 The DuPont company maker of better things for better living through chemistry presents Paul Henry on the cavalcade of America and here's our star Good evening. It pleases me very much to come to you tonight in a true story called lay that musket down In the role of a very interesting man Christopher Ludwig. He played a remarkable part in the American Revolution It's well for this man Ludwig who can tell maybe George Washington would have lost the war Yes Who can tell Back in the darkest days of the revolution when American hopes were very low a man comes to general Washington with a strange proposal I'm Christopher Ludwig general a baker from Philadelphia. Yes, mr. Ludwig I'd rather expected to visit from you. I have been told of your proposals to Congress that you had certain ideas Only one idea sir. It is my plan to win the war. You're a German aren't you? I'm an American But I was born at You are a Hessian. Yes, sir, and they are Hessians on Staten Island. Yes. Yes, they certainly are But they will desert and then there there will be no army there is it What are you talking about? They do not fight you because they want to or because they hate you It is because they have been sold like so many cattle. I appreciate that they may die on a toilet It's not their own here They think of their homes in in Hesse to which they may never return Jello, they have loved ones back there wise children. I grant that mr. Ludwig But what is all this got to do with your plan? I will go among them I will tell them about me Christopher Ludwig who came here 23 years ago. I had nothing just nothing now I own my own bake shop in Philadelphia More than that. I'm a part of this country like every American. No Hessian on Staten Island can say that Even his life is not his own wait a moment. How will you tell them all this? How will you get to them? Oh? I will walk to them right through their lines just like that. Oh, no, I have a plan show I will dress in the uniform of the American army. I will say I'm a deserter come to join my people It's a good idea isn't it? No good. You know you would be hanged if they caught you. Yes, this I know mr. Ludwig Why do you want to do this? Why yes, why I will tell you I Love this country Here a man can own his own bake shop and he can raise his children Here he is not afraid that some night they will come a knock on his daughter a knock that means he will lose his children to an army Or perhaps his life to a prince a Man can love such a country as this mr. Ludwig. I will tell you something We're desperate I've listened to you because I listen to anyone with a plan no matter how wild or fantastic it may seem We are losing this war Right now we are hiding until we can gain strength If the Hessian commanders knew it They could destroy you general. Let me try a big you. Let me try mr. Ludwig You will have a uniform and a safe conduct through our line. You let me do it If you succeed in causing desertion among the Hessians, we'll have gained time and hope. Thank you, sir. God speed you I My name is Christopher Ludwig. I come from New Jersey. What do you do here? I've run away from the American army Is that a no I I just do not wish to fight my own people Keep your arms in the air You said your own people what do you mean you are an American uniform I'm a Hessian. I'm from Geesemen in Hesse Then they'll mill up. Yeah, you come from Geesemen. Yeah, you know this man. No, I have never seen him Oh, you are too young to know me sergeant Maybe if I ask him a question do it you What is the name of the pastor of the little church on Kölnstraße? Well Well When I was there it was It was Brenner. Yes, Amy Brenner Brenner What that was more than 20 years ago. Yes, 23 years ago. There is how long I'm over here Does he speak the tools man up? There was a pastor named Brenner. He married my mother-in-law though. No more talk He will take him to the officers You Name Christopher Lully you are deserter from the Americans. Yes, I am only three days. Why why did you deserve? Helvers, I do not wish to fight my own people your own people You're a spy. No, no, but believe me. I'm no spy. Look. I wear the American uniform That proves nothing anyone can pick up a bundle of rag like that. Why did you get it? They gave it to me her overs when two months ago. Oh They forced you into service. Is that it? No, I enlisted her overs. You enlisted and two months later You deserve what kind of a soldier is that? Well, I I didn't know then I would have to fight Hessian my own people Why did you say you came from a decent? No, I mean three days ago New Jersey. Oh I'm the American Army there. I asked you question loaded. Yeah from the American Army there Good, and you know where they are how many Interesting Come over here, Ludwig Yes, Helvers You know what this is a Mat a mat and this where I point New Jersey Now show me where you came from Well, show me forgive me, but I Must look a little closer and I will help you American forces Here yes, they No, no, no, I don't think that is where I came from Perhaps from here. No God, God, Lord, where you came from somewhere and I think What's here? No, it was not there. They've done that three times look because we know the Americans are not in those places But surely there somewhere Point out the place from which you came, Ludwig Point it out It it was here. Yes, that