DRAMATIC HOURS IN REVOLUTIONARY HISTORY WashingtonCrossing the Delaware BY HENRY FISK CARLTON _Edited by_ CLAIRE T. ZYVE, Ph. D. Fox Meadow School, Scarsdale, New York BUREAU OF PUBLICATIONSTEACHERS COLLEGE, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITYNEW YORK CITY _HOW TO BE A GOOD RADIO ACTOR_ The play in this book has actually been produced on the radio. Possiblyyou have listened to this one when you tuned in at home. The personswhose voices you heard as you listened, looked just as they did whenthey left their homes to go to the studio, although they were takingthe parts of men and women who lived long ago and who wore costumesvery different from the ones we wear today. The persons whose voices you heard stood close together around themicrophone, each one reading from a copy of the play in his hand. Sincethey could not be seen, they did not act parts as in other plays, buttried to make their voices show how they felt. When you give these plays you will not need costumes and you will notneed scenery, although you can easily arrange a broadcasting studio ifyou wish. You will not need to memorize your parts; in fact, it will notbe like a real radio broadcast if you do so, and, furthermore, you willnot want to, since you will each have a copy of the book in your hands. All you will need to do is to remember that you are taking the part of aradio actor, that you are to read your speeches very distinctly, andthat by your voice you will make your audience understand how you feel. In this way you will have the fun of living through some of the greatmoments of history. _HOW TO FOLLOW DIRECTIONS IN THE PLAY_ There are some directions in this play which may be new to you, butthese are necessary, for you are now in a radio broadcasting studio, talking in front of a microphone. The word (_in_) means that thecharacter is standing close to the microphone, while (_off_) indicatesthat he is farther away, so that his voice sounds faint. When thedirections (_off, coming in_) are given, the person speaking is awayfrom the microphone at first but gradually comes closer. The words(_mob_) or (_crowd noise_) you will understand mean the sound of manypeople talking in the distance. Both the English and the dialect used help make the characters live, sothe speeches have been written in the way in which these men and womenwould talk. This means that sometimes the character may use what seemsto you unusual English. The punctuation helps, too, to make the speechessound like real conversation; for example, you will find that a dash isoften used to show that a character is talking very excitedly. Washington Crossing the Delaware _CAST_ GENERAL WASHINGTONCOLONEL REEDJOHN HONEYMANCOLONEL RALLA CORPORALA SOLDIERGENERAL KNOXCOLONEL GLOVERMOBVOICEORDERLY ANNOUNCER We take pleasure in presenting this story of Washington crossing theDelaware. The picture of that famous event is familiar to everyone, butthe story of what led up to it, and of its importance in Americanhistory is not so well known. The fall and early winter of the year 1776 saw the fortunes ofWashington's army sink very low indeed. Beginning with the defeat onLong Island in late August, Washington and his army had met reverseafter reverse. They had been forced to retire in succession fromManhattan to Fort Washington, then across the river to Fort Lee, thenfrom Fort Lee to Hackensack. This succession of defeats and the enforcedretirements had disorganized and depleted the army. But even worse thanthat, it had well-nigh ruined the morale of the civilian population, whose hearty support was absolutely necessary if the war was to becarried on. But now, discouraged and disheartened, the mass of thepopulation gave Washington no help, no encouragement, no cooperation. This is the situation on the morning of November 22, 1776, as we beginour story. Washington is in his headquarters at Hackensack, New Jersey, when Colonel Joseph Reed, his aide, enters-- REED Good morning, General Washington! WASHINGTON Good morning, Colonel, what news? REED Not