This is an official record from 1742, showing God's power and
Providence at work in founding America. Should a country so powerfully
founded by God ignore Him in our time of need? We should pray for such
protection and assistance in our day.
Georgia Colony Thanksgiving Proclamation - 1742
ALMIGHTY GOD hath in all Ages shown His Power and Mercy in the
Miraculous and Gracious Deliverance of His Church, and in the
Protection of Righteous and Religious Kings, and States professing His
holy and eternal Truth, from the open Invasions, wicked Conspiracies
and malicious Practices, of all the Enemies thereof.
He hath by the Manifestation of His Providence delivered us from the
hands of the Spaniards, they with fourteen Sail of small Gallies and
other Craft came into Cumberland Sound; but Fear and Terror from the
Lord, came upon them and they fleed. The Spaniards also, with another
mighty Fleet of 36 ****ps and Vessels came into Jekyll Sound, and after
a sharp Fight became Masters thereof; we having only four Vessels to
oppose their whole Force, and GOD was the ****eld of our People. Since
in so unequal a Fight, which was stoutly maintained for the space of
four Hours, not one of ours was killed, though many of theirs Perished,
and five were killed by one Shot only. They Landed 4500 Men upon this
Island, according to the Accounts of the Prisoners, and even of
Englishmen who escaped from them. The first Party Marchal up thro' the
Woods to this Town, and was within sight thereof, when God delivered
them into the Hands of a few of ours. They Fought and were dispersed
and fleed. Another Party which sup****ted them also Fought, but were
soon dispersed.
We may with Truth say, that the Hand of the Lord Fought for us; for in
the two Fights more than 500 fleed before 50, and yet they for a time
Fought with Courage, and the Granadiers particularly, charged with
great Resolution, but their Shot did not take Place, in so much that
none of ours were killed; but they were broken and pursued with great
Slaughter, so that by the Re****ts of the Prisoners, since taken,
upwards of 200 Men never returned to their Camp.
They also came up with their half Gallies towards this Town, and
retired without so much as Firing one Shot, and then Fear came upon
them and they fleed, leaving behind them some Cannon, and many Things
they had taken. Twenty Eight Sail attacked Fort William, in which was
only 50 Men, and after three Hours Fight, went away, and left the
Province: They having been pursued as far as St. John's so that by this
whole Expedition and great Armaments, no more than two of ours were
taken and 2 killed.
Therefore with Truth we may say, that the Lord hath done great Things
for us, who hath delivered us out of the Hands of a Numerous Enemy; who
had already Swallowed us up in their Thoughts and boasted that they
would Torture and Burn us. But the Lord was our ****eld, and we of a
Truth may say, that it was not our Strength nor Might that delivered
us, but that it was the Lord; Therefore it is Meat and Fitting, that we
should return
Thanks unto God our Deliverer.
HAVING taken the Premisses into Consideration, I do hereby Order that
Sunday the 25th Instant be observed as a Day of publick Thanksgiving to
Almighty God for his great deliverance in having put an End to the
Spanish Invasion, and that all Persons do Solemnize the same in a
Christian and Religious Manner, and abstain from Drunkenness and any
other wicked or dissolate Testimonies of Joy.
GIVEN under my Hand and Seal, this 24th Day of July, at Frederica in
Georgia, Anno Domini 1742.
Ken Clifton
Providential Plan
http://providential-plan.com
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