Litchfield enquirer., 1861-08-15

NATIONAL FAsr.-A proclamation for nation A fast on the last Thursday in September has Peen signed by the President. It is as follows: | A PROCLAMATION.
 Sy ths President of the United States cf America.
 Whereas, A Joint Committee of both Houses pf Congress has waited on the President of the United States, and requested him to recommend
 day of Public Humiliation, Prayer, and Fast fng, to be observed by the People of the United States with religious solemnities, and the offer Ing of fervent supplication to Almighty God for
 Inc safety of these States His blessings on their arms, and speedy restoration of peace;
 And whereas, It is fit and becoming in all peo- ple at all times to acknowledge and revere the Supreme Government of God, to bow in humble Isubmission to His chastisements, to confess and tdeplore their sins and transgressions in the full conviction that the fear of the Lord is the begin ming of wisdom, and to pray with all feryeucy and contrition for the pardon of their past ofFen Ices, and for blessing upon their present and prospective action;
 And whersas, When our beloved country, once, py the blessing Of God, united, prosperous and happy, is now afflicted with fsetion and civil war Ft IS peculiarly fit for us to recognize the hand iof God in this visitation, and in sorroyfuI re- tmembrance of our faults and crimes as q nation and as individuals, to humble ourselves before Him, and pray for His mercy-to pray that we may be spared further punishment, though just ny deserved; that our arms may be blessed and lmade enectuai for the re-establshment of law, Eorder. and peace throughout our country, and that the inestimable boon of civil and religious liberty, earned, uuder His guidance and bless lag by the labors and suferings of our fathers, may be restored in all its original excellence. Therefore, l, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President of the United States, do appoint the last Thurs day in September next az a day of Humiliation, Prayer and Fasting for all the people of the Ma ton, and do earnestly recommend to all the people, and especially to all Ministers and teach CTS of religion of all denominations, and to all heads of families-to observe and keep that day according to their creeds and modes of worship In all humility, and with all gious solemnity, |to the end that the united prayer of the Nation may ascend to the Throne of Grace, and bring down plentiful blessings upon our own country
 In testimony whereof have hereunto set my hand and caused the great seal of the United States to be affixed, this 12th day of August, 4. D. 1861, and of the Independence of the United States of America the eighty sixth
 By the President: ABRAHAM LINCOLN
 WILLIAM. H. SEWARD, Secretary of State
 BERDANs SHARPsHooTERs.-The second pub lie exhibition by Col. Berdan's dead shots was made, agreeably to announcement st Weehaw ken, Saturday afternoon. The conditions were hardly as favorable as before, since during the greater part of the time full six-knot breeze was blowing, but as will be seen by our record the shooting was quite as remarkable as on the former trial. This time the target consisted of the figure of a man in full Generals uniform with cooked hat, epauletts, sword and sash con- plete. On his hat was the famous Rebel djura- tion, ''Only let us alone,' but the sharpshooters were either so ignorant of our language as not to understand it, or so herdheartcd as not to feel bound to grant the prayer for they mercless- ly sent their balls through his breast, heart, and diaphragm in swift succession
 Col. Berdan did not shoot on tLis occasion, bis object having been attained before in show ing that, as O marksman he vas worthy of lead ing regiment of marksmen eTcn so skllful as these extraordinary sharpshooters At tie pre- vious trial he shot only at the head of the figure and, by request, hit the nose, eyes, and forehead In turn. Since then his c. string' of ten shots have been measured, and found to have been o5a- ty sir and quarter imches, Gn aoeraye of ,fue- e'Shts cf dn inch iron. centres. This marvellous practice is F inches better than any previous shooting on record-the best previously made having been string of eight inches in six shots, which Col. Berdan himself lnade in 18i8 at CoVington, Ky, ill presence of several thousand people. He disclaims the ability to duplicate this wonderful performance in future merely claiming that it is ono of those exceptional eases which may not occur again in generation
 During the past week Col Eerdan has recev- cd letter frohl Gov. Blair of Michi San, in form ing him that the company furniahel from that State IS now ready, and fifty men additional have been tested and are ready whatcye, le may choose to send for them. The New -lI&mpshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Indiana, and |, iscon- sin companies are also ready, and in each State there are more applicants already ilan can pos sibly be received.
 A TRIUMpHANr MEDICATION or TEE PRrsI- DENr.-ln the House, last Thursday, Mr. Blair of Missouri cfIectualy unmasked the tortuosity and innuendoes and suppressioils to which Mr. Richardson of Illinois had resorted on previ- ous day, to produce in the country the impress sion that Gen. Scott had charged the President with forcing him, in some way, into the battle of July 21st. And Mr. Blair went one stcD fur ther, and affirmed what nobody has since pre- sumed to question: that the President, go far as he interfered at all, did so by the suggestion to Gen. Scott that the battle should be postponed until the force Of Gen. Patterson could be brought down to. cooperate with that of Gen. Mcdowell.
 Although determined always, as he declared in another conversation with Mir. Richardson, to leave to Gen. Scott the sole and exclusive pow CT and responsibility of determining the time, pioSO, Ol tlt LiieH llilppnuIg DuILlS. the President did nevertheless, as matter of opinion and suggestion, urge certain considera- tions upon Gen. Scott, not, however in favor of prseipitatiag the contest, but of postponina it until we could have the same advantage of q junction of our armies on the Potomac which the enemy had.
 These revelations entirely upset that theory of affairs which the enemies of the President and the Administration endeavored, and with some success, to impose upon the country, by contrived and systematic clamor immediately after the disaster of July 2l. Lies are more nimble than the truth, but the truth has got on her boots at last, and will soon overtake and demolish her adyersaries. Washington RspuJ- icQn.
 Advices has been received by the Navy De- partment to the effect that on the Sd inst, the transport steamer Rhode Island engaged rebel privateer off Charleston, drove her ashore and preached her. The particulars of the engage ment are not given.