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?
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
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
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
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.
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?
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?
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
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.