To the People of the Confederate States:
Once more upon the plains of Manassas have our armies been blessed by the Lord of Hosts with a
triumph over our enemies. It is my privilege to invite you once more to His footstool, not now in the
garb of fasting and sorrow, but with joy and gladness, to render thanks for the great mercies
received at His hand. A few months since, and our enemies poured forth their invading legions
upon our soil. They laid waste our fields, polluted our altars and violated the sanctity of our homes.
Around our capital they gathered their forces, and with boastful threats, claimed it as already their
prize. The brave troops which rallied to its defense have extinguished these vain hopes, and,
under the guidance of the same almighty hand, have scattered our enemies and driven them back
in dismay. Uniting these defeated forces and the various armies which had been ravaging our
coasts with the army of invasion in Northern Virginia, our enemies have renewed their attempt to
subjugate us at the very place where their first effort was defeated, and the vengeance of
retributive justice has overtaken the entire host in a second and complete overthrow.
To this signal success accorded to our arms in the East has been graciously added another
equally brilliant in the West. On the very day on which our forces were led to victory on the Plains
of Manassas, in Virginia, the same Almighty arm assisted us to overcome our enemies at
Richmond, in Kentucky. Thus, at one and the same time, have two great hostile armies been
stricken down, and the wicked designs of their armies been set at naught.
In such circumstances, it is meet and right that, as a people, we should bow down in adoring
thankfulness to that gracious God who has been our bulwark and defense, 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 an especial manner, ascribe the honor 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 inst., as a day of prayer and
thanksgiving to Almighty God for the great mercies vouchsafed to our people, and more especially
for the triumph of our arms at Richmond and Manassas; 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.
JEFFERSON DAVIS
