George 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.