Jeffry S. Hepple - The Angel of 1776 - A Novella

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2010, Jeffry S. Hepple, All RightsReserved

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personalenjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away toother people. If you would like to share this book with anotherperson, please purchase an additional copy for each person youshare it with. If youre reading this book and did not purchase it,or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should returnto Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you forrespecting the hard work of this author.

This a work of fiction based upon truehistorical events and a few myths. The reader must decide which iswhich.

~

Special thanks to Brian Palesch, MindySchwartz, Scott Hepple and, as always, Susan Trotter for their helpand support.

I t was not quitenoon, and it was becoming bitterly cold. Dense, dark clouds werehanging low over the Delaware River and the rain was turning tosleet. Colonel John Glovers Fourteenth Regiment was preparing tomove the Continental Army of General George Washington across theice-choked Delaware River to attack the Hessian troops who wereoccupying Trenton, New Jersey. One of the three men who werehauling a beached Durham boat from its camouflaged location on theriverbank slipped and went down. The remaining two men latched ontothe gunnels and tried to dig their heels into the frozen turf tokeep the big boat from sliding into the river. Watch your fingers,there, Glover shouted. The oars are none too secure. I wouldrather lose a boat than any man.

Glover, like most of the men who served inhis command, was a fisherman from Marblehead, Massachusetts. In themonths after the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776,Washingtons army had suffered a series of humiliating defeats,including the nearly fatal battles of Long Island and BrooklynHeights in August. While Washingtons beaten and bloody troops werepinned against the East River being bombarded by British artillery,John Glovers Regiment had evacuated the entire force and the campfollowers to Manhattan in a seemingly impossible nighttimeoperation. Glovers action undoubtedly saved the Continental Armyfrom capture, and the Revolution from extinction.

Pursued by British General Lord Cornwallis,Washingtons army had then retreated from New York, across NewJersey to the village of Trenton where Glover had commandeeredevery boat on the Jersey Shore and transported the remnants of thearmy to Pennsylvania.

Keep the dock clear, Glover shouted. Twoof the boats had just arrived from their hiding place on TaylorIsland, and their crews were removing the camouflaging treebranches. God knows we have little enough room on this little dockas it is without cluttering it with rubbish.

To say that the hope of an independentAmerican republic was dim on this Christmas Day would be a grossunderstatement. Only days ago, Congress had fled Philadelphia toBaltimore. Now, with enlistments due to expire on December31st, with no money to pay for reenlistment bonuses, andwith morale at an all-time low, Washington was once again crossingthe Delaware. But this time he was crossing in a desperate,last-ditch attempt to keep the fledgling American Revolution alive.His plan was simple: Attack the twelve hundred British-paid Hessianmercenaries at Trenton, defeat them, and take from them thesupplies his army so urgently needed. The seeming folly of his planwas that the Hessian soldiers were the best in the world and todate, Washingtons army had not won so much as a single battle, norhad the army ever been the attacker in any conflict.

Ahoy, Colonel, a mans voice called fromthe fog near the riverbank, below the dock.

Aye, Glover called back.

Boat coming in. A little one. It aint theBritish.

Not one of ours, either. Glover squintedtoward the sound of the voice. Through the mist, he saw a small,birch-bark canoe struggling to land near the dock against thefierce current. Lend a hand there, boys. Quickly now, before oneof those big blocks of ice scuttles that toy boat. He steppedcarefully over the icy ground and onto the rocks to watch his mendrag the canoe and its occupant from the water. Who is it?

A boy, someone answered. I think hesfroze to death.

No, hes alive, Colonel, another voicecountered. But just barely. Hes covered with ice. Looks like alittle snowman. We needs to fetch him a doctor.

No, Glover shouted. Somebody run down toMcKonkeys Inn and fetch back one of Washingtons aides. We have anarmy to transport, and dont have time for this. Let them sort itall out.

Which aide? a man shouted back at him.

Hamilton, if he is available. OrFitzgerald. It hardly matters. Just get someone up here to takecharge of the boy.

Very well, sir. Ill go. The man startedtoward the inn.

They may be in the tavern. Glover called.There was to be a meeting there at noon, or thereabouts.

G eneral GeorgeWashington, commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, stomped thecrystallized mud off his boots and climbed the steps to SamuelMcKonkeys Inn and Tavern. Good afternoon, CaptainFitzgerald.

John Fitzgerald, one of Washingtonsaides-de-camp was holding open the tavern door for the general.Good afternoon, sir. Fitzgerald looked up at the sky. It will besnowing soon.

I fear that your forecast is correct,Captain. Washington removed his hat, ducked his head under thelintel and stepped into the warm, brightly lit room. Is everyonepresent?

As you know, sir, General Stephen is inTrenton. Everyone else is here, except General Cadwalader andCaptain Hamilton, that is.

Because he has so many new recruits totrain, I excused Cadwalader. Where is Alex?

He was here for a short time but he wascalled away a few minutes ago by one of the Marbleheadfishermen.

For what reason?

I cannot say, sir. I did not hear theconversation. Fitzgerald took the generals cloak and hat. Yourbaggage has been brought over from Barclays. Would you care to seeyour room?

Later. Where are we meeting?

Fitzgerald pointed toward the rear of thetavern. Our table is through that door in a private room.

Not as private as I might have wished.

The tavern is closed, sir. That is, we arethe only patrons of the inn and of the tavern. The innkeeper, hisgoodwife and daughter are the only staff. Mister McKonkey hasassured me that the Brown family is completely trustworthy.

And where is Mister McKonkey?

He is supervising the loading of cannononto the barges and ferries. General Knox said that balance wascrucial and that he trusted no one else to oversee the task.

Why is Knox not supervising ithimself?

He and Colonel Glover do not get along,sir. Apparently some of the barges and the ferry must share thedock with Colonel Glovers Marbleheaders and the dock is quitesmall.

I see. Washington walked to the hugefireplace. Let us give Captain Hamilton a few minutes before webegin.

Yes, of course, sir.

Washington held his hands toward the blaze.Nice to be warm.

Indeed it is, sir. Brutal out there. Simplybrutal. Fitzgerald gazed out the window at the darkening day.

I feel somewhat guilty Washington began,then he shook his head. Nothing to be done for it.

Fitzgerald turned away from the window.Pardon me, sir? Guilty about what, General?

About being warm.

Sir? Fitzgerald was confused.

Some of our soldiers have no coats orshoes. I feel guilty about being warm while they suffer.

Oh. Yes, sir. I understand. We did receivethose blankets today. I gave you the bill of lading.

Yes, I saw it. They are better thannothing, but not as good as coats would be.