"What's your business in New York?" "My business is with Benedict Arnold." "You wouldn't happen to know where the American Legion is recruiting, would you?" "What's your name again?" "Woodheel?" "Woodfall!" "Woodhull." "Not Woodhull from Long Island?" "The magistrate's son?" "Well, I'm very sorry for your loss." "Any idea of the rebels behind it?" "Dead men walking." "This outfit best of the best." "You're a farmer, correct?" "I've been growing the crops that feed our army, Sir." "Yes, and we are indebted to you for it." "But we're only taking men who've served." "General, I can handle a musket as well as the next man." "I don't have time to turn you into an officer." "Go off at half-cock, you'll get yourself killed." "I don't want to be an officer." "I just want the chance to fight." "I was ambushed by men who meant to burn me alive." "And Providence spared me so that I could stand before you today." "And seek revenge." "And you shall have it." "Welcome to the American Legion." "Are we there yet?" "We've nearly reached camp." "Isn't that right, Mr. Brewster?" "You don't still harbor ill will toward me back when I sent the Rangers toward your boat?" "I had to make a choice, and I chose to save my husband from..." "Simcoe." "Saw you got a piece of his ear." "You got closer than any of us." "Welcome to New Windsor." "Major Tallmadge." "Mrs. Strong." "Your husband has sacrificed much for our cause." " You both have." " The least that I can do is see that you're protected and well cared for." "If there's anything that you require, please don't hesitate to call upon me." "Anna will take you the rest of the way into the camp." "It'll be safer that way." " Safer?" " For Abraham." "If you were to be seen with Ben or Caleb, it might raise questions." "We need to take precautions." "Now, you won't be able to speak about your husband" " or about his mission." " Of course not." "And you can't use your surname anymore." ""Woodhull" is linked with the Tory character." "Anna's had to fabricate an account of her being here." "She'll help you craft one of your own." "When Woody was in camp, they wouldn't even let him out the barn, so." "Oh, well, what have you got there?" "Ah." "Your father and I, we used to play with these." "This is your Brown Bess." "She's loud, she's flinty, and you never know if she'll go off or not." "Didn't have to leave home for that." "Don't think of it as a musket." "Think of it as a spear that shoots." "'Cause your bayonet will never fail you." "Private Woodhull!" "Don't stroke it like your pego." "Halt!" "Beyond there is the army itself." "You must stay to this side." "How do you go back and forth?" "Don't you live here as well?" "Uh, I have a foot in both camps." "I know it's a far cry from wh... from what you're accustomed to." "It's a roof over our heads." "Mostly." "The woman who used to live here was drummed out of camp." "She wasn't a... you know, a..." "A whore?" "No." "The whores around here get paid for their troubles." "If there's provisions you lack," "I'll procure them from the sutler's cart." "Ain't you going to introduce us?" "Uh, Mary, this is Mrs. Barnes." "Ann Barnes." "And you're Mary...?" "Smith." "Mary Smith, from Suffolk County." "And this is my boy, Thomas." "Hello, Thomas." "Welcome." "If you haven't got a bunkmate, find a few." " Three to a berth." " We're tripling up?" "It's tighter than a nun's gash." "I know a mattress is too much to hope for, but not even a bit of straw?" "Take it up with the rebels." "They're the ones who burned all the hay." "You know, a friend of mine, a sailor, says the best place to rest your head is the softest plank." "That supposed to be comforting?" "You willing to be my fart catcher?" "Well... when you put it that way..." "Joseph Sturridge at your service." "Abraham Woodhull." "So, what brings you here, Woodhull?" "King, country, three-guineas bounty, and eightpence a day." "If you don't want to tell me, just say so." "You care why I'm here?" "Well, I'm gonna tell you anyway." "Old man couldn't make it into the Regulars, so he settled for being a sapper in the New York militia." "Ever since the war started, he's been prodding me to enlist." "Finally, swears to disown me unless I join up." "So I chose the safest option." "You think this is the safest option?" "Word is the junior officers hate Arnold." "The higher-ups don't trust him." "We're never going to see battle." "Ah, eightpence a day for a lot of sentry duty and drilling." "Not bad." "Step!" "Step!" "Step!" "To the front, march!" "Step!" "Step!" "Left turn, march!" "Halt!" "Halt!" "Best of the best, or the best of what's left?" "You cloven-hoofed clodhoppers!" "I've seen a wheel-barrow turn sharper!" "How are we to march upon Philadelphia if you can't make it across the street?" "!" "Fall in, men!" "On the double!" "See there?" "Them's the buggers who'll be doing the real