George Washington once stopped a mutiny by reading a speech!

A good speech and it's message will go down in history. While we all know of Lincoln's famous Gettysburg Address, few have heard of Washington's Newburgh Address during the Revolutionary War.

In 1783 the officers of the American army were furious that Congress was not paying them in full for their services. Tempers reached such lofty heights that the officers established a date to meet and plan their march on Congress to demand pay at gunpoint!

Washington heard of this and quietly snuck into the meeting. Amidst shouts of dissent Washington read a speech urging them to be patient and remember how much every one in the country had suffered during the war.

To do this, he claimed, was madness, treasonous, and put their own families in danger by allowed the British to be victorious. After a pause he attempted reading again but fumbled over the words. He then said, "Gentlemen, you must pardon me.

I have grown gray in your service and now find myself growing blind." The officers were so moved many began to cry, remembering just how much their general had also suffered. They apologized for the attempted mutiny and wrote letters exalting Washington and his service!