Ibid., vol. 22, 5-7-1781. “To Chevalier De Chastellux. May you participate in those blessings you have invoked heaven for me, and may you live to see a happy termn. of a struggle which was begun and has been continued for the purpose of rescuing America from impending Slavery, and securing to its Inhabitants their indubitable rights in which you bear a conspicuous part...”
Ibid., vol. 23, 9-23-1781. To Maj. Gen. William Heath “By Information, Lord Cornwallis is incessantly at Work on his Fortifications, and is probably preparing to defend himself to the last Extremity; a little Time will probably decide his Fate; with the Blessing of Heaven, I trust it will prove favorable to the Interests of America.”
WGW vol. 26, 6-8-1783. Circular to the States,... “Heaven has crowned all its other blessings, by giving a fairer oppertunity for political happiness, than any other Nation has ever been favored with.”
Ibid., vol. 27, 8-25-1783. To the inhabitants of Princeton. “I now return you Gentlemen my thanks for your benevolent wishes, and make it my earnest prayer to Heaven, that every temporal and divine blessing may be bestowed on the Inhabitants of Princeton, on the neighbourhood, and on the President and Faculty of the College of New Jersey, and that the usefulness of this Institution in promoting the interests of Religion and Learning may be universally extended.”
Ibid., vol. 27, 12-12-1783. To the militia Officers of the City and Liberties of Philadelphia “While the various Scenes of the War, in which I have experienced the timely aid of the Militia of Philadelphia, recur to my mind, my ardent prayer ascends to Heaven that they may long enjoy the blessings of that Peace which has been obtained by the divine benediction on our common exertions.”
WGW, vol. 28, 4-10-1785. To the Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen and Commonalty of the City of New York “I pray that Heaven may bestow its choicest blessings on your City. That the devastations of War, in which you found it, may soon be without a trace. That a well regulated and benificial Commerce may enrichen your Citizens. And that, your State (at present the Seat of the Empire) may set such examples of wisdom and liberality, as shall have a tendency to strengthen and give permanency to the Union at home, and credit and respectability to it abroad. The accomplishment whereof is a remaining wish, and the primary object of all my desires.”
Ibid., vol. 30, April, 1789. Proposed Address To Congress, “If the blessings of Heaven showered thick around us should be spilled on the ground or converted to curses, through the fault of those for whom they were intended, it would not be the first instance of folly [34] or perverseness in short-sighted mortals. The blessed Religion revealed in the word of God will remain an eternal and awful monument to prove that the best Institutions may be abused by human depravity; and that they may even, in some instances be made subservient to the vilest of purposes.”
Ibid., vol. 32, 6-13-1793. To the Marquise de Lafayette, “I can only add my most ardent prayers, that you may be again united to M. de la Fayette, under circumstances that may be joyful to you both; and that the evening of that life, whose morning has been devoted to the cause of liberty and humanity, may be crowned with the best of heaven’s blessings.”
Ibid., vol. 33, 8-4-1793. To the Inhabitants of the City of Hartford “‘Tis from dispositions like these that we may hope to avoid an interruption of the numerous blessings which demand our gratitude to Heaven; or that we may be encouraged to meet with firmness, confiding in the protection of a just Providence, any attempts to disturb them, which intemperance or injustice, from whatever quarter, may at any time make it our duty to encounter?”
Ibid., vol. 37, 3-3-1799. To the President of the United States: “I sincerely pray, that in the discharge of these arduous and important duties committed to you, your health may be unimpaired, and that you may long live to enjoy those blessings which must flow to our Country, if we should be so happy as to pass this critical period in an honourable and dignified manner, without being involved in the horrors and calamities of War.”
Ibid., vol. 37, 12-13-1798. To James Mc Henry, Secretary of War. (Washington’s last use of the phrase “blessing of providence” is in the context of preparing for war.) “Regarding the overthrow of Europe at large as a matter not entirely chimerical, it will be our prudence to cultivate a spirit of self-dependence, and to endeavour by unremitting vigilance and exertion under the blessing of providence, to hold the scales of our destiny in our own hands. Standing, as it were in the midst of falling empires, it should be our aim to assume a station and attitude, which will preserve us from being overwhelmed in their ruins.”