fighting." "Shoulder your firelocks!" "Gentlemen... we're not conquerors, but rescuers, chosen warriors who will rescue our native land from the grasp of France and a desperate party of petty tyrants." "Each day our numbers swell." "And each day their spirits plummet." "Our boots shall quake the field of battle along with our enemies' hearts." "I'm pleased to inform you that the Queen's Rangers have been seconded to this regiment." "They were singled out for valor at the Battle of Monmouth under their commander, Lieutenant Colonel Simcoe." "Thank you, General." "There's no higher honor than serving under you." "We shall bring the colonies to the brink of destruction to repel the ruin that threatens them." "And come fighting season, the Rangers and the Legion" " shall unleash their combined fury..." " Now." "On the rebels... the likes of which they've never seen." "Gentlemen, till we meet again." "Shoulder your firelocks!" "To the right, face!" "To the front, march!" "Wheel, march!" "Step!" "Step!" "Step!" "Whoa." "Selah." "Well, that's quite a firm handshake you've got there." "Well, I get a lot of practice." "You greet every old ensign this way?" "Well, in truth, Mr. Strong, we don't get many members of Congress here in our camp." "The delegates all seem to regard the Army as if a child and one that should neither be seen nor heard." "Yet come quickly when called." "I'll be able to show you around, let you make a full assessment in light of recent events." "And General Washington?" "Yes, His Excellency hopes to speak with you as well." "A pouch of tobacco." "That'll do." "I'm glad to see you safe." "You look well." "You look well as well." "Philadelphia agrees with you." "If only Philadelphia could agree with itself." "But as long Congress meets there," "I don't hold my breath." "Thank you for coming, Selah." "Thank you for writing." "There is no witness I heed more than my wife." "Now, I intend to inspect the Army now, but would it be all right if we spoke later?" "Those men who received you, they joined two years ago." "They've not been paid since." "I can assure you their rations are more meager than these." "I'm sponsoring a bill to provide veterans half-pay for life." "Selah, the men need money now, not promises for later." "If they're not paid soon, then the Army won't be defending Congress, we'll be defending Congress from the Army." "I'm sorry." "I..." "I won't tell you how to do your job." "And I won't tell you how to do yours." "I know you can't speak about Benedict Arnold's intrigues, but do you still have active intelligencers?" "And that includes Anna?" "You said that she was valuable to you back in Setauket." "Yes." "Does she serve the same purpose here in camp?" "Well, she wouldn't be here if she didn't." "Of course." "But she is your wife, Selah." "She's..." "If you wish to take her back to Philadelphia with you, then, well, that is your prerogative, of course." "Oh, Mrs. Smith." "Mrs. Smith." "Mary." "You settled in?" "It's beginning to feel like home." "Keep telling yourself that, sweetheart." "Time we put you to work." "I could tell you your fingers will get used to it." "If only that were so." "The truth is, you get used to sore fingers." "Oh." "There you are." "Gonna grow up to be a soldier like his father." "I'm sorry." "You're a widow." "No." "No." "I hadn't seen a man about." "My husband, he's with the militia." "Of Connecticut." "The two of you ever need me to mind Thomas overnight..." "He's far." "Down south." "I don't get word much." "Well, I hear Greene has Cornwallis chasing his tail these days." "So, he's in the Carolinas?" "My husband?" "He got a name?" "Abraham." " Abraham Smith." " Hmm." "I can't wait for Abe to come back from the Carolinas." "So far from home." "Who knew we had northern regiments that far south." "Then again, what do I know?" "I'm mending uniforms, not wearing one." "The "privy-leges" of rank." "The officers have the privy-lege... of doing their business indoors and we have the privy-lege of carrying it out." "We're in shite while the Rangers fight." "They probably have better barracks than us, too." "Along Broadway, I'm guessing." "No, they're stationed up north." "The farmlands around Harlem." "A ways away." "They make it down here quite a bit, at least to Holy Ground." "Holy Ground?" "Called so on account of it's across from Trinity Church." "But Holy Ground is home to all that's unholy." "Heaven, hell, the immortal soul... these are but the politick inventions of priests..." "It's a nest of tippling shops, gambling dens, and brothels, and the place to go if you want a bit of slap and tickle." "But isn't Colonel Simcoe aware of what his men get up to?" "Well, I suppose so." "He lives among them." "Find the lady, find the dame, turn the queen and win the game." "I win." "Seems the rebels weren't the only one to play you for a fool, Falkoff." "Be that as it