The General's Christmas

by C. Metzinger

  Washington turned to General Greene.

  "General, spread the word that the prisoners are to be treated with respect, and that the homes of this town will not be looted or destroyed in any manner."

  "Yes, sir!" he saluted smartly and turned to give the order. No matter how badly his men had suffered at the hands of the enemy, Washington would not allow retribution against men who had fought bravely for their officers.

  As soon as the Hessians were gathered together and relieved of their weapons, sentries were stationed to guard them. The American soldiers were invited into a few of the homes by a few grateful residents who were glad to be rid of the Hessians. They plied them with hot coffee, soup, and shelter.

  It was another hour before all the enemy weapons were confiscated. Colonel Knox was especially interested in the stores of ammunition and gun powder. His men thoroughly searched the area for everything they could find.

  One of the soldiers discovered several casks of rum, and soon men from every regiment were drinking in celebration.

  "Aye! This is the thing to warm us up!" one cheered, and they mobbed the storage facility, drinking out of their hats, their empty powder horns, and their hands.

  General Washington and General Greene inspected the Hessian troops, surveyed the weapons and artillery, and consulted with some of the Hessian officers. They informed the general that Colonel Rall was dying in the English Church nearby.

  Washington and Greene hurried to the church and entered. Inside, it was cold and dark. The white-painted walls and columns supported a two-story ceiling. An altar displayed the crucifix and high upon a winding iron staircase a pulpit cantilevered over the first row of pews. At the rear of the church, Colonel Rall lay in one of the box pews, attended by a doctor and two officers.

  The doctor looked up and said something in German.

  "Does anyone here speak English?" asked Washington.

  "I do," a weak voice responded. It was Colonel Rall. His face was ashen white. His eyes were open but unfocused, and his lips were colorless.

  General Greene stood aside while General Washington stepped inside the wooden box pew and knelt down beside the padded bench. Rall lay with a thick layer of blood-soaked bandages lay upon his abdomen. Washington's glance questioned the doctor, and the doctor's eyes conveyed his hopelessness.

  Washington turned to Colonel Rall, speaking softly.

  "I am General Washington, Commander in Chief of the Continental Army."

  Rall raised his head with the help of his aide.

  "I salute you, Commander. You have led your men well."

  "Thank you, Colonel. Your men fought bravely until the end."

  Rall closed his eyes in satisfaction, and then opened them again. Slowly, he turned his head and focused on Washington.

  "Please, allow my men to keep their possessions and treat them well. They are good soldiers, good officers, and have served me well."

  General Washington nodded.

  "I will do as you ask. You have my word on it, Colonel."

  "Thank you," he whispered coarsely and closed his eyes in relief. A moment later, his body lay perfectly still, yielding no sign of life. The doctor listened for a heartbeat. Then he carefully pulled the colonel's woolen cloak over his face.

  Once outside the church, Washington turned to Greene.

  "Call a meeting of the officers. We need to discuss our next move."

  Greene nodded and left.

  As Washington rode his horse through Trenton, he surveyed the remnants of war.

  Homes had been knocked in by cannon balls. Windows gaped open to the cold and snow. Soldiers shoveled snow upon the small fires burning around the houses as a northeastern wind carried smoke through the town. Groups of Hessian soldiers were marched toward the center of town where the all the prisoners were gathered. The wounded were carried into a nearby building and the dead were loaded upon wagons for burial.

  This is the face of war, Washington thought; the wounded, the dead, the ravaged lives, broken and burned. This was the price men paid for their ambitions and dreams of freedom. This was the price of independence for his country. The unfortunate soldiers of this generation sacrificed for the freedom of the next. This war was not fought for those living in the present, but for those in the future. Generations to come would prosper without the burden of British taxes and oppression, and would someday live their lives in peace, freedom, and prosperity.

  "Sir!" Corporal Baylor called, "We have 896 prisoners. So far, 22 of the enemy have been killed, and 83 are wounded."

  "And the cost to us?" asked Washington.

  "Four killed, a dozen wounded, one or two seriously injured."

  Washington nodded in satisfaction. It could have been much worse.

  "Tell the officers to meet me inside the Hessian headquarters in twenty minutes."

  "Yes, sir. General Washington?"

  "What is it, Corporal?"

  "May I have permission to search for any of the Hessians' prisoners?"

  General Washington remembered Anna and Elizabeth Clark's father.

  "Permission granted. If you find any, let me know."

  "Yes, sir!"

  Washington watched as the corporal rounded up a few men to assist him in the task. His attention was diverted to a house down the street where soldiers were shouting and laughing.

  General Greene approached.

  "The officers have all been informed, sir."

  "Good. What's that ruckus down the street?"

  Greene sheltered his eyes from the snow with one hand and squinted.

  "It's where the rum was found, General. Some of our men managed to get drunk before one of the officers discovered it and put a stop to it. They're rounding up the men now."

  Washington nodded, "Good. They can't march if they're drunk, and we haven't the wagons to carry them. See that the men are told to eat and rest before you join us inside headquarters."

  "Yes, sir."

  Washington rode toward the Hessian headquarters on Queen St. Despite the condition of his troops, exhausted from a long, cold march and an intense battle, their high spirits and laughter were heart-warming. They sang Christmas carols and laughed at each other's jokes. He was amazed at what one victory could do to change an army's morale.

  Corporal Baylor inquired among the residents and an English-speaking Hessian if he knew of prisoners who were being held in town. The corporal sent out a search party, and after an hour, one reported,

  "One of the Hessians says that there's a loft in the old mill. A few prisoners were kept in there a while back, but he doesn't know if there are any still there."

