WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:07.000 The cavalcade of America. 00:17.000 --> 00:29.000 America. America means skyscrapers and hayloft, the crack of a pioneer splintlock and the sound of the riveters machine, the outline of a church steeple against the midnight sky. 00:29.000 --> 00:35.000 America is your story. America is you and everyone you know. 00:41.000 --> 00:48.000 Tonight's play is called Reveille and stars the Dean of the American Theater, Walter Hamdon as George Washington. 00:48.000 --> 00:58.000 Our story begins far from the shore. 00:58.000 --> 01:09.000 The time is September in the year 1777 and the place, the European home of Dr. Benjamin Franklin near Paris. 01:09.000 --> 01:19.000 A fateful conversation between Dr. Franklin and a mysterious friend draws to a close. 01:19.000 --> 01:24.000 They're talking in French of course, but perhaps we may translate. 01:24.000 --> 01:35.000 Time, sir, is of the essence. Arrangements have been made for you to sail from Marseille. On Saturday you will board the French frigate L'Euror of 24 guns. 01:35.000 --> 01:40.000 L'Euror? The happy one? A fortunate name, Dr. Franklin. 01:40.000 --> 01:50.000 Yes, and a good omen, I hope. By the way, you are aware that the aid being given to the American colonies by the French court in this matter is highly secret, entirely secret. 01:50.000 --> 01:55.000 Of course, Dr. Franklin. I do not talk. Since 14 I'm a soldier. 01:55.000 --> 01:59.000 The frigate will be disguised as a merchantman under the name Le Flamant. 01:59.000 --> 02:04.000 You will take ship as one Mr. Frank, bearing dispatches for the governor of Martinique. 02:04.000 --> 02:09.000 But you will debark at Portsmouth in New Hampshire with the help of God. 02:26.000 --> 02:28.000 Well, Doc, what do you have had for us? 02:28.000 --> 02:36.000 Huck, no. Is there ever anything new at Valley Port? You were going to keep your ears open, Sarge. Didn't you hear anything? 02:36.000 --> 02:41.000 Those things I heard. Listening as I was to the big brass gorgots and their grand powwows. 02:41.000 --> 02:42.000 Yes, what did you hear? 02:42.000 --> 02:50.000 One? General Washington has wrote a letter to the gentlemen of Congress that take in their wreaths back in York in front of a fire. 02:50.000 --> 03:00.000 Then he says we must have instant aid or else we must either starve or disband. And the general, God bless him, has heared back. 03:00.000 --> 03:02.000 What did he say? 03:02.000 --> 03:05.000 The gentlemen of the Congress are sending us... 03:05.000 --> 03:06.000 Foot guns? Ammunition? 03:06.000 --> 03:11.000 Oh, no, no, no, lad. They're sending a committee. 03:11.000 --> 03:18.000 A committee to investigate and report back and so on and so on. 03:18.000 --> 03:21.000 Mike Poole, the boy, made a speech. 03:21.000 --> 03:22.000 Lafayette. 03:22.000 --> 03:23.000 The boy himself. 03:23.000 --> 03:33.000 Gentlemen, he says what this army needs is to be an army. Right now, he says, we're not an army at all. We're a mere rabble. 03:33.000 --> 03:41.000 Oh, hold on now, hold on. He was right, complimentary. No ordinary rabble, he says, could have held out like us. 03:41.000 --> 03:47.000 But we need somebody to tell us what to do and how to do it and why to do it. 03:47.000 --> 03:50.000 Did he have any notions about what we're going to eat while we're doing this? 03:50.000 --> 03:59.000 Well, no. No, that point wasn't mentioned. His lordship, the quartermaster general, Mr. Mifflin, he wasn't there. 03:59.000 --> 04:03.000 Ah, he's in York by the fire, chomping on a side of beef. 04:03.000 --> 04:09.000 That doesn't... You know what I'm going to do? I'm going home, where all the pigs have four legs and turn into pork overnight. 04:09.000 --> 04:18.000 I'm both for guard, corporal. Hey, check! 04:18.000 --> 04:22.000 The corporal, close the door. 04:22.000 --> 04:27.000 Then this is Colonel Alexander Hamilton, General Washington's aide on the tour of inspection. 