much, I'm afraid, sir. WASHINGTON Have we no information of the British movements yet? REED None! WASHINGTON What's the matter with our intelligence service? REED It's completely disrupted, sir; and we can get no help from the civilianpopulation. WASHINGTON I know--they've lost all faith in us, Colonel. Nothing but a victory canbring us again the loyalty and help of our own people! It'sdiscouraging, Colonel, to think that now when we need it more than everbefore, we can get no help! REED Sir, if we could only turn and strike a quick blow, we might recaptureFort Lee. WASHINGTON Yes--if I only knew what force of the enemy is holding the Fort, andwhen Lord Howe expects to bring the rest of his army across the Hudson. REED Well, we don't know that! WASHINGTON And without an intelligence service we can't find out! Of course ifGeneral Lee would join me--there wasn't any word from Lee this morning, was there? REED None, sir. WASHINGTON Oh, why doesn't he answer? Why doesn't he come? It's been more than aweek now since I ordered him to join me at once! Have you heard anyrumor about him? Has he left Peekskill yet? Has he crossed the Hudson? REED I haven't heard a word. He hasn't even acknowledged the last half dozenorders I've forwarded to him. WASHINGTON That's the most discouraging thing of all! If the second in commandwon't obey orders, is it any wonder that the rest of the army is out ofhand? Oh, well! We can't hope to do anything without Lee's help, sothere's nothing for us to do but retreat-- REED Again? WASHINGTON Yes, Colonel, our small force is uselessly exposed here. We can't riskcapture--that would be the end of everything! REED Yes, sir. WASHINGTON If Lord Howe crosses the Hudson in force, we'd be trapped between theHackensack and the Passaic Rivers. REED I'm afraid so, sir. WASHINGTON So--we've got to begin our retreat at once. REED The troops are ready to move, sir. It shouldn't take us long to get outof danger with our small force. WASHINGTON Yes, yes, that's one advantage of a small army, isn't it, Colonel? Atleast we can retreat rapidly! I suppose the force we have is evensmaller today than it was yesterday? REED I'm afraid so, sir. The morning report showed less than five thousandpresent and fit for duty! WASHINGTON If we only had Lee's seven thousand! But we haven't. You may order theretreat at once, Colonel. REED Yes sir, over what route? WASHINGTON We'll move across the Acquackonack bridge, and thence to Newark. REED Yes, sir. I'll write the orders, sir. (_rattle of paper_) WASHINGTON Colonel John Glover with his Marblehead regiment will cover the retreatas usual. REED Yes, sir. And the advance? WASHINGTON Knox and his artillery will lead. We mustn't lose our guns--the few wehave left. REED Yes, sir. WASHINGTON (_half to himself_) Retreat--retreat--retreat! Is there nothing else in store for us? REED Will you sign these, sir? WASHINGTON Yes--the quill. REED Here you are, sir. WASHINGTON Thank you. (_rattle of paper_) You may send the orders at once, Colonel. REED Yes, General. (_calling_) Orderly! VOICE Yes, sir. REED Deliver these orders at once! VOICE Yes, sir. WASHINGTON I suppose it's useless to send another order to Lee. REED We can send one--I don't think it will have any effect. WASHINGTON He ought to be informed of where we're going--yes, write him again, tellhim we're retreating to Newark-- REED Very well, sir--and after Newark? WASHINGTON Retreat again I suppose. New Brunswick--Trenton--across the Delawareinto Pennsylvania. REED Yes sir, if we have any army left by then. WASHINGTON We have some loyal souls who will stand with us to the end. We may haveto retreat to the back country of Pennsylvania; but winter is coming, Lord Howe is not an energetic foe, and he will hardly press us after thesnow falls. Then if we can fill up our depleted ranks we'll be ready forhim in the spring. REED Oh, General, if we could only make one stand against the enemy! Make onebold stroke to put new heart into our discouraged countrymen! WASHINGTON I know--I know, Colonel! If Lee