The Glorious Cause - Jeff Shaara [90]
THE ROUT WAS COMPLETE, THE HESSIANS COMPLETELY STUNNED BY the surprise assault. Those who managed to man their guns, or form some kind of line of resistance were quickly swept away by Knox’s cannon. Many were not panicked by the sudden assault and kept their retreat with the order of disciplined soldiers. But retreat they did, some southward, across the Assunpink Creek, the one place where they would have been surrounded had Ewing brought his militia across the river. Many more pulled out to the east, the road toward Princeton, small bodies of troops quickly surrounded by the swarming advance of Washington’s men. As they filled the town, the two armies fought hand to hand, house to house, but the surprise was too complete, and the Hessians could not hold their ground.
He stayed on the hill, watched it all through the field glasses, thought of moving closer, but the height was the best vantage point to see everything. The smoke was held low by the storm, and he noticed the wind, still blowing against his back, wondered if it had helped his men, any Hessian resistance facing right into the storm. Couriers were moving all around him, and he finally heard from Sullivan, an aide bringing him word of a rapid sweep along the river, Knox’s guns blowing quickly past any resistance.
He searched through the field glasses to find the one place that should have been the headquarters, could make out a row of cannon that had not been fired, one flag that rose high on a staff. He saw a brief fight outside, his own men pushing past, thought, If Rall was there, he cannot be any longer. Knox’s cannon were suddenly quiet. He looked that way, saw Knox himself moving toward him, a beaming smile on the man’s face, and Knox said, “I have ordered the guns to cease, sir. There seem to be no present targets.” There was still scattered musket fire, but mostly southward, beyond the town.
“We should advance, Colonel, the danger seems to have passed. Maintain these guns in this position.” Knox started to respond, and behind him, one of the cannoneers shouted, “Their colors are down! They’ve struck their colors!” The man was pointing to the town, and Washington turned, raised the glasses, could see the bare flagstaff. The gun crews were joyously shouting, hats going up, a raucous cheer. Knox joined his men, gave his own cheer, and after a long joyous moment, Knox said, “Has to be Rall’s headquarters!”
Washington raised the glasses, stared at the bare flagstaff, allowed himself to feel the celebration, a broad smile, said, “It must be. Yes. So it must be.”
A LONG LINE OF HESSIAN SOLDIERS WAS HERDED DOWN THE WIDE street, and Washington moved aside, waited for them to pass. He watched as a squad of Greene’s men completed the search of a small house. The windows had been broken out, the door kicked in, and when the search was complete, their sergeant pointed to the next house, and the search began again.
He moved the horse forward, watched many more prisoners emerging from a side street, flanked by guards, the Hessians silent and sullen, heads down. He moved past them, saw the church, the place where they had told him Rall was being held.
Washington climbed down from the horse, moved into the darkness of the church, saw the narrow pews draped in bloody white cloth, the wounded Hessians lying end to end. There were soft cries now, moans from one man, bloodier than the others, the man’s life flowing away onto the floor of the church. He saw an older man in a sharp blue uniform, standing with several of Greene’s troops, and the man saw him, wiped his bloody hands on his coat. The troops straightened to attention, and Washington nodded to the man, wondered if he spoke English, said, “Are you