Project Gutenberg's Washington Crossing the Delaware, by Henry Fisk Carlton This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org Title: Washington Crossing the Delaware Author: Henry Fisk Carlton Editor: Claire T. Zyve Release Date: February 27, 2009 [EBook #28205] Language: English Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WASHINGTON CROSSING THE DELAWARE *** Produced by Colin Bell, Joseph Cooper, Diane Monico, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net DRAMATIC HOURS IN REVOLUTIONARY HISTORY Washington Crossing the Delaware BY HENRY FISK CARLTON Edited by CLAIRE T. ZYVE, Ph.D. Fox Meadow School, Scarsdale, New York BUREAU OF PUBLICATIONS TEACHERS COLLEGE, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY NEW YORK CITY HOW TO BE A GOOD RADIO ACTOR The play in this book has actually been produced on the radio. Possibly you have listened to this one when you tuned in at home. The persons whose voices you heard as you listened, looked just as they did when they left their homes to go to the studio, although they were taking the parts of men and women who lived long ago and who wore costumes very different from the ones we wear today. The persons whose voices you heard stood close together around the microphone, each one reading from a copy of the play in his hand. Since they could not be seen, they did not act parts as in other plays, but tried to make their voices show how they felt. When you give these plays you will not need costumes and you will not need scenery, although you can easily arrange a broadcasting studio if you wish. You will not need to memorize your parts; in fact, it will not be like a real radio broadcast if you do so, and, furthermore, you will not 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 a radio actor, that you are to read your speeches very distinctly, and that 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 great moments of history. HOW TO FOLLOW DIRECTIONS IN THE PLAY There are some directions in this play which may be new to you, but these are necessary, for you are now in a radio broadcasting studio, talking in front of a microphone. The word (in) means that the character is standing close to the microphone, while (off) indicates that he is farther away, so that his voice sounds faint. When the directions (off, coming in) are given, the person speaking is away from the microphone at first but gradually comes closer. The words (mob) or (crowd noise) you will understand mean the sound of many people talking in the distance. Both the English and the dialect used help make the characters live, so the speeches have been written in the way in which these men and women would talk. This means that sometimes the character may use what seems to you unusual English. The punctuation helps, too, to make the speeches sound like real conversation; for example, you will find that a dash is often used to show that a character is talking very excitedly. Washington Crossing the Delaware CAST GENERAL WASHINGTON COLONEL REED JOHN HONEYMAN COLONEL RALL A CORPORAL A SOLDIER GENERAL KNOX COLONEL GLOVER MOB VOICE ORDERLY ANNOUNCER We take pleasure in presenting this story of Washington crossing the Delaware. The picture of that famous event is familiar to everyone, but the story of what led up to it, and of its importance in American history is not so well known. The fall and early winter of the year 1776 saw the fortunes of Washington's army sink very low indeed. Beginning with the defeat on Long Island in late August, Washington and his army had met reverse after reverse. They had been forced to retire in succession from Manhattan to Fort Washington, then across the river to Fort Lee, then from Fort Lee to Hackensack. This succession of defeats and the enforced retirements had disorganized and depleted the army. But even worse than that, it had well-nigh ruined the morale of the civilian population, whose hearty support was absolutely necessary if the war was to be carried on. But now, discouraged and disheartened, the mass of the population gave Washington no help, no encouragement, no cooperation. This is the situation on the morning of November 22, 1776, as we begin our 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? [Pg 1] [Pg 2] 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 civilian population. WASHINGTON I know—they've lost all faith in us, Colonel. Nothing but a victory can bring us again the loyalty and help of our own people! It's discouraging, Colonel, to think that now when we need it more than ever before, we can get no help! REED Sir, if we could only turn and strike a quick blow, we might recapture Fort Lee. WASHINGTON Yes—if I only knew what force of the enemy is holding the Fort, and when 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 if General 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 a week now since I ordered him to join me at once! Have you heard any rumor 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 dozen orders I've forwarded to him. WASHINGTON That's the most discouraging thing of all! If the second in command won't obey orders, is it any wonder that the rest of the army is out of hand? Oh, well! We can't hope to do anything without Lee's help, so there's nothing for us to do but retreat— REED Again? WASHINGTON Yes, Colonel, our small force is uselessly exposed here. We can't risk capture—that would be the end of everything! REED Yes, sir. WASHINGTON If Lord Howe crosses the Hudson in force, we'd be trapped between the Hackensack and the Passaic Rivers. REED [Pg 3] [Pg 4] 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 out of danger with our small force. WASHINGTON Yes, yes, that's one advantage of a small army, isn't it, Colonel? At least we can retreat rapidly! I suppose the force we have is even smaller today than it was yesterday? REED I'm afraid so, sir. The morning report showed less than five thousand present and fit for duty! WASHINGTON If we only had Lee's seven thousand! But we haven't. You may order the retreat 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 retreat as usual. REED Yes, sir. And the advance? WASHINGTON Knox and his artillery will lead. We mustn't lose our guns—the few we have 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 [Pg 5] 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, tell him we're retreating to Newark— REED Very well, sir—and after Newark? WASHINGTON Retreat again I suppose. New Brunswick—Trenton—across the Delaware into 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 have to 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 the snow falls. Then if we can fill up our depleted ranks we'll be ready for him in the spring. REED Oh, General, if we could only make one stand against the enemy! Make one bold 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—so that he can succeed to your command! WASHINGTON So—? (pause) Well, if Lee can bring victory where I have failed, I'll be only too glad to step down in his favor. REED Sir, I beg of you, you mustn't even entertain such a thought, why General 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 man here who wants to see you. [Pg 6] [Pg 7] 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 General Washington? 