Washington did not hurry his retreat, but he always got away. Finally about the first of December, he came to Trenton, where he halted for a week and sent men up and down the river to collect all the boats on the Delaware. He knew that he would be forced to retreat into Pennsylvania; and he proposed to leave no means for the enemy to follow him. On December 8, 1776, the British advance, which consisted of a brigade of Hessians under Colonel Rall, entered Trenton; but as usual, Washington was half a day ahead of his pursuers, and as the Hessians entered the village, the rear guard of the Americans was just entering the last of the boats, and safely pulled away to the Pennsylvania shore! Lord Howe, who had joined Cornwallis, sent out men to look for boats, but none could be found. The weather turned cold. Lord Howe was uncomfortable; so he decided to put his troops into winter quarters and let the pursuit go. He had done enough for one season! He and Cornwallis arranged to scatter the troops about New Jersey to hold that territory, while they went back to New York to enjoy the winter. Trenton was left in charge of Colonel Rall and his brigade of Hessians. On December 22, John Honeyman drove a small herd of cattle into Trenton, left them standing in front of headquarters, as he went up and knocked on the door. (_knocks_) RALL (_off_) Come in! Come in! HONEYMAN Mornin', Colonel Rall! RALL Oh, it's you, Honeyman! HONEYMAN Aye, it's me--an' I got some cattle out front here fer yer Quartermaster. RALL Well, that's good news--my men will be glad to see that beef! Now we can give 'em a Christmas dinner that'll _be_ a Christmas dinner! HONEYMAN All ye need now, Colonel, is a mite o' wine, eh? RALL Never fear, we've got the wine! HONEYMAN Wal', ye kin have a fu'st-rate Christmas then. RALL Yes sir! With roast beef and two hogsheads of fine wine--we should do very well. HONEYMAN Two? Pshaw, is that all? RALL Why--what's the matter with that? HONEYMAN Two hogsheads won't go so far with a whole brigade. RALL Oh, I haven't got a whole brigade. HONEYMAN Ye ain't? RALL No, just a thousand men, that's all! Why sir, they can all get roarin' drunk on the ration I'll issue 'em. HONEYMAN An' like as not they will, eh, Colonel? RALL (_chuckling_) Well, Honeyman, what do you expect o' soldiers? Christmas you know--and out here in this God-forsaken place. Let 'em get drunk, I say. There's nothing else to do. HONEYMAN Wal', Colonel, I cal'ate 'tain't often ye find a better officer than ye be! I'd like to serve under ye! RALL Well, if you want-- HONEYMAN Yes, sir. I'd do it if I wasn't helpin' along things in my way by roundin' up food fer the king's men. Wal', mebbe ye better sign fer these critters out in front an' I'll be gittin' along. I got to hike over to the next post. Er--by the way--how fer is it to the next detachment o' troops? RALL Oh, about six miles south. HONEYMAN