04:27.000 --> 04:31.000 Now, Colonel, this is what's left of my regiment, the 4th New York, as you know. 04:31.000 --> 04:34.000 Yes. What was your strength when we went into winter quarters here, Captain? 04:34.000 --> 04:35.000 Ninety men. 04:35.000 --> 04:36.000 And what is it now? 04:36.000 --> 04:39.000 Now this morning, sir, there were thirty of us left. 04:39.000 --> 04:42.000 What are those men doing in their bunks, Captain, at this hour in the evening? 04:42.000 --> 04:47.000 Well, we're short of clothing, sir. Some of us have no britches, so we have to share a bough. The naked ones lie in the bunks. 04:47.000 --> 04:54.000 I see. Let's have a look at this boy. Well, he speaks pretty soundly. 04:54.000 --> 04:55.000 Lift the blanket, Captain. 04:55.000 --> 04:57.000 Yes, sir. 04:57.000 --> 05:03.000 Oh, yes, it's... Oh, yes, it's Wilson from Newberg. 05:03.000 --> 05:08.000 He was in a bad way this morning. The lungs, you know, and the fross. 05:08.000 --> 05:12.000 He's not asleep, sir. He's dead. 05:12.000 --> 05:32.000 And thus, General Washington, and gentlemen of the staff, I conclude my report of conditions here. 05:32.000 --> 05:34.000 Thank you, Colonel Hamilton. 05:34.000 --> 05:39.000 Gentlemen, you all realize the seriousness of our situation. 05:39.000 --> 05:46.000 We have ten thousand, heaven knows how many more, how many less, some ten thousand troops left. 05:46.000 --> 05:50.000 They're sick we can count easily, gentlemen, more than a fifth of our body. 05:50.000 --> 05:56.000 The point I wish to make, General Conway, is that we have to win a war with those troops. 05:56.000 --> 06:00.000 Yet in the European sense, they don't constitute an army at all. 06:00.000 --> 06:07.000 Spare, lack of discipline, desertion, disorganization. These are the roots of our difficulties. 06:07.000 --> 06:14.000 And I suggest, sir, that the root of our difficulty lies in the senseless, stupid, and utterly destructive attitude of the Congress. 06:14.000 --> 06:20.000 Good heaven, sir, even if we win, are we to be ruled by a coterie of timid, greedy, dolt, tenaces? 06:20.000 --> 06:26.000 If we win, and we shall win, we'll be ruled by the representatives of the people. 06:26.000 --> 06:28.000 That's what we're fighting for. 06:28.000 --> 06:35.000 We can hardly expect the people's representatives to be inspired judges, saints, or philosophers. 06:35.000 --> 06:41.000 Surely this is no time or place for political theorizing. Ours is a practical problem. 06:41.000 --> 06:43.000 It has been stated most clearly by Latayette. 06:43.000 --> 06:49.000 Thank you, sir. I had feared being so young to raise my voice. All voices are need now. 06:49.000 --> 06:54.000 My dear young friend, the problem you pose to us is not a new one in our eyes. 06:54.000 --> 07:04.000 It has long been my hope that we might find someone, someone who could bring together our divergent ideas of discipline into one body of military law. 07:04.000 --> 07:08.000 And we propose to the Congress that an Inspector General be appointed. 07:08.000 --> 07:12.000 Congress again? Talk, talk, talk. How long must this go on? 07:12.000 --> 07:16.000 Possibly, until you will earn patience, Hamilton, and common charity. 07:16.000 --> 07:18.000 Yes, sir, General. 07:18.000 --> 07:23.000 It seems we are so clearly getting nowhere. Whatever, sir, may I suggest we adjourn? 07:23.000 --> 07:28.000 I for one have needed sleep. General Wilkinson here, he is asleep. 07:28.000 --> 07:30.000 It would be a shame to wake him. 07:30.000 --> 07:35.000 Well, I too am weary of debate. Gentlemen, we stand adjourned. 07:35.000 --> 07:39.000 Oh, sleep well, General Conway. 07:51.000 --> 07:55.000 What a waste of time, Wilkinson, these eternal councils. 07:55.000 --> 07:59.000 And how characteristic of our so democratic commander. 