George Washington, First President of the United States of America
    February 22, 1732  Popes Creek, VA  British America
                                                             December 14, 1799  Mount Vernon, Virginia, U.S.A.  

                                                                       THE 
                                                       NATIONAL TRIBUNE
                         A monthly Journal devoted to the Soldiers, Sailors, and Pensioners 
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Published by the National Tribune Company  Vol. IV, No. 12.   Washington, D.C.  terms 50 cents yr.


Washington's Dream
Little Sioux, Iowa, June 18, 1880

I see a request for Washington's Dream, and, as one of my neighbors chanced to have it, I borrowed the paper containing it and take the liberty to send you a copy of the dream.                                          J.W.H.

"The last time I ever saw Anthony Sherman was on the 4th of July, 1859, in Independence Square.  He was then ninety-nine years old, and becoming very feeble;  but, though so old, his dimming eyes rekindled as he gazed upon  Independence Hall, which he had come to gaze upon once more before he was gathered home."
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"'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.  Mark the prediction, you will 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 pass the winter of 77.  Ah!  I have often seen the tears coursing down our dear old 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 going to the thicket to pray.  Well, it was not only true, but he used to pray in secret for aid and comfort from God, the interposition of whose Divine Providence brought us safely through those dark days of tribulation.

One day, I remember it 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 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, which lasted 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 the anxiety of my mind, or what, but this afternoon as I was sitting at this very table engaged in preparing a dispatch, something in the apartment seemed to disturb me.  Looking up, I beheld standing opposite to 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 the 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 powerless.  Even thought itself suddenly became paralyzed.  A new influence, mysterious, potent, irresistible, took possession of me.  All I could do was to gaze steadily, vacantly, at my unknown visitant.  Gradually the surrounding atmosphere seemed as though becoming filled with sensations, and, becoming luminous. Everything about me seemed to rarify, the mysterious visitor herself becoming more airy, and yet even more distinct to my sight than before.  I now began to feel as one dying -  or rather to experience the sensations which I have sometimes imagined to accompany dissolution.  

I did not think.  I did no reason.  I did not move;  all were alike impossible.  I was only conscious of gazing fixedly, vacantly, at my companion.

Presently I heard a voice saying:  "Son of the Republic, look and learn" while at the same time my visitor had 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 mid-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 upon Europe.  Immediately a dark cloud raised from each of these countries and joined in mid-ocean.  For a while it remained stationery, 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, into whose heaving waves 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 specter 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.  Taking water from the ocean, he sprinkled it upon Europe, Asia and Africa.  They 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, marched 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 had beheld springing up.  

As my ears listened to the thundering of the cannon, clashing of sword, and the shouts and cries of millions in mortal combat, I heard again I 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, planting the azure standard he had brought in the the midst of them.  He 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 word 'Union,' he placed it upon the Standard while the people , kneeling down, said "Amen"

The scenen instantly began to fade and dissolve, and I at last saw nothing but the rising, curling vapor I at firs beheld.  This was 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 to me the birth, progress, and destiny of the United States.  In union she will have her strength, in disunion her destruction. 
"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."
                                                                                                                    Wesley Bradshaw