[Congressman Billybob]

There is one, slight error in McCullough's account. Thomas Paine's magnificent words were not read BY Washington's troops, they were read TO the troops, since two-thirds of them were illiterate.

By order of Washington, these words were read to the troops before they crossed the Delaware:

"These are the times that try men's souls. The sunshine patriot and the summer soldier may shrink from the service of his nation, but he that stands it now deserves the love and thanks of man and woman...."

Congressman Billybob

Latest article, "Come Back to 1600, Johnny Dean, Johnny Dean"

The Declaration, the Constitution, parts of the Federalist, and America's Owner's Manual, here.

[Gaffer]

.....Thomas Paine's magnificent words were not read BY Washington's troops, they were read TO the troops, since two-thirds of them were illiterate.

Alas, it seems we have come full circle. However, the difference being our young are the ones that are illiterate and the 'troops' are the ones that can read. Irony for a dead country.