may, we've a new target, a man right here in the city only recently arrived, an old friend from Setauket not fit to wear the uniform." "Surely Simcoe doesn't frequent Holy Ground himself." "All the officers do." "I know what you're after." "Been some time since your last squeeze, eh?" "There's no gulling you, is there?" "Woodhull, wash up." "You can't stink like a piss pot in front of Colonel Cooke." " Sergeant?" " He wants you to join him at Rivington's Coffeehouse, posthaste." "Colonel Cooke knows I'm here?" "New York's a small town." "Coffee with the quartermaster." "It seems I can be gulled." "What sort of farmer are you?" "The colonel did business with my father." "What kind of business?" "Just pick up your shit bucket." "Can you find out if he's coming to the party or not?" "There's a certain lady who's been inquiring." "I will convey that to Mr. Rivington, though he is likely to inquire as to which lady." "Mr. Woodhull to see you, Sir." "What have you done?" "Is this what your father would have wanted?" "Oh, yes, Sir." "In fact, it was his wish since I was a boy that I'd be a soldier." "You're a young man, Abraham, full of passions, and this has been a trying time, but I don't want you to do something you're going to regret." "I'd regret not doing something, Sir." "General Arnold has promised me satisfaction." "Well, he's one to keep his word." "It's not too late." "We'll see what we can do." "If you must serve, I'm certain I can find you a post under the new head of intelligence right here in the battery." "Oh, thank you, Colonel, but..." "I have no interest in that sort of work." "Well, this isn't the place to be having this discussion." "General Clinton was saddened by your father's passing and would like to meet you." "He's hosting a gathering at Kennedy House tonight." "Tonight?" "I'm sorry, Sir, I..." "I have to stand post." "Hogwash." "Consider it an order." "Tell Arnold that Clinton outranks him." "May I offer you anything, Mr. Woodhull?" "No, I'm fine." "Then may I offer my condolences on your father's death?" "You know each other?" "He used to stay at my boarding house when he ran hogs for his father." "Well, he'll be running hogs again soon." "Last I recall, you were studying the law." "Well, plans change." "My father is dead, and I have come here to see Benedict Arnold... and get justice." "What's this?" "General Arnold put me into service." "I'm his body man." "Wherever he goes, I go." "I don't want you working for him, you hear me?" "I won't do anything foolish." " Do you hear me?" " Yes." "Do you hear me?" "Just put them over there." "What did you say?" "I said I'm a man now!" "I don't have any whiskey, gentlemen." "But if you turn up next morning," "I'll scrounge up an antifogmatic." "Reminds me of the tavern." "Oh, thank goodness, no." "I heard you met General Washington." "I urged him to come to Philadelphia to speak to Congress." "He told me that would be overstepping his bounds." "What about the mutiny of both the Pennsylvania and New Jersey lines?" "His Excellency assured me that discipline had been restored." "There's something you need to see." "Fire!" "Do you know how it began?" "I heard they raided the armory, murdered their officers..." "I mean what set them off." "Lieutenant Randall... begged me to warn Washington of what was brewing in the ranks." "Feared there'd be bloodshed if their grievances weren't addressed." "He's buried beneath one of these crosses." "The mutineers weren't marching on Philadelphia to sack the city but to demand what was owed them." "Yet no one from the capital has come here since, and now they're dead." "I pray their graves will speak to Congress through you." "Beaver hats, walking canes, peacock plumes." "No French raspberry brandy." "Just doesn't make sense." "Abe should have made contact with Townsend by now who in turn should make contact with Hercules Mulligan." "Unless Townsend's now quit the game altogether." "Am I talking to myself?" "Sorry." "Um... ain't Mulligan in jail?" "No, Caleb, we've been through this." "He was released weeks ago." "We learned that through his slave, Cato, who was able to cross the Hudson unmolested, remember?" "Yeah, Cato, right." " Major Tallmadge?" " What are you..." "Am I intruding?" "Mary, camp followers are not allowed to enter this section of the camp, let alone to walk directly into my tent." "Doesn't Anna Strong?" "Well, she... she's..." "You said if I needed anything, I should come to you, and what I need is information on my husband." " Information?" " What he's doing." " How he's doing." " It's early, Mary." "I'm afraid I simply cannot do that, Mrs. Woodhull." "Your husband's mission is highly confidential." "I have a right to be kept informed." "Has he joined Arnold yet?" "Found a way to kill Simcoe?" "Shh!" "How did you know?" "I'm his wife." "Who do you think delayed the soldiers while you were