PAGE 10
Washington Crossing the Delaware
by
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
)