could be Most unlikely place yet one the general Washington would pick if he wished to hide Yes Maybe you are telling the truth, Ludwig. I'm telling the truth, Helvers Very well. Thank you. I may go now. Yes For the present prison. I'm not a fool Christopher Ludwig I shall make sure that you are not one because only a fool would lie and put his neck in a noose If you tell the truth good if you lie You will do a little down on Air our story lay that musket down starring Paul Henry's will continue in just a moment Posing as a deserter from the American Army Christopher Ludwig makes his way to the Hessian post on Staten Island There he's questioned and in order to accomplish his mission is forced to disclose the position of Washington's army It's now two days later and Ludwig's again in the quarters of the Hessian commander. Ludwig You told the truth. We have found out the Americans are where you say It was very clever of general Washington to choose that place Yes But we are clever too. We will give them a great surprise Surprise. Yes, they think we still hunt them. They think they're safe, but thanks to you. I would make they are not you are Going to attack but she has When That is the surprise But now I wish to show my gratitude. I have arranged quarters for you. You're probably over Ask a favor, but certainly name it It is a very long time since I have seen anyone from Hesse if it is agreeable to you I should like very much to live with the men the common soldiers, but I have arranged what a man Here's become hungry for his own language a man's heart becomes lonely for for talk of his native land You can understand it. No, yes, yes, of course Very well, Ludwig. I shall be a rage But what on earth will you do there? You seem an intelligent man. What will you do for amusement? Oh? I should talk sir Just talk Max is always singing that song. I wish you would stop. Why I like the song Carl I like it very much. It makes me homesick and lonely. Oh How long have you been away from Hesse Carl here? Yeah It is 23 years for me. Yeah, but your family is here. I have not seen my wife and children in five years First they sent me to Turkey and to Prussia now here And you don't like America. No Nothing but swamps and trees. Oh, then you have never been to Pennsylvania, huh? Pennsylvania There's that South and West from here. Ah, there is a place Carl. There is a place Is it so wonderful? That's all that wonderful Would you like to hear about it? Yeah, I suppose so. All right It is a big land big and rich Why did the earth is so fertile that a man may may reach down and pick up a handful of it and in five minutes There is something growing from it. Oh, that is a story. Oh, it is true You were a farmer weren't you Carl? Yes And how long has it been since you felt soil in your hands and smelt the richness of it? Felt the cool moist dew and and watched the fields turn green in the spring too long But tell us about Pennsylvania. Is it far? Oh, no, not far Not even if a man travels on foot But I talk too much. I make you lonely for Hesse for your wife and children Soldiers should not think of these things Soldiers would think only of his duty to his prince to his prince One who sold us like Kevin Max is right I'm a fool for talking. Oh, no, no, no. Tell us more This Pennsylvania Must one obey and swear allegiance to a prince to own land there one swears allegiance to one thing only in this country Yes, liberty Yes, Max Here is a place to live and grow and breathe air that is free We were talking sergeant just talking first of all are you my friend? You know that Pennsylvania a man could reach it and live there, of course But the war will be long before the war is over What do you mean Christopher? There are many of us who are sick of this man who would go who'd leave this guy What else is there if we stay and fight? We will be killed for a war that is not ours, or if we are not killed It means only service somewhere else, but if a man went to this Pennsylvania A moment ago you asked if I was your friend. I Asked you the same thing Are you mine? Yes, of course good And I'm going to tell you something, but I Came here as a spy a spot you will be hanged not if my secret is kept Will it be cow? I Wish you had not told me I had to because I need you Carl I want you to speak to the man you can trust I can't do it all alone me speak to them Yes Tell them off this land where men love freedom enough to fight and die for it Tell Max that his wife and children will live on their own land in their own house unafraid Tell Emil that here the cows give ten quarts of milk twice a day the two cabbages fill a bushel basket Will you tell them Carl? But what about me? You will go to I will take you with me when right away not right away Carl, but as soon as enough men have deserted to make this army useless against my country and if we are discovered You said yourself that only more service or death waits for you. Well this way you have a chance Carl Take it Three hundred three do what we cannot enough at this rate. We should have no army You're part of her over spot. I think I know the reason it is Christopher Ludwig what Chris? What are you talking about you a bit he talks over night after night day after day and the men listen to him He talked so do we all what does that got to do with these deserts? But I