would only obey my orders! REED Very little hope of that! WASHINGTON I know--and I can't understand his motives! REED Why sir, they're perfectly plain to me--and to the rest of the army. WASHINGTON Indeed? REED Certainly--he wants to discredit you--to bring about your failure--sothat he can succeed to your command! WASHINGTON So--? (_pause_) Well, if Lee can bring victory where I have failed, I'llbe only too glad to step down in his favor. REED Sir, I beg of you, you mustn't even entertain such a thought, whyGeneral Lee could no more--(_knock_) WASHINGTON Will you see who it is, Colonel. REED Yes, sir--(_mumble at a distance, then out loud_) General, there's a manhere who wants to see you. WASHINGTON Who is it? REED He refuses to give his name, and says his business is private. WASHINGTON Tell him to come in. REED Yes, sir--(_off_) Come on in, the General will see you. HONEYMAN Thankee--thankee, sir. I'm obleeged to ye, sir. (_in_) Be ye GeneralWashington? WASHINGTON I am, and what can I do for you? HONEYMAN Wal'--General--if ye don't mind--er--er-- WASHINGTON Yes? HONEYMAN I'd like to see ye alone--sir--it's important! WASHINGTON Alone? Oh, very well, Colonel-- REED I'll go, sir. WASHINGTON Write that letter to Lee. REED (_going_) Yes, sir. (_door closes_) WASHINGTON Now, what is it? HONEYMAN Wal', here I be, General-- WASHINGTON Yes? HONEYMAN An' I've had tarnation's own time gittin' here--I cal'ate half yer armystopped me an' wanted to know my name an' my business--an' they wasn'tgoin' to let me in when I wouldn't tell 'em. But it takes more'n that tostop John Honeyman when he gits sot on doin' something. WASHINGTON Your name is John Honeyman? HONEYMAN That's me, sir, an' I promised Marthy--that's my wife, sir--that I'dcome to see ye--and I come, an' here I be! WASHINGTON And what can I do for you, Mr. Honeyman? HONEYMAN Nary a thing, General Washington. WASHINGTON Then what--? HONEYMAN I come to make ye an offer. WASHINGTON Well? HONEYMAN I'm in a way to find out a lot o' things that's goin' on in the BritishArmy. WASHINGTON So? HONEYMAN Aye, ye see, I'm a butcher. WASHINGTON Well? HONEYMAN An' I've got a contract to supply the redcoats with beef. Now they thinkI'm a good Tory! But General, I ain't! WASHINGTON I'm glad to hear that! HONEYMAN An' I figgered that mebbe I could find out things an' tell ye about'em--if we could fix things up. WASHINGTON How much do you want for your information? HONEYMAN No! No! General! I ain't tryin' to sell ye nothin'! WASHINGTON I beg your pardon, Mr. Honeyman. But I have so many insincere offers. HONEYMAN I know--I know! I hear folks talk. They think I'm a Tory! Wal', sir, Iwant they should keep on a-thinkin' it! I cal'ate if I'm a-goin' to beany use to ye, nobody must know I ain't a rip-roarin' all-fired Tory. WASHINGTON Certainly! HONEYMAN An' that's the why I wouldn't tell none o' yer men what my name er mybusiness was. WASHINGTON Mr. Honeyman, you've shown extraordinary good sense! You're exactly theman I've been looking for! I'm in desperate need of reliableinformation. And I believe you're the man to get it for me. HONEYMAN I cal'ate I be. WASHINGTON Have you any information now? HONEYMAN A mite. WASHINGTON Well? HONEYMAN Lord Cornwallis is bringin' 15, 000 men across the Hudson tonight, to gitye. WASHINGTON We'll be gone. HONEYMAN That's fu'st-rate! Now I'll be goin'--an' I'll keep ye informed when Iknow anything ye ought to know. WASHINGTON Just a moment, Honeyman. How are you going to get your information tome? HONEYMAN Wal', I figger I might come to see ye-- WASHINGTON No, you'd be sure to excite suspicion. HONEYMAN I'd be as keerful as could be. WASHINGTON No--I mustn't even let my own men know you're working for me. HONEYMAN Wal'--ye might have me captured now an' agin--tell yer men I'm anotorious Tory--an' have 'em be on the lookout fer me particular! Thenwhen I've got something fer ye, I'll put myself in the way o' gittin'captured. WASHINGTON Good! That's an excellent idea. I'll have to give you a pretty bad namewith my troops. HONEYMAN Pshaw--I don't mind that, sir. WASHINGTON And I don't know how I can reward you. HONEYMAN I don't need no reward to help ye, General Washington, I got a duty todo that!