George Washington inspired men to follow him barefoot in the snow.
“It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and Bible.”… Pres George Washington
From a search on the event. Inspirational words that are perhaps even more true today - but sadly are forgotten.:
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On December 25, 1776, as General Washington was preparing to attack Trenton, he had Mr. Paine’s inspirational article read to all his troops:
“These are the times that try men’s souls,” he began. “The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis shrink from the service of his Country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives everything its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated.” (Ketchum, pp.209-21 1)
In spite of the fact that the attack was launched in very inclement weather and many of the troops were half naked and bare footed they attacked and won. They had been inspired by both Thomas Paine’s writings and General Washington’s example. Interestingly the password that evening was “victory or death” which certainly symbolizes the gravity of the situation. Over the next few months over 100,000 copies of Thomas Paine’s article would be published - for which he was never remunerated.