Observe the Day -- In order to afford all connected with this office a chance to conform to the
President’s recommendation to observe this as a day of fasting, humililiation and prayer, we shall close
the office to-day, and consequently no paper will be issued to-morrow.
This is the day appointed by the President of the Confederate Government, as a day to be observed in
fasting and prayer to Almighty God, for the remission of our sins and for His deliverence from our
enemies. We trust that there will be a general suspension of business to-day, and that all of our
citizens and soldiers will repair to the House of God, and unite with one mind and heart in invoking the
aid of the God of battles and of mercy to defend us from the desolating hand or our enemies, and that
we may be enabled to repel them from our own land and from out our[?] homes. We would respectfully
sugggest that every citizen and soldier would do well to read the 20th chaper of 2d Chronicles. Read it
carefuly, meditate upon it, obey its teachings and injunctions. If this is generaly done, we will be a free
and independent government with none to molest us or to make us afraid. (Knoxville Daily Register)
"THIS DAY, having been set apart by the President of the Confederate States for fasting, prayer and
humiliation, will, doubtless, be observed in every portion of our country with becoming solemnity. The
time of peril is upon us, and all that strong arms and stout hearts can do will be necessary to save us
from destruction. It is right that, in a juncture like this, our people should raise an united voice to invoke
the favor of Heaven upon their cause. THE MERCURY will not be issued tomorrow. "( The Charleston
Mercury)
A FAST-DAY SERMON; PREACHED IN THE CHURCH OF SUGAR CREEK, MECKLENBURG
COUNTY, N. C., February 28th, 1862. BY REV. R. H. LAFFERTY, PASTOR.
[In part]
"We, my hearers, citizens of these Confederate States, are engaged in a terrible war, in self defence. It is
a war, not of our seeking, but forced upon us. In the commencement of these difficulties we used every
means that honor and religion demand, to avoid hostilities. We sent our Commissioners again and again
to the Capital of the United States for the purpose of adjusting our affairs in a friendly manner. They
were spurned from the throne, treated with contempt, insult, and with dark, dark duplicity. We sought
not the blood, the soil, nor the treasures of our enemies: we only asked them to let us alone, and permit
us to work out our own destiny, as a people. We plead for this inalienable privilege and right. This was
peremptorily denied us. We then arose in the defence of our own soil, and in the protection of our
homes, and committed our cause into the hands of God who judgeth righteously. God favored our cause
in a remarkable manner, and gave us as signal deliverances as he gave to the children of Israel. We have
declared that we put our trust in God, and therefore virtually have declared that we would obey God,
turn from sin, and hate covetuousness, as a people, and as individual citizens. This has been our position
from the beginning. It is a solemn position; for it secures to us the chastising rod of God if we disobey
him, or violate his commandments.
"Recently our cause has not prospered, our army has again and again been defeated, the enemy has
triumphed. We may well ask, why is this? Has God forsaken us, and given us over to the power of our
enemies? I answer, no. But God may in these adverse providences be saying to us as he said to Joshua,
"Israel hath sinned," "there is an accursed thing in the midst of thee: thou canst not stand before thine
enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you
"In view of these disasters, and under a sense of dependence upon God, our most worthy and beloved
President, Jefferson Davis, has recommended that the people throughout these Confederate States
observe this day, as a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer, and that we confess our sins, and implore
the guidance and protection of God. This then is our professed business in the Sanctuary to-day. It is a
matter of vast importance that we look at our sins, and mourn over them with a godly sorrow. I will at
this time notice some of those sins over which we should mourn to-day, and for which God may be
chastising us as a people. "
February 28, 1862 [Friday]
A Day in the Life of the Confederacy