Washington's 'Twas the Night Before Christmas

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<p>'Twas the night before Christmas when all through the ranks, not a soldier was</p>
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<p>stirring on that Delaware River Bank.</p>
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<p>The horses were prepped for the Durham boats with care in hopes that George</p>
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<p>Washington's soon would be there.</p>
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<p>The enemy were nestled all snug in their beds while visions of</p>
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<p>Deutschland danced in their heads.</p>
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<p>Hamilton and his kerchief and I dreamt of Hessians.</p>
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<p>We had just settled down after a long planning session.</p>
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<p>When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the</p>
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<p>bed to see what was the matter.</p>
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<p>Away to the window I flew like a flash, tore open the</p>
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<p>shutters and threw up the sash!</p>
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<p>The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow, gave the luster</p>
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<p>of midday to objects below.</p>
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<p>When what do my wondering eyes should appear, but General George</p>
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<p>Washington and four Brigadier.</p>
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<p>With a crisp winter coat, so sharp and deep blue, I knew</p>
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<p>in a moment it must be GW.</p>
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<p>More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, and he whistled and</p>
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<p>shouted and called them by name.</p>
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<p>Now Mercer, now Clair on Sterling and Stephen, on Hamilton, on</p>
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<p>Greene, on Barron von Steuben!</p>
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<p>To the top of the banks, we seek the enemy, Colonel Rall.</p>
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<p>Now, dash away, dash away, dash away all!</p>
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<p>As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, when they meet</p>
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<p>with an obstacle mount to the sky.</p>
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<p>So up to the riverbanks his coursers they flew, with plans for a</p>
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<p>crossing and George Washington too.</p>
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<p>And then in a twinkling I saw with my lamp, the stirring and</p>
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<p>shouting of a future aide de camp.</p>
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<p>As I drew in my head and was turning around, down the road General</p>
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<p>Washington came with a bound.</p>
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<p>He was dressed for a battle looking ready to go, and he carried that</p>
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<p>sword the lion headed cuttoe.</p>
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<p>A bundle of orders he had flung on his back, greeting all of</p>
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<p>his men and opening his pack.</p>
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<p>His eyes, how they twinkled,</p>
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<p>he was taller than many, Pennsylvania cold winter made his nose like a cherry.</p>
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<p>His normally firm mouth was drawn up like a bow, and the hair on</p>
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<p>his head was as white as the snow.</p>
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<p>Of course, there was Hamilton that ambitious tomcat, his breath huffing and</p>
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<p>puffing with cannons this way and that.</p>
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<p>I could see this man's focus,</p>
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<p>he was yet 21, we all knew this man's mind had yet seen the sun.</p>
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<p>The scouts were preparing, led by young James Monroe and I tensed</p>
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<p>when I saw them preparing to go.</p>
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<p>But a wink of his eye and a twist of his head soon gave me</p>
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<p>to know I had nothing to dread.</p>
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<p>George spoke not a word, but went straight to work.</p>
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<p>Giving orders and handshakes, then turned with a jerk.</p>
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<p>And laying his hand upon his three cornered hat,</p>
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<p>with a nod and a whisper to his horse with a pat.</p>
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<p>He sprang to the shoreline lists of naughty and nice, and away</p>
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<p>they all rowed, avoiding the ice.</p>
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<p>But I heard him exclaim as he drift out of sight.</p>
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<p>"Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night!" Merry</p>
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<p>Christmas from Walk with History.</p>
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