82 Ibid., vol. 3, 7-4-1775.
83 Ibid., vol. 5, 7-9-1776.
84 Ibid., vol. 1, 9-23-1756.
85 Ibid., vol. 1, 11-9-1756.
86 Ibid., vol. 1, 11-24-1756.
87 WGW, vol. 2, 4-21-1758.
88 Ibid., vol. 4, 12-15-1775, To Gov. Jonathan Trumbull, “Having heard that It’s doubtful, whether the Reverend Mr. Leonard from your Colony, will have it in his power to Continue here as a Chaplain, I cannot but express some Concern, as I think his departure will be a loss. His General Conduct has been exemplary and praiseworthy: In discharging the duties of his Office, active and industrious; he has discovered himself warm and steady friend to his Country, and taken great pains to animate the Soldiery and Impress them with a knowledge of the important rights we are contending for. Upon the late desertion of the Troops, he gave a Sensible and judicious discourse, holding forth the Necessity of courage and bravery and at the same time of Obedience and Subordination to those in Command. In justice to the merits of this Gentleman, I thought it only right to give you this Testimonial of my Opinion of him and to mention him to you, as a person worthy of your esteem and that of the Public. I am Sir, &c.”
89 Ibid., vol.4, 2-7-1776. General Orders: “The Continental Congress having been pleased to order, and direct, that there shall be one Chaplain to two Regiments, and that the pay of each Chaplain shall be Thirty-three dollars and one third, pr Kalendar Month — The Revd. Abiel Leonard is appointed Chaplain to the Regiment of Artillery, under the command of Col Knox, and to the 20th. Regiment, at present commanded by Lt. Col Durkee.”
90 Along with the discourse mentioned in Washington’s letter to Gov. Jonathan Trumbull, there is written record of two other sermons by Abiel Leonard that Washington heard.
On Sunday, December 3, 1775, he attended service at the Reverend Dr. Appleton’s Church; discourse by Abiel Leonard, chaplain of General Putnam’s command. This was the “old congregational church,” which Washington attended while in Cambridge, the minister being the venerable Nathaniel Appleton....” (Johnson, George Washington the Christian, pp. 74-75.)
On the same day, [the evacuation of Boston by the British, March 17, 1776] a few hours after the departure of the British, Washington and his officers attended thanksgiving service, and listened to the Reverend Dr. Abiel Leonard preach from Exodus 14:25: “And he took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily; so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the Lord fighteth for them against the Egyptians.” (Johnson, George Washington the Christian, pp 78-79.)
The following from George Littell, George Washington: Christian, 1913, adds additional information about Abiel Leonard, his illustrious family and Washington’s contact with him: “...in Cambridge on Sunday, Dec. 3, 1775, he [Washington] went to the Reverend Dr. Appleton’s church, and heard a discourse by Abiel Leonard, Chaplain to Gen. Putman’s command. This building was taken down in 1833, and the land sold to Harvard College. Abiel Leonard is easily remembered in both State and Church. His son was Capt. Nathaniel Leonard, whose son was Abiel Leonard, a Supreme Court Justice of Missouri, whose son was the Right Reverend Abiel Leonard, the heroic Bishop of Salt Lake in Utah, and the 145th Bishop of the American Church to which Washington belonged....” Sadly, Chaplain Leonard’s life ended early after a struggle with mental illness. Ibid., vol. 4, 12-15-1775, Note: “Abiel Leonard, chaplain of the Third Connecticut Regiment; chaplain of Knox’s Continental artillery through the year 1776. He became insane in 1777 and died in 1778.”
91 See Appleton, A Catalogue of the Washington Collection at the Boston Athenaeum, p. 557.
92 Abiel Leonard’s Prayer in its entirety can be found in the appendix.
93 WGW, vol. 31, 3-4-1791, note says, “On this same day (March 4) Washington also sent to the Senate the nominations of Arthur St. Clair to be major general, Samuel Hodgdon to be quartermaster, and John Hurt to be chaplain, in consequence of the new regiment added to the United States Army.” Chaplain John Hurt had served in the Revolutionary War and was from Virginia. See chapter 2, note 28.
94 See William C. Lane, A Catalogue of the Washington Collection at the Boston Athenaeum, see under Evans
95 The title page goes on to say, “At a Meeting of the General and Field Officers of the Western Army, it was Voted, That Brigadier General Maxwell, Colonel Courtlandt, Colonel Cilley, Lieutenant Colonel Forest, and Major Edwards, be a Committee to wait on the Reverend Mr. Evans, and return him the thanks of the Army for this Discourse, delivered before the Troops, on the seventeenth instant; and that they request of him a copy for the Press: That a number of copies be procured and distributed amongst the federal Corps of the Army gratis.”
