 The Cavalcade of America. America. America means skyscrapers and halos, the crack of a pioneer's glint block and the sound of the riveter's machine, the outline of a church steeple against the midnight sky. America is your story. America is you and everyone you know. Tonight's play is called Reveille and stars the Dean of the American Theater, Walter Hamden as George Washington. Our story begins far from the shore. The time is September in the year 1777 and the place, the European home of Dr. Benjamin Franklin near Paris. A fateful conversation between Dr. Franklin and a mysterious friend draws toward a close. They're talking in French, of course, but perhaps we may translate. Time is of the essence. Arrangements have been made for you to sail from Marseille. On Saturday you will board the French frigate Lerler of 24 Duns. Lerler, the happy one. The fortunate name, Dr. Franklin. 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. Of course, Dr. Franklin. I do not talk. Since 14 I'm a soldier. The frigate will be disguised as a merchantman under the name La Flamme. You will take ship as one, Mr. Frank, bearing dispatches for the governor of Martinique. But you will debark at Portsmouth in New Hampshire with the help of God. Hey, little lad. Well, Doc, what do you have for us? No, is there ever anything new at Valley Port? You were going to keep your ears open, Sarge. Didn't you dare anything? Oh, thanks to her. Listen to them as it was with the big brass gorges and their grand pow-wow. Yes, what did you hear? One, General Washington has wrote a letter to the gentleman at Congress that taken their ease back in York in front of a fire. Then he says, we must have instant aid or else we must either starve or disband. And the general, God bless him, has heard back. What did he say? The gentlemen of the Congress are sending us Oh, no, no, no. They're sending a committee. A committee to investigate and report back and so on and so on. Mike Poole, the boy, made a speech. Not by yet. The boy himself. Gentlemen, he says, what this army needs to be an army? Right now, he says, we're not an army at all. We're a mere rabble. Mere rabble? Oh, hold on, now, hold on. He was right, complimentary. No ordinary rabble, he says, could have held out like us. But we need somebody to tell us what to do and how to do it and why to do it. Did he have any notions about what we're going to age while we're doing this? No, no. No, that point wasn't mentioned. His lordship, the quartermaster general, Mr. Mifflin, he wasn't there. Ah, he's in York by the fire. Trumpet on a side of beat. You know what I'm going to do? I'm going home. Where all the pigs have bore legs and turn into pork overnight. It's all right. I'm both the door corporeal. Hey, sir. The corporeal closed the door. Then Mrs. Colonel Alexander Hamilton, General Washington's aide on the tour of inspection. Now, Colonel, this is what's left of my regiment the 4th New York, as you know. What was your strength when we went into winter quarters here, Captain? 90 men. And what is it now? This morning, sir, there were 30 of us left. What are those men doing in their bunks, Captain, at this hour in the evenings? Well, we're short of clothing, sir. Some of us have no britches, so we have to share a bout. The naked ones lie in the bunks. I see. Let's have a look at this boy. He sleeps pretty soundly. Mr. Blanket, Captain? Yes, sir. Oh, yes, it's... Oh, yes, it's Wilson from New Bird. He was in a bad way this morning. He lungs you now in the frost. He's not asleep, sir. He's dead. And thus, General Washington, and gentlemen of the staff, I conclude my report of conditions here. Thank you, Colonel Hamilton. Gentlemen, you all realize the seriousness of our situation? We have 10,000. Heaven knows how many more or how many less. Some 10,000 troops left. They're sick we can count easily, gentlemen, more than a fifth of our body. The point I wish to make, General Conway, is that we have to win a war over those troops. Yet in the European sense, they don't constitute an army at all. They're lack of discipline, desertion, disorganization. These are the roots of our difficulties. Now, I suggest, sir, that the root of our difficulty lies in the senseless, stupid, and utterly destructive attitude of the Congress. Put heaven, sir, even if we win, are we to be ruled by a coterie of timid, greedy goats and asses? If we win, and we shall win, we'll be ruled by the representatives of the people. That's what we're fighting for. We can hardly expect the people's representatives to be inspired, good judges, saints or philosophers. Surely this is no time or place for political theorizing. Ours is a practical problem. It has been stated most clearly by Lotta yet. Thank you, sir. I had feared being so young to raise my voice. All voices are needed now. My dear young friend, the problem you posed to us is not a new one in our eyes. 