07:59.000 --> 08:03.000 Our commander at the moment, Conway. 08:03.000 --> 08:05.000 For the moment, yes. 08:05.000 --> 08:07.000 Here's my humble abode, Wilkinson, come in with me. 08:07.000 --> 08:09.000 Yes, sir, I have something to show you. 08:14.000 --> 08:15.000 What a heavenly aroma. 08:15.000 --> 08:16.000 What is it? 08:16.000 --> 08:19.000 Guinea hen, well roasted, fine. 08:19.000 --> 08:21.000 And a quart of renege grape to wash it down. 08:21.000 --> 08:23.000 And brandy to come. 08:23.000 --> 08:24.000 Nice, my friend. 08:24.000 --> 08:26.000 But here at Valley Ford, how do you manage? 08:26.000 --> 08:29.000 Ah, I have friends in the Congress at York, General Wilkinson. 08:29.000 --> 08:31.000 Good friends well placed. 08:31.000 --> 08:33.000 Two of them on the board of war. 08:33.000 --> 08:35.000 Help yourself as a fool, General. 08:35.000 --> 08:36.000 Yes, thank you. 08:36.000 --> 08:40.000 As they decant to General Gates, you must know how these things are done, eh? 08:40.000 --> 08:41.000 Oh, well. 08:41.000 --> 08:44.000 Come, come, Wilkinson, we can understand each other. 08:44.000 --> 08:51.000 General Gates, your superior, wishes to supplant General Washington as commander in chief. 08:51.000 --> 08:54.000 He has an important body of support in Congress. 08:54.000 --> 08:57.000 Your friends at York are my friends. 08:57.000 --> 08:59.000 We can do business, Wilkinson. 08:59.000 --> 09:02.000 Oh, how? 09:02.000 --> 09:03.000 In this manner. 09:03.000 --> 09:08.000 Washington has placed himself in an utterly untenable position. 09:08.000 --> 09:12.000 Someone is needed to create an army out of his disorganized mob at Valley Ford. 09:12.000 --> 09:18.000 So he has recommended to the board of war that an inspector general be appointed. 09:18.000 --> 09:19.000 More guinea hen? 09:19.000 --> 09:21.000 Yes, yes, thank you. 09:21.000 --> 09:25.000 Do you know who that inspector general will be, Wilkinson? 09:25.000 --> 09:26.000 No. 09:26.000 --> 09:27.000 Who? 09:27.000 --> 09:28.000 Me, General. 09:28.000 --> 09:29.000 Me. 09:29.000 --> 09:31.000 It's all arranged. 09:31.000 --> 09:35.000 Time to report directly to the board of war, not to General Washington. 09:35.000 --> 09:36.000 Do you understand? 09:36.000 --> 09:37.000 Could I? 09:37.000 --> 09:39.000 Oh, well, it'll be a little bit more. 09:39.000 --> 09:41.000 Yes. 09:41.000 --> 09:47.000 Now, now, to us, General Wilkinson, to us. 09:47.000 --> 09:52.000 And to our future commander in chief, General Horatio Gates. 09:52.000 --> 10:09.000 Hamilton, I've just received word from Congress that the board of war has at last acted on my recommendation. 10:09.000 --> 10:11.000 They have appointed an inspector general. 10:11.000 --> 10:13.000 They've appointed Conway. 10:13.000 --> 10:14.000 Conway? 10:14.000 --> 10:15.000 That's Charlton. 10:15.000 --> 10:17.000 What are we to do, sir? 10:17.000 --> 10:19.000 There's nothing we can do. 10:19.000 --> 10:20.000 He's not to be under my command. 10:20.000 --> 10:24.000 He'll report so the board instructs me directly to the Congress. 10:24.000 --> 10:26.000 Oh. 10:26.000 --> 10:30.000 Well, I'll see them with the courtesy of you, his new office. 10:30.000 --> 10:34.000 Sir, if only you were to take my advice and march on York and seize power yourself. 10:34.000 --> 10:35.000 I know the men would follow you. 10:35.000 --> 10:39.000 Hamilton, I've forbidden you to mention that vanity again. 10:39.000 --> 10:42.000 Perhaps my career is nearing its close. 10:42.000 --> 10:45.000 Well, it may end in defeat, but never in treason. 10:45.000 --> 10:47.000 But, sir, we cannot go on. 10:47.000 --> 10:49.000 We'll not discuss the matter, Colonel. 10:49.000 --> 10:54.000 I was about to suggest, sir, that our fortunes can descend no lower. 10:54.000 --> 10:58.000 Come in. 10:58.000 --> 10:59.000 Yes? 10:59.000 --> 11:00.000 Colonel Lawrence. 