Saxton, Rufus Circular to freed slaves, thanksgiving for victory at the Battle of Gettysburg
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC06727.07 Author/Creator: Saxton, Rufus Place Written: Beaufort, South Carolina Type: Document Date: [1863/08/06] Pagination: 1 p. 20.5 x 12.8 cm Order a Copy
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CIRCULAR
BEAUFORT, SOUTH CAROLINA
TO THE FREEDMEN IN THE DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH:
The President of the United States having appointed the 6th day of August 1863, as a day of Public Thanksgiving and Praise for the glorious victories of our armies over the enemies of our country, who are fighting to destroy her existence as a united nation, and to return you again into that fearful state of bondage from which you have just been relieved,-you are reminded that it is eminently fitting and proper that you should join in the glad chorus which will on that day ascend from millions of loyal hearts, made joyous by the victories which our brave soldiers have achieved. Although you are still in the wilderness, your prospects for liberty were never brighter than now. The decree has gone forth, and your long expected day of jubilee is slowly but surely approaching. These splendid triumphs of his armies add greatly to the power of your friend, the President, to put in force his glorious Proclamation of Emancipation, which gladdened your hearts on the ever to be remembered first of January, 1863. I hope that you will all refrain from your ordinary avocations on the 6th of August, and meet together at your respective places of worship, and render thanks to the great Author of every blessing, who has vouchsafed these triumphs to the armies of Liberty, with earnest prayers that the days of the bondage of your race may be shortened.
R. SAXTON,
Brigadier-General and Military Governor.
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