and out of Trenton village, hardly pausing for breath. Were they back in New York, as some informants assured him? Were they boarding ship again for an attack on Philadelphia? Suppose they landed in Delaware by night; they could be in Philadelphia in three days. Then what was holding them back? Mrs. Loring? The tall Virginian loved women with as much delight as William Howe, but do you leave a dying army alone to diddle a married woman whoâs fair game for the field? Howe was no lovesick boy; he would not weigh a woman against a prize as rich as America.
Putnam rode up from Philadelphia and told Washington that the key to the whole thing was in the weather. It was the coldest December in anyoneâs memory, certainly in his, and anyone who knew the British realized that they would not march out against an enemy in weather like this. For one thing, they had no winter longcoats.
At least it was something Washington could have a good laugh over, even though he was not convinced. Putnam told him that the Continental Congress wanted to get out of Philadelphia. They felt that Philadelphia was an open city and could not be defended. They wanted to move on to Baltimore, which they held to be a safer place.
Nothing so far was as bitter as this. For them, for Congress, it was over then, and each man for his own neck. Philadelphia was only the financial, the manufacturing, the commercial center of the thirteen colonies; it was only the most vital of any city in America to the war effort, and at least three-quarters of the food and supplies that were now coming through to the army originated there or were transshipped through the city. Whatever small navy the Americans had was based there, and it was the largest and busiest port in America, the largest shipbuilding center.
Putnam repeated their demand. The Congress would not remain in Philadelphia; they were frightened. Better that he should suggest that Congress move to Baltimore than to have them scurry for safety, each to his own place, like hunted rabbits. That would be the end.
Very well, he told Putnam. Let them go to Baltimore.
So they did, without wasting an hour, and on the twelfth of December, 1776, they sent a message to Washington that said:
â⦠that until they should otherwise order, General Washington should be possessed of all power to order and direct all things relative to the department and the operation of the war.â
Well, he was now a military dictator of sorts. There appeared to be no end to the roles he would play.
[19]
THEN PART OF THE MYSTERY of what the British intended was solved. The British regulars left Trenton village; the Hessians marched in and occupied it, this time for the winter, settling down with the finality of men who had come to stay.
The first to arrive in Trenton were the grenadiers, some six hundred strong, led by Colonel Johann Gottlieb Rahl, who would be commandant of the entire occupying force. These men wore dark blue uniforms and sported great brass shakos, and they had the reputation of having killed more Americans than any other unit on American soil. They also were famous for their corps of trumpet, French horn and drums, often conducted by the colonel himself. He loved music, particularly military music.
The Knyphausen regiment followed Rahlâs grenadiers, and they were in more or less the same strength, some six hundred strong. They wore black uniforms with silver facings, and almost every man in the regiment had a fierce black mustache, waxed and thrusting out horizontally, like two sharp sword points.
The two regiments took over the village methodically, in a practical and businesslike manner, but without any noticeable hostility toward those residents who had remained in their houses. About half of the village had fled; those who stayed, with some few exceptions, were Quakers, and their manner toward the Hessians was no different from the grave and courteous behavior they displayed toward anyone
Putnam rode up from Philadelphia and told Washington that the key to the whole thing was in the weather. It was the coldest December in anyoneâs memory, certainly in his, and anyone who knew the British realized that they would not march out against an enemy in weather like this. For one thing, they had no winter longcoats.
At least it was something Washington could have a good laugh over, even though he was not convinced. Putnam told him that the Continental Congress wanted to get out of Philadelphia. They felt that Philadelphia was an open city and could not be defended. They wanted to move on to Baltimore, which they held to be a safer place.
Nothing so far was as bitter as this. For them, for Congress, it was over then, and each man for his own neck. Philadelphia was only the financial, the manufacturing, the commercial center of the thirteen colonies; it was only the most vital of any city in America to the war effort, and at least three-quarters of the food and supplies that were now coming through to the army originated there or were transshipped through the city. Whatever small navy the Americans had was based there, and it was the largest and busiest port in America, the largest shipbuilding center.
Putnam repeated their demand. The Congress would not remain in Philadelphia; they were frightened. Better that he should suggest that Congress move to Baltimore than to have them scurry for safety, each to his own place, like hunted rabbits. That would be the end.
Very well, he told Putnam. Let them go to Baltimore.
So they did, without wasting an hour, and on the twelfth of December, 1776, they sent a message to Washington that said:
â⦠that until they should otherwise order, General Washington should be possessed of all power to order and direct all things relative to the department and the operation of the war.â
Well, he was now a military dictator of sorts. There appeared to be no end to the roles he would play.
[19]
THEN PART OF THE MYSTERY of what the British intended was solved. The British regulars left Trenton village; the Hessians marched in and occupied it, this time for the winter, settling down with the finality of men who had come to stay.
The first to arrive in Trenton were the grenadiers, some six hundred strong, led by Colonel Johann Gottlieb Rahl, who would be commandant of the entire occupying force. These men wore dark blue uniforms and sported great brass shakos, and they had the reputation of having killed more Americans than any other unit on American soil. They also were famous for their corps of trumpet, French horn and drums, often conducted by the colonel himself. He loved music, particularly military music.
The Knyphausen regiment followed Rahlâs grenadiers, and they were in more or less the same strength, some six hundred strong. They wore black uniforms with silver facings, and almost every man in the regiment had a fierce black mustache, waxed and thrusting out horizontally, like two sharp sword points.
The two regiments took over the village methodically, in a practical and businesslike manner, but without any noticeable hostility toward those residents who had remained in their houses. About half of the village had fled; those who stayed, with some few exceptions, were Quakers, and their manner toward the Hessians was no different from the grave and courteous behavior they displayed toward anyone
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