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excited by our foes into the commission of atrocities from which death was a welcome escape.
Now, therefore, I, Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America, do issue this my proclamation, setting apart Wednesday, the 16th day of November next, as a day to be specially devoted to the worship of Almighty God.
And I do invite and invoke all the people of these Confederate States to assemble on the day aforesaid, in their respective places of public worship, there to unite in prayer to our Heavenly Father, that He bestow His favor upon us; that He extend over us the protection of His almighty arm; that He sanctify His chastisement to our improvement, so that we may turn away from evil paths and walk righteously in His sight; and that He may restore peace to our beloved country, healing its bleeding wounds, and securing to us the continued enjoyment of our own right of self-government and independence; and that He will graciously hearken to us, while we ascribe to Him the power and the glory of our deliverance.
Given under my hand and the seal of the Confederate States, at Richmond, this 26th day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixtyfour.
[L. S.] ‘By the President: J. P. Benjamin, Secretary.’
Letter from Stonewall Jackson.
near Fredericksburg, April 1o, 1863.
My Dear Sir: Your letter of the 27th ultimo, informing me that, at the recent meeting of the Home Missionary Society of the Baltimore Annual Conference, at Churchville, Augusta county, Virginia, I was “constituted a life-director of said society,” has been received.
I appreciate the honor conferred, and hope that I may yet be privileged to be present at your deliberations for advancing the great missionary cause.
The harvest is abundant; and my prayer is, that we may all labor with burning zeal for the glorious cause for which our Redeemer died.
The Church has a mighty work before her; and we are assured that, as she advances, her career will become more glorious, until the whole world shall bow before the mild sway of Emmanuel.
I am greatly gratified at seeing a growing religious interest among our troops here.
Thanking you for your prayers and good wishes, I remain, very truly and fraternally yours, 