h, I'm afraid, sir.

WASHINGTON

Have we no information of the British movements yet?

REED

None!

WASHINGTON

What's the matter with our intelligence service?

REED

It's completely disrupted, sir; and we can get no help from the civilian
population.

WASHINGTON

I know--they've lost all faith in us, Colonel. Nothing but a victory can
bring us again the loyalty and help of our own people! It's
discouraging, Colonel, to think that now when we need it more than ever
before, we can get no help!

REED

Sir, if we could only turn and strike a quick blow, we might recapture
Fort Lee.

WASHINGTON

Yes--if I only knew what force of the enemy is holding the Fort, and
when Lord Howe expects to bring the rest of his army across the Hudson.

REED

Well, we don't know that!

WASHINGTON

And without an intelligence service we can't find out! Of course if
General Lee would join me--there wasn't any word from Lee this morning,
was there?

REED

None, sir.

WASHINGTON

Oh, why doesn't he answer? Why doesn't he come? It's been more than a
week now since I ordered him to join me at once! Have you heard any
rumor about him? Has he left Peekskill yet? Has he crossed the Hudson?

REED

I haven't heard a word. He hasn't even acknowledged the last half dozen
orders I've forwarded to him.

WASHINGTON

That's the most discouraging thing of all! If the second in command
won't obey orders, is it any wonder that the rest of the army is out of
hand? Oh, well! We can't hope to do anything without Lee's help, so
there's nothing for us to do but retreat--

REED

Again?

WASHINGTON

Yes, Colonel, our small force is uselessly exposed here. We can't risk
capture--that would be the end of everything!

REED

Yes, sir.

WASHINGTON

If Lord Howe crosses the Hudson in force, we'd be trapped between the
Hackensack and the Passaic Rivers.

REED

I'm afraid so, sir.

WASHINGTON

So--we've got to begin our retreat at once.

REED

The troops are ready to move, sir. It shouldn't take us long to get out
of danger with our small force.

WASHINGTON

Yes, yes, that's one advantage of a small army, isn't it, Colonel? At
least we can retreat rapidly! I suppose the force we have is even
smaller today than it was yesterday?

REED

I'm afraid so, sir. The morning report showed less than five thousand
present and fit for duty!

WASHINGTON

If we only had Lee's seven thousand! But we haven't. You may