Chapter Text
The wind played with the cover of the tent, blowing snow into the room and robbing it of even the least bit of warmth. From time to time someone entered to give a report or drop a letter, but Ben scarcely looked up. His focus was on the latest intelligence on the British army. He reread reports from the last month, trying to figure out where the British would strike, when they would strike. How could the march up on Boston and think this would go unnoticed by the Continental army? Where their own soldiers paid to look the other way? Ben had ordered a report on the force levels of the separate regiments, hoping to determine if they had deserters enough that the British army would be able to simply determine the location of every enemy force and march around it, but he had no great hopes in these reports. Sadly, the only other way for the British to accomplish that task would be spies in the Continental army, in their very own midst. A rather logical conclusion given Ben’s knowledge about their own network but still disturbing. How could they find the responsible person and still counter the attack of the British? And how do this in such a short time?
So far, he had come up with nothing. His only hope, last straw so to say, was Caleb with news on Setauket. Anna was good at overhearing things and the tavern she worked at loosened the man’s tongues. She might have heard something. He begged she had or he would have to go to Washington empty handed.
His glance lingered on the wooden ship, now sitting on his desk. If he was to be honest, he would rather not go to Washington at all. He was suddenly at a complete loss how to behave around the man, now that the general had what he wanted from Ben. Because now, he was just the weak man he was with no Thomas to brighten the picture. Ben sighted, rubbing over his face and closing his eyes for a moment, wishing he could just sleep. He was tired, bone tired- and his rips still hurt.
“Sleeping on duty, Tallboy? Do I have to fill in a report with the old man?”
Ben looked up and the first smile of the day worked itself up his face. “Caleb.”
“In the flesh. And look at you, Bennyboy! Up and walking again.” Caleb grabbed his friend by the neck and dragged him into a bear embrace. Ben tried very hard not to wince under the pressure this put upon his bruised and broken rips and somehow, he even managed.
Caleb then held him on arm’s length, studding him thoroughly. “You ok again?”
Ben nodded and clapped Caleb on the back, for a second only happy, that his friend was here, joking and stinking like always. That could only mean one thing: Ann was safe. At least one thing worked out in the end. But still, he had to actually hear it, before his trepidations would rest. “What news?”
That had Caleb sobered in an instance. “You know, Bennyboy, you always have been good at killing the mood”, he muttered. “A true preacher’s boy.”
Ben shrugged, but the comment stung, oddly painful. “I thought you got used to me.”
That had Caleb snoring while he took a good sip of his flask, filled with anything but water. “Nah, or otherwise I wouldn’t try to get you wooed by every willing woman and there have been quite a few so far, right?”
Probably. But Ben tried to overlook the ladies, Caleb always kept company with. “So? What news?”
Caleb whipped his mouth clean and held the flask out for Ben but he declined. Rolling his eyes at that disregard for good taste, Caleb tucked it away and let himself fall onto Ben’s cot, not carrying that he was still tripping from the snow. “Anna’s safe. Girl is a clever one but not as pius as you, choir boy. By the way, Benny, you should really get a room in that mansion of Washington’s. Even his little aide is in there or the Frenchman. Why are you still freezing to death out here?”
Ben ignored the comment about whom Washington chose to offer a room in the mason, fully aware that his post was to be remain a secret, something Caleb liked to forget from time to time- not to forget he had no right to claim anything from Washington. Anyways, his mind was far more occupied with the muttered first part of Caleb’s speech. His brow furrowed, not liking the sound of it at all. “What is that supposed to mean?”
Caleb huffed angrily. “Just that you work yourself to an early grave for him and I thought…”
“Not your complaining about my quarters, Caleb. Anna!”
Caleb grimaced. It was more than obvious, he wished he had just shut his mouth about it. “That I come baring gifts”, he finally only said.
The unpleasant sound of Caleb’s suggestion about Anna momentarily forgotten, Ben leaned forward, hanging on his every word. “You have news on the British? Thank god!” Maybe his talk later with Washington wouldn’t be such a disaster after all. If they would have more intelligence on the British movements, they could even hope to save Boston.
“Aye, but you won’t like it, Tallboy. It’s Boston.”
Ben nodded darkly. “Yeah, I’ve heard.”
Caleb looked up from under the blanket, he had thrown over his shoulders in an attempt to stop his shivering. “You did?”
Ben got up and shrugged off his coat, handing it to Caleb. He pointedly ignored the violent headshaking and waited patiently till Caleb saw reason- or just was cold enough to accept it. He was the one that had rowed through a storm and snow after all, not Ben. If it would be up to Ben, he would give his officers coat indefinably to Caleb, for he was far more often in the snow, but it was a symbol of rank and so they had to play along the rules of the army. Still, if anyone knew what freezing meant, it was Ben. The Delaware had never fully left him after all. “A letter from Philadelphia”, he said finally as he walked back to his desk. “The problem is, we know just this, an attack. Nothing about the troop forces, plans or current location of the forces.”
Caleb wrapped himself in the woolen warmth, thanking heaven or whoever was listening or Ben’s good heart. “Aye, Bennyboy, then I definitively have something for you!”
“You do?” God, he sounded like a little child afraid of the dark, that had just been offered a parent’s embrace or a candle.
“Aye. Simcoe is to lead the Rangers there. I figured that if we could intercept them, we can interrogate one of them. Plus, I know how many there will be.”
This gained Caleb the second smile of his friend so far. “You are the best, Caleb! Thank you.”
