What is the story behind the Bulletproof George Washington?
The following story was taken (mostly) from the book: The Bulletproof George Washington by Barton, D. (1990 Wallbuilders Press).
July 9th, 1775, 23 year-old Colonel Washington took part The Battle of Monongahela. Battle is too kind a word, it was more like a massacre. A force of around 1,500 British and American troops got cut to pieces by a party of around 300 Indians and 30 French colonial troops who fanned out down the flanks of the British army in a horse shoe attack. The end result: British and American: 26 officers killed, 37 wounded. 430 soldiers killed and 385 wounded. French and Indians: estimated less than 30 killed. Wounded unknown.
During the two-hour battle, the 23 year-old Colonel Washington had ridden to and fro on the battlefield, delivering the general's orders to other officers and troops. In a letter ot his mother, Washington wrote the following: "Captains Orme and Morris, two of the aids-de-camp, were wounded early in the engagement, which rendered the duty harder upon me, as I was the only person then left to distribute the General's orders " Officers had been a special target for the Indians. Of the eighty-six British and American officers, sixty-three were casualties. Washington was the only officer on horseback not shot down!
Following the battle, Washington wrote a letter to his brother in which he readily and openly acknowledged: "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 [I] escaped unhurt, although death was leveling my companions on every side of me!
Fifteen years later, an old, respected Indian chief sought out Washington. The chief, explaining that he had led the Indians against them in the battle fifteen years earlier, revealed to Washington what had occurred behind the scenes during the conflict: "I called to my young men and said, mark yon tall and daring warrior [Washington]? ...Himself is alone exposed. Quick, let your aim be certain, and he dies. Our rifles were leveled, rifles which, but for you, knew not how to miss--'twas all in vain, a power mightier far than we shielded you. Seeing you were under the special guardianship of the Great Spirit, we immediately ceased to fire at you...I am come to pay homage to the man who is the particular favorite of Heaven, and who can never die in battle."
*For more information on this exciting event in history, read the book The Bulletproof George Washington by Barton, D. (1990 Wallbuilders Press).
It was last updated on April 6, 2006 at 10:20:15 AM CDT.
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