shortly.

ALL (_going_)

Yes, sir. Very good, sir. (_etc._)

WASHINGTON

Bring the prisoner in, Colonel Reed.

REED (_off_)

Yes, sir. Bring him in, men.

VOICES (_coming in_)

Here you are--come along. (_etc._)

CORPORAL

Here he is, General, that Tory you wanted, sir.

WASHINGTON

Very good, men. You may go.

CORPORAL

Can you handle him safe, sir?

WASHINGTON

He seems to be well bound. I think I'll have no trouble.

CORPORAL

Yes, sir. Very good, sir. Come on, men. We'll wait outside, sir.

WASHINGTON (_loud_)

Well, Honeyman. We've got you at last, eh?

HONEYMAN (_loud_)

I demand to be set free. Ye'll all answer to yer King fer this. (_door shuts_)

WASHINGTON (_low_)

What news?

HONEYMAN

Across the river in Trenton there ain't but a thousand Hessians.

WASHINGTON

Who's commanding?

HONEYMAN

Colonel Rall, and he ain't none too keerful--no patrols up er down the river--nobody at all north of him, and six miles to the nearest post on the south of him.

WASHINGTON

Excellent--excellent! We can do it! I'll order the attack tomorrow night! We'll trap them! We'll fight for once instead of retreat--we'll--

HONEYMAN

Beggin' yer pardon, sir.

WASHINGTON

Well?

HONEYMAN

If yer figgerin' on attackin', the time is Christmas night!

WASHINGTON

Why?

HONEYMAN

On Christmas the Hessians are goin' to git a big issue o' heavy wine, an' wal'--General--ye know soldiers--I don't have to say no more!

WASHINGTON

Good! Christmas night! Yes that's it! Has Colonel Rall taken any precautions against surprise?

HONEYMAN

Nary a one that I could see. He ain't a mite o' use fer you er yer soldiers. Ragamuffins he called 'em.

WASHINGTON

Ragamuffins? Yes, they are, poor fellows, but Honeyman, we'll see--perhaps ragamuffins can fight when they're given the chance--and with this information, you have given us our chance!

HONEYMAN

Wal', sir, I thought ye'd like to know.

WASHINGTON

Now, shall I turn you lose, Honeyman?

HONEYMAN

No, General, I figger ye'd better treat me like a prisoner er I can't be any more use to ye.

WASHINGTON

True, very well then. I'll have you put in the guardhouse and contrive to have you escape.

HONEYMAN

Yes, sir.

WASHINGTON (_calling_)

Oh, Orderly!

VOICE (_off_)

Yes, sir.

WASHINGTON

Tell the Corporal who's waiting out there to come in and take his prisoner to the guardhouse.

ORDERLY

Yes, sir--Corporal, come take charge of your prisoner.

CORPORAL (_off, coming in_)

Come on, men! Fall in around the prisoner--and look sharp that he doesn't try anything--forward march! (_sound of feet receding_)

WASHINGTON (_to himself_)

Christmas night! Trenton--God be with us!

ANNOUNCER

That night, by some unexplained accident, John Honeyman escaped from the guardhouse and returned to the British lines, where he continued his valuable service for the American cause.

Washington, with the information that Honeyman had brought him, was able to lay his plans intelligently and carefully.

Just after dusk has fallen on Christmas night, Washington orders his troops to the shore of the river. Snow is falling and the wind is howling, as Washington and Knox stand together near the boat landing--(_wind and murmur of crowd with occasional sharp commands in background through this scene._)

WASHINGTON

This weather ought to help us, Knox.

KNOX

Brrr--it's cold enough to keep the Hessians indoors--if that's what you mean, General.

WASHINGTON

The snow will cover our movements.

KNOX

Yes--in more ways than one, General.

VOICE (_off_)

First brigade is formed, sir.

WASHINGTON

Very good. (_lower_) Order embarkation to begin, Knox.

KNOX

Artillery first, sir?

WASHINGTON

No, a company of foot soldiers first to stand guard and protect the landing.

KNOX

Yes, sir. (_calling_) General Green!

VOICE (_off_)

Yes, sir.

KNOX

Send one of your companies across first to stand guard and protect the landing.

VOICE

Very good, sir. Company A, into the boats! (_orders and mob confusion_)

KNOX

The river looks bad, sir. See all the ice? It looks wicked!

WASHINGTON

Ice! Hm--I hadn't foreseen this.

VOICE (_calling_)

General Knox!

KNOX

What is it?

VOICE

The boatmen say they can't make it, sir.

WASHINGTON

Can't make it? But they've got to!

VOICE

Sorry sir, they say the floating ice--

WASHINGTON

Call Colonel Glover, Knox!

KNOX (_calling_)

Glover! Colonel Glover! Pass the word for Colonel Glover. (_order repeated several times at different distances_)

WASHINGTON

We've got to get across, Knox, we've got to! If this attempt fails, there's nothing left for us! Nothing!

KNOX

We'll get across, sir, if we have to swim.

GLOVER (_coming in_)

Colonel Glover reports, sir.