11:00.000 --> 11:02.000 A message, sir, from one of Dr. Franklin's New England agents. 11:02.000 --> 11:03.000 Let me see it launched. 11:03.000 --> 11:09.000 Yes, sir. 11:09.000 --> 11:16.000 Mr. Frank has departed from Boston with messages for the governor of Martinique. 11:16.000 --> 11:18.000 At last! 11:18.000 --> 11:19.000 It's von Stuyben! 11:19.000 --> 11:20.000 Is that good news, sir? 11:20.000 --> 11:21.000 It may be, yes. 11:21.000 --> 11:23.000 The answer to our prayers. 11:23.000 --> 11:26.000 Dr. Franklin has won an illustrious recruit to our cause. 11:26.000 --> 11:30.000 Mr. Frank is the Baron Frederick von Stuyben. 11:30.000 --> 11:31.000 Another foreigner, sir? 11:31.000 --> 11:34.000 No, not just another foreigner, Lawrence. 11:34.000 --> 11:37.000 If Dr. Franklin is right and I've never known him to be wrong, 11:37.000 --> 11:41.000 then Stuyben is a superb drillmaster. 11:41.000 --> 11:58.000 He's the foremost soldier in Europe. 11:58.000 --> 12:21.000 We're now listening to the cavalcade of America starring Walter Hamden as George Washington. 12:21.000 --> 12:26.000 Now we continue our plays starring Walter Hamden as George Washington. 12:26.000 --> 12:29.000 We return to the headquarters of General Washington at Valley Ford, 12:29.000 --> 12:32.000 where a shivering army suffers in the snow. 12:32.000 --> 12:36.000 Diversions mount daily with the continued failure of supply. 12:36.000 --> 12:41.000 And over the commander himself hangs the threat of the infamous Conway Gate cabal. 12:41.000 --> 12:45.000 At last, Washington takes steps against the conspirators. 12:45.000 --> 12:46.000 Colonel Lawrence? 12:46.000 --> 12:47.000 Yes, sir? 12:47.000 --> 12:48.000 Prepare a letter to General Conway. 12:48.000 --> 12:49.000 Listen to this, Hamilton. 12:49.000 --> 12:50.000 Yes, sir. 12:50.000 --> 12:51.000 You ready, Lawrence? 12:51.000 --> 12:52.000 Yes, sir, already. 12:52.000 --> 13:00.000 General Conway, a letter I received last night contained the following paragraph. 13:00.000 --> 13:08.000 So, in a dispatch from General Conway to General Gates, Conway wrote, 13:08.000 --> 13:12.000 "'Cudden has determined to save your country, General Gates, 13:12.000 --> 13:17.000 else a weak commander-in-chief would have ruined it long since.'" 13:17.000 --> 13:19.000 End of quotation. 13:19.000 --> 13:22.000 Sign the letter. I remain your humble servant, George Washington. 13:22.000 --> 13:23.000 That is all, sir? 13:23.000 --> 13:24.000 That's all. 13:24.000 --> 13:26.000 Well, General, how did you learn of Conway's letter to Gates? 13:26.000 --> 13:33.000 Wilkinson, in his cups as usual, babbled it out in the hearing of one of my few friends at Gates' headquarters. 13:33.000 --> 13:35.000 But Conway will tell Gates at once, and Gates will take it. 13:35.000 --> 13:40.000 Yes, if I know Gates, he'll write to me denying he ever received such a letter from Conway. 13:40.000 --> 13:44.000 He'll write to Congress, too, complaining that I libeled Conway. 13:44.000 --> 13:49.000 Such a hubbub will be raised that the whole plot must come into the open at last. 13:49.000 --> 13:54.000 And in the open, they'll appear for what they are, the virtues of our cause. 13:54.000 --> 13:56.000 An arron fool, it's a boof. 13:56.000 --> 14:01.000 I see, sir. The letter is a slow fuse, leading to a barrel of gunpowder at York. 14:01.000 --> 14:03.000 I hope so, I hope so. 14:03.000 --> 14:07.000 Oh, Colonel, I trust arrangements have been made to receive Baron Constoydon? 14:07.000 --> 14:13.000 Yes, sir. He will be met on the York Road by a headquarters company under Captain Walker, and escorted here with every honor. 14:13.000 --> 14:16.000 When he comes, I'll ride out to meet him myself. 14:27.000 --> 14:32.000 General Washington, may I present the Baron Frederick William Constoydon. Welcome, my dear Baron. 14:32.000 --> 14:34.000 General Washington. 