NOTE: The following was
originally published by Wesley Bradshaw in the National Review, Vol. 4, No. 12,
December 1880.
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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 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.
"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.
"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 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 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, matched 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 this 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 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 work `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 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.