WASHINGTON

Colonel Glover, can your regiment of seafaring men handle our boats in that river?

GLOVER

General Washington, my men can handle boats in any water!

WASHINGTON

The boatmen say they can't cross because of the floating ice.

GLOVER

Sir, my men are _sea_ sailors, not river boatmen--it takes more than ice to scare them off!

WASHINGTON

Good! Put some of them in every boat.

GLOVER

Yes, sir.

WASHINGTON

And you will take general charge of the entire fleet.

GLOVER

Very good, sir.

WASHINGTON

Tell them to listen to General Knox's commands. He is the only one whose voice can be heard in this storm!

GLOVER

Very good, sir! (_going out_) This way, the Marblehead regiment! This way to the boats! (_mob_)

ANNOUNCER

For the next nine hours the difficult work of crossing the ice-filled river went forward. Colonel Glover and his regiment of seafaring men from Marblehead, Massachusetts, performed almost miraculous service in landing every man, horse, and gun without losing anything!

It was five o'clock in the morning of December 26 when Washington, now on the Jersey shore of the river, turned to Knox--(_wind and crowd noise_)

WASHINGTON

Has the last boatload landed, Knox?

KNOX

Yes, sir.

WASHINGTON

Call the men to attention.

KNOX (_calling_)

Call your men to attention!

VOICES

Company--company! (_etc._) Attention! First regiment is formed, sir, second--(_etc._)

KNOX

The men are formed, sir.

WASHINGTON

Men, we are about to start upon our most important offensive. Upon the results of our efforts this morning depends the outcome of our struggle for liberty and independence.

I shall take the first brigade and half the artillery with me down the Pennington road. The rest of the detachment under command of General Green will take the river road. It should take us about four hours to reach the outposts of Trenton. Now, it is necessary for us to attack simultaneously, so will the officers all set their watches with mine. It is now just five o'clock and ten minutes. At nine o'clock, attack!

Let every man march quietly, keep in good order in the ranks, give prompt obedience to his officers, and bear in mind the watchword--_Victory or Death!_ March your men off!

VOICES

First Regiment--Second Regiment--Company--Company--(_etc._)

ANNOUNCER

Thus, on that cold and stormy December morning, the half frozen, desperate band of ragamuffin soldiers started its march toward Trenton--toward its last forlorn hope. Washington prayed that he might catch the garrison of Hessians unsuspecting and unprepared; but he feared that he had taken so long to effect the crossing of the ice-filled river that he could not surprise the enemy!

As a matter of fact, warning was sent to Colonel Rall, but that officer, secure in his belief that no effective force of Colonial soldiers could be sent against him, paid no attention to the warning.

It was nearly nine o'clock when the Corporal of the advance guard of Washington's detachment hurried back to report to the General.

CORPORAL

General Washington, we've sighted the enemy outpost.

WASHINGTON

Good! Halt the brigade, Knox.

KNOX

Brigade!

VOICES

Company--company! (_etc._)

KNOX

Halt!

WASHINGTON

It lacks five minutes of the time set! Oh, Corporal--

CORPORAL

Yes, sir?

WASHINGTON

Did you see any sign of General Green's command on the river road?

CORPORAL

We saw 'em a half hour ago, sir, as we came over that hill back there.

WASHINGTON

Were they abreast of us?

CORPORAL

Yes, sir, a little ahead of us, sir.

WASHINGTON

Good. General Knox.

KNOX

Yes, sir.

WASHINGTON

This storm has likely ruined the flintlocks.

KNOX

No doubt of that, sir--we'll have to use bayonets.

WASHINGTON

Order bayonets fixed, and the troops deployed ready to charge bayonets on command.

KNOX

Brigade, fix bayonets! (_voices repeat order, etc._) Shall the artillery lead or follow, sir?

WASHINGTON

Follow and take position at the head of every street.

KNOX

Very good, sir.

WASHINGTON

Hm--two minutes--order the troops deployed.

KNOX

Deploy your troops--prepare to charge bayonets! (_command repeated--mob noise as order is obeyed_)

WASHINGTON

Keep your ears open for firing--it's nearly time. (_musketry_)

KNOX

There it is, sir!

WASHINGTON

Green has started! Order the charge, Knox! And God be with us!

KNOX

Forward! Charge bayonets! Ho! (_a great roar from the mob as the charge begins_)

ANNOUNCER

So Washington and his men swept into the village of Trenton, catching the Hessians totally unprepared! In an hour and a half it was all over. The disposed army of ragamuffins put the Hessians to rout! It was the first great American victory of the Revolution, and its effect was enormous. The discouraged Colonists suddenly received new heart. Hope for the cause of independence had a rebirth, and Washington, instead of fighting a losing battle alone, found himself the leader of his countrymen in fact, as well as in name! In crossing the Delaware, Washington had saved the cause of American independence!

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Transcriber's Notes

Page 8: Changed You're to Your. (You're name is John Honeyman?)

Page 19: Changed HONEYWAN to HONEYMAN.