The General's Christmas by C. Metzinger Read Free Book Online Page A

his
friends in Congress, Benjamin Harrison and Thomas
Jefferson.
    "We're having Christmas dinner here, General,
and you simply must come and dine with us!" Harrison's wife
twittered.
    "I shall be delighted, for I have much to
discuss with Benjamin," Gates replied.
    Christmas Day was cold and windy but the
storm had not yet struck the city of Baltimore. General Gates rode
his horse to the three-story brick home in an upscale area of
Baltimore, where Congress had fled to escape the British occupation
of Philadelphia.
    Gates, in full uniform, was
greeted at the door by a butler. The elegant home was festively
decorated with holly and ivy for Christmas. A sprig of mistletoe
hung over the entrance to the main parlor. The dining room table
was set with the best china and sparkling glassware. Candles and
shining silverware generously graced the table, ready for the
guests to dine. Several people mingled before the fireplace in the
parlor as Gates searched for a familiar face.
    Gates made a beeline for
Thomas Jefferson, who was surrounded by admirers.
    "Mr. Jefferson," Gates greeted with a
bow.
    "Ah, General Gates! What a
surprise! I would have expected you to be in Saratoga, still
basking in admiration for your recent victory there!"
    Gates smiled at the accolades Jefferson
bestowed upon him.
    "A good general trains his
officers to do their duty in his presence or his absence. I'm sure
General Benedict Arnold can carry on quite competently."
    "Of course, he was most courageous on the
battlefield there. You must tell us all about the battle at
Saratoga after dinner," Jefferson urged.
    "I'd be happy to. But if I
may have a moment of your time, sir, I have something of importance
to discuss," Gates said.
    "Of course, of course!
Perhaps after dinner, that is now ready."
    Gates bowed politely but
wished he could discuss his business now. Instead, he followed the
guests into the dining room. Each elegantly dressed woman and
gentleman was seated, and then the servants brought out platters of
turkey, ham, and cooked vegetables. Their aromas mingled into
delicious mouth-watering temptations. There was enough food on the
table to feed a regiment, Gates noted. He couldn't but help notice
the contrast between the meal before him and the lack of food his
army faced, half-starved and hungry most of the time. They were
lucky to have one scrap of meat in a week. Looking at this generous
and ostentatious fare on the table, he couldn't understand why
Congress always argued endlessly whenever the army begged for food
and supplies.
    Dinner conversation was polite and cordial.
The women all discussed the Christmas balls being held at various
places in the city. It seemed that no one here knew that a war was
being fought, Gates thought. Their social lives had not skipped a
beat as men marched from one battle field to another without rest
or sustenance. To these people, the war was nothing more than a
topic of discussion, an amusement to give them something to gossip
about. He sighed with impatience as he waited for the end of
dessert when the men would announce their adjournment to the
study.
    The study was a large room lined to the
ceiling with bookshelves. A roaring fire burned brightly in the
huge fireplace, and the men took their seats in comfortable chairs.
They passed the tobacco and filled their pipes as servants filled
glasses with brandy. Life in high society lacked for nothing, even
during wartime.
    Jefferson looked around at his friends and
bowed, "If you will please excuse me, I believe the general would
like to briefly discuss business."
    "Forgive me, sir, but my
time in Baltimore is very limited and I must make the best use of
it," he apologized to his two friends.
    Jefferson nodded, "I understand."
    The three men retired to a
small sitting room with a warm fire. Benjamin Harrison turned to
Gates and asked,
    "What's this about, Horatio?"
    Gates stroked his chin and paused in deep
thought before speaking.
    "I am speaking to you only because I