GeorgeWashington’s Remarkable Vision
The following was originally published by Wesley Bradshaw in
the National Tribune, Vol. 4, No. 12, December 1880.
The last time I ever saw Anthony Sherman was on July
4, 1859, in Independence Square. He was then 99 years old,
and becoming very feeble. But though so old, his dimming
eyes rekindled as he gazed upon Independence Hall, which
he came to visit once more.
“Let us go into the hall,” he said. “I want to tell you an
incident of Washington’s life—one which no one alive knows
of except myself; and, if you live, you will before long, see it
verified.
“From the opening of the Revolution we experienced all
phases of fortune, now good and now ill; one time victorious
and another conquered. The darkest period we had, I think,
was whenWashington, after several reverses, retreated to Valley
Forge, where he resolved to spend the winter of 1777. Ah!
I have often seen our dear commander’s care-worn cheeks, as
he would be conversing with a confidential officer about the
condition of his poor soldiers. You have doubtless heard the
story ofWashington’s going to the thicket to pray. Well, it was
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 well, the chilly winds whistled
through the leafless trees, though the sky was cloudless and
the sun shone 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, and there seemed to be something
on his mind of more than ordinary importance. Returning
just after dusk, he dispatched an orderly to the quarters of
the officer I mention who was presently in attendance. After a
preliminary conversation of about half an hour, Washington,
gazing upon his companion with that strange look of dignity
which he alone could command said to the latter:
“ ‘I do not know whether it is owing to anxiety of my
mind, or what, but 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. Even thought
itself had become paralyzed. A new influence, mysterious,
potent, irresistable, took possession of me. All I could do was
to gaze steadily, vacantly at my unknown visitant. Gradually
the surrounding atmosphere seemed as though becoming
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
the hollow 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 head 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, 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. And 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, which country was enveloped
in the volume of cloud. And I dimly 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 the shouts and cries of millions in
mortal combat, I again heard 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 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, plating 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, passing which the whole
world united shall not prevail against her. Let every child of
the Republic learn to live for his God, his land and 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 me the birth, progress, and destiny of the United
States.”
“Such, my friends,” concluded the venerable narrator,
“were the words I heard from Washington’s own lips, and
America will do well to profit by them.”
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