Take the case of Washington crossing the Delaware. He crossed the Delaware in the middle of the night to launch a devastating surprise attack. Everyone thinks this was a really cool thing, and apparently it made a really good picture, too, but it’s a really boring piece of information all by itself.

When you have more details, you find that the American troops had been chased out of New York and harried down the New England coast as they retreated towards Pennsylvania and the new country’s capitol. Two of Washington’s generals had started ignoring their orders out of jealosy, and he had about a week before the majority of his troops would have fullfilled their contracts, and would probably abandon the army due to a really bad moralle situation. Washington managed to get his troops across the river in hail and sleet that prevented other commanders from even attempting the crossing. He caught the British (actually allied Hessian) army off guard and probably badly hung over from celebrating Christmas the previous day.

The event was a major turning point in the Revolutionary War. Not only was it the first major victory, but it was performed under severe conditions and at a time that waiting the British out would have resulted in the dissolution of most of the American army. Had he let the rain and sleet stop him, we might still be a British property today.