December 24th, 1776, New Jersey
The game was pretty near up.
Ever since the defeat at Long Island, the Continental Army had suffered a series of losses and was retreating through New Jersey. The number of troops in the army was reduced drastically, this was made even worse by the fact that the one-year enlistment term was drawing near its end (a mere matter of days) and by next week, there might be no army at all. It seems faith in the revolution, only six months removed from Independence Day, was waning fast.
Colonel Treize Khushrenada was questioning his own faith-though not in the cause.
Treize was questioning his faith in his commander-in-chief.
While he first thought General George Washington to be a competent commander, he was now beginning to think otherwise. The decision to attempt to repulse the British from New York was a foolish one, he also felt that Washington had made foolish tactical decisions in some of the ensuing battles, but Treize did give Washington the concession that he refused to let the army be destroyed.
A meeting of the officers over dinner was scheduled in an hour.
Treize divided his time reading letters from Anne and Mariemaia and reading a new series of pamphlets that General Washington had had read and distributed among the army.(1)
These are the times that try men's souls: The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value.
The words were true, but Treize didn't know if Washington would be able to conquer tyranny.
Milliardo was chuckling at a letter he had received from his wife.
"Milliardo, it's time."
He nodded and got up, following Treize to where General Washington was holding his meeting.
"Awww man! Why is it so c...cold?" Duo said as he shivered standing outside his tent.
"Shut up Private Maxwell." Wufei grunted while rubbing his hands to keep them warm.
Heero and Trowa emerged, nodding at the two as they went toward the meeting of the officers.
Heero was going over a letter from his father, who was keeping a low profile to avoid the redcoats causing him trouble. He urged his son to continue to fight and explained the situation with the company, which had taken a loss since the British had taken over the city, but was still relatively well off.
The two went and took their assigned seats. General Washington rose and began to speak when everyone was there.
"Gentleman, I have made a decision. With the assistance of a reliable source(2), we are going to attack the brigade of Hessians encamped across the Delaware River in Trenton. We'll attack on the night of Christmas Day when they least expect it. Get your men ready, you will be receiving your specific instructions shortly."
Treize looked on skeptically as the officers ate dinner. Heero was discussing things with Trowa, getting into personal matters including his ongoing courtship of Midii, who, in typical Bostonian spirit, urged Trowa to continue on, and to think of her while doing so.
A few hours later, Treize made his way into his commander's tent.
"Sir, I must object to this plan."
"Colonel Treize, we must take the offense, the Hessians are waiting for the river to freeze over and when it does, they will come at us and destroy our camp."
"Sir this is suicide!" He said through clenched teeth.
"Damnit Colonel!" George got out of his chair abruptly. "We HAVE to do SOMETHING! All we've been doing for the past six months is retreating! This army is hanging on by a thread! We desperately need a victory or this glorious little revolution of ours is DEAD! Now, Colonel, you will do your duty, or I will have you shot. Is that understood?!"
"Yes sir." Treize saluted. George returned it and promptly signaled Treize to leave, which he did.
December 25th, 1776, New Jersey
Christmas Day.
And it was a cold one.
Heero carefully went over his orders from General Washington. He and the Gundams were to accompany and guard Colonel Knox's artillery. The crossing was to begin in the night.
"Trowa, I want the men to be well-rested, it's gonna be a long night."
Trowa nodded and relayed the order.
Lieutenant Colonel Milliardo Peacecraft looked at his friend and sighed. His confidence had really taken a hit during this winter campaign. Milliardo knew that Treize's faith in the ability of the army, and in particular, General Washington to execute the war was waning. Milliardo carefully looked over the map of Trenton and the surrounding area. They would be traveling with their divisional commander, Greene, and enter the town from the north.
The night crossing was delayed because of a severe snowstorm. Ice was accumulating in the river. The crossing was definitely going to be difficult. If Colonel Rall(3) got word that the army would be crossing he would fire his guns on the boats and it would all be over.
Secrecy was of the essence.
Colonel John Glover was efficiently getting the army across the ice-filled river though. Heero looked at him and smirked. It was because of him that the army made it out of Long Island intact-Glover may have saved the revolution right there.
"Major Yuy, we're ready for you."
"Understood, sir." Heero saluted.
