The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-12-02
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MURFREEsB RIO. Tenn, :
Nov. IS, 1864 I

ful day to the soldiers on duty at thi
post, aud the loyal citizens of the town
and vicinity. After many days ofeloud
and rain, succeeded by an unusal anC
severe manifestation of the power O
the frost king, nature seemed to lar
hold Of her children, the elements, anc
bring them into harmony with the
great loyal heart, which was prepa rims
fora great and joyful thanksgiving day
The morning sun rose bright and
clear, diffusing light and warmth and
cheerfulness.
BY order Of the General Commanding
al business houses were closed, al
work suspended, bat such as was abso-
lutely necessary, and as far as the is
suing Of appropriate orders could pre-
pare the way, every thing was done by
our excellent Commander to have the
day observed as a great national thanks
giving At half past 10 o'clock, A. NJ
large congregation of soldiers and cit
liens assembled at the Post Chapel
for Divine service. An appropriate and
earnest prayer was offered by the Rev
Mr.. Earnshaw, Chaplain U. S. A, or
duty st this place, and most excel
lent and appropriate discourse was de-
livered by Rev. Mr.. Armsby, Chaplain
of the Sth Minnesota Volunteers, from
the following text, "Giving thanks al
ways, for all things unto God and the
Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ. Ephesians, 9Th Chap, goth verse.
The preacher began by abiding to an
incident connected with Thanksgiving
day, in his State; seven years ago, when
after p season of commercial disaster,
and public distress, the Governor of
the State, issued his proclamation, for
the observance of the usual annual
thanksgiving day A leading public
journal, at the capital, questioned the
propriety of the appointment of day
of thanksgiving, and impiously asked,
what have re TO be thankful for? as
though commercial prosperity, was the
sum of all good, and constituted the
only cause Of gratitude TO God, and
said the preacher, possibly there may
be some here, who would inquire what
have zoe now 10 be thankful for as a ma
ton p
BE then alluded most touchingly,
and truthfully, to the state of the
country, to the Influences, and conse-
qcences of war The destruction of
property, of towns, and cities. The
loss of life, the thousands of widows,
and orphans, both North and South,
for said the preacher, I'VE are still one
country, and by Gods help zee are de-
tcrmined, to remain one country for
ever" He then proceeded to derive
from the facts Of our history in connec-
ton with this war, our special causes of
gratitude to God
lst We have cause, said he, of spe-
cial thankfulness for the latest patriot
ism which this war has developed in
the masses Of our countrymen.
ID We should be thankful for the
spirit of philanthropy and enlarged
giving to the necessities of others
which has been awakened and devels
oped in the progress Of the war, as il
Illustrated in the immense sums contribu.
ted through the Sanitary and Christian
Commissions 10 the necessities of our
soldiers.
3D. We should be grateful for the de.
velopement Of cur national resources,
and the strength Of our Government,
and its capacity TO protect itself
4th. We should be thankful that
thousands of our race have been en-
franchised and brought out of the
house of bondage, with the promise Of
the effectual wipihg out Of that foul
blot of AFRICAN slavery from our rs,
tional escutcheon.
9Th The cause of The war being thus
destroyed, and our nation redeemed
from the sin and curse Of slavery, we
should thankfully rejoice in brighter
and more glorious future; in better
Il. and more perfect Union.
After the singing Of that grand old
piece, The Star-Spangled Banner, by
our excellent choir, the benedictior
was pronounced, and the congregation
dispersed, each one feeling that it wa
good to have been there.
Through the bounty Of the Sanitary
and Christian Commissions, and tn,
liberal appropriation of our Medica
Director, good, old fashioned thanks
giving dinner was prepared for th'
convslescent in all our Hospitals anC
our soldiers felt that though they wer'
away from home, and loved ones there
they were not forgotten by those wh'
have charge of them.
At half past two o'clock, P. n, pur
suant to public notice given in the NOR
ming, the crowd re-assembled at th,
Chapel, and was favored with the ser
vices of the band of the ll5th Reg
ment o v. I by which some Of on
finest and most popular pieces wer
played and the souls of our soldier
and loyal citizens were stirred wit
those grand old strains which have IN
cited thousands 70 deeds Of unmatche'
heroism and yAlor. At this meeting
was understood some Eve or six gentle