Washington’s Valley Forge vision that never was


At Boston 1775, J. L. Bell discusses what is known about the accuracy of reports that Gen. George Washington had a vision of an angel while the Continental Army camped at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. I cannot improve on Mr. Bell’s telling of the story, so go read it there.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 2nd, 2007 at 10:59 am and is filed under 1776, Accuracy, America's founding, Bogus history, George Washington, History, History blogs, History Revisionism, Hoaxes. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

7 Responses to Washington’s Valley Forge vision that never was

  1. Ed Darrell says:
    October 13, 2009 at 3:48 pm

    Frankie, if angels helped Washington out, do we need to make up fictional stories to bolster Washington’s reputation? I find most people who want this false story told simply don’t know much about Washington. The true stories are even better. Have you read 1776?

    You should.

    Like

  2. Frankie says:
    October 13, 2009 at 1:37 pm

    I am very tired of the iconoclastic Americans who spend valuable time shooting down our past heroes. Everyone is trying to dig up dirt and discount spiritual stories. I don’t believe the story about the cherry tree or the half dollar across the Potomac, but I do believe that George Washington was inspired by God to do his part in the founding of this great nation. I also believe that this land is a land of promise to those who inhabit it as long as they recognize the hand of God in preserving it. I also believe that angels minister among us all the time. We just don’t recognize them either. I sincerely pray that God doesn’t give up on us because of the ones who have given up on Him. And I repeat: God bless America!

    Like

  3. Mark B. says:
    September 23, 2008 at 5:47 pm

    This story is bull—-. If it had been as deep at Valley Forge as it is on the websites spewing this nonsense, Washington wouldn’t have got off his horse to pray–or he’d have drowned in it.

    Like

  4. James Armbruster says:
    January 30, 2008 at 11:02 pm

    What is amazing to me, is that all these websites use the story of a 99 year old man. From that, some websites discount it as a story of a 99 year old man, told in the third person and therefore isn’t true. Others, just take it as true. There is nothing to say it is true, other than a reporter reported it as true.

    However, there is another source, there are Washington’s letters and personal prayers, which mention this vision as well.

    Either way, if a person chooses not to believe that he had this vision, no matter what is brought as evidence, the story will be discounted, and the unbelievers will continue to not believe. Somewhere in this clash of beliefs, the believer will have their character assassinated. I believed it originally, and after finding other sources, I now know that my belief is well founded. God Bless America!

    Like

  5. Lyn Davis says:
    January 5, 2007 at 10:46 am

    Benjamin Franklin had quite a vision for the future when he invented bi-focals eyeglasses – even though many of us curse them, they do serve as a useful tool when are arms no longer meet the length of our sight

    Like

  6. bernarda says:
    January 3, 2007 at 4:02 am

    Most Americans believe in angels, so why not such stories supporting their beliefs?

    http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=618

    Like

  7. Jon Rowe says:
    January 2, 2007 at 11:21 am

    I see we have been thinking along the same track!

    Like

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