96 WGW, vol. 11, 4-21-1778.
97 Ibid., vol. 8, 7-19-1777.
98 Ibid., vol. 26, 4-4-1783.
99 Noel Porter, Arch Deacon of California, San Francisco, California “The Religious Life of George Washington, in History of the George Washington Bicentennial Celebration, volume II, Literature Series, (Washington, D.C.: United States George Washington Bicentennial Commission, 1932).
CHAPTER 10
1 WGW, vol. 3, 9-21-1775: WGW September 21, 1775 has the following note: Trumbull had written: “I am surprised that mine of the 5th instant was not received, or not judged worthy of Notice, as no mention is made of it. Stonington had been Attacked, and severely cannonaded, and by divine Providence marvelously protected. New London and Norwich are still menaced by the Ministerial Ships and Troops, that the militia cannot be thought sufficient for their security. That is necessary to cast up some Entrenchments. We are obliged actually to raise more Men for their Security, and for the Towns of New Haven and Lyme. I hoped some of the new Levies might have been left here, till these dangers were over, without injury to any of your Operations. I own that must be left to your Judgment. Yet it would have given me pleasure to have been acquainted that you did consider it. I thank Divine Providence and you for this early warning to great care and watchfulness, that so the Union of the Colonies may be settled on a permanent and happy Basis... “You may depend on our utmost Exertions for the defence and security of the Constitutional Rights and Liberty of the Colonies, and of our own in particular. None have shown greater forwardness, and thereby rendered themselves more the Object of Ministerial Vengeance. I am, with great Esteem and Regard for your personal Character,” etc. Trumbull’s letter, dated Sept. 15, 1775, is in the Washington Papers.
2 WGW, vol. 11, 5-2-1778.
3 Ibid., vol. 2, 5-30-1768. Quoted by Fitzpatrick from Boucher’s autobiography.
4 See examples WGW, vol. 1, 1-6-1756; 1, 11-24-1756; vol. 7, 4-9-1777; vol.7 4-17-1777; vol. 8 5-12-1777; vol.8 5-14-1777; vol.8, 5-23-1777, vol. 8, 6-3-1777; vol. 8 6-6-1777; vol.8, 6-20-1777; vol.8, 7-18-1777; vol.8, 7-24-1777; vol.9, 8-28-1777; vol.9, 9-1-1777; vol.9, 10-7-1777; vol.9, 10-10-1777; vol.9, 10-22-1777; vol.9, 10-25-1777; vol.9, 10-26-1777; vol.10, 11-10-1777; vol.10, 11-18-1777; vol.10, 12-3-1777; vol.10, 12-22-1777; vol.10, 12-25-1777; vol.10, 1-1-1778; vol.10, 1-3-1778; vol.10, 1-11-1778; vol.10, 1-14-1778; vol.10, 1-18-1778; vol.10, 1-28-1778, vol.10, 2-4-1778; vol.10, 2-8-1778; vol.36, 9-25-1798; vol. 36, 9-24-1776; vol.36, 7-16-1798; vol.36, 7-22-1798; vol.17, 11-20-1779; vol.36, 7-4-1798; vol. 37, 6-6-1799; vol.10, 1-29-1778; vol.31, 3-9-1792; vol.36, 10-15-1798; vol.37, 4-23-1799; vol.12, 8-24-1778; etc...
5 Ibid., vol. 7, 4-21-1777; vol. 8, 5-9-1777; vol. 8, 5-10-1777; vol. 8, 6-6-1777; vol. 8, 7-19-1777; vol. 9, 8-27-1777; vol. 9, 9-1-1777; vol. 9, 9-6-1777; vol. 10, 11-21-1777; vol. 10, 11-23-1777; vol. 11, 3-1-1778; vol. 11, 3-26-1778; vol. 25, 8-23-1782.
6 Ibid., vol. 1, 10-10-1756; vol. 5, 6-28-1776; vol. 6, 10-8-1776; vol. 6, 10-22-1776; vol. 6, 12-1-1776; vol. 6, 12-10-1776; vol. 7, 1-13-1777; vol. 8, 5-31-1777; vol. 9, 8-4-1777; vol. 10, 1-30-1778; vol. 11, 4-11-1778; 3, vol. 7-10-1775; vol. 12, 8-21-1778; vol. 18, 5-28-1780.
7 Ibid., vol. 6, 9-11-1776; vol. 10, 11-14-1777; vol. 10, 1-10-1778.
