Confederate Hymn for 1863 ‘Fast Day’ Pleads for Peace

When reading the letters, poems and songs of the Civil War, it is striking how pervasive religious themes are. It seems everyone, from the highest politicians and generals to the common foot soldiers and the people back home still working the family farms, often expressed the Civil War as a religious struggle.

During the course of the war Confederate President Jefferson Davis proclaimed ten fast days, during which the public was supposed to fast, attend church, and pray for God to bestow his blessings upon the Confederacy. One such fast day was declared for March 27, 1863. To accompany that observance, the following hymn was published in the March 23, 1863, issue of the Houston Telegraph (Houston, Texas):

Written for the Telegraph.