14:34.000 --> 14:37.000 We've all looked, all of us looked forward to your arrival. 14:37.000 --> 14:45.000 General, my English is not so good, but I have learned a speech to say to you. 14:45.000 --> 14:52.000 Ah, so I forget. Ah, well, I'm very happy. 14:52.000 --> 14:58.000 Many of our officers are able to converse in French, Baron, and Captain Walker here is accomplished in German as well. 14:58.000 --> 15:03.000 Ah, voodoo me, Walter. Wir haben schon gesprochen. Wir werden uns gut verstehen. 15:03.000 --> 15:04.000 Yes, sir. 15:04.000 --> 15:12.000 Ah, well, you know them all. Captain Walker, in my letter to the Baron, I explained our pitiful condition here. 15:12.000 --> 15:17.000 At your earliest opportunity, you will explain to him those things which cannot be said in letters. 15:17.000 --> 15:18.000 Yes, sir. 15:18.000 --> 15:27.000 Tell him, with many officers skilled in European methods of war, that they can't be spared from the line or from staff duties for the drill ground. 15:27.000 --> 15:34.000 Our enemy has forced us in these campaigns to fight pitched battles on the European order and on a European scale. 15:34.000 --> 15:41.000 And we've lost those battles for lack of unified training, for lack of system, for lack of drill. 15:41.000 --> 15:44.000 To instill system will be the Baron's work. 15:44.000 --> 15:48.000 I think perhaps the Baron understands English better than he speaks it, General Washington. 15:48.000 --> 16:02.000 Ah, bien, ah, General, if you but knew how my heart rejoiced, how happy I am to do again the work of a soldier. 16:02.000 --> 16:05.000 Ah, Baron, you bring us new hope. 16:05.000 --> 16:22.000 I tell you, Mrs. Green, the likes of this man von Stuyben has not been seen before on our side of the ocean. 16:22.000 --> 16:30.000 He's a combination of Don Quixote, Jolly Father Christmas, and Satan himself, all rolled into one with seven big boots. 16:30.000 --> 16:35.000 He's so handsome, too. I do declare on horseback he looks like the very god of war. 16:35.000 --> 16:40.000 The captain, my husband, tells me the men are laughing at your Baron von Stuyben, just as we are now. 16:40.000 --> 16:43.000 And is it not good to hear laughter again at Valley Forge, Mrs. Green? 16:43.000 --> 16:48.000 They began by laughing at him. In a day's time they were laughing with him. 16:48.000 --> 16:55.000 All day he labors at the drill ground, pushing and pounding each squad into shape as if he were a young lieutenant eager for promotion. 16:55.000 --> 17:03.000 And each night he spends writing out a new chapter in his manual of war. And I perforce they have to make a fair copy in English. 17:03.000 --> 17:11.000 Then six men work until dawn making more copies for the brigade commanders. At 3 a.m., 3 a.m., mind you, the Baron is up again. 17:11.000 --> 17:18.000 He smokes a pipe while his valet dresses his hair. He has one cup of coffee, and at sunrise he's drilling his beloved model company again. 17:18.000 --> 17:26.000 One, two, three, cat, pie, dry, cheer, and I perforce them out there with him, translating all three languages at once. 17:26.000 --> 17:30.000 Poor Captain Walker. You must be worn out, quite worn out. 17:30.000 --> 17:37.000 On the contrary, Mrs. Green, I've never felt better in my life. Since your husband succeeded the wretched missaline as quartermaster, 17:37.000 --> 17:44.000 I've acquired a warm coat to my back and reasonable rations to warm my innards. And I have work to do. Good work. 17:44.000 --> 17:47.000 Captain, we simply must meet this paragon of yours. 17:47.000 --> 17:51.000 We shall. When he meets you, Miss Meade, I know what he'll say. 17:51.000 --> 17:53.000 And what will he say, Captain? 17:53.000 --> 17:54.000 I can hear him now. 17:54.000 --> 18:00.000 Wunderscher. Wunderscher. Ach, Clive, je ne comme vous êtes belle. 18:00.000 --> 18:06.000 How you are, erm, épouvantablement ravissant. 