“The Great Spirit protects him. People will hail him as founder of a mighty empire.”
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).
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).
“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."
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.