--There's only jest one thing, sir-- WASHINGTON Yes? HONEYMAN I'd sorta--er--kinda like my wife an' children protected fromthe--wal'--the results o' my bein' an active an' notorious Tory. WASHINGTON Of course. HONEYMAN Ye see, I don't mind what folks think o' me, but Marthy--that's my wife, sir--she an' the young un's might git--wal'--treated pretty shabby. WASHINGTON I understand. I'll give you an order for them to use in case ofnecessity. HONEYMAN Would ye--er--sign it yerself, General? WASHINGTON Certainly! Here--I'll write it now. (_rattle of paper_) Let'ssee--(_slowly_) "To the Good People of New Jersey and all others it mayconcern: It is ordered that the wife and children of John Honeyman of--"Where's your home? HONEYMAN Grigstown, sir. WASHINGTON "--of Grigstown, the notorious Tory now within the British lines andprobably acting the part of a British spy, should be protected from allharm and annoyances. This is no protection to Honeyman himself. " Is thatsatisfactory? HONEYMAN I cal'ate that covers it, sir. WASHINGTON Very well, I'll sign it--(_signing_) There you are, sir. HONEYMAN I'm much obleeged to ye, sir. WASHINGTON No, Honeyman, I'm the one who is your debtor. Good day, sir. HONEYMAN Good day, General Washington. Next time ye see me I'll be yer prisoner. ANNOUNCER And John Honeyman left Washington's camp to set about making hisposition secure with the British. He became one of the regular meatcontractors for Cornwallis's army, which pursued Washington across thestate of New Jersey during the next month. Washington did not hurry his retreat, but he always got away. Finallyabout the first of December, he came to Trenton, where he halted for aweek and sent men up and down the river to collect all the boats on theDelaware. He knew that he would be forced to retreat into Pennsylvania;and he proposed to leave no means for the enemy to follow him. OnDecember 8, 1776, the British advance, which consisted of a brigade ofHessians under Colonel Rall, entered Trenton; but as usual, Washingtonwas half a day ahead of his pursuers, and as the Hessians entered thevillage, the rear guard of the Americans was just entering the last ofthe boats, and safely pulled away to the Pennsylvania shore! Lord Howe, who had joined Cornwallis, sent out men to look for boats, but nonecould be found. The weather turned cold. Lord Howe was uncomfortable; sohe decided to put his troops into winter quarters and let the pursuitgo. He had done enough for one season! He and Cornwallis arranged to scatter the troops about New Jersey tohold that territory, while they went back to New York to enjoy thewinter. Trenton was left in charge of Colonel Rall and his brigade of Hessians. On December 22, John Honeyman drove a small herd of cattle into Trenton, left them standing in front of headquarters, as he went up and knockedon the door. (_knocks_) RALL (_off_) Come in! Come in! HONEYMAN Mornin', Colonel Rall! RALL Oh, it's you, Honeyman! HONEYMAN Aye, it's me--an' I got some cattle out front here fer yerQuartermaster. RALL Well, that's good news--my men will be glad to see that beef! Now we cangive 'em a Christmas dinner that'll _be_ a Christmas dinner! HONEYMAN All ye need now, Colonel, is a mite o' wine, eh? RALL Never fear, we've got the wine! HONEYMAN Wal', ye kin have a fu'st-rate Christmas then. RALL Yes sir! With roast beef and two hogsheads of fine wine--we should dovery well. HONEYMAN Two? Pshaw, is that all? RALL Why--what's the matter with that? HONEYMAN Two hogsheads won't go so far with a whole brigade. RALL Oh, I haven't got a whole brigade. HONEYMAN Ye ain't? RALL No, just a thousand men, that's all! Why sir, they can all get roarin'drunk on the ration I'll issue 'em. HONEYMAN An' like as not they will, eh, Colonel? RALL (_chuckling_) Well, Honeyman, what do you expect o' soldiers? Christmas you know--andout here in