Various
accounts of George Washington’s vision and prophecy all agree in content. There
have been only minor variations in some details as the story was repeated over
the years by those to whom it was related by General Washington.
The
place was Valley Forge in the cold and bitter winter of 1777. Washington’s army
had suffered several reverses and the situation was desperate. Food was scarce.
The Continental Congress was not sending supplies or money. Some of the troops
did not even have shoes to wear in the snow. Many soldiers were sick and dying
from disease and exposure. Morale was at an all-time low, and there was great
agitation in the Colonies against the continued effort to secure our freedom
from England. Nevertheless, General Washington was determined to see the
struggle through.
These
are the words of a first-hand observer, Anthony Sherman, who was there and
describes the situation: “You doubtless heard the story of Washington’s going
to the thicket to pray. Well, it is not only true, but he used often 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.
“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 rarify, 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 strange 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 it 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 spectre 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 upon 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 the volume of cloud, and saw these vast
armies devastate the whole country and burn the villages, towns and cities that
I beheld springing up. As my ears listened to the thundering of the cannon,
clashing of swords, and 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 shadowy angel place 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 well 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 was 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.”
Thus
ended General George Washington’s vision and prophecy for the United States of
America as told in his own words.
This was copied from E. Raymond Capt's book Our Great Seal.
