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General Washington with his men at Valley Forge, 1777
The Account of Washington’s Vision the purpose of her presence. A second, third, even a
fourth time did I repeat my question but received no
I want to tell you about an incident in Washington’s
life. From the opening of the American Revolution, we answer from my mysterious visitor – except a slight
experienced all phases of fortune, now good, now ill, raising of her eyes. By this time, I felt strange sensa-
one time victorious and another time con quered. The tions spreading through me. I would have risen, but
darkest period we had, I think, was when Washington, the riveted gaze of the being before me rendered voli-
after several reverses, retreated to Valley Forge where tion impossible. I essayed once more to address her,
he resolved to pass the winter of 1777. Ah! I often saw but my tongue had become useless. Even thought it-
tears course down our dear commander’s care-worn self had become paralyzed. A new influence, mys-
cheeks as he would be conversing with confidential terious, potent, irresistible, took possession of me. All
officers about the condition of his poor soldiers. You I could do was to gaze steadily at my unknown visi-
have doubtless heard the story of tor. Gradually, the surrounding atmosphere filled with
Washington going to the thicket to sensation, and grew luminous. Ev-
pray. It was not only true, but he erything about me seemed to rar-
often used to pray in secret for aid ify, the mysterious visitor, herself,
and comfort from God, the interpo- becoming more airy and yet more
sition of whose Divine Providence distinct to my sight than before. I
brought us safely through the dark- now began to feel as one dying, or
est days of tribulation. rather to experience the sensation
which I have sometimes imagined
One day – I remember it well accompanies dissolution. I did not
– the chilly wind whistled through think, I did not reason, I did not
the leafless trees, though the sky move. All, alike, were impossible.
was cloudless, and the sun shone I was conscious only of gazing
brightly. He remained in his quar- fixedly at my companion. Present-
ters nearly all afternoon, alone. ly, I heard a voice say: ‘Son of the
When he came out, I noticed that Republic, look and learn!’
his face was a shade paler than
usual, and there seemed to be “At the same time, my visi-
something on his mind of more than Washington going to the thicket to pray tor extended her arm eastward. I
ordinary importance. Returning just looked and beheld a heavy white
after dark, he dispatched an orderly to the quarters of vapor rising at some distance, fold upon fold. This
another officer, who was presently in attendance. gradually dissipated, and I watched before me lay
spread out, in one vast plain, all the countries of the
After a preliminary conversation of about half an world: Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, the billows
hour, Washington, gazing upon us with that strange of the Atlantic Ocean, and between America and Asia
look of dignity, which he alone could command, said, lay the Pacific. ‘Son of the Republic, look and learn.’ 1
“I do not know whether it is owing to the anxiety of
my mind, but this afternoon, as I was sitting at this
table engaged in preparing a dispatch, something dis- 1 This initial picture is a very broad view of e world
turbed me. Looking up, I saw, standing opposite me, a at that time, indicating that what follows will be a very
singularly beautiful female. So astonished was I, for I wide scoped, prophetic vision of the birth, progress
had given strict orders not to be disturbed, that it was and destiny of America. Washington’s vision was in
some moments before I found language to inquire Valley Forge Pennsylvania in 1777.
—Ann and Steve Ziniti u

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