George Washington’s prophetic visions for the future of the United States were first published in 1862, later through many media outlets, and its authenticity has been the subject of much debate ever since. No matter what you believe, Washington’s three “Great Perils” have so far rung true, though admittedly, the third is yet to come.
The backdrop
Washington camped with his troops at Valley Forge, nearly twenty miles north of Philadelphia, from December 1777 to June 1778. He passed the time concentrating on training his men for battle and dealing with his own personal struggle of trying to stave off a mutiny. Washington also devoted a considerable amount of time to firing off letters to Congress, begging for additional supplies before the Continental Army, and the promise of the nation with it, dissolved before their eyes.
The army endured its harshest winter at Valley Forge and were in severe need of supplies.
The Continental Army’s encampment needed to accommodate 11,000 men, and roughly 500 women and children, so Washington chose to spend the winter at Valley Forge, as the land formed a natural fortress. Using this to their aid, the army set their camp high atop a group of hills, living inside hastily, albeit well-built huts.
The wooden huts were built twelve by twelve feet in length and straw was collected from around the area to use as bedding. Without enough blankets to go around, he hoped the straw would provide an extra measure of warmth at night.
Washington also chose to camp at Valley Forge because of its proximity to Philadelphia. Ever the strategist, Washington wanted to be far enough from the local population as to not cause unnecessary injury, but close enough to offer aid should the city and its citizens come under attack by the always lurking British.
When the Continental Army entered Valley Forge on December 19,1776, Washington was particularly concerned about his troops’ morale, their lack of clothing and shoes, as well as many other needed supplies. Most of his men were fit for duty, but the majority were short warm outerwear as well as shoes, and constant downpours also dogged the soldiers while stationed at Valley Forge. According to Washington’s own calculations, nearly a third of his men were without shoes.
The Visions
While stationed at Valley Forge, Washington was known to step away into the woods alone to pray. It was during one of these solo prayer sessions that Washington received the visions he believed were an answer from God to his prayers. He believed this because all three visions given to him revealed the birth of the nation and the three major perils it would face in the future.
In the first vision, Washington saw a vast plain with all the major countries of the world- Europe, Asia, Africa, and America included inside. Many believe this image symbolizes the nation’s future as a “Melting Pot.”
Next, Washington saw, “An angel standing, or rather floating in mid-air, between Europe and America… The angel dipped water out of the ocean and sprinkled some water upon America and Europe, then a cloud arose from these countries, and joined – in mid-ocean. It enveloped America in its murky folds and sharp flashes of lightning gleamed through it at intervals and I heard the smothered groans and cries of the American people.”
Scholars say this vision references the American Revolutionary War, whose outcome Washington would have clearly be keen to know.
The first Great Peril ended when, “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.”
Readers often point to the American Civil War when discussing Washington’s second vision.
During this vision, Washington saw civilization spring up across the nation from one end to the other. Then, he described seeing “An ill-omened specter from Africa approaches our land. It flitted slowly and heavily over every town and city of the latter. The inhabitants presently set themselves in battle array against each other.”
“An ill-omened specter from Africa” is thought to refer to the nation’s participation in the slave trade from Africa and its resulting American Civil War, aka the nation’s bloodiest and most costly war.
At the conclusion of the second vision, Washington saw “A bright angel on whose brow rested a crown of light, on which was traced the word ‘UNION.’ He was bearing the American flag. He placed the flag between the divided nation and said, ‘Remember, you are brethren.’ Instantly the inhabitants, casting down their weapons, became friends once more and united around the National Standard.”
Washington’s third vision is yet to come and is considered the most fearful in the bunch, as it speaks to the global invasion of the United States. At a time when the United States is again facing much global unrest, this vision might just prove timelier than the average American might think.
In Washington’s final vision, he witnessed, “Thick black clouds arose from the continents of Europe, Asia and Africa and were soon joined into one. And throughout this mass there gleamed a dark red light by which I saw hordes of armed men, 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 the villages, towns and cities.”
Washington described hearing the thunder of cannon fire and swords clashing in mortal battle all around him, when from out of the terrifying scene rose a voice, calmly telling him, “Son of the Republic, look and learn.” Where the voice had ceased, the dark shadowy angel placed his trumpet once more to his mouth and blew a long and fearful blast.” He went on to see, “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 shown the word UNION, and who bore our national flag in one hand, and a sword in the other, descended from the heavens attended by the legions of white spirits. These immediately joined the inhabitants of America, who I perceived were well-nigh (almost) overcome, but who immediately taking courage again, closed up their broken ranks and renewed the battle… The dark cloud rolled back, together with the armies it had brought, leaving the inhabitants of the land victorious.”
Conclusion
Whether these visions are truly from the nation’s most trusted founding father, the words have remained true and the warning haunting, since its release in 1861. Should Washington be speaking to us from beyond the grave, it would seem even he is pleading for the nation to unite.
For more information on Washington’s visions at Valley Forge, and a source for this article, is the website George Washington’s Vision and Prophecy About America.
Don’t miss the fourth installment in this series: Once upon a colonial Christmas.