General Washington … joining with the Patriot’s cause by encouraging his troops to acknowledge God in praise and thanksgiving!

From watchmenpastors.org

Upon receiving news that France had joined the War for Independence on the side of the Colonies, General George Washington issued these After Orders from his headquarters at Valley Forge on May 5, 1778:

“It having pleased the Almighty Ruler of the Universe propitiously to defend the cause of the United American States, and finally by raising us up a powerful friend among the Princes of the earth, to establish our Liberty and Independence upon a lasting foundation; it becomes us to set apart a day for gratefully acknowledging the Divine Goodness, and celebrating the event, which we owe to His benign interposition. The several brigades are to be assembled at nine o’clock tomorrow morning, when their Chaplains will communicate the intelligence contained in the Postscript of the Gazette of 22nd inst., and offer up a thanksgiving, and deliver a discourse suitable to the occasion.”*

General Washington’s response to France providentially joining with the Patriot’s cause by encouraging his troops to acknowledge God in praise and thanksgiving, which is a lost episode in American history.