believe he has done something out ever since he came the men grumble and complain that is a common ailment with soldiers It is his fault her over his fault his fault Couldn't be you a sergeant. They have laxity in placing guards or it doesn't other reasons You talk like a fool. What can one man do to make 300 dessert? There's her over talk to him. I will talk to all the men come with me to the barracks I Over special to speak and our moment customer Ludwig Come here. You wish to see me her over. Yes What does all this talk about? Paul Talk her over the sergeant tells me you park a great deal Well, I've always talked too much her over said ever since I was a little boy It's a failing with me But why do you ask about it her over? I have been many desertions Ludwig. Yes. I know that her over. I'm sure you do The sergeant seems to think they have something to do with you with me But how in what way what are you talk about? I almost had almost anything that it enters my head But surely the house doesn't think I persuade the men to deserve why I I could be hanged Besides, I'm still here and and as you once said I'm not a fool. I guess not very well All of you will listen to me No, man will be allowed to leave quarters Any man who tries to do so will be shut without a question being asked I repeat no man leaves us quarters until we march out tomorrow That is all Are you heard that? Yeah, that means an attack an attack on general Washington's army. I Gave the position They must get out. Yeah, but how tight our way out. They will kill us. We will go tonight come at the century the car Musceteer Carl is our only chance tonight at midnight It's gone. We are all ready how many 50 good now listen to me We shall leave one by one stay close to the building be as quiet as you can and then when we all together will rush past the guard Once we reach the river will be safe. We reach we will Oh Who's that the sergeant quick close your eyes and just leave Well, that is good. I like to see all of you comfortable Are you sleeping a pic? Oh, yes, sergeant. That's it is too noisy. Yeah, I Will tell you something and I leave I'm going to put the double-guarded all doors and windows Just to make sure of course. I do not mistrust you Ludwig But just to make certain Just to make Christopher we have no chance. They will shoot us down like dogs It is a sure thing that's urgent give orders before he came all right and listen to me all of you Come here you can sign here or you can try to make a fight for it And you'll be fighting for something you never had before liberty You were told to be killed now fight to live in freedom You've gone into battle against many web willing to die for their liberty. Why do you fight them? Make your own liberty here and now make this your course in your country now. Who is with me? Or do I go alone? I am with you Christopher That's so good really straight ahead. Yes, just beyond the powder magazine department. What are they? What if he blows up? There'd be no powder. No attack. Oh, you can't there are centuries We'll take care of the centuries then we'll break open the powder keg or two and leave a trail of powder light it and then Good come on Look the centers are talking together. Yeah down there. It is our chance in here See those cakes of powder. Yes, Christopher Play open the powder quickly. Yeah, the powder trade trail the powder behind us You must answer the word Christopher yes, how much father is it to Pennsylvania? Let us stop here a moment. We are there look down into that valley cow Look have you ever ever seen such a land whether the cows give five quarts of milk You said ten I Did well perhaps I did exaggerate a bit And you said the earth is so rich that a man can watch his crops grow overnight And that two cabbages fill a bushel basket and that seeds sprout before the next row is planted You said all that Christopher. I know And most of it is true But the greatest thing about this land is something I did not tell you and you said a great deal Could there be more? much more Look over this land. It is beautiful here There's something in the land here that that one cannot raise in the old countries across the sea not yet There is something raised here that will spread its roots across the ocean But here it grows first Liberty what is a man without that cow? Nothing the shell the husk fill your nostrils with the smell of it and then pray Pray that it always grows And always flourishes We have a long journey ahead Joe Palmer had a beautiful crop of chin whiskers And he defied everyone in Fitchburg, Massachusetts to make him shave it off Well, here his story next week here how he fought in and out of jail for his right to wear a beard Listen next week when Brian Don Levy stars in Joe Palmer's beard on the cavalcade of America Tonight's play lay that musket down was written by Russell Hughes Appearing with Paul Henryd were Robert Dryden as Carl and Peter Cappell as hair over The music was composed by Arden Cornwell conducted by Donald Borey This is Ted Pearson speaking Be sure to join us next week for Joe Palmer's beard starring Brian Don Levy cavalcade of America Directed by John Zoller came to you this evening from the Vanderbilt Theater in New York And it's presented by the Defant Company of Wilmington, Delaware Makers of better things for better living through chemistry