burning the hay?" "I have been helping my husband and thus your cause for some time now, and I deserve to know the truth." " Ben..." " No." "Madam, while you are amongst this army, you will follow this army's rules." "So long as you wish to remain here, you will obey the chain of command." "Is that understand?" "Now you will be excused." "Mary." "Look, it is my intention to protect your husband." "You have no more right to know of his movements than does the enemy." "Mary." "Mary." "Look, it can't be easy worrying about him on top of moving to this shithole, but look," "Woody can take care of himself, always has." "Mary, w..." "Listen, please?" "Just listen." "Oh, listen to what?" "There was one summer when we were about 12, we used to sneak out down to Crane Neck Point, right, to jump off the rocks wearing nothing but our birthday suits, of course." "This one particular day, a squall come up." "And it caught us at high tide." "Now, the undertow was strong as a team of stallions." "Ben and I managed to swim ashore, but Woody, he got pulled out to sea." "Now, we could only watch on, fearing that he'd given up." "But he hadn't, you see?" "He was saving his strength." "'Cause when the current got weaker, he swam his way out and came ashore on the other side of the cove." "And you know what he said?" "He said the only thing he feared was that we would be foolish enough to try and rescue him." "Abe's in danger." "And it's not from some act of God or force of nature." "If I'm looking for a reason," "I don't have to look any further than you." "You were the one who got grabbed in the first place." "Only you would be foolish enough to smuggle alongside Tories." "Oh, and unlike that fish story that you just told me," "Abe was courageous enough to try and rescue you." "I'm feeling flushed." " From the baby?" " From this corset." "Egg rum for Mrs. Arnold." "Are you trying to put me in labor?" "A Madeira, then." "Make it two." "He's well turned-out." "Did Mr. Mulligan stitch that jacket?" "Reminds me of one I saw in Philadelphia on General Washington's valet." "You would prefer to be back there?" "You would prefer me to answer that?" "I'll get my own drink." "Woodhull... why aren't you at your post?" "Forgive me, General." "I was invited." "I had no choice." "I was invited by Colonel Cooke." "Actually by General Clinton." "I brought this young man here to talk some sense into him." "Maybe talk some into you as well." "Two birds and all that." "I suppose Abraham would make a fine soldier, but he's more valuable to the Army back where he belongs." "His late father was a prized partner, and we need this boy to take his place on Long Island." "Sir, if I may, I'm serving my king and country." "I should be able to do it in the manner of my own choosing." "Hmm, that's where you're mistaken." "The empire is bigger than any one man." "Each of us must serve it according to his talents." "Should you wish to succeed your father as magistrate, Abraham, you would have my support." "I've already joined the Legion." "I won't desert them." "Or the general." "They'll manage, as will I." "Look, I hate to lose you, Woodhull, but this needn't be the end of our partnership, merely the beginning." "If you're as valuable as the colonel says..." "I'm sure something could be arranged." "Splendid." "It just so happens..." "Now where's that wife of yours?" " Colonel, please..." " Enjoy the party." "Sir, may I take your cloak?" "Townsend!" "I'm not used to seeing the monk outside his friary." "I have come to convey my partner's regrets to you and to the young lady who is asking after him." "Rivington's wife has just returned from the country." "Well, as the good book says, "Eat, drink, be merry."" ""For tomorrow we die."" "General, if I could have a word, I... oh, excuse me." "Woodhull, allow me to introduce Mrs. Arnold." "This is Abraham Woodhull, a gentleman farmer from Long Island." " Farmer?" " A soldier in your husband's service." "I pray the general is treating you kindly." "I haven't known him long, Ma'am, but I would say his reputation is well-deserved." "Sir, if you could please speak with Colonel Cooke, I would..." "I've made my decision, Woodhull." "What was that about?" "The Legion?" "Mr. Woodhull." "Do you really think this is the pl..." "Cicero?" "What are you doing?" "I'm here with General Arnold." "That's who you're here for, too, right?" "You've come to spy on him." "I can help." "I'm his body servant." "Attend him day and night." " No." " Where he goes, I go." "Quickly." " Where did Cicero get to?" " Shouldn't you have consulted his mother before putting him to work?" "The boy is old enough to make his own decisions." "And how much of a choice did you leave him?" "May I remind you," "I'm the one that brought Cicero and his mother back into the household." "Yes, as a reminder of your beloved André." "Tell me, my dear, how much