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. And we propose to the Congress that an Inspector General be appointed. Congress again. Talk, talk, talk. How long, Mrs. Goan? Possibly, until you learn patience, Hamilton, and common charity. Yes, sir, General Goan. I think we are so clearly getting nowhere, whatever, sir. Right, we're adjourned. I, for one, have needed sleep. General Wilkinson here. He is asleep. It'll be a shame to wake him. Well, I too am weary of debate. Gentlemen, we stand adjourned. Oh, sleep well, General Conway. What a waste of time, Wilkinson, these eternal counsels and how characteristic of our so democratic commander. Our commander at the moment. At the moment, yes. Here's my humble abode. Wilkinson, come in with me. I have something to show you. What a heavenly aroma. What is it? Guinea hen. Well-roasted wine. And a quarter of renish grape to wash it down. And brandy. To come. Nice, my friend. But here at Valley Four, judgment. I have friends in the Congress at York General Wilkinson. Good friends, well-placed. Two of them on the board of war. Help yourselves, as a fool, General. As they decant the General Gates, you must know how these things are done, eh? Come, come, Wilkinson. We can understand each other. General Gates, your superior, wishes to supplant General Washington as Commander-in-Chief. He has an important body of support in Congress. Your friends at York are my friends. We can do business, Wilkinson. Oh. How in this manner Washington has placed himself in an utterly untenable position. Someone is needed to create an army out of his disorganized mob at Valley Four. So he has recommended to the board of war that an Inspector General be appointed. Morghini hen. Yes, yes, thank you. Do you know who that Inspector General will be? Will it be? Oh, no. Who needs General? Me. It's all arranged. I am to report directly to the board of war not to General Washington. Do you understand? Could I? No, a little crazy. Certainly. There. Now, to us, General Wilkinson. To us. And to our future Commander-in-Chief, General Horatio Gates. I just received word from Congress that the board of war has at last acted on my recommendation. They have appointed an Inspector General. They've appointed Conway. Conway? That's Charlotten. What do we do, sir? There's nothing we can do. He's not to be under my command. He'll report so the board instructs me directly to the Congress. Oh. Well, I received him with the courtesy of you, his new office. Sir, if only you were to take my advice and march on York and seize power yourself. I know the men would follow you. Hamilton, I have forbidden you to mention that vanity again. Perhaps my career is nearing its close. Well, it may end in defeat, but never in treason. But, sir, we cannot go on. We'll not discuss the matter, Colonel. I was about to suggest, sir, that our fortunes can descend no lower. Come in. Yes? Colonel Lawrence. I might have said from one of Dr. Franklin's doings with ladies. Let me see it, Lawrence. Yes, sir. Mr. Frank has departed from Boston with messages from the governor of Martin East. At last. It's from Stoibann. Is that good news, sir? It may be. The answer to our prayers. Dr. Franklin is one of the last we've cooked to our cause. Mr. Frank is the Baron Frederick from Stoibann. Another foreign answer? No, not just another, Faruna Lawrence. If Dr. Franklin is right and I've never known him to be wrong, then Stoibann is a superb drillmaster. He's the foremost soldier in Europe. You are listening to the Cavalcade of America starring Walter Hamden as George Washington. Now we continue our plays starring Walter Hamden as George Washington. We return to the headquarters of General Washington at Valley Ford, where a shivering army suffers in the snow. Diversions mount daily with the continued failure of supply. And over the commander himself hangs the threat of the infamous Conway Gates Cabal. At last, Washington takes steps against the conspiracies. And along, prepare a letter to General Conway. Isn't it this, Hamilton? Yes, sir. You ready, Alon? Yes, sir, already. General Conway, a letter I received last night contained the following paragraph. In a dispatch from General Conway to General Gates, Conway wrote, Captain has determined to save your country, General Gates. Else a weak commander-in-chief would have ruined it long since. End of quotation. Sign the letter. I remain your humble servant, George Washington. That is all, sir. That's all. Well, General, how did you learn of Conway's letter to Gates? Wilkinson. In his cups as usual, battled it out in the hearing of one of my few friends that Gates has had for us. But Conway will tell Gates at once, and Gates will take it. Yes, if I know Gates, I'll take it to me denying he ever received such a letter from Conway. He'll write to Congress, too, complaining that I liable to Conway. Such a hubbub would be raised that the whole plot must come into the open at last. And in the open, they'll appear for what they are. The verses of our cause. And Aaron fools to fool. I say, sir, the letter is a slow fume, leading to a barrel of gunpowder at your... I hope so. I hope so. Oh, Colonel, I trust the arrangements have been made to receive Baron von Storben. Yes, sir. He will be met on the York Road by a headquarters company under Captain Walker, and escorted here with every honor. When he comes, I'll ride out to meet him myself. General Washington, may I present to Baron Frederick William von Storben? Welcome, my dear Baron. General Washington. We've all looked over... all of us look forward to your arrival. General, my... my English is not so good, but I have learned a speech to say to you. Uh... Oh, so I forget. Uh... Well, I'm very happy. Many of our officers are able to converse in French, Baron. And Captain Walker here is accomplished in German as well. Ah, mon ami Walter. Wir haben schon gesprochen. Wir werden uns