this God-forsaken place. Let 'em get drunk, I say. There'snothing else to do. HONEYMAN Wal', Colonel, I cal'ate 'tain't often ye find a better officer than yebe! I'd like to serve under ye! RALL Well, if you want-- HONEYMAN Yes, sir. I'd do it if I wasn't helpin' along things in my way byroundin' up food fer the king's men. Wal', mebbe ye better sign ferthese critters out in front an' I'll be gittin' along. I got to hikeover to the next post. Er--by the way--how fer is it to the nextdetachment o' troops? RALL Oh, about six miles south. HONEYMAN Six miles, huh? How fer to the next one north? RALL Nobody north of us. HONEYMAN Eh, nobody north? RALL No, I'm command of the flank. This is the last post. HONEYMAN I cal'ate that makes a lot o' hard work fer ye, Colonel? RALL Hard work? HONEYMAN Sure, don't ye have to patrol up an' down the river, an' sich likethings? RALL (_laughing_) What for? HONEYMAN Wal', after all, there's _some_ o' the enemy left, ain't there? RALL (_laughing_) A half-a-dozen starved ragamuffins. What could they do to my trainedHessians? HONEYMAN (_joining in the laugh_) Not much, I cal'ate! Ye ain't in much danger, an' that's a fact! RALL If we had some boats we'd soon make short work of them. But confound therascals, they made away with all the boats. HONEYMAN Ye ain't got no boats, eh? RALL Not a one! HONEYMAN Ye ain't built none, eh? RALL Why should we? HONEYMAN Wal'--if ye want to git across the river-- RALL Oh, we'll get across as soon as the river freezes over. We'll get thelast o' the rebels then. HONEYMAN Wal', Colonel, good luck to ye. But I hope ye won't be in too big ahurry to capture all the rebels! RALL Eh, what's that? HONEYMAN Er--I'll be out of a job; and so'll ye be, Colonel! RALL Yes, that's right too. Well, let's have a look at your cattle and I'llsign for 'em. HONEYMAN Come on--you fu'st, sir. RALL Thanks--hm--how many did you say there were? HONEYMAN There's twenty-two critters there--er, there was when I drove 'em up. RALL Hm--they look a little scrawny. HONEYMAN Best I could git, Colonel! RALL (_counting_) Two--four--five--seven--ten (_etc. _) Hm--twenty-one's all I make, Honeyman. HONEYMAN Twenty-one? Pshaw now--did one o' them critters go trapsin' off. (_hecounts_) Yes sir, that's just what's happened. Wall--sign fer thetwenty-one, an' I'll go out lookin' fer that other critter. RALL Here you are--let me have that bill--(_rattle of paper_) Twenty-one ingood condition, signed--Rall. There you are. Hope you find the otherone. HONEYMAN Thankee--where's that road off to the left go? RALL That--oh, that's the river road. HONEYMAN I cal'ate the critter musta gone that way. RALL Better keep a sharp lookout if you go down that way. HONEYMAN Eh? What fer? RALL Some o' those ragamuffin rebels might be on this side of the river. HONEYMAN Pshaw now--ye don't say! They come across the river, do they? RALL Yes, once in a while. But they don't dare bother us. But they might pickup a civilian. HONEYMAN Oh, I cal'ate I kin take keer o' myself. I got my whip and this halter. RALL (_laughing_) That ought to be enough to scare 'em away from you! HONEYMAN (_going_) They'll figger I'm the hangman come out to git 'em--fetchin' my halteralong! (_he and_ RALL _laugh_) ANNOUNCER So Honeyman started down the river road, cracking his whip and swinginghis halter. A couple of miles down the road, four Continental soldierswere in hiding. They had been sent out with instructions to pick up aprisoner, if possible, and bring him into Washington's headquarters forthe purpose of securing information. As Honeyman drew near their placeof hiding in the brush alongside the river road, the men heard thesnapping of his whip. (_crack of whip_) CORPORAL (_low_) What's that? SOLDIER Don't know, sounds funny. See anything, Corporal? CORPORAL There, I see him! Huh, it's just a farmer crackin' his driving whip. SOLDIER Yah, I see him. What's he got in his other hand? CORPORAL Looks like a piece o' rope. SOLDIER A halter! Look, Corporal! CORPORAL Yep. A halter. Well, no use stoppin' him. Lie