The General's Christmas Read Online Free

House, a short distance from the Widow
Harris' home. Lights from inside the house cast yellow shadows over
the snow. It was a two-story house made of field stone with a
chimney at each end. Inside, the house was unfinished and drafty,
but General Greene had a table prepared with candles and places set
for 12 people. As the men arrived, they greeted each other with
"Merry Christmas" and received a glass of sherry from a bottle that
had been a Christmas present to Greene from Thomas Paine. The
dinner fare was sparse, but hot. Their Christmas Eve dinner was
chicken stew containing very little chicken, an onion, two diced
carrots and potatoes, accompanied by a loaf of freshly baked
bread.
    "It may snow again tonight," Colonel John
Cadwalader announced as they finished their meal.
    "Let's pray that it doesn't," Washington
replied, and turned to Major General Sullivan.
    "How go General Ewing's raids on Trenton?" he
asked.
    Sullivan, a hearty son of an Irishman,
grinned triumphantly.
    "Their last raid was the best of all! They
blackened their faces and sneaked across the river during the
night. They set fire to several empty houses along the river and
moved off again before the Hessians could get a shot off."
    Washington nodded in satisfaction, "Good. We
must harass them as much as possible, day and night."
    "With all our attacks, they must be at their
wits' ends."
    "That's the plan. Keep at them until they
retreat."
    Greene gave a wheezy cough and then filled
the general's glass, saying, "I hear you have two refugees at
headquarters, General."
    Washington's face drew into a frown.
    "Yes, two young women wandered into camp
today, nearly frozen to death. One had been beaten. They came by
boat across the river south of here. The Hessians attacked their
farm, looted and burned it, and took their father as prisoner."
    General Sullivan's voice sounded angry, "At
least when we forage, we don't burn civilians out of their
homes."
    Greene agreed,” It’s one thing to take
livestock to feed the army, but quite another to attack innocent
civilians."
    "Which I intend to stop very soon,"
Washington said, looking at each of them across the table. He
waited until he had their full attention.
    "I have given the situation some thought and
would like to hear your ideas on a plan to attack Trenton.
Corporal, bring the maps."
    Baylor nodded and left the table. Washington
continued as the others listened intently.
    "There are about 1,500 Hessians guarding the
town. If we attack them from three positions, we have a good chance
to succeed. As you know, many of our enlisted men will be leaving
us at the end of this month. If we can score a victory between now
and then, it might convince many of them to stay."
    "We've commandeered about
forty boats of different sizes," Colonel Glover told them, "The
Durham Iron Works boats will hold about twenty-five men, but there
are no seats, so they'll have to stand. The horses and heavy
artillery can also be taken across the river on the boats. The
river current is very fast, and although the river is a little less
than eight feet deep at the ferry crossings, it's over 800 feet
across to the other side."
    "Can it be done in the dark, just after
dusk?" asked Washington.
    "Yes, if there isn't too much wind," Glover
assured him.
    Washington proposed a three-prong attack and
asked the others what they thought. He saw their excitement in the
brightness of their eyes.
    "I've no doubt we can accomplish it," Colonel
Knox said, "but it won't be easy."
    "Nothing we've done this far has been easy,"
General Sullivan replied.
    Washington looked at Knox and said, "You
brought 59 pieces of heavy artillery 300 miles over ice and snow
through the mountains last winter all the way from Fort Ticonderoga
to Boston. I have full confidence that you can bring our artillery
and horses across an 800 foot river at night."
    Colonel Knox smiled and patted his round
stomach.
    "Say the word, General, and it will be
done."
     
    The night was cold