George Washington's Vision

George Washington's Vision

Recorded at the Library of Congress

Valley Forge, the winter of 1777, American forces were fighting

against the British, the most powerful nation in the world. Many

believe that only 3% of the American people took part in the struggle

for independence, while "Tories" gave aid and comfort to the British

cause.

"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 a saw 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 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 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 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 o 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."