low. We want to get one o'them Hessians. By George, though, I'd like to have that whip. SOLDIER What for? CORPORAL To use on the Hessians we're goin' to git! SOLDIER You bet. Them mercenaries ought to be whipped out o' the country!Shootin's too good for 'em--we'd ought to-- CORPORAL Sh! He's gettin' closer. SOLDIER Say! I know that fellow. CORPORAL Yah? What about it? Keep quiet, I said! SOLDIER No! Listen, Corporal, we got to capture him. CORPORAL Why? SOLDIER The General issued orders about him. CORPORAL Who is he? SOLDIER Honeyman! CORPORAL Honeyman the Tory? SOLDIER That's who it is. Let's grab him. CORPORAL Men! (_several voices respond_) We're going to take this fellow. Allright now--lie low--and when I give the signal, jump! HONEYMAN (_off, coming in_) So-o-o, boss--where's that dang critter gone to? I cal'ate mebbe-- CORPORAL Halt! Get him boys! HONEYMAN Say! What's the matter--what ye doin'! ALL Come on! Grab him! Get hold of him there! Down with him! (_etc. _) HONEYMAN (_at same time_) Hey, you scoundrels! Git off me! Leave me be! I'm a peaceable man, yeain't got no right to do this to me--git off me--git off--I say--hey, leave go my halter! SOLDIERS Well, ain't this nice, boys. He's brought along a rope for us to tie himup with, now ain't that thoughtful--here--leave go the rope. HONEYMAN Let me up--don't ye tie me up! I'm jest a farmer--out huntin' a straycow! CORPORAL Stray cow, eh? Well, we was huntin' a stray coward! (_laughter_) Heregive me that whip! SOLDIER Here ye are, Corporal! Well boys, take a look at him--this here'sHoneyman the Tory. (_all comment_) CORPORAL All right, throw him into the boat! General Washington'll be rightpleased to see ye, Mister Honeyman! Come along--oh, ye won't go, eh--well, fetch him, boys. HONEYMAN Leave me be! Stop it! The King's men'll make ye pay fer this. ALL Hey shut up--grab him Tom--stop that kickin', fetch him along. (_etc. _) ANNOUNCER Protesting and struggling, Honeyman was thrown into the boat and carriedto the Pennsylvania shore of the Delaware. In the meantime, on that veryafternoon of December 22, 1776, Washington was holding a council of warwith his staff. WASHINGTON Gentlemen, I regret to inform you that Congress has fled fromPhiladelphia. ALL What? Fled? Left Philadelphia? Too bad! (_etc. _) WASHINGTON I'm sorry! I asked them particularly to stay there, as I feared theeffect on the people of the country. But it seems that even Congress haslost faith in the army. KNOX General Washington. WASHINGTON General Knox. KNOX We've got to do something to re-establish their faith! (_all agree_) WASHINGTON Yes! But what? Charles Lee is captured--his army gone--we can't look forany help from that quarter. KNOX Sir, can't we go back across the river, suddenly--and strike a blowbefore the enemy knows what we are up to? WASHINGTON We'll have to! It's our only hope. But how, when, and where? I had hopedthat we might get information that would guide us in our plans. Well, wehaven't got it! Now, much as I hate to make any move without full andcomplete information, I don't see what else we can do. The river will befrozen over in a week or ten days. That means that the enemy can crossover and chase us whither they please! If we are to do anything, we'vegot to do it now! I've called you here to lay this before you. Will youfollow 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. Failuremeans--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 justbrought 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 ordersshortly. 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. (_doorshuts_) 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 theriver--nobody at all north of him, and six miles to the nearest post onthe south of him. WASHINGTON Excellent--excellent! We can do it! I'll order the attack tomorrownight! 