101 Ibid., p. 70-71.
102 Ibid., p. 116.
103 Ibid., p.70.
104 Ibid., p. 107, 115.
105 Ibid., p.88.
106 Ibid., p. 61-62.
107 Ibid., p. 243.
108 WGW, vol. 10, 1-23-1778. To Reverend William Gordon. “I have attended to your information and remark, on the supposed intention of placing General L—, [Lee] at the head of the army: whether a serious design of that kind had ever entered into the head of a member of C —[Congress] or not, I never was at the trouble of enquiring. I am told a scheme of that kind is now on foot by some, in behalf of another gentleman, but whether true or false, whether serious, or merely to try the pulse, I neither know nor care; neither interested nor ambitious views led me into the service, I did not solicit the command, but accepted it after much entreaty, with all that diffidence which a conscious want of ability and experience equal to the discharge of so important a trust, must naturally create in a mind not quite devoid of thought; and after I did engage, pursued the great line of my duty, and the object in view (as far as my judgement could direct) as pointedly as the needle to the pole. So soon then as the public gets dissatisfied with my services, or a person is found better qualified to answer her expectation, I shall quit the helm with as much satisfaction, and retire to a private station with as much content, as ever the wearied pilgrim felt upon his safe arrival in the Holy-land, or haven of hope; and shall wish most devoutly, that those who come after may meet with more prosperous gales than I have done, and less difficulty. If the expectation of the public has not been answered by my endeavours, I have more reasons than one to regret it; but at present shall only add, that a day may come when the public cause is no longer to be benefited by a concealment of our circumstances; and till that period arrives, I shall not be among the first to disclose such truths as may injure it.”
109 Stoudt, Ordeal, p. 128.
110 Ibid., p. 87.
111 Ibid., p.242.
112 Ibid., p. 243-44.
113 Ibid., p. 198, 260.
114 Ibid., p. 205, 212.
115 Ibid., p. 61, 97, 125, 139, 141, 155, 199.
116 Ibid., p. 145, 161-62, 188, 196.
117 Ibid., p. 209, 259.
118 Ibid., p. 249.
119 Ibid., p. 330.
120 Ibid., p. 171.
121 Ibid., p. 157-58.
122 Ibid., p. 187.
123 Ibid., p. 192.
124 Ibid., p. 260.
125 Ibid., p. 100.
126 Ibid., p. 110.
127 Ibid., p. 112, 129, 154.
128 Ibid., p. 106, 201.
129 Ibid., p. 117.
130 Ibid., p. 160.
131 WGW, vol. 11, 5-30-1778. To Landon Carter.
132 Boller, George Washington & Religion, p. 10-11.
133 Ibid., pp. 9-10.
134 Ibid., pp. 9-10.
135 See Peter A. Lillback, Freedom’s Holy Light, (Bryn Mawr: The Providence Forum, 2000), p. 35.
136 Johnson, Weems, Life of Washington, p. 181. “In the winter of 1777-78, Washington, with the American army, was encamped at Valley Forge, amidst all the perplexities and troubles and sufferings, the Commander-in-chief sought for direction and comfort from God. He was frequently observed to visit a secluded grove. One day a Tory Quaker by the name of Isaac Potts “had occasion to pass through the woods near headquarters. Treading in his way along the venerable grove, suddenly he heard the sound of a human voice, which, as he advanced, increased in his ear; and at length became like the voice of one speaking much in earnest. As he approached the spot with a cautions step, whom should be behold, in a dark natural bower of ancient oaks, but the Commander-in-chief of the American armies on his knees at prayer! Motionless with surprise, Friend Potts continued on the place till the genera, having ended his devotions, arose, and with a countenance of angelic serenity, retired to headquarters.
Friend Potts then went home, and on entering his parlor called out to his wife, “Sarah! My dear Sarah! All’s well! All’s well! George Washington will yet prevail.”
“What’s the matter, Isaac?” replied she; “thee seems moved.”
“Well, if I seem moved, tis’ no more than what I really am. I have this day seen what I never expected. Thee knows that I always thought that the sword and the gospel were utterly inconsistent; and that no man could be a soldier and a Christian at the same time. But George Washington has this day convinced me of my mistake.” He then related what he had seen, and concluded with this prophetical remark! “If George Washington be not a man of God, I am greatly deceived – and still more shall I be deceived, if God do not, though him, work out a great salvation for America.”
137 Benson J. Lossing, Pictorial Field-Book of the Revolution (1860), vol. II. P. 130. “Isaac Potts, at whose house Washington was quartered. Related that one day, while the Americans were encamped at Valley Forge, he strolled up the creek, when, not far from his den, he heard a solemn voice. He walked quietly in the direction of it, and saw Washington’s horse tied to a sapling. In a thicket near by was the beloved chief upon his knees in prayer, his cheeks suffused with tears. Like Moses at the bush, Isaac felt that he was upon holy ground, and withdrew unobserved. He was much agitated, and one entering the room where his wife was, he burst into tears. On her inquiring the cause, he informed her of what he had seen, and added, “It there is anyone on this earth whom the Lord will listen to, it is George Washington; and I feel a presentiment that under such a commander there can be no doubt of our eventually establishing our independence, and that God in his providence has willed it so.”
138 M’Guire, Religious Opinions, p. 158. Extract of a letter from a Baptist minister to the editor of the (Boston) Christian Watchman, dated Baltimore, January 13, 1832:
“The meetinghouse (which is built of stone) belonging to the church just alluded to is in sight of the spot on which the American army, under the command of General Washington, was encamped during a most severe winter. This, you know, was then called ‘Valley Forge.’ It is affecting to hear the old people narrate the sufferings of the army, when the soldiers were frequently tracked by the blood from the sore and bare feet, lacerated by the rough and frozen roads over which there were obliged to pass. “You will recollect that a most interesting incident, in relation to the life of the great America commander-in-chief, has been related as follows: That while stationed here with the army he was frequently observed to visit a secluded grove. This excited the curiosity of a Mr. Potts, of the denomination of ‘Friends,’ who watched his movements at one of these seasons of retirement, till he perceived that he was one his knees and engaged in prayer. Mr. Potts when returned, and said to his family, ‘Our cause is lost’ (he was with the Tories), assigning his reasons for this opinion. There is a man by the name of Devault Beaver, now living on this spot (and is eighty years of age), who says he has this statement from Mr. Potts and his family.
“I have before heard this interesting anecdote in the life of our venerated Washington, but had some misgivings about it, all of which are now fully removed.”
139 Theodore Wm. John Wylie, Washington, A Christian, (1862), pp. 28, 29. The following note was written to the Reverend T.E.J. Wylie, D.D., pastor of the First Reformed Presbyterian Church, of Philadelphia, February 28, 1862:
“My Dear Sir,
Referring to your request, I have to say that I cannot lay my hands at present upon my father’s papers. I recollect that among his manuscript “Reminiscences,” was a statement of his interview with Mr. Potts, A Friend, near Valley Forge, who pointed out to him the spot where he saw General Washington at prayer in the winter of 1777. This event induced Friend Potts to become a Whig; and he told his wife Betty, that the cause of America was a good cause, and would prevail, and that they must now support it. Mr. Weems, in his “Life of Washington,” mentions this incident a little differently; but my father had it from Mr. Potts personally, and the statement herein made may therefore be relied on as accurate.
I am, with great regard,
Yours truly,
James Ross Snowden
Dr. Wylie says, “We have heard the incident just related from the lops of the late Dr. N.R. Snowden, who was informed it by the person himself.”
