class="center">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.

REED

Yes, sir.

WASHINGTON (half to himself)

Retreat—retreat—retreat! Is there nothing else in store for us?

REED

Will you sign these, sir?

WASHINGTON

Yes—the quill.

REED

Here you are, sir.

WASHINGTON

Thank you. (rattle of paper) You may send the orders at once, Colonel.

REED

Yes, General. (calling) Orderly!

VOICE

Yes, sir.

REED

Deliver these orders at once!

VOICE

Yes, sir.

WASHINGTON

I suppose it's useless to send another order to Lee.

REED

We can send one—I don't think it will have any effect.

WASHINGTON

He ought to be informed of where we're going—yes, write him again, tell him we're retreating to Newark—

REED

Very well, sir—and after Newark?

WASHINGTON

Retreat again I suppose. New Brunswick—Trenton—across the Delaware into Pennsylvania.

REED

Yes sir, if we have any army left by then.

WASHINGTON

We have some loyal souls who will stand with us to the end. We may have to retreat to the back country of Pennsylvania; but winter is coming, Lord Howe is not an energetic foe, and he will hardly press us after the snow falls. Then if we can fill up our depleted ranks we'll be ready for him in the spring.

REED

Oh, General, if we could only make one stand against the enemy! Make one bold stroke to put new heart into our discouraged countrymen!

WASHINGTON

I know—I know, Colonel! If Lee would only obey my orders!

REED

Very little hope of that!

WASHINGTON

I know—and I can't understand his motives!

REED

Why sir, they're perfectly plain to me—and to the rest of the army.

WASHINGTON

Indeed?

REED

Certainly—he wants to discredit you—to bring about your failure—so that he can succeed to your command!

WASHINGTON

So—? (pause) Well, if Lee can bring victory where I have failed, I'll be only too glad to step down in his favor.

REED

Sir, I beg of you, you mustn't even entertain such a thought, why General Lee could no more—(knock)

WASHINGTON

Will you see who it is, Colonel.

REED

Yes, sir—(mumble at a distance, then out loud) General, there's a man here who wants to see you.

WASHINGTON

Who is it?

REED

He refuses to give his name, and says his business is private.

WASHINGTON

Tell him to come in.

REED

Yes, sir—(off) Come on in, the General will see you.

HONEYMAN

Thankee—thankee, sir. I'm obleeged to ye, sir. (in) Be ye General Washington?

WASHINGTON

I am, and what can I do for you?

HONEYMAN

Wal'—General—if ye don't mind—er—er—

WASHINGTON

Yes?

HONEYMAN

I'd like to see ye alone—sir—it's important!

WASHINGTON

Alone? Oh, very well, Colonel—

REED

I'll go, sir.

WASHINGTON

Write that letter to Lee.

REED (going)

Yes, sir. (door closes)

WASHINGTON

Now, what is it?

HONEYMAN

Wal', here I be, General—

WASHINGTON

Yes?

HONEYMAN

An' I've had tarnation's own time gittin' here—I cal'ate half yer army stopped me an' wanted to know my name an' my business—an' they wasn't goin' to let me in when I wouldn't tell 'em. But it takes more'n that to stop John Honeyman when he gits sot on doin' something.

WASHINGTON

Your name is John Honeyman?

HONEYMAN

That's me, sir, an' I promised Marthy—that's my wife, sir—that I'd come to see ye—and I come, an' here I be!

WASHINGTON

And what can I do for you, Mr. Honeyman?

HONEYMAN

Nary a thing, General Washington.

WASHINGTON

Then what—?

HONEYMAN

I come to make ye an offer.

WASHINGTON

Well?

HONEYMAN

I'm in a way to find out a lot o' things that's goin' on in the British Army.

WASHINGTON

So?

HONEYMAN

Aye, ye see, I'm a butcher.

WASHINGTON

Well?

HONEYMAN

An' I've got a contract to supply the redcoats with beef. Now they think I'm a good Tory! But General, I ain't!

WASHINGTON

I'm glad to hear that!

HONEYMAN

An' I figgered that mebbe I could find out things an' tell ye about 'em—if we could fix things up.

WASHINGTON

How much do you want for your information?

HONEYMAN

No! No! General! I ain't tryin' to sell ye nothin'!

WASHINGTON

I beg your pardon, Mr. Honeyman. But I have so many insincere offers.

HONEYMAN

I know—I know! I hear folks talk. They think I'm a Tory! Wal', sir, I want they should keep on a-thinkin' it! I cal'ate if I'm a-goin' to be any use to ye, nobody must know I ain't a rip-roarin' all-fired Tory.

WASHINGTON

Certainly!

HONEYMAN

An' that's the why I wouldn't tell none o' yer men what my name er my business was.

WASHINGTON

Mr. Honeyman, you've shown extraordinary good sense! You're exactly the man I've been looking for! I'm in desperate need of reliable information. And I believe you're the man to get it for me.

HONEYMAN

I cal'ate I be.

WASHINGTON

Have you any information now?

HONEYMAN

A mite.

WASHINGTON

Well?

HONEYMAN

Lord Cornwallis is bringin' 15,000 men across the Hudson tonight, to git ye.

WASHINGTON

We'll be gone.

HONEYMAN

That's fu'st-rate! Now I'll be goin'—an' I'll keep ye informed when I know anything ye ought to know.

WASHINGTON

Just a moment, Honeyman. How are you going to get your information to me?

HONEYMAN

Wal', I figger I might come to see ye—

WASHINGTON

No, you'd be sure to excite suspicion.

HONEYMAN

I'd be as keerful as could be.

WASHINGTON

No—I mustn't even