What Happened that Winter at Valley Forge?
The winter at Valley Forge in 1777 was a brutal experience for General George Washington and his Continental army. The soldiers endured not only the bitter cold but also disease and hunger. Many deserted and by the following March more than 2,500 had died. By this point, the Continental army had already suffered several significant defeats. The British army was encamped only 18 miles away, in relatively comfortable Philadelphia, preparing to wipe out the remaining Continentals as soon as the weather allowed them to mount an attack.
General Washington used that time at Valley Forge to plan his military strategies, get his troops back in order, trained and ready for any impending enemy encounters and, of course, to pray. The American forces up until then had fought fiercely and bravely to gain independence from corrupt British rule. They now felt very much alone and increasingly desperate. It is said that at one point, General Washington knelt in the snow before his weary, starving, pitiful army and, with tears streaming down his cheeks, prayed to God for blessings upon his dedicated and suffering men.
Recorded in the Library of Congress, and first published in 1861 (we find it again in the National Tribute, Washington, D. C., December 1880) is the eyewitness account by colleague, Anthony Sherman, of General Washington’s vision of a “Beautiful Lady.”
The Account of Washington’s Vision
I want to tell you about an incident in Washington’s life. From the opening of the American Revolution, we experienced all phases of fortune, now good, now ill, one time victorious and another time conquered. The darkest period we had, I think, was when Washington, after several reverses, retreated to Valley Forge, where he resolved to pass the winter of 1777. Ah! I often saw tears course down our dear commander’s careworn cheeks as he would be conversing with confidential officers about the condition of his poor soldiers. You have doubtless heard the story of Washington going to the thicket to pray. It was not only true, but he often used 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 it well – the chilly wind whistled through the leafless trees, though the sky was cloudless, and the sun shone brightly. He remained in his quarters nearly all 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 dark, he dispatched an orderly to the quarters of another officer, who was presently in attendance.
After a preliminary conversation of about half an hour, Washington, gazing upon us with that strange look of dignity, which he alone could command, said, “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 disturbed me. Looking up, I saw, 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 purpose of her presence. A second, third, 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 essayed once more to address her, but my tongue had become useless. Even thought itself had become paralyzed. A new influence, mysterious, potent, irresistible, took possession of me. All I could do was to gaze steadily at my unknown visitor. Gradually, the surrounding atmosphere filled with sensation and grew luminous. Everything about me seemed to rarify, 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 sensation which I have sometimes imagined accompanies dissolution. I did not think, I did not reason, I did not move. All, alike, were impossible. I was conscious only of gazing fixedly at my companion. Presently, I heard a voice say: ‘Son of the Republic, look and learn!’
“At the same time, my visitor extended her arm eastward. I looked and beheld a heavy white vapor rising at some distance, fold upon fold. This gradually dissipated, and I watched before me lay spread out in one vast plain all the countries of the world: Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, the billows of the Atlantic Ocean, and between America and Asia lay the Pacific. ‘Son of the Republic, look and learn.’ 1
“At that moment I beheld a dark shadowy being, standing, or rather floating, in mid-air between Europe and America. Dipping water out of the ocean with his right hand, he cast it upon America, while that in his left hand went upon the European countries. Immediately, a cloud arose from these countries and joined in mid-ocean. For a while it remained stationary, and then it moved slowly westward until it enveloped America in its folds. Sharp flashes of lightning gleamed through at intervals, and I heard the smothered groans of the American people. A second time the angel dipped water from the ocean and sprinkled it as before. The dark cloud was then drawn back to the ocean in whose heaving bellows it sank from view. A third time I heard the mysterious voice say, ‘Son of the Republic, look and learn.’ 2
“I cast my eyes upon America and beheld villages, 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 voice say, ‘Son of the Republic, the end of the century comes. Look and learn.’ 3
“And with this, the dark, shadowy angel turned its face southward, and from Africa an ill-omened specter approached our land. It flitted slowly over every town and city of the land. The inhabitants presently set themselves in battle array against each other. As I continued to look, I saw the bright angel – on whose brow rested a crown of light, on which was traced the word UNION, place an American flag between the divided nations and say, ‘Remember, ye are brethren.’ Instantly, the inhabitants, casting from them weapons, became friends once more and united around the National Standard. 4
“Again, I heard the voice of my most beautiful and mysterious visitor say, ‘Son of the Republic, look and learn.'
At this, the dark, shadowy angel placed a trumpet to his mouth and blew three distinct blasts. 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 dark black clouds that were soon joined into one. Throughout this mass there gleamed a bright 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 saw these vast armies devastate the whole country and burn the villages, towns, and cities that I saw springing up. As my ears listened to the thundering of the cannon, the clashing of the swords, and the shouts and cries of millions in mortal combat, I again heard the mysterious voice say, ‘Son of the Republic, look and learn.’ 5
“When the voice had ceased, the dark shadowy angel placed his trumpet once more to his mouth, and blew a long powerful blast. Instantly a light, as if a thousand suns, shone down from above me, and pierced and broke into fragments the dark cloud which enveloped America. At the same moment I saw the angel upon whose head still shone the word, UNION, and who bore our national flag on one hand, and a sword in the other, descend from Heaven attended by legions of bright 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.’ 6
“As the voice ceased, the bright 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. Once more, I beheld 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 middle of them, cried in 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 her angelic brow the crown on which was blazoned the word UNION, she placed it upon the National Standard while people, kneeling down, said ‘Amen’. 7
The scene instantly began to fade away, and I saw nothing but the rising, curling vapor I had first beheld. This also disappeared, and I found myself once more gazing upon the mysterious beautiful visitor, who said: ‘Son of the Republic, what you have seen is thus: three great perils will come upon the Republic. The most fearful is the second, but the whole world united shall not prevail upon her. Let every child of the Republic learn to live for God, His land, and the Union.’ 8
“With those 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. In union she will have her strength, in disunion her destruction.” 9
Such, my friend, were the very words I heard from Washington’s own lips. America will do well to profit by them.
