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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.