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The following was originally published by Wesley Bradshaw in the National Review, Vol. 4, No. 12, December 1880.
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 head 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. And 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, which
country was enveloped in the volume of cloud. And I dimly 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 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 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, plating 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 was 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.”
“(The comment on his word ‘third’ is: The help against the THIRD peril
comes in the shape of Divine assistance; passing which, the whole world
united shall not prevail against her. Let every child of the Republic
learn to live for his God, his land and 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.”