gut verstehen. Yes, pa. Hey, we. To allen Zeichen können sie sicher sein. And Captain Walker, in my letter to the Baron, I explained our pitiful condition here. At your earliest opportunity, you will explain to him those things which cannot be said in letters. Yes, sir. Tell him, with many officers, skilled in European methods of war, that they can't be spared from the line or from star beauties for the drill ground. Our enemy has crossed us in these campaigns to fight fixed battles on the European order and on the European scale. And we've lost those battles for lack of unified training, for lack of system, for lack of drill. To instill system will be the Baron's work. I think perhaps the Baron understands English better than he speaks at General Washington. Ah, General, then if you but knew how my heart rejoiced, how happy I am to do again the work of a soldier. Ah, Baron, you bring us new hope. I tell you, Mr. Scream, the light of this man from Stuyben has not been seen before on our side of the ocean. He's a combination of Don Quixote, Jolly's Father Christmas, and Satan himself all rolled into one with seven league boots. Ah, so handsome, too. I do declare on horseback he looks like the very God of war. The captain, my husband, tells me the man are laughing at your Baron from Stuyben just as we are now. And is it not good to hear Laster again at Valley Forge, Mr. Scream? They began by laughing at him. In a day's time they were laughing with him. 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. And each night he spends writing out a new chapter in his manual of war. And I preforce they have to make a fair copy in English. 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. No. He smokes a pipe while his valet dresses his hair. He has one cup of coffee and at sunrise he's grilling his beloved model company again. One, two, three, four, five, five, six, five, six, and I preforce and help there with him translating all three languages at once. Poor Captain Walker. You must be worn out, quite worn out. On the contrary, Mr. Scream, I've never felt better in my life. Since your husband succeeded the wretched Misslin as quartermaster, I've acquired a warm coat to my back and reasonable rations to warm my innards. And I have work to do. Good work. Captain, we simply must meet this Paragon of viewers. You shall. And when he meets you, Miss Meade, I know what he'll say. And what will you say, Captain? I can hear him now. Wunderche. Wunderche. Ah, how you are, hum, épouvantablement. Rabitant. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha. When Prince says to me, he says, Sergeant Jenkins, you know what is this? A bayonet, says I. What is for Sergeant's disease? There are pig meat on the end of, says I, when we got pig meat, which we ain't. Zoomed carp, he says. He's for sticking lobster backs in the belly. I'll show you. And he grabs my muck, and starts dancing around and stabbing at the air like a, like a great Dutch windmill. Well, Captain, but the next time we have a committee from Congress poking around, and I here tell there's another one on the way, I'll tell him. Gents, I'll say, old Dutch Fritz is the best thing that's happened to this army since I stole the britches of a Tory farmer. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha. One, two, three, four, five, six, five, six, five, six, five, six, five, six. I arranged this review, Your Honor, gentlemen, so that you might see with your own eyes what has happened. This is miraculous, General Washington. Simply miraculous. 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. You know, of course, that Inspector General Conway has tended up his resignation. I do. And if I may, I'd like to nominate as his successor, Frederick William von Stuyben. Little did I think I'd live to see the day when it would be possible to serve a banquet at Valley Falls. For General Green has outdone himself with the farmers in the hinterland and, gentlemen, the occasion is worthy of his effort. I have news for you, splendid news. Louis XVI, King of France, has declared a state of war between his country and Britain. General, friends, this, you must know, is the happiest moment of my life. May I propose a toast to the people of my country, to France! To France! France. And I further news, hardly less important and hardly less gratifying to me, Baron von Stuyben. Yes, sir. Baron, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you for the work you have accomplished here. In a few short weeks, you performed a feature without parallel in the history of arms. You surmounted obstacles beyond numbers. You turned a six-dispondent mob into a spirited army of discipline soldiers. And you taught us how to laugh again. Now my news is this. The Continental Congress has confirmed your appointment, Baron, as Inspector General in the Army of the United States. Gentlemen, another toast to General von Stuyben, the architect of our future victory. Gentlemen, gentlemen, my English is not so good, but it is better, no? Yes, yes, I have teached, I have learned. I have learned much more than what I teach. From these men, these tranquillities, run without bridges, I have learned what it means, with words, freedom. 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. And so, another toast. I give you the American private soldiers, the best fighting man in the whole world. To his victory, to our victory.