National Tribune Archives - Common Sense Evaluation

In the midst of war’s uncertainty and a young nation’s fragile hope, a story surfaced that would reach almost mythical status. This is the story of George Washington’s vision, a prophetic dream that was said to have been experienced by the very man who led America in its infancy. This tale wasn’t spread far and wide in the days right after it happened, but it waited nearly a century before becoming known when it was published in the National Tribune in December 1880.

The narrative of George Washington’s vision has intrigue, suspense, and a glimpse into what the future might hold. It’s a curious piece of American folklore that offers both a warning and a promise—it’s a story of America’s trials and its potential triumphs through the eyes of its first President.

A Glimpse into the Unknown

The vision, according to the storytelling, took place in the bitter winter of 1777, a winter that saw Washington and his troops weathering hard times at Valley Forge. Washington, worn by the weight of war and leadership, supposedly found some solitude and fell into a state of contemplation. It is here, at this moment of quiet reflection, that the vision is said to have occurred.

According to the tale, Washington saw a mysterious figure, perhaps an angel, who led him through a series of scenes showing the future of America. This shadowy visitor showed him three great events that would come to pass.

The Three Perils of America

The first scene revealed to Washington was America embroiled in another great struggle, this time within its own borders. It was the Civil War, where brother would fight against brother. In this vision, the young country was tested mightily but emerged united, a stronger nation forged from the flames of conflict.

Entranced by the vividness of the angelic vision, Washington then saw a second scene. This time, vast oceans separated America from its new adversary. Across these waters, he witnessed America at war once more, engaged in tremendous battles on foreign soil. This part of the vision rings true to what we now recognize as World Wars, where America played a crucial role in the victories over nations that threatened peace and democracy.

The third and final threat was the most mysterious and is often debated for its meaning. In this scene, chaos emerged within America’s borders once again—cities burned, and a great darkness smothered the land. Yet, from this darkness, hope would emerge. America would once again find its way, recovering from the brink and becoming a beacon of light to the rest of the world.

A Story of Resilience

The article that surfaced in the National Tribune many years later tells us more than just a story of Washington’s dream; it speaks to the collective hope and enduring spirit of America. Whether Washington really had such a vision is not the point. The story survived and was shared because it resonates on a deeper level—it’s about the belief in the resilience of a nation, the conviction that no matter the challenge, through unity and courage, America can and will overcome.

Why Does It Matter?

When the National Tribune published this account, it was a period of rebuilding and reflection. The country had recently endured the devastating Civil War and was still nursing the wounds of division and loss. The story of Washington’s vision offered comfort and a sense of destiny for a nation looking to rebuild and find its purpose again.

Even if the vision was more of a legend than a fact, the power it held was real. It acted like a lighthouse for the spirit of the country, guiding the collective heart of the nation toward the feeling that all struggles have a reason and a conclusion in sight.

Holding onto Hope

The story of George Washington’s vision is less about the mystic experience and more about what it represents. It illustrates the idea that America is meant to weather storms, to struggle, but ultimately to emerge stronger, unified, and with a deeper commitment to the principles of freedom and justice.

Not every day requires the revelation of an angel or the foresight of a vision. Sometimes, the most profound truths are found in the stories we choose to believe and the hope we choose to hold onto. As a nation, the journey is rarely simple or easy, but there is comfort in folklore that suggests our struggles are part of a larger, grander tapestry of destiny.

As readers in the 1880s devoured the words printed about the vision of their first leader, it gave them a sense of looking forward, past the difficulties, to grasp a collective belief that there was greatness ahead. It reaffirmed the American dream: the idea that no matter what hardships we face, we have the capability to rise above and find a brighter future.

This is where the value of the story of George Washington’s vision truly lies. Not in the predictive power of a dream, but in the enduring belief in the promise of the nation and the relentless pursuit of a more perfect union.

With all that is happening in America today, now would be a good time to revisit this.

George Washington’s vision was published in the National Tribune in December 1880. The vision was told to a reporter named Wesley Bradshaw by an officer who served under General Washington at Valley Forge, named Anthony Sherman. In the vision, Washington sees three great trials to overtake the Union. These were the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and the greatest threat, a war fought on the soil of the United States as the final conflict.

Wesley Bradshaw’s Testimony:

The last time I ever saw Anthony Sherman was on the Fourth of July, 1859, in Independence Square. He was then ninety-nine 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 of 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 when Washington, 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 of Washington’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.

The various accounts of this prophecy all agree in content; there are minor variations only in the circumstances under which George Washington told various individuals through the years after it happened.

The setting was Valley Forge in the winter of 1777, where George Washington was quartering his troops. Their situation was desperate and food was scarce. There was great agitation in the colonies against our continued effort to secure our freedom from England. The Continental Congress was not sending adequate supplies, many of the troops did not even have shoes to wear in the deep snow. Many were diseased and many died. Morale at Valley Forge was at an all-time low. George Washington was in a desperate situation but determined to see the struggle through..

This is the account of what happened as he told it shortly after the event took place. These are the words of Washington himself.

Washington:

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.

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Tag: National Tribune

George Washington’s Prophetic Dream