“Thank Anna.” Another long sip out of his flask. “But you tell Washington, right? Honestly, I don’t want to go outside again for the next months. Ask me again when it’s summer. Maybe then.”
Ben just hit him friendly on the shoulder. “Just tell me what I need to know and then sleep well.”
The grin Caleb gave him made him even forget his morning for a few minutes. Unfortunately, it all come back to him rather clearly when he found himself standing outside the command tent, palm’s sweating despite the freezing temperatures and wondering how the talk would go.
Gathering his courage, he stepped into the tent. “Sir.”
Washington looked up from the maps he had been studying and Ben realized a second later, they were not alone. Both the Marquis de Lafayette and Hamilton looked at him bewildered. None of them had yet figured out why Washington was keeping such close counsel with a major and the young aide of the general had been brusque with Ben more than once. He probably feared for his post, Ben figured, even though he knew that the Colonel could rest assured to never lose it to Ben.
Quickly, Ben tried to do the protocol and his manners honor. “Marquis, Colonel, I do apologize for disturbing your counsel. I was not aware the general was occupied. I will leave you to your meeting and come back later.” He bowed to Washington. “Sir.”
Ben already was on his way out, when Washington called him back. “I can’t remember having given you permission to leave, Major.”
Ben cringed and slowly turned around, dreading what was to come. “Sir.”
“What I can remember on the other hand, is asking you to come later this day to plan the coming battle with me- which would be now, I assume.”
At hearing this, Hamilton and Lafayette exchanged a startled glance. “I was unaware that the knowledge of this danger was so widespread in camp, General”, interjected the Frenchman softly, eyeing Ben.
“It isn’t”, was the only reply from the general that left the marquis with little else to do than incline his head and back down, but Ben still had the feeling that this would be a fight he couldn’t win.
Maybe he should have written a report that he simply could hand over now and leave, he thought ruefully. Ben looked over to the two men, that were studying him more than plainly. Why had he never given one thought about Washington’s staff? He had somehow simply thought he would meet the general alone again. Silly him! The general was a busy man after all.
“Do you have news, Major?”, rang the dark baritone of the Commander in chief through the tent.
Ben nodded, avoiding Washington’s eyes and looking at the map instead. “May I, sir?”
Washington’s glance lay on Ben, looking the boy up and down, brow furrowed. “Go on.”
“The British forces will be two thousand men strong…”
“Only that few? I can hardly believe it.” Hamilton shook his head in clear rejection. “Two thousand is too few to take the city and hold it, the British know that. We cannot plan with this…”
“With no one but civilians there? I wouldn’t reject the idea that quickly, Alexander.” Washington’s voice was soft, even, but his aide-de-camp was silenced at once.
The casual usage of the man’s Christian name gave a sting to Ben’s heart. It seemed he really had gotten his hopes up again. He quickly hid his emotional turmoil behind a blank mask, before he looked up to meet the general’s eyes again. “Permission to speak freely, your Excellency.”
That ensured him Washington’s absolute attention. The general gave him a tiny nod, barely there but still, they understood each other. Hamilton and Lafayette were to trust than- but Ben still decided to keep the names of his sources hidden. He thought about Nathan. Just in case. “My courier has returned with word from our source on Long Island.”
Clear disgust now showed on the colonel’s face. “A spy? You keep contacts with spies on enemy territory? What does this make you?”
Again, Ben looked to Washington, trying very hard to keep the hurt the clear disapproval in the officer’s voice had caused him hidden. How much should he reveal?
“That makes him my head of intelligence and life saver on several occasions, Alexander”, Washington said, his tone giving no room for discussion. “Benjamin is more than a trustworthy source to me.”
After that, Hamilton turned to Ben again and bowed his head. “My apologies, Major, I was out of line and short sighted. Please, forgive me.”
Ben only nodded, still bathing in the warmth that Washington’s words had provided him with. At least, his work was appreciated right now. Trustworthy…
“My source also found out, that the Queen’s Rangers are to meet with the army on a rendezvous point somewhere out in the woods before the city. He wasn’t sure if the whole army is ment to venture there in small groups, but if we manage to intervene the Rangers, we might be able to get one of them to talk.”
“Do we know which way they will take?”
“Only, that first they have to report to a Major André in York City, what will delay them for a few days, giving us the possibility to plan an ambush. Even if we don’t know the exact location of them, we can track them down near York City. Given it is still enemy territory, they most likely won’t be too cautious.”
Washington looked around, clapping his hands together with a small smile on his face. “Gentlemen, I think Major Tallmadge might just have saved Boston for us.”
Ben smiled softly at the polite congratulations of the two staff members. “General, I think we should not waste time and try to intercept them as soon as possible.”
Still, no matter his congratulations to Ben, Hamilton looked rather skeptical about that plan. “But venturing into enemy territory? That can get the men hanged as spies. I fear the difficulty will not be to find the Rangers but men to undertake that task.”
“With your permission, sir, I will go with my dragoons. I can have them ready to leave at first light.”
“A bolt move! But it speaks of character to lead by example. I have to congratulate you yet again, Major”, the marquis exclaimed, this time even wholeheartedly.
Before Ben could respond, Washington silenced the three of them with a hand. “Marquis, Colonel, I want you to ready the men. We must be able to break camp at any moment for there will be no telling, when the information about the British will reach us. But pray, don’t tell the men, we base these on a spy’s word.”
“As you wish.” But still, the two lingered, clearly unsure how to proceed.
“Do go now. I wish for a word with the major in private.” At that, the two of them left, but not without sending curios glances over their shoulders back to Ben, leaving Ben alone with Washington and his dreads.