Were these visions of Our Lady? Was it her revealing to George Washington her love and intercession for America at different stages in the nation’s development and history?
It is important to realize that from the very foundation of our country, Our Lady has had a great love for America and its people, and has been leading them. The first bishop of the original thirteen colonies and close friend of General Washington, Bishop John Carroll, consecrated the United States of America to the Immaculate Conception in 1792. In the year of our Lord 1846, the Bishops of the United States dedicated our land to Mary of the Immaculate Conception. Recently, this consecration was renewed by all the bishops of the United States on May 1, 2020.
May we have at heart the role we each need to play in asking Our Lady’s intercession for America. Through our own personal consecration to her, and in reparation for the sins of America, may she lead us to holiness. The Book of Genesis 3:15, speaks of Our Lady who will “crush the serpent’s head.” At Fatima, Our Lady promised that “at the end my Immaculate Heart will triumph.” May we always live up to her desires for us, as Patroness of our land.
All notes are from Ann and Steve Ziniti:
1) This initial picture is a very broad view of the world at that time, indicating that what follows will be a very wide scoped, prophetic vision of the birth, progress and destiny of America. Washington’s vision was in Valley Forge Pennsylvania in 1777
2) This could mean from the discovery of America, the seeds of revolution of the American colonists were slowly being sowed, as resistance to corrupt British rule and its controlled currency, gradually increased until the Revolutionary War broke out.
3) After the Revolutionary War succeeded in freeing the Colonies from British rule, our country expanded from the Atlantic to the Pacific during the next 100 years.
4) The ill-omened specter from Africa could mean the capture and enslavement of Africans brought to America, affecting all towns and cities, pitting the southern slave states against the northern free states, eventually resulting in the Civil War. After the War ends, we reunite as American brethren, and our country comes together again under one flag, as the end of the century comes (1877). This was very likely the second, and worst, peril. The worst is behind us, and we’ve come through it with the resulting national social, political and cultural progress, realizing that in unity there is strength as a nation of united states—united in heart, mind, body, and national soul! This gives us renewed hope in facing and defeating the third peril. Did we delay the third peril as reluctant, but successful participants in WW I and WW II? We were one nation undivided after WW II, when Americans were relatively virtuous and God-fearing. We came close to WW III in the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962), but JFK was assassinated in 1963. There was an assassination attempt on then President Ronald Reagan in 1981, but the Berlin Wall came down in 1989 during his presidency. The worst is behind us, and we’ve come through it with national, social, political, spiritual, and cultural progress, realizing that in unity there is strength as a nation of interdependent states, united in heart, mind, body, and national soul.
5) From 1977 Europe, parts of Asia and now Africa, have been moving towards socialism, the necessary step preceding communism. Although not a third World War, three continents join forces (three distinct blasts) against America with China (a dark red light) in attacking America by land and sea. These armies devastate American cities, towns, and villages. How do they come by land? Through Canada and/or Mexico? Are these neighboring countries complicit with the invaders?
6) It seems that once our nation has been almost crushed by the third peril, God intervenes with legions of bright spirits who join our beleaguered inhabitants. We are renewed in courage, close our broken ranks, and continue to fight. Are these bright spirits angels in the form of humans, or angels that only we see? Do our enemies see them, too, as spirits, or as humans?7) Americans win the conflict, rebuild cities, towns, and villages again, under one flag, as the angel says, “While the stars remain and the heavens send down dew upon the earth, so long shall the Republic last.” All Americans kneel, thanking God for His intervention in defeating the third peril, and return to worship the one true God. We know that America is protected by God through the intercession of His mother, Mary, and that our nation is a beacon of God’s light, as we’ve always known.
8) The Blessed Virgin’s last words to Washington very broadly and conceptually interprets the three significant perils to our country, in very broad time frames, with no time frame mentioned for the third peril. Can her words, “the end of the century cometh” be “the end of a century cometh,” which makes historical sense? She reassures us that our country will prevail, but only after “every child of the Republic learns to live for his God, his land and the Union.” Can we avoid the third peril by turning from the gods of money, material, power, and entertainment? Is Mary’s foretelling of the third peril a foregone conclusion? Is it God’s final word? Has it been delayed? The town of Nineveh was spared God’s wrath when “they proclaimed a fast, and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth” (Jonah 3:5) to indicate the sincerity of their repentance. They also changed their way of living and “turned from their evil way,” Jonah 3:10) because of God’s warning through Jonah. But that was not what happened when God did not spare the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah when He could not find in the cities at least ten good men (Genesis 18:16-33). It’s noteworthy to remember that in the horrific years of the Civil War, President Lincoln not only spent time in fervent prayer, but also called the country to join him. In 1861, he proclaimed a “day of humiliation, prayer and fasting.” And he did so again in 1863, stating “it is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God; to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon.” In 1865, he was also assassinated.
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