5. Frozen with Fear

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French General Jean-Charles Pichegru earned a reputation as a capable leader during the French Revolution. In the winter of 1794 the general and his forces invaded The Netherlands. When they reached Amsterdam, he was informed that the Dutch fleet was stationed close by. “Stationed” could probably be taken a bit more literally in this case since the entire fleet was stuck in place by solid ice which covered the bay. Pichegru’s forces simply marched out onto the ice and surrounded the fleet.