| |
|
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 continued effort to secure our freedom from England.
Nevertheless, General Washington was determined to see the struggle through. Anthony
Sherman describes the situation:
|
| |
|
"When the bold action of our Congress, in asserting
the independence of the colonies, became known to the world, we were laughed and scoffed
at as silly, presumptuous rebels, whom the British would soon tame into submissions, but
undaunted we prepared to make good what we had said. The keen encounter came, and the
world knows the result. It is easy and pleasant for those of the present generation to
talk and write of the days of ’76, but they little know, neither can they imagine the
trials and sufferings of those fearful days.
And there is one thing that I much fear,
and that is, that the American people no not properly appreciate the boon of freedom.
Party spirit is yearly becoming stronger and stronger, and unless it is checked, will, at
no distant day, undermine and tumble into ruin the noble structure of the Republic
|
| |
|
"From the opening of the Revolution we experienced
all phases of fortune. The darkest period we had, however, was, when Washington retreated
to Valley Forge, where he resolved to pass the winter of ’77. Ah! I have often seen
the tears coursing down our dear old 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 of Washington 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 that God, the
interposition of whose providence alone brought us safely through those dark days of
tribulation.
|
| |
|
"One day, he remained in his quarters nearly the
whole of the afternoon, alone. When he came out, 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 and orderly to the quarters of the officer I mentioned, who
was presently in attendance. After a preliminary conversation, which lasted some 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 was owing to the anxiety
of mind, or what, but this afternoon, as I was sitting at this very table, engaged, in
preparing a dispatch, something in the apartment seemed to disturb me. Looking up, I
beheld standing exactly 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, third, and even a fourth time did
I repeat the question, but received no answer from my mysterious visitor other than a
slight raising of the eyes. By this time I felt a strange sensation spreading through me.
I would have risen, but the riveted gaze of the being before me rendered volition
impossible, I essayed once more to address her, but my tongue had become paralyzed. A new
influence, mysterious, irresistible took possession of me. All I could do was to gaze
steadily, vacantly, at my visitant. Gradually the surrounding atmosphere seemed as though
becoming filled with sensations, and grew luminous. Everything about seemed to rarify the
mysterious visitor herself becoming more airy, and even 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, on 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 and
forfinger eastwardly. I now heheld a heavy vapor at some distance, rising fold upon fold.
This gradually dissipated, and I looked upon a strange scene. Before me lay stretched 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 hallow of each hand, he sprinkled some on America with his
right hand, while he cast upon Europe some with his left. Immediately a dark cloud arose
from each of those countries, and they 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 lighting now gleamed throughout it at intervals, and I heard the
smothered groans and cries of the American people.
|
| |
|
"A second time the angel dipped from the ocean, and
sprinkled it out as before. The dark cloud was then withdrawn back to the ocean, into
whose heaving waves it sank from view. A third time I heard the mysterious voice, 'Son of
the Republic, look and learn!'
|
| |
|
"I cast my eyes upon America, and beheld villages,
cities and towns 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 a century cometh, look and learn!'
|
| |
|
"At this, the dark shadowy angel turned his face
southward, and from Africa, I saw an ill omened spectre approaching our land. It flitted
slowly over village, town and city, of the latter, the inhabitants of which presently set
themselves in battle array, one against the 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, the second peril is
passed, look and learn!'
|
| |
|
"And I beheld the villages, towns and cities of
America increase in size and numbers, till at last they covered all the land from the
Atlantic to the Pacific, and their inhabitants became as countless as the stars of heaven
of the sands of the sea shore. And again I heard the mysterious voice saying, 'Son of the
Republic, the end of a century cometh, 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 sprinkled it
out upon Europe, Asia and Africa.
|
| |
|
"Then my eyes looked upon a fearful scene. From
each of those countries arose thick, black clouds, which soon joined into one, and
throughout this mass gleamed a deep 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
presently enveloped in the volume of the cloud. And I dimly saw the vast armies devastate
the whole country, and pillage and burn villages, cities and towns that I had beheld
springing up. As my ears listened to the thundering of cannon, clashing of swords, and
shouts and cries of the 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, fearful blast.
|
| |
|
"Instantly a light, as from a thousand suns, shone
down from above me, and pierced and broke into fragments the dark clouds which enveloped
America. At the same time I saw the angel on whose forehead still shone the word UNION,
and who bore our national flag in one hand, a sword in the other, descend from heaven,
attended by legions of bright spirits. These immediately joined the inhabitants of
America, who, I perceived, were well nigh overcome, but who, immediately taking courage
again, closed up the 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
they had been before, while the bright angel, planting the azure standard he had brought
in the midst of them, cried in a loud voice to the inhabitants, 'While the stars remain
and the heavens send down the dew upon the earth, so long shall the Republic last.'
|
| |
|
"And taking from his brow the crown, on which still
blazed the word UNION, he placed it upon the standard, while all the men kneeling down
said, 'Amen.'
|
| |
|
"The scene instantly began to fade and dissolve,
and I at last saw nothing but the curling white vapor I had at first beheld. This also
disappearing, I found myself gazing once more on my mysterious visitor, who, in the same
mysterious voice that I had heard before, said, 'Son of the Republic, what you have seen
is thus interpreted: three perils will come upon the Republic. The most fearful is the
third, passing which, the whole world united shall never be able to prevail against her.
Let every child of the Republic learn to live for his God, his land and Union!'
|
| |