of a choice did that leave me?" "Wait." "In addition to your child," "I'm holding a large amount of water." "Please excuse me." "His leg ain't healed yet all the way." "If he's on his feet for too long, he has to walk with a cane." "He has this thing called a gorget." "He only wears it in front of the generals, but he wants it waxed and buffed all the time." "He makes me polish it till the polish shines." "What's the use?" "I asked." ""It'll make a soldier out of you," he says." ""So will getting up at the crack of dawn to pour my bath," he says." "Oh, what else?" "Uh... uh..." "And his leg hurts the most in the morning" " and when it's cold out." " All right, just quiet down." "Every night, at midnight, he takes a walk in the garden and does his business in the outhouse." "Every night, same time." "All right, settle down, settle down." "I'm feeling unwell." "I'll take the carriage and return home." "I hope this passes." "Colonel!" ""Of course I can be Mary," she said." ""That's my name."" "Colonel, if you may?" "Now that we are entering into closer enterprise with one another," "I was hoping there was a favor I might ask of you." "Oh, already?" "As you know, the American Legion includes a troop of cavalry." "Yes, for which I provided the horse." "The horse, yes, but not the hay." "One's not much good without the other." "Am I missing something?" "Are you marching to battle anytime soon?" "Well, orders may come at any day." "Hay has become dear." "It is as scarce for me as it is for you." "What little I could scrounge up, eh, goes to the Regulars." "Yes, but owing to our Long Island connection, I thought perhaps..." "You mean my Long Island connection." "Pray, General, what exactly are you bringing to the table on this enterprise of ours?" "Don't speak to me of this again." " Not now." " Yes, now." "I didn't stay in New York to sit still." "You're after him and you need my help." "We'll talk about this later." "Tonight, outside the coffeehouse." "Curfew." "I can't get away from barracks." " Then when?" " I don't know." "How are we supposed to gather intelligence if you can't..." "Will you just..." "All right, listen, tell Tallmadge that Arnold's leg is better but he sometimes needs a cane." "He takes a midnight stroll to his outhouse every night on the dot." "It's when he's most vulnerable." "Satisfied?" "Ah, here he is." "Abraham." "May I present General Sir Henry Clinton, our generous host tonight?" " This is Woodhull?" " General, an honor." "Thank you for inviting me to your home tonight." "Terrible what happened to your father." "My sympathies." "Jonathan, you didn't tell me this young man had joined our provincial forces." "No, no, he..." "Indeed he has." "And we're the luckier for it." "Brave young men like Woodhull are in very short supply." "The best of America." "Jolly good." "Welcome to His Majesty's Army, Private Woodhull." "He gets himself killed, you're at fault." "I'll be personally responsible for Woodhull's safety." "Congress shouldn't have to go cap in hand to the states." "We should be collecting customs duties." "Some might wonder isn't that what we went to war to prevent?" "We went to war to make our own decisions." "But there will be no representation without taxation." "Well..." "Godspeed, Selah." "If there's anything else that you require, don't hesitate to ask." "Your letter opened my eyes, Anna." "In more ways than one." "It reminded me of your courage, of your compassion." "I cannot return to Philadelphia without asking you to come with me." "I talked to Ben." "He said you are important here." "But you are important to me as well." "Though I confess that doesn't interest me as much as it used to." "What does interest me... is what is important to you?" "You don't have to answer now." "But I do wish an answer when you're ready." "In the meantime... may I write you?" "Of course." "You're my husband." "Do you know why I favor a serrated blade?" "There's a trick I learned from the Abyssinians on James Bruce's expedition to Gondar." "Stab the bayonet, twist the blade, and the notches will pull the intestines right out." "So, how is my old friend?" "He's well-protected, Sir." "We kept watch outside his post, but it's under guard day and night." "And even if we could sneak past them, soldiers are always going in and out." "Certain you wish to proceed?" "I made a promise I would deal with him." "He had the chance to stay out of my way, and he chose not to." "There was an ocean between us, and yet he was foolhardy enough to return." "Finally have the new man in place as head of intelligence." "Maybe he has some idea of who's responsible for your father's death or what happened to that ransom money." "His letter mentioned that the two of you were familiar." "General." "Pleasure to meet you." "We have much to discuss." "Major." "Thank you for coming, Abraham." "Why don't you take a seat?"