  "Let's take a look," the corporal replied. He led them down Queen St. to Water St. and along the snow-covered road to the mill. The colossal will wheel stood silently, adorned in thick snow, resting silently beside the frozen creek.

  The old wooden front door was unlocked. Inside, a dim light from an upper window lit the wooden floor and the flat grist stones. Empty barrels and sacks lay about, dusty and festooned with cobwebs. A wooden ladder led up to a loft.

  Baylor gave the ladder a shake to determine its soundness. Satisfied, he climbed up.

  At the top of the ladder, he saw two figures huddled together in the hay under empty burlap sacks. Their legs were chained to a post as they regarded Baylor with frightened eyes. After his eyes adjusted to the darkness of the loft, Baylor announced,

  "This town is now in the possession of the American Continental Army."

  There was a moment of silence as the two men looked at one another, then at Baylor. Finally, one cried, "Thank God! We're saved!"

  General Washington and his officers stood around a table inside the Hessian headquarters where a fire had been revived which provided warmth from the winter storm. One officer found a sack of coffee and brewed a large pot over the fire. Gratefully, they filled cups with the steaming hot drink and sat down at the table.

  "If we attack Princeton now, we could score another victory," sta
ted Colonel Knox, "We now have plenty of heavy artillery and ammunition to do the job."

  "I am happy to hear it," Washington said, "However; it isn't the artillery that concerns me, Colonel. Our men have marched for ten hours through bitter cold and fought an arduous battle for over two hours. As soon as some of the soldiers who escaped can get word to the British, we will certainly have to fight again."

  "Then let us settle in here and meet the enemy! We've plenty of food and ammunition," Captain Stephen stated.

  "This town is indefensible," General Sullivan argued, "Its position is vulnerable from the north, the east, and the south. And the enemy holds regiments in all those areas. If they should decide to strike at us from all three, then we would be trapped."

  "A good point," Washington agreed. He had thought of this very problem before the meeting had even begun. He preferred to listen to everyone's ideas before making a final decision on his own.

  "We could move south and take Bordentown," suggested Colonel Glover.

  "But again, we would be in the same position," Sullivan reiterated.

  "And our troops do need rest," Colonel Knox added.

  During the lull in the discussion, Washington looked at each of the men, waiting for someone to speak. Finally, he cleared his throat. All eyes went to him as he said,

  "It is less than two hours to Princeton from here, which means that we have less than four hours until the enemy strikes us. If we leave now, we may avoid facing them on the road to the Bear Tavern. The men are exhausted and need rest. And I fear that if we stay, we will be trapped as General Sullivan has stated. We must move out now while we still have the chance, and return to camp. Are there any other questions?"

  Colonel Knox spoke up, "We'll have more heavy artillery to carry back then when we came and more to ferry over."

  "Yes, it will undoubtedly take longer to cross the river. Pray to God that the river crossing will be easier than it was on the way here," Washington replied. He gave each officer his orders for the retreat back to camp before they adjourned.

  When he stepped back outside, Washington noticed that the wind had abated somewhat, but the snow was still falling. He closed his eyes momentarily, thanking God for the victory and praying for a safe journey home.

  "General?"

  When he opened his eyes, Corporal Baylor stood before him.

  "Yes? What is it?"

  "We found two prisoners, sir. They were chained up in a loft in the old mill. One of them is Mr. Clark, the father of Anna and Elizabeth," he said with a smile.

  "And are they well?"

  "Aside from being cold and hungry, they are well, sir."

  Washington nodded, "We're all cold and hungry, Corporal. Find them a place in a wagon to ride back to camp."

  "Yes, sir. When will we be leaving?"

  "Within the hour."

  "Yes, sir!" Corporal Baylor saluted smartly.

  Washington found his horse beside a watering trough where his servant handed him the reins.

  "All fed and watered, sir!" the servant announced as Washington heaved up into his saddle.

  Once the officers were mounted, the troops reluctantly formed into their regiments. A few soldiers waved goodbye to residents who wished them well, carrying bundles of food gifts. The prisoners stood in lines six men across, looking tired and apprehensive. A few of their officers had tried to reassure them that they would not be tortured or killed, but many were skeptical.

  Washington joined General Greene at the head of his regiment. Greene turned and smiled at the general, saying,

  "This is one Christmas I shall never forget, sir."

  Washington looked back at the troops standing in formation, the officers barking out orders, and the long line of men and artillery behind him. He felt a sense of accomplishment, but more than that, a sense of hope that this war could be won by such men as these. He looked at Greene, giving one of his rare smiles.

  "Neither will I, general, neither will I."

  ###

  Epilogue

  As a result of the victory at Trenton, many soldiers reenlisted in Washington's army, and he was able to continue leading the fight against the British. This victory was a small one in comparison to others during the five years of struggle for independence. However, its significance lies in the fact that had this battle been lost, or never fought, the Continental army may have disbanded in defeat. The chances of reforming another army in spring would have been difficult if not impossible. The courageous sacrifice of General George Washington, his officers and troops on Christmas Day of 1776 should never be forgotten.

  Bibliogaphy

  Forbes, E. Paul Revere and the World He Lived In. Cambridge: The Riverside Press. 1942.

  Hackett Fischer, David. Washington's Crossing. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004.

  Johnson, Paul. George Washington. New York: Harper Collins Pub.2005.

  Tindall, G. B. America: A Narrative History, 2e. New York: W. W. Norton & Co. 1988.

  Trenton Historical Society at http://trentonhistory.org

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