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 army stopped me an' wanted to know my name an' my business—an' they wasn't goin' to let me in when I wouldn't tell 'em. But it takes more'n that to stop 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'd come to see ye—and I come, an' here I be! WASHINGTON And what can I do for you, Mr. Honeyman? [Pg 8] [Pg 9] 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 British Army. 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 think I'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, I want they should keep on a-thinkin' it! I cal'ate if I'm a-goin' to be any 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 my business was. WASHINGTON Mr. Honeyman, you've shown extraordinary good sense! You're exactly the man I've been looking for! I'm in desperate need of reliable information. And I believe you're the man to get it for me. HONEYMAN I cal'ate I be. WASHINGTON Have you any information now? [Pg 10] HONEYMAN A mite. WASHINGTON Well? HONEYMAN Lord Cornwallis is bringin' 15,000 men across the Hudson tonight, to git ye. WASHINGTON We'll be gone. HONEYMAN That's fu'st-rate! Now I'll be goin'—an' I'll keep ye informed when I know anything ye ought to know. WASHINGTON Just a moment, Honeyman. How are you going to get your information to me? 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 a notorious Tory—an' have 'em be on the lookout fer me particular! Then when 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 name with 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 to do that!—There's only jest one thing, sir— WASHINGTON Yes? HONEYMAN I'd sorta—er—kinda like my wife an' children protected from the—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 [Pg 11] [Pg 12] I understand. I'll give you an order for them to use in case of necessity. HONEYMAN Would ye—er—sign it yerself, General? WASHINGTON Certainly! Here—I'll write it now. (rattle of paper) Let's see—(slowly) "To the Good People of New Jersey and all others it may concern: 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 and probably acting the part of a British spy, should be protected from all harm and annoyances. This is no protection to Honeyman himself." Is that satisfactory? 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 his position secure with the British. He became one of the regular meat contractors for Cornwallis's army, which pursued Washington across the state of New Jersey during the next month. Washington did not hurry his retreat, but he always got away. Finally about the first of December, he came to Trenton, where he halted for a week and sent men up and down the river to collect all the boats on the Delaware. He knew that he would be forced to retreat into Pennsylvania; and he proposed to leave no means for the enemy to follow him. On December 8, 1776, the British advance, which consisted of a brigade of Hessians under Colonel Rall, entered Trenton; but as usual, Washington was half a day ahead of his pursuers, and as the Hessians entered the village, the rear guard of the Americans was just entering the last of the boats, and safely pulled away to the Pennsylvania shore! Lord Howe, who had joined Cornwallis, sent out men to look for boats, but none could be found. The weather turned cold. Lord Howe was uncomfortable; so he decided to put his troops into winter quarters and let the pursuit go. He had done enough for one season! He and Cornwallis arranged to scatter the troops about New Jersey to hold that territory, while they went back to New York to enjoy the winter. 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 knocked on the door. (knocks) RALL (off) Come in! Come in! HONEYMAN Mornin', Colonel Rall! RALL Oh, it's you, Honeyman! HONEYMAN [Pg 13] [Pg 14] Aye, it's me—an' I got some cattle out front here fer yer Quartermaster. RALL Well, that's good news—my men will be glad to see that beef! Now we can give '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 do very 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—and out here in this God-forsaken place. Let 'em get drunk, I say. There's nothing else to do. HONEYMAN Wal', Colonel, I cal'ate 'tain't often ye find a better officer than ye be! 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 by roundin' up food fer the king's men. Wal', mebbe ye better sign fer these critters out in front an' I'll be gittin' along. I got to hike over to the next post. Er—by the way—how fer is it to the next detachment o' troops? RALL Oh, about six miles south. HONEYMAN Six miles, huh? How fer to the next one north? RALL [Pg 15] [Pg 16] 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 like things? 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 trained Hessians? 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 the rascals, 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 the last o' the rebels then. HONEYMAN Wal', Colonel, good luck to ye. But I hope ye won't be in too big a hurry 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 [Pg 17] Yes, that's right too. Well, let's have a look at your cattle and I'll sign 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. (he counts) Yes sir, that's just what's happened. Wall—sign fer the twenty-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 in good condition, signed—Rall. There you are. Hope you find the other one. 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 pick up 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 halter along! (he and RALL laugh) [Pg 18] [Pg 19] ANNOUNCER So Honeyman started down the river road, cracking his whip and swinging his halter. A couple of miles down the road, four Continental soldiers were in hiding. They had been sent out with instructions to pick up a prisoner, if possible, and bring him into Washington's headquarters for the purpose of securing information. As Honeyman drew near their place of hiding in the brush alongside the river road, the men heard the snapping 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! [Pg 20] [Pg 21] 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. All right 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, ye ain'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 him up 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 stray cow! CORPORAL Stray cow, eh? Well, we was huntin' a stray coward! (laughter) Here give me that whip! SOLDIER Here ye are, Corporal! Well boys, take a look at him—this here's Honeyman the Tory. (all comment) CORPORAL All right, throw him into the boat! General Washington'll be right pleased 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 carried to the Pennsylvania shore of the Delaware. In the meantime, on that very afternoon of December 22, 1776, Washington was holding a council of war with his staff. WASHINGTON Gentlemen, I regret to inform you that Congress has fled from Philadelphia. ALL What? Fled? Left Philadelphia? Too bad! (etc.) WASHINGTON [Pg 22] [Pg 23] I'm sorry! I asked them particularly to stay there, as I feared the effect on the people of the country. But it seems that even Congress has lost 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 for any help from that quarter. KNOX Sir, can't we go back across the river, suddenly—and strike a blow before 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 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 [Pg 24] [Pg 25]