The General's Christmas Read Online Free Page A

and dark
as General Washington and Corporal Baylor made their way back to
headquarters. Rugged wooden army huts stood nearby, providing only
nominal shelter from the wind for some soldiers. Some of the men
were wrapped in blankets, sleeping on the ground next to the fires
while others sat, huddled against the cold. If only they hadn't
left their tents and equipment when they fled Fort Lee with the
British army at their heels, the men would have some protection
against the cold. Seeing his men deprived of even the basic need
for shelter made Washington even more determined to attack Trenton
and recoup some of their losses.
    The sounds of musket fire echoed in the
distance.
    "Is that coming from the west?" Washington
asked anxiously.
    "It may be coming from
General Ewing's camp, sir. It's Christmas Eve."
    Washington relaxed and remembered the old
custom of shooting in Christmas.
    "We mustn't waste ammunition. Tell the
officers to discourage any holiday celebrations of that sort."
    "Yes, sir," Corporal Baylor
nodded and rode ahead to spread the word. He returned in time to
find Washington seated next to the fire at the widow's house.Widow
Harris was sitting beside the fire when he entered, bringing in a
cold draft.
    Baylor asked, "How are the young ladies?"
    Widow Harris replied, "Both asleep. But the
younger one, poor dear, is a sight. Her face is turning black and
blue from the beating she took."
    Washington shook his head, "Do whatever you
can for them, Mrs. Harris, and spare no expense."
    The plump woman nodded, "Aye, but seeing
their father again would be the best medicine of all."
    "We shall do our best to make that possible,"
Washington told her. He turned to Corporal Baylor.
    "At dawn, would you please let the cooks know
that we will need three days' rations prepared for tomorrow's
march?"
    "Yes, sir," Baylor nodded.
The widow bade them goodnight and gave them some blankets. Since
both of their beds were occupied by the girls, Baylor and his
General would be sleeping on the floor tonight.
     
    On Christmas morning, the day dawned cold and
misty with a leaden sky. A cold front had come in during the night,
pushed by the wind. Trees swayed gently in the breeze and inside
the Harris home, drafty windows moaned with each gust. A thin layer
of snow frosted the ground, and the muddy, rutted roads had frozen
into rocky paths.
    In the camp, preparations were being made for
the march on Trenton. The animals were fed and ammunition and
supplies were loaded onto wagons. Each man was issued fresh flints,
powder, and balls for their muskets, along with three days'
rations. At the prospect of doing some action, the men's spirits
had lifted and they set to their duties with a sense of
purpose.
    It was Christmas Day, and as they prepared to
march, many wished each other greetings.
    "I wonder where we're marching to next," said
one soldier to another.
    "Who cares, as long as it's away from here!"
replied his friend.
    Officers rode among the men, telling them to
be ready to march after the evening meal.
    "Fill your bellies, men," one officer told
them, "We've got some hard work ahead of us tonight."
    A scraggly, thin man with
sunken eyes that shifted from one side to another turned to the
soldiers and asked,
    "Where we goin'?"
    The young man next to him shook his head,
"I'm not sure, but I heard a rumor that we're marching to Trenton.
Where we go after that, God only knows."
    "Anywhere it's warmer than
here is fine with me," a third man chimed in cheerfully.
    A scraggly soldier, known only as Bates, spit
on the ground and searched the camp to see where the sentries were
posted along the river. He scratched his grey beard and drew his
jacket collar up over his neck. A few guards walked along the
banks, keeping watch on the river for any sign of the enemy.
    Biting cold air had frozen
the river, but its strong current had broken the ice into large
slabs piled into large stacks. Bates looked out over the river. A
small wooden rowboat lay on