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as a people, we should bow down in adoring thankfulness to that gracious God who has been our bulwark and defence, and to offer unto Him the tribute of thanksgiving and praise.
In His hand is the issue of all events, and to Him should we in a special manner ascribe the honour of this great deliverance.
Now, therefore, I,
Jefferson Davis,
President of the
Confederate States, do issue this, my proclamation setting apart Thursday, the 18th day of September, as a day of thanksgiving and prayer to Almighty God, for the great mercies vouchsafed to our people, and more especially for the triumph of our arms at
Richmond and
Manassas, in Virginia, and at
Richmond in
Kentucky; and I do hereby invite the people of the
Confederate States to meet on that day, at their respective places of public worship, and to unite in rendering thanks and praise to God for these great mercies, and to implore Him to conduct our country safely through the perils which surround us, to the final attainment of the blessings of peace and security.
Given under my hand and the seal of the
Confederate States, at
Richmond, this fourth day of September, A. D. 1862.
Tuesday, September 16th, 1862.
The papers to-day give no account of our army in
Maryland.
General Loring has been successful in the
Kanawha Valley, in driving the enemy, taking prisoners, and 5,000 stand of arms, etc. Our success in the
West still continues.
Kentucky is represented to be in a flame of excitement.
General Kirby Smith asks for 20,000 stand of arms to be sent him to arm Kentuckians, who are rushing to his standard.
Cincinnati preparing for defence, etc.