Zero began to neigh.
"Yes, I know Zero. This isn't gonna be easy for you. Let's get this over with." He stated as he patted his horse on the head.
General Washington smiled at Heero as he and the Gundam Dragoons began to cross the river.
Heero knew who they would be facing. The same feared Hessians that he had not seen in New York, but that many of his comrades had. He breathed in and out and prepared to face this new enemy. He looked over at his men and horses on several boats. They better be at their best. This was a do-or-die operation. Heero could sense it.
Heero remembered the last words that his father had sent in his latest letter.
Fight hard, fight like a devil out of hell. We're backed in a corner. Do what it takes to have the revolution survive.
He would do his best on his father's behalf.
Lieutenant Colonel Milliardo Peacecraft got into his assigned boat. It was off.
Treize made way to get into his own. He and Washington exchanged a tension-filled glance as he stepped in. Treize got in and his boat was off to cross the river. The snow fell heavily as he contemplated his orders.
"Your boat sir." Colonel Glover said to General Washington.
"Thank you, colonel." He replied and got in, gathering his cloak around him and looking at the ice-filled river. His eyes showed no emotion as he watched the people who were rowing the boat trying to avoid the large chunks of ice in the river.
December 26th, 1776, Trenton
The forces of Major General John Sullivan entered the town first. The Hessians awoke to the chaotic screams, shouts, and war cries of battle. The defending troops retreated into the town.
Colonel Rall was awoken and informed that the Americans had already taken one of the major streets. He frantically tried to form up his troops.
Colonel Knox positioned his artillery so that the Hessians could not form in the streets. Those few who dared try were quickly cut down by the bouncing iron balls smashing their bodies to bloody chunks.
Wufei raised his rifle and fired at a withdrawing Hessian soldier as the Gundam Dragoons rode into the city. Trowa took out a pistol and shot a nearby enemy soldier.
"Stable your horses and get into the buildings." Heero ordered. "The Hessians have gone out of the town and are reorganizing for an attack."
The men dismounted and made sure their horses were safe and sought the best shelter.
Colonel Treize Khushrenada rode in from the north under Greene and secured artillery positions.
"Colonel Khushrenada." General George Washington rode up.
"Sir?"
"Take your force to the Assunpink Creek(4) one of the enemy regiments is attempting to cross the bridge and get back into the town. Cut them off."
Treize saluted as he watched his general ride off.
"Milliardo! Rally your men and get to the creek!"
Millirado saluted and began to shout. "To the creek!" He raised his saber.
The infantry ran toward the bridge as the officers rallied them to keep in rank. Several cannon were being pulled behind the regiment. The infantry began to fire a volley toward the Hessians on the bridge.
Meanwhile across town, the other Hessian regiment formed up to march into the town. The Americans were in buildings.
Heero and the rest of the Gundam Dragoons fired a volley. Hessians went down, blood mingling with the snow, turning it red. Heero took a well aimed headshot. Trowa's round hit one of the Hessians in the leg, he keeled over with pain. Wufei's own round was a hit center-mass.
Duo took careful aim at a Hessian officer on a horse. His arm twitched as a cannon went off, but he was good enough not to accidentally pull the trigger. Duo slowly, steadily, traced his Kentucky rifle along with the moving form of the officer on his horse. Finally, his window of opportunity opened (and a good thing too, because Duo's rifle was straying too close to the sill of the window it was currently peeping out of and the officer would fast be out of his line of fire). Duo pulled the trigger.
The Hessian troops stopped marching as they saw their commanding officer get hit. The bullet had rifled through his gut and he was panting heavily, blood oozing onto his saddle and his horse's hair. Looks of shock emanated from their faces.
The regiment that Rall was commanding broke and smashed through the regiment behind it. There was instant chaos.
"Dragoons! To horses!" Heero commanded as he ran downstairs.
The others swiftly followed and mounted their horses.
"After them!" Heero shouted, raising his saber.
"Let's go! Let's go!" Trowa seconded as he spurred Heavyarms into a full gallop.
The Gundam's horses thundered past the already charging infantry toward the Hessian regiment in chaos.
At the Assunpink Creek, the Hessians were getting hit hard by musketry and cannon and they realized they were in an impossible position. Treize had his men completely cut off the bridge and the cannon pinned them down.
