Washington Crossing the Delaware

Players

General Washington: He is the commanding General of the Continental Army. He is organizing a surprise attack against the Hessian (German mercenary) soldiers across the Delaware River. The plan starts in Pennsylvania, and ends in Trenton New Jersey.

General Nathaniel Greene: He is the General who is commanding a force under Washington. He is also tasked to lead a column, with Washington during the attack.

General Sullivan: He is the second General who is with Washington in the boats that ultimately make the attack. He heads a second column of men into battle concurrent with the one headed by Washington and Greene.

 David Price: He is the coxswain of the boat in which General Washing ton finds himself. He is also an agent of the British Crown who is desperately trying to get word to the British troops that this is going to happen.

William Sutcliffe: A powder boy for one of the artillery groups which accompany the expedition. He is a friend of Price, but has no idea that he is spying for the British. He gets separated from his artillery command and ends up on the same boat as the commanding General.

Lieutenant James Monroe: Future president of the United States from Virginia, he was known to be at the crossing of the Delaware. He is seen in conversation with Washington during the crossing. He holds the "Betsy Ross" flag for the crossing (Bradley.)

Prince Whipple: An African native whose royal parents had sent him to America to be educated. He was sold into slavery by a nefarious "friend" and then emancipated by his owner (who was an American Revolutionary War General.) He is one of the rowers of the boat that contained the General and the other members of the cast (sans Sullivan.) (Bradley)

 

Setting.

This act of the play is set on the shore and then the boat during the crossing. The boats were high-sided Durham boats that were usually used to ferry coal from the mines in Pennsylvania to the smelting plants and homes in Philadelphia (Wisconsin Historic Society.) These boats were used because they were plentiful and available. Most of the ore gathering operations had been suspended because of the advent of the war. Therefore, they were able to be used by Washington and his men to exact their plan.