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George Washington's Vision

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Some Background

A narrative presented as the 1859 reminiscences of 99-year-old Anthony Sherman, who was supposedly present with George Washington’s army at Valley Forge during the winter of 1777 and overheard Washington tell an officer that an angel had revealed a prophetic vision of America to him. He gave it to a writer, Wesley Bradshaw, who published it.

Wesley Bradshaw was a pen-name for Charles Wesley Alexander (1837-1927), a Philadelphia publisher. He wrote periodicals and books for the soldiers during the Civil War (1860-1865). (The Gilder-Lehrman Institute of American History)

A copy of the account is in the Library of Congress.

As the Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research noted of “Washington’s Vision” and “General McClellan’s Dream” in 1917: widely copied by the press, and commended by Hon. Edward Everett as “teaching a highly important lesson to every true lover of his country.”

We give the account here as printed in the U.S. war veterans paper The National Tribune, in December, 1880. The National Tribune became, “The Stars and Stripes”, and this article was reprinted in that publication December 21, 1950.

The Vision

Here is the vision in an easy-to-read format... Readable Format, Washington's Vision

The page of the National Tribune, from December 21, 1950.

As shown in the Cattaraugus Republican, July 29, 1898.

Debunked?

You will see that these comments by so-called "fact-checkers" are absolutely ridiculous if you continue and see the evidence below.

Comments by "Debunkers":

professorbuzzkill.com
"There’s no evidence of Washington reporting such a vision to an officer at Valley Forge at the time."
Snopes.com
"Although an officer named Anthony Sherman did serve in the Continental Army, he was at Saratoga under the command of Benedict Arnold at the end of 1777 and therefore wasn’t with Washington’s forces at Valley Forge during the winter of 1777-78"
professorbuzzkill.com
"military pension records indicate that Sherman died in 1840"
Snopes.com
"During the war Alexander penned several similar tracts featuring both historical and contemporary American figures (e.g., Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, Ulysses S. Grant), including “General McClellan’s Dream,”"

The Real Anthony Sherman

Was there a real Anthony Sherman?

Ancestry.com
Anthony Sherman, born 1752
25 at Valley Forge, winter of 1777-1778
would have been Age 99 in 1851 (-ish)

Find-a-Grave
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/123398756/anthony-sherman
Spouse: Eula Thomas m. Abt. 1778
Anthony had a twin, Amos.

Sherman's Pension Letter

What about that Pension...

Found Anthony Sherman's Pension Application - https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/1995/MIUSA1775D_136793-00182/78983?backurl=&ssrc=&backlabel=Return#?imageId=MIUSA1775D_136793-00184

Page 181...

In his pension application is a recounting of his service in the Revolutionary War! Some of the papers also use the last name "Shearman". https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/1995/MIUSA1775D_136793-00182/78983?backurl=&ssrc=&backlabel=Return#?imageId=MIUSA1775D_136793-00187

Page 183...

Page 184...

Page 232... letter from George R. Sherman, East Providence, RI

The response on Page 238...

The [Hon.] Commissioner of Pensions
Dear Sir,
In the matter of the Military history of Anthony Shearman, a soldier of the Revolutionary War, who served as a Minute-man from State of New York in Capt. David Pierson's Co. also in Co.s of Capt. John Davis, Capt. John Damon, and Capt. Henry Champlin and pensioned from Aug 18, 1828, i.e. date of application; will you please inform me, a descendant, the date of the last payment of pension to him; also whether or not he left a widow, and her name, providing she too drew or applied for a pension.

Respectfully Yours
George [R.] Sherman
10th August 1912
East Providence R.I.
#2 Tenth St.

Page 234, letter from James L. Sherman...

City Hall, Providence, R.I.
January 30, 1912
To the Monmouth Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir, Will you please send me record of an Anthony Sherman a soldier of the Revolution, who was born about 1758 and died after 1849 in Sag Harbor, Long Island, N.Y. If he left a widow who drew a pension, please give her name and date and place of her birth. I think he served in George Washington's staff. He h[ ] [ ] John[ ], Peleg, L[ernett] and Anthony Jr. This information is for no other purpose than for a part of family record. [ ] yours with great respect.

James L. Sherman
Veteran of the Civil War
"Minute-Man" April 15, 1866
[1st Lt.] [ ] 28th R[eg] Mass [VSC]

Page 236, lists commanders again... Henry B Livingston

Page 230, letter to pension auditor from Paul Denkewitz in 1934, to inquire about Anthony Sherman

(S.D. Cal.) Oct. 30th 1934
To the Auditor of Pensions
Veterans Administration
Washington, D.C.
(on right edge) Pamphlet returned Nov. 8 - 1934

Dear Sir:-
While I was in Los Angeles I visited the Historical and Geneaological Library of the Society of the Sons of the Revolution to make some inquiries about the narrator of a story relating to an experience which is said to have happened to George Washington while he was at Valley Forge during the winter of 1777 to 1778. I enclose a pamphlet with this story. When I was in Washington, D.C. last December I had already made some inquiries in regard to this man and found that he had drawn pensions from 1832 to 1838, but they didn't seem to have any further receipts from this man after the year 1838. Through the librarian of the above society I was informed that I could get the desired information in regard to this narrator further record as to when and

