The Story Behind George Washington’s Prayer
Here is another website that tells about George Washington’s experience at Valley Forge http://www.mariettaoh9-12project.com/1777.htm
The following excerpt was found in The Grand Design, America from Columbus to Zion by E. Douglas Clark
The U.S. Capitol has a private chapel for congressmen, one feature of which is a stained-glass window. Called “Washington’s Gethsemane,” the window depicts the kneeling figure of George Washington at Valley Forge, praying to God for his soldiers and his country.
The Reverend Mason Locke Weems, in his famous biography, Life of George Washington, first published in 1800, gives an account of what happened at Valley Forge:
“In the winter of ’77, while Washington, with the American army lay encamped at Valley Forge, a certain good old friend, of the respectable family and name of Potts, if I mistake not, had occasion to pass through the wood near headquarters. Treading his way along the venerable grove, suddenly he heard the sound of a human voice, which as he advanced increased on his ear, and at length became like the voice of one speaking much in earnest. As he approached the spot with a cautious step, whom should he 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 general, having ended his devotions, arose, and with a countenance of angel serenity, retired to headquarters: friend Potts then went home, and on entering his parlour called out to his wife, ‘Sarah, my dear! Sarah! All’s well! All’s well! George Washington will the prevail!’
“ ‘What’s the matter, Isaac?’ replied she; ‘thee seems moved.’
“ ‘Well, if I seem moved, ‘tis no more than what I am. I have this day seen what I never expected. Thee knows that I always thought the sword and the gospel 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, through him, work out a great salvation for America.’”
There are numerous other accounts of George Washington at prayer in Valley Forge. In 1832, eight-year-old Devault Beaver claimed to have received the account directly from Isaac Potts. Another account came from Be James Ross Snowden, whose father knew Potts, and yet another from Benson J. Lossing. General Knox, Washington’s close associate at Valley Forge was recorded saying that Washington frequently used the grove for prayer (Christianity and the Constitution 113-14; and see Cunliffe, ed., Life of Washington, xxxvi n.43)