"Hessians!" Milliardo called out. "You are in an impossible position! Surrender!" He shouted as he pointed a pistol toward their line.
Treize grinned as he saw that another one of Greene's regiments was already in position and that he, along with the other regiment had the Hessians surrounded.
Those Hessians that understood English quickly realized that Milliardo's demand to surrender was correct. They began to lay down their weapons, signifying their surrender. Treize's grin widened further.
Milliardo's eyes glinted his contentment. He had not seen that confident grin of Treize's in a very long time.
Heero slammed his saber into the shoulder of a Hessian soldier he had overtaken. They scattered in fright from Zero's charge. The dragoons poured shots into the retreating Hessians and quickly dominated them along with the infantry.
Confused, broken, and hopefully outgunned by this point, they had no choice but to surrender.
General George Washington smiled in contentment as he peered through his telescopic sight. The army could still fight- and win. A few minutes later, he saw that Major Heero Yuy rode up to him. His smile remained on his face.
"You fought well, Major Yuy."
"Thank you sir."
"What is it that you wish to tell me?"
"Sir, the commander of the enemy was shot in the gut."
George's face lost its smile and grimaced. Getting shot in the gut was possibly the most painful way to die- and it was often slow.
"He...wishes to see you, sir."
"I will go to him. Even our foes deserve honor for their fighting as soldiers, Majoy Yuy."
"I know that sir."
The general smiled. "Good. You go back to your troops, and tell them all that they did a hell of a job today."
Heero grinned as he watched his commander spur his horse.
December 26th, 1776, Trenton
General George Washington sat in a house he had made his headquarters, going over reports of the battle. He heard a knock on the door over the screams and shouts of troops celebrating in the streets.
"Come in."
The door opened, revealing an officer with a solemn, apologetic expression on his face.
"Colonel Khushrenada, what is it you wish to discuss?"
Treize closed the door. "Sir, I came here to apologize to you, for questioning your authority. You were right and I was wrong."
George gave a warm smile.
"And now, we have a victory and morale is picking up again. Had I had my way, it may not have happened. It was foolish of me to oppose you. We cannot have officers like that. Therefore, I resign my commission as a colonel in the Continental Army." Treize said as he put his papers on his general's desk.
"I'm sorry, I cannot and do not accept your resignation." George said as he got back to his papers.
Treize's eyes widened in shock. "Sir?"
"This army needs good officers like you. It was because of you that we have a semblance of an army in the first place. I need talented field officers who can react to situations with a firm military mind. No one has that talent more than you do. Colonel Khushrenada, you are needed here. And the cause means much more than any slight disagreement we may have had."
"I see sir..." Treize said.
"Good. Return to your post."
Treize grinned and quickly saluted. George returned it and smiled himself as he watched Treize leave.
About a week later, General Washington delivered another winter miracle. To kick off the new year; on January 3rd, 1777, the Battle of Princeton was fought and won. The British General Charles Cornwallis(5) subsequently ordered his troops to retreat to New Brunswick, all but surrendering control of New Jersey to the Continental Army.
January 7th, 1777
"You know, it's really amazing what a week can do." Captain Trowa Barton said to the troops over a campfire. "Last week we were dead, this week, we have control over New Jersey."
The men laughed.
"Let's just hope that the year 1776 never comes back." Wufei stated. "Let's hope we're never in that position again."
"Agreed." Trowa stated as he watched Duo stuff his mouth with his provisions.
Heero emerged from his tent with a scowl on his face.
"Ready for your fancy ball?" Duo teased.
Heero merely glared as he got atop Zero.
"Trowa, mind things here when I'm gone."
Trowa nodded as Heero went off.
"I don't think the major is too happy with General Washington for making him go to that ball in Philadelphia." Duo stated, trying not to laugh.
"Shut up, Maxwell." Wufei said as he took a bite of his own food.
Trowa quickly grinned and ate.
1. Thomas Paine's The American Crisis.
2. John Honeyman, a spy sent by Washington into Trenton who posed as a Tory, he misled the defenders and made the attack possible.
3. The commander of the Hessian brigade stationed in Trenton, was killed in the battle.
4. A creek with a bridge outside the town.
5. British general who was later commander of the British forces in the southern states.