(page 2)
where he died? Will you be so kind and let me know if you have this record of this man? The records I saw where he made application for pension, said that he was born in 1752 in Swansea, Mass., and he signed his name as Anthony Shearman, but his name is also spelled Sherman. Among other things, the record mentions that he had sub- stituted on two occasions, which was very likely the case during the time that he was at Valley Forge. The publisher of this story was certainly in error, however, about the year and the narrator's age. Otherwise, I believe this story to be based on facts, and that G.W. actually had such experiences although he himself has left us no such record. I would greatly appreciate if I could have this narrator's death record as to when and where he died. My name and address is:

Yours very truly -
Paul Denkewitz
195 East Island Ave.
Minneapolis, Minn.

All page images of this document that I have archived...

Valley Forge

Sherman had written that he was enlisted under Capt. John Davis.

Capt. John Davis was in this battle.

Colonel Henry Livingston was named by Sherman as his commander during this time, in the 4th regiment.

In October 1777, Henry Beekman Livingston, now a colonel, led the 4th New York Regiment in General Horatio Gates' left wing at the Battle of Saratoga. Later that year, he led the regiment into winter quarters at Valley Forge. (Henry Livingston Jr.)

In June 1778, the 4th was placed in the main line of defense at the Battle of Monmouth. Prisoner when peace was reclaimed, stationed at New Brunswick, New Jersey

Page 185...

From the National Archives, 1976... Compiled Service Records of Soldiers Who Served in the American Army During the Revolutionary War

How old was Sherman?

July 18, 1861, The Bradford Reporter...
"The last time I ever saw Anthony Sherman was on the Fourth 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 came to visit once more. "Let us go into the hall," he said. "I want to tell you of 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 Periodicals... different periodicals reported different ages for Anthony Sherman at the time he gave this story to the author, and different dates for when the story was given. So for each proposed age and date from the periodicals, I apply the difference from that age to the winter of the Battle of Valley Forge, to see what age Sherman would be for each possiblity - to see which is most plausible.

In Anthony's own letter, he was born in Sept 1752. This would have made him 25 years old at the time of Valley Forge.

The official enlistment age for the Continental Army was 16, (15 with parental consent) but soldiers could sign on up to the age of 55. The majority of Continental soldiers were young men, usually around 17 or 18 years old.

Other Resources

Page 226 says, "He was alive on July 4, 1849, aged 91 years." This makes him born in 1758, 19 yrs old during Saratoga. reference

The corrector., August 05, 1848, Page 3
"... by land formerly owned by Anthony Shearman, decd, ..." reference
Marriage: Abt 1775 , Shelby, Pennsylvania
Eula Thomas 1755–1820 reference

Second Battle of Saratoga, October 7, 1777
Arnold was injured in the battle, his leg was re-set instead of amputation, and afterwards was 2 inches shorter than his other. He spent several months recovering from his injuries. He "returned" to the army at Valley Forge, PA in May 1778, to the applause of men who had served under him at Saratoga.

Soldier's Casket
https://www.worldcat.org/title/soldiers-casket/oclc/28002946
https://www.amazon.com/Soldiers-casket/dp/1275639062
Publisher: Philadelphia : Ch. W. Alexander, 1865.

Charles Wesley Alexander (1837-1927)
Book: The Family Friend
Periodicals List, with the Vision Reprinted... (this issue does not contain the vision)
https://archive.org/details/alexandersfamily00alex
The Family Friend 1867 (mirrored)

Clearfield Republican. [volume], April 17, 1861, Image 1
1850, 99
reference

Holmes County farmer. [volume], June 06, 1861, Image 4
1859, 99
reference

The Lansing state Republican. [volume], June 19, 1861, Image 1
1859, 99
reference
Juliet/Joliet signal. [volume], July 09, 1861, Image 1
1859, 91
White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume], July 11, 1861, Image 1
[From the American Dollar Monthly]
1859, 99
reference

Bradford reporter. [volume], July 18, 1861, Image 1
1859, 91
reference

M'arthur Democrat., July 25, 1861, Image 1
The weekly Butte record. [volume], July 27, 1861, Image 1
1859, 91

The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume], July 31, 1861, Evening Edition, Image 1
1859, 91
reference

The independent. [volume], August 03, 1861, Image 1
1859, 91
reference
Wood County reporter. [volume], August 17, 1861, Image 1
1859, 91

The Jeffersonian. [volume], August 22, 1861, Image 1
1859, 99

Polynesian. [volume], January 11, 1862, Image 4
Section with age and dates not here.
reference

White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume], March 27, 1862, Image 1
Gen. McClellan's Dream of Washington
Wesley, Bradshaw, Esq.
reference

Washington's and McClellan's Dreams mentioned in the Urbana Union, April 2, 1862

McClellan's Dream mentioned in the White Cloud Kansas Chief, Mar 27, 1862

McClellan's Dream mentioned in the Liberator, Mar 28, 1862

All my original notes... notes-washingtons vision.txt

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