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 anyprecautions against surprise? HONEYMAN Nary a one that I could see. He ain't a mite o' use fer you er yersoldiers. Ragamuffins he called 'em. WASHINGTON Ragamuffins? Yes, they are, poor fellows, but Honeyman, we'llsee--perhaps ragamuffins can fight when they're given the chance--andwith 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 beany more use to ye. WASHINGTON True, very well then. I'll have you put in the guardhouse and contriveto 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 hisprisoner 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 hedoesn'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 theguardhouse and returned to the British lines, where he continued hisvaluable service for the American cause. Washington, with the information that Honeyman had brought him, was ableto lay his plans intelligently and carefully. Just after dusk has fallen on Christmas night, Washington orders histroops to the shore of the river. Snow is falling and the wind ishowling, as Washington and Knox stand together near the boatlanding--(_wind and murmur of crowd with occasional sharp commands inbackground 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 youmean, 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 thelanding. KNOX Yes, sir. (_calling_) General Green! VOICE (_off_) Yes, sir. KNOX Send one of your companies across first to stand guard and protect thelanding. 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. (_orderrepeated 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 inthat 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 iceto 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 whosevoice can be heard in this storm! GLOVER Very good, sir! (_going out_) This way, the Marblehead regiment! Thisway to the boats! (_mob_) ANNOUNCER For the next nine hours the difficult work of crossing the ice-filledriver went forward. Colonel Glover and his regiment of seafaring menfrom Marblehead, Massachusetts, performed almost miraculous service inlanding every man, horse, and gun without losing anything! It was five o'clock in the morning of December 26 when Washington, nowon the Jersey shore of the river, turned to Knox--(_wind and crowdnoise_) 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 theresults of our efforts this morning depends the outcome of our strugglefor liberty and independence. I shall take the first brigade and half the artillery with me down thePennington road. The rest of the detachment under command of GeneralGreen will take the river road. It should take us about four hours toreach the outposts of Trenton. Now, it is necessary for us to attacksimultaneously, so will the officers all set their watches with mine. Itis 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 thewatchword--_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 towardTrenton--toward its last forlorn hope. Washington prayed that he mightcatch the garrison of Hessians unsuspecting and unprepared; but hefeared that he had taken so long to effect the crossing of theice-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 couldbe sent against him, paid no attention to the warning. It was nearly nine o'clock when the Corporal of the advance guard ofWashington'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 bayonetson command. KNOX Brigade, fix bayonets! (_voices repeat order, etc. _) Shall the artillerylead 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--mobnoise 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 chargebegins_) ANNOUNCER So Washington and his men swept into the village of Trenton, catchingthe 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 thefirst great American victory of the Revolution, and its effect wasenormous. The discouraged Colonists suddenly received new heart. Hopefor the cause of independence had a rebirth, and Washington, instead offighting a losing battle alone, found himself the leader of hiscountrymen in fact, as well as in name! In crossing the Delaware, Washington had saved the cause of American independence! * * * * * Transcriber's Notes Page 8: Changed You're to Your. (You're name is John Honeyman?) Page 19: Changed HONEYWAN to HONEYMAN.