"Son of the Republic, Look and Learn"

Today is Washington’s birthday.

Most people know that Lincoln had dreams predicting the future, including his own assassination. But not many people realize that Washington had premonitions as well, and one very strange vision at Valley Forge about three great wars that would overtake America.

Washington did not find this vision disturbing, but was happy to know that the Republic would have a future at all. At Valley Forge, he was certain that the new country was finished.

Three times an angel appeared to Washington, heralding "Son of the Republic, look and learn," and presented him with highly symbolic pictures of battles. Washington recognized the first war as the Revolutionary War. The second war can be recognized by us as the Civil War, and the third seems to be a future, unnamed war involving an assault by Europe, Asia and Africa.

Did the vision really happen? Though the text is in the Library of Congress, some doubt it. But LincolnFreak never doubts a good story. Check out one of the many websites presenting George Washington’s Vision.

Tours Start Tuesday

Happy Presidents’ Day from LincolnFreak.

Thanks to my excellent Sources, I’ve learned that President Lincoln’s Cottage at the Soldiers’ Home in Washington opens to the public for tours on Tuesday, February 19th.









In 2000, this 34-room Gothic Revival cottage was designated a National Monument. Under the guidance of Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, more than $15 million was raised to renovate the house and turn a nearby building into a visitors’ center.
The cottage was built by businessman George W. Riggs, who sold it in 1851 along with more than 250 acres to the United States government.

It became part of a federal home for retired and disabled veterans, but in 1857, also offered a quiet retreat for presidents.

For more information, check out this great article from the New York Times. Where Lincoln Sought Refuge

Also, if you’ve ever wondered what Lexington, Kentucky looked like in 1847 (Mary’s birthplace, after all) read this article from the Lexington Herald-Leader, forwarded to me from another truly reliable Source. Lexington As Abe Saw It

Happy Lincoln's Birthday

Happy birthday from LincolnFreak! February 12th truly is Lincoln’s birthday. It comes between Ground Hog Day and Valentine’s Day.

And this is the big 199! That’s right. Next year Abraham Lincoln will be two hundred years old and looking better than ever.

Notice how many books have come out on Lincoln this year? I’ve tried to add as many as I could to Son of Bookzilla, but new ones keep coming out all the time.

On the day before his 52nd birthday in1861, Lincoln gave one of his saddest and most beautiful speeches – his Farewell Address – before boarding a train from Springfield to Washington, D.C.
Now here’s something to ponder. If you could give Lincoln a birthday present today, what would you give him? Somebody suggested the best gift I could give him would be to dismantle this blog.
Also, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, so start thinking about "Why I love Lincoln." It could be any number of reasons: I love Lincoln because he represents freedom. I love Lincoln because he struggled to keep the country together. I love Lincoln because I get a day off in the middle of Winter.

You get the idea. So during this month of February which celebrates so many different people and causes – Presidents, Black history, Valentines, the forecasting of Spring – take some time to think about where we would be if Lincoln had never been president. Alternative histories are fun to imagine, but the absence of one key person at one crucial juncture in time could create awful consequences for generations to come.

So happy birthday from LincolnFreak. Enjoy the legacy of a great man.