18:06.000 --> 18:24.000 And then, Prince says to me, he says, Sergeant Jenkins, you know what is this? 18:24.000 --> 18:28.000 A bayonet, says I. What is for, Sergeant, says he. 18:28.000 --> 18:39.000 A roast pig meat on the end, says I, when we got pig meat, which we ain't. Zumkopf, he says. Edie's horse-sticking lobster backs in the belly. 18:39.000 --> 18:48.000 I tell you. And he grabs my mucket and starts dancing around and stabbing at the air like a great Dutch windmill. 18:48.000 --> 18:57.000 Well, the next time we have a committee from Congress poking around, and I hear tell there's another one on the way, 18:57.000 --> 19:14.000 I'll tell them, gents, I'll say, old Dutch bricks is the best thing that's happened to this army since I stole the britches off a Tory farmer. 19:14.000 --> 19:29.000 One, two, three, four, five, five, here, one, two, three four, five, six, seven. 19:29.000 --> 19:35.000 One, two, three four, one, two, three four, five, five, five here. 19:35.000 --> 20:04.000 There, gentlemen of the Congress, there you will hold an army. 20:04.000 --> 20:08.000 When you were last with us, you saw a pitiful rabble. 20:08.000 --> 20:14.000 I arranged this review in your honor, gentlemen, so that you might see with your own eyes what has happened. 20:14.000 --> 20:18.000 That is miraculous, General Washington, simply miraculous. 20:18.000 --> 20:26.000 No, no, sir. It's the result of the genius and hard work of Baron von Stuyben, who came to us as a volunteer without pay. 20:26.000 --> 20:31.000 You know, of course, that Inspector General Conway has tended us his resignation. 20:31.000 --> 20:38.000 I do. And if I may, I'd like to nominate as his successor, Frederick William von Stuyben. 20:38.000 --> 21:05.000 Achtung! Halt! Halt! 21:09.000 --> 21:18.000 Gentlemen of the staff, little did I think I'd live to see the day when it would be possible to serve a banquet at Valley Falls. 21:18.000 --> 21:25.000 But General Green has outdone himself with the farmers in the hinterland, and, gentlemen, the occasion is worthy of his effort. 21:25.000 --> 21:35.000 I have news for you, splendid news. Louis XVI, King of France, has declared a state of war between his country and Britain. 21:35.000 --> 21:54.000 General, friends, this, this you must know, is the happiest moment of my life. 21:54.000 --> 22:08.000 May I propose a toast to the people of my country, to France, to France, to France. And I have further news, hardly less important and hardly less gratifying to me. 22:08.000 --> 22:10.000 Baron von Stuyben. Yes, sir. 22:10.000 --> 22:17.000 Baron, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you for the work you have accomplished here. 22:17.000 --> 22:27.000 In a few short weeks, you've performed a feat, sir, without parallel in the history of arms. You've surmounted obstacles beyond numbers. 22:27.000 --> 22:39.000 You've turned a sick, despondent mob into a spirited army of disciplined soldiers. And you taught us how to laugh again. 22:39.000 --> 22:48.000 Now my news is this. The Continental Congress has confirmed your appointment, Baron, as Inspector General in the Army of the United States. 22:48.000 --> 22:55.000 Gentlemen, another toast to General von Stuyben, the architect of our future victory. 22:55.000 --> 23:14.000 Gentlemen, gentlemen, my English is not so good, but it is better, no? Yes, yes, I have teached, I have learned. 23:14.000 --> 23:30.000 I have learned much more than what I teach. From these men, these sans-culottes, these ones without British, I have learned what it means, this word, freedom. 23:30.000 --> 23:45.000 I have seen and I know no European soldiers could do what they have done. In Europe, it's slaves. Here, it's free men. 23:45.000 --> 24:02.000 And so, another toast. I give you the American private soldier, the best fighting man in the whole world, to his victory, to our victory. 24:15.000 --> 24:30.000 Thank you.