Washington’s Prayers at Valley Forge

Note: The Continental Army arrived at Valley Forge on December 19, 1777.  That winter, because of lack of supplies, more than 2,000 soldiers of the Continental Army died from starvation and exposure; many of the men less than 40 miles from their homes. Washington’s prayers appear to have been for the survival of his men and that they would remain until French assistance arrived.  The first account of prayer immediately followed a camp inspection with the army surgeon to discuss which limbs, fingers and toes would be amputated that day, and whether to use a saw or a hatchet. Later he would write to Congress, "To see the men without clothes to cover their nakedness, without blankets to lie upon, without shoes...without a house or hut to cover them until those could be built, and submitting without a murmur, is a proof of patience and obedience which, in my opinion, can scarcely be paralleled."

George Washington’s most famous prayer at Valley Forge was recorded by Reverend Nathaniel Randolph Snowden (1770-1851), an ordained Presbyterian minister and a graduate of Princeton University.  In his Diary and Remembrances, he gives an account of traveling with Senator Isaac Potts, a 26 year old resident of Valley Forge and a devout Quaker.  Like most Quakers at the time, Potts was opposed to the war until he heard George Washington praying for his men.  Here is the account of Reverend Snowden: 

“I was riding with him [Mr. Isaac Potts] in Montgomery County, Penn’a near to the Valley Forge, where the army lay during the war of ye Revolution. Mr. Potts was a Senator in our state & a Whig.  I told him I was agreeably surprised to find him a friend to his county as the Quakers were mostly Tories.” 

“He said, ‘It was so and I was a rank Tory once, for I never believed that America [could] proceed against Great Britain whose fleets and armies covered the land and ocean, but something very extraordinary converted me to the Good Faith!’”

“‘What was that,’ I inquired?”

“‘Do you see that woods, & that plain?’  It was about a quarter of a mile off from the place we were riding, as it happened.  ‘There,’ said he, ‘laid the army of Washington.  It was a most distressing time of ye war, and all were for giving up the Ship but that great and good man.  In that woods pointing to a close in view, I heard a plaintive sound as, of a man at prayer.  I tied my horse to a sapling & went quietly into the woods & to my astonishment I saw the great George Washington on his knees alone, with his sword on one side and his cocked hat on the other.  He was at Prayer to the God of the Armies, beseeching to interpose with his Divine aid, as it was ye Crisis, & the cause of the country, of humanity & of the world.’”

“‘Such a prayer I never heard from the lips of man.  I left he alone praying.  I went home & told my wife, I saw a sight and heard today what I never saw or heard before, and just related to her what I had seen & heard & observed. We never thought a man [could] be a soldier & a Christian, but if there is one in the world, it is Washington.  She also was astonished.  We thought it was the cause of God, & America could prevail.’”

       

In a separate account of General Washington praying, General Marquis de Lafayette and General Peter Muhlenberg, were traveling through Valley Forge.  The conversation turned to a beautiful new horse General Washington had recently acquired.  As they would pass by the barn where the horse was stabled, Lafayette invited General Muhlenberg to see the animal.  Conversation between the companions dropped as they came near the door of the barn.  Lafeyette opened the door which made no noise; the winter sunlight streamed full into the lean-to connected with the stable, and for one notable moment revealed George Washington, kneeling on some of the hay thrown down from the loft for the horses.  Washington’s cloak was cast back and his hat was lying beside him, his eyes were closed, his hands were clasped and raised to Heaven.  His face appeared to be “grandly sad and sorrowful” as he prayed, uninterrupted by his visitors.  

After both men had time to carefully observe the scene, Lafayette quietly closed the door and the two men reverently retraced their steps to the road.  “He is a wonderful man — the commander,” exclaimed Lafayette.  "The spectacle is a sublime one; it fills me with shame while it inspires me with new faith and hope!" replied Muhlenberg.  Lafayette would later say of the incident, “I trust the Commander did not see or hear us — that we did not disturb him. . . . What I have seen I shall never forget, and I would not forget it if I could."

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