U.S. History
“The Great Spirit protects him. People will hail him as founder of a mighty empire.”
A 23-yr-old George Washington unscathed, reality upended
He's unharmed despite 4 bullet holes in his coat in a massacre by French, Indians on western frontier
The miracle that allowed our nation’s top founding father to survive as a 23-year-old British Colonel who was led by Gen. Braddock into a slaughter in the Battle of Monongahela (today’s Pittsburgh vicinity).
The Battle of Monongahela
July 9, 1755
This battle, which included colonists and regulars from Great Britain—under the leadership of recently arrived General Edward Braddock—took place some 20 years before George Washington was appointed as Commander in Chief during discussion of the colonies becoming independent at the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia.
That appointment took place during the session, which began on May 9, 1775. It was a month after (April 19th) the first shots were fired in Lexington and Concord.
Here’s a list of the officers (80 total), including 73% of them that were killed (26) or wounded (37) in the battle. Of approximately 1300 troops led by Braddock that day, 2/3 were killed (456) or wounded (422).
What happened to Washington was written by him nine days later, in a letter to his brother John:
“As I have heard since my arrival at this place [Fort Cumberland], a circumstantial account of my death and dying speech, I take this early opportunity of contradicting the first, and of assuring you that I have not as yet composed the latter.
But, by the all-powerful dispensations of Providence, I have been protected beyond all human probability or expectation; for I had four bullets through my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet escaped unhurt, although death was leveling my companions on every side of me!”
View the full letter
The battle was also detailed in a biography:
“The Life of George Washington,” published in 1855 by Jared Sparks and is available in full at the link.
"This story of George Washington once appeared in virtually every text book in America, but it hasn't been seen in [over 60] years."
A video telling of the story
Sixteen years later, a prophecy given that will come true
The Great Spirit protects him. People will hail him as founder of a mighty empire.
—From: Recollections and Private Memoirs of Washington, by George Washington Parke Custis.
And a dramatization with troop movements
–Colonel George Washington
July 18, 1755