Chapter 10: Crossing the Delaware

During the War of Independence, a middle-aged General looked to the enemy’s encampment on the opposite bank of the Delaware river.

“They’ve got two cannons aimed right for us,” he remarked. “Our only option now is to row a small crew across and seize their artillery before our main forces can move in for an attack.”

The soldiers exchanged worried glances amongst themselves.

“Sir…you’re asking us to paddle in the dead of night through a raging snowstorm for over eight hours straight.”

“Correct,” future President, Jordan Washington replied curtly. “Now, who’s coming with me?”

No one moved. Then, a small hand rose up in the back.

“Name and age?” Washington asked as he made his way over to the young volunteer.

“Jeanne Monroe,” the volunteer spoke, “18 years young, baby.”

Washington nodded, then turned back to the rest of his army.

“Now then, will anybody else be joining me tonight? Or is this young’un the only one here with some backbone?”

A few of the older soldiers raised up their hands, followed by a couple dozen more.

“Good,” Washington remarked. “Ready your boats; we move in five.”

Monroe started headings to shore, but Washington stepped in front of her, blocking her path.

“You’re coming with me,” he said, lifting up a nearby flag, “and you’ll be the one to carry our banner.”

On the boat, Monroe watched on with agitation as her crewmates rowed through the frigid evening waves.

“Sir,” she spoke up, “I really feel like I ought to do my share of the rowing.”

“Keep holding the flag,” he replied without shifting his gaze from the horizon.

“Why are we even bringing this piece of cloth anyways? It’s just going to slow us down!”

Washington gave her a sharp glare, then turned over to the flag.

“This flag,” he spoke quietly, running his hand along its stripes, “is a symbol of freedom. A symbol, which possesses greater strength than a thousand weapons.” He gestured to the boats around them. “As these soldiers row through the night; as they put their very lives on the line,” he pointed back to the flag, “they can look to this banner and remember what it is that they’re fighting for.”

Monroe gave a quiet nod. She didn’t exactly comprehend what he was saying, but she could tell it was fruitless to press him any further. So, Monroe looked on, watching the waves until their boats landed on shore.

“Boats one through three!” Washington bellowed as his soldiers disembarked. “You’ll be coming back with me to pick up the remainder of our crew. The rest of you are to guard the neighboring roads with your lives. None of you are to leave your stations for an instant; understood?”

“Yes sir!” the troops replied in unison.

Monroe marched off to her post with a swagger in her step, eager to finally be doing something of merit for. Her mood quickly soured, however, as she found herself standing alone on an empty road, waiting for hours on end as the weather around her shifted from snow, to rain, to hail.

“Maaan,” she yawned, checking her phone for messages, “what’s taking everyone so long?”

She started stretching her arms behind her, then snapped right back to attention at the sound of footsteps coming from behind. She whirled around, pointing her rifle into the winter mist before her.

“Who’s there?” Monroe screamed.

She stared into the fog, her sharp eyes barely making out the hazy image of a pistol aimed towards her.

“Leave this place!” a gruff voice shouted from behind the gun.

“Sorry, baby,” Monroe replied, tightening the grip around her weapon, “but I’m under direct orders from General Washington to stay put.”

“…wait…did you say General Washington?”

The gunman stepped forward, lowering his pistol as he noticed the American flag planted besides her.

“Ah, shucks!” the man chuckled, “I didn’t realize you were a fellow American!” he pointed to a house over by the road. “Please, come in and join me for some food and warmth. It’s the least I can do after startling you like that.”

Monroe looked to the house, licking her frozen lips before shaking her head.

“I appreciate the hospitality baby, but I’m afraid I can’t accept your offer…I was given strict orders not to leave this post.”

The man scratched his chin.

“That is unfortunate…” He stared for a moment, then put on a smile. “Give me a second.”

The man rushed back into his house, coming out a few minutes later carrying a large leather bag and a toasty sandwich.

“I hope your ‘strict orders’ didn’t say anything about not eating on the job!”

“They most certainly did not!” Monroe exclaimed before grabbing the sandwich and devouring it whole. As she finished her meal, Monroe took a closer look at the man’s bag. “What’s that you got there?”

“It’s a medical bag!” he said with pride. “I’m a doctor, you see, and I thought I may be able to help some poor fellow in your troupe.” The man gave a bashful scratch of his ears. “Assuming General Washington would have me, of course.”

Monroe gave a tip of her hat.

“I’m sure he’d be more than happy to have a patriot like yourself joining in our ranks.”

“Indeed I would.”

The two turned to see Washington marching towards them, the rest of his battalion trailing shortly behind. Monroe gave a quick salute, then fell in line behind Washington as he brought the doctor up to speed on their mission.

“The Hessians are an elite band of warriors,” Washington explained, “one which our haphazard group wouldn’t stand a chance against in a direct fight. However, they won’t be expecting us coming from behind like this, and most of them should be out cold after a night of heavy drinking. All in all, things ought to go pretty smoothly for us, unless of course…”

Washington froze still, his eyes locking with those of a Hessian soldier coming out of the neighboring woods.

“We’re spotted!”

Washington lunged ahead, striking the scout down with a slash of his blade, but not before the soldier lifted up his arm, launching a flare into the sky.

“Oh God!” an American exclaimed as the enemy encampment started to stir. “They know we’re coming now! We need to turn back!”

“No!” Washington shouted. “We press on!”

Washington charged ahead without a moment’s hesitation, swinging forth his sword and cutting down a dozen Hessians before any of them even had the chance to draw their weapons.

“Far out, baby,” Monroe mumbled as she stood with the rest of the troops, watching Washington’s advancement with awe. “He really is something else…”

“Oye, Monroe!” the doctor grabbed her arm, pointing to a giant cannon turning towards them. “That’s—”

The cannon fired, cutting off the doctor as its massive shell hurtling towards the stunned band of soldiers. Washington stopped his onslaught at the sound of the cannon. He turned back around and sprinted towards his troops, his sword pointed behind him as he ran.

“Artifact,” Washington screamed, “Lexington!”

A burst of flames shot out of Washington’s enchanted blade, propelling him forward and landing him just in front of the cannonball’s path. He had just enough time to swing his flaming blade at the projectile, detonating its shell directly in front of him.

The Americans watched on in shock as the smoke cleared out in front of them, revealing Washington’s charred figure standing tall. He managed to take another two steps forward, then collapsed down into the snow.

“What…what do we do now?” a soldier mumbled as he bit into his nails, “What do we do now!”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

A lone American ran past the stunned soldiers and onto the battlefield, planting her flag directly besides Washington’s body.

“We press on, baby!” Monroe screamed.

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Monroe’s Flashback I. James Monroe did indeed volunteer to cross the Delaware, but he wasn’t the first to do so as depicted in the novel. James Monroe also didn’t ride in the same boat as George Washington, nor did he carry the flag. These last two points were done solely to reference the famous painting “Washington Crossing the Delaware” where James Monroe is depicted (ahistorically) doing both of these things.