Washington's Vision
In the
National Tribune, 1880, an article appeared giving an
account of the "Vision of Washington" at Valley Forge. The account was
told by a gentleman named Anthony Sherman, who supposedly was at Valley
Forge during the winter of 1777-78. The story has been published several
times.
Some people will say that it is substantiated by the fact that a copy
of the account is in the Library of Congress. This argument of
authenticity is misleading in and of itself. The Library of Congress has
copies of anything published. That does not indicate accuracy of the
content.
I am unaware of any eighteenth-century evidence that corroborates
this story. The soldier mentioned as having a first-hand account of the
"Vision," Anthony Sherman, was a soldier in the Continental Army.
However, according to his pension application, written by him, he states
that he was at Saratoga under the command of Benedict Arnold at the end
of 1777 and only joined the main forces in 1778 in New Jersey just
before the Battle of Monmouth.
Anthony Sherman wrote:
You doubtless heard the story of Washington's
going to the thicket to pray in secret for aid and comfort from God, the
interposition of whose Divine Providence brought us safely through the
darkest days of tribulation. One day, I remember it well, when the
chilly winds whistled through the leafless trees, though the sky was
cloudless and the sun shown brightly, he remained in his quarters nearly
all the afternoon alone. When he came out, I noticed that his face was a
shade paler than usual. There seemed to be something on his mind of
more than ordinary importance. Returning just after dusk, he dispatched
an orderly to the quarters who was presently in attendance. After a
preliminary conversation of about an hour, Washington, gazing upon his
companion with that strange look of dignity which he alone commanded,
related the event that occurred that day.
"George Washington's Vision"
This afternoon, as I was sitting at this table
engaged in preparing a dispatch, something seemed to disturb me.
Looking up, I beheld standing opposite me a singularly beautiful female.
So astonished was I, for I had given strict orders not to be disturbed,
that it was some moments before I found language to inquire the cause
of her presence. A second, a third and even a fourth time did I repeat
my question, but received no answer from my mysterious visitor except a
slight raising of her eyes.
By this time I felt strange sensations
spreading through me. I would have risen but the riveted gaze of the
being before me rendered volition impossible. I assayed once more to
address her, but my tongue had become useless, as though it had become
paralyzed.
A new influence, mysterious, potent,
irresistible, took possession of me. All I could do was to gaze
steadily, vacantly at my unknown visitor. Gradually the surrounding
atmosphere seemed as if it had become filled with sensations, and
luminous. Everything about me seemed to rarefy, the mysterious visitor
herself becoming more airy and yet more distinct to my sight than
before. I now began to feel as one dying, or rather to experience the
sensations which I have sometimes imagined accompany dissolution. I did
not think, I did not reason, I did not move; all were alike impossible. I
was only conscious of gazing fixedly, vacantly at my companion.
Presently I heard a voice saying, "Son of the
Republic, look and learn," while at the same time my visitor extended
her arm eastwardly, I now beheld a heavy white vapor at some distance
rising fold upon fold. This gradually dissipated, and I looked upon a
stranger scene. Before me lay spread out in one vast plain all the
countries of the world — Europe, Asia, Africa and America. I saw rolling
and tossing between Europe and America the billows of the Atlantic, and
between Asia and America lay the Pacific.
"Son of the Republic," said the same
mysterious voice as before, "look and learn." At that moment I beheld a
dark, shadowy being, like an angel, standing or rather floating in
mid-air, between Europe and America. Dipping water out of the ocean in
the hollow of each hand, he sprinkled some upon America with his right
hand, while with his left hand he cast some on Europe. Immediately a
cloud raised from these countries, and joined in mid-ocean. For a while
it remained stationary, and then moved slowly westward, until it
enveloped America in its murky folds. Sharp flashes of lightning gleamed
through it at intervals, and I heard the smothered groans and cries of
the American people.
A second time the angel dipped water from the
ocean, and sprinkled it out as before. The dark cloud was then drawn
back to the ocean, in whose heaving billows in sank from view. A third
time I heard the mysterious voice saying, "Son of the Republic, look and
learn," I cast my eyes upon America and beheld villages and towns and
cities springing up one after another until the whole land from the
Atlantic to the Pacific was dotted with them.
Again, I heard the mysterious voice say, "Son
of the Republic, the end of the century cometh, look and learn." At this
the dark shadowy angel turned his face southward, and from Africa I saw
an ill omened specter approach our land. It flitted slowly over every
town and city of the latter. The inhabitants presently set themselves in
battle array against each other. As I continued looking I saw a bright
angel, on whose brow rested a crown of light, on which was traced the
word "Union," bearing the American flag which he placed between the
divided nation, and said, "Remember ye are brethren." Instantly, the
inhabitants, casting from them their weapons became friends once more,
and united around the National Standard.
"And again I heard the mysterious voice saying
"Son of the Republic, look and learn." At this the dark, shadowy angel
placed a trumpet to his mouth, and blew three distinct blasts; and
taking water from the ocean, he sprinkled it upon Europe, Asia and
Africa. Then my eyes beheld a fearful scene: From each of these
countries arose thick, black clouds that were soon joined into one.
Throughout this mass there gleamed a dark red light by which I saw
hordes of armed men, who, moving with the cloud, marched by land and
sailed by sea to America. Our country was enveloped in this volume of
cloud, and I saw these vast armies devastate the whole county and burn
the villages, towns and cities that I beheld springing up. As my ears
listened to the thundering of the cannon, clashing of sword, and the
shouts and cries of millions in mortal combat, I heard again the
mysterious voice saying, "Son of the Republic, look and learn" When the
voice had ceased, the dark shadowy angel placed his trumpet once more to
his mouth, and blew a long and fearful blast. "Instantly a light as of a
thousand suns shone down from above me, and pierced and broke into
fragments the dark cloud which enveloped America. At the same moment the
angel upon whose head still shone the word Union, and who bore our
national flag in one hand and a sword in the other, descended from the
heavens attended by legions of white spirits. These immediately joined
the inhabitants of America, who I perceived were will nigh overcome, but
who immediately taking courage again, closed up their broken ranks and
renewed the battle.
Again, amid the fearful noise of the conflict,
I heard the mysterious voice saying, "Son of the Republic, look and
learn." As the voice ceased, the shadowy angel for the last time dipped
water from the ocean and sprinkled it upon America. Instantly the dark
cloud rolled back, together with the armies it had brought, leaving the
inhabitants of the land victorious!
Then once more I beheld the villages, towns
and cities springing up where I had seen them before, while the bright
angel, planting the azure standard he had brought in the midst of them,
cried with a loud voice: "While the stars remain, and the heavens send
down dew upon the earth, so long shall the Union last." And taking from
his brow the crown on which blazoned the word "Union," he placed it upon
the Standard while the people, kneeling down, said, "Amen."
The scene instantly began to fade and
dissolve, and I at last saw nothing but the rising, curling vapor I at
first beheld. This also disappearing, I found myself once more gazing
upon the mysterious visitor, who, in the same voice I had heard before,
said, "Son of the Republic, what you have seen is thus interpreted:
Three great perils will come upon the Republic. The most fearful is the
third, but in this greatest conflict the whole world united shall not
prevail against her. Let every child of the Republic learn to live for
his God, his land and the Union." With these words the vision vanished,
and I started from my seat and felt that I had seen a vision wherein had
been shown to me the birth, progress, and destiny of the United States.
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