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"George Washington's Vision"
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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 was a soldier in
the Continental Army who supposedly was at Valley Forge
during the winter of 1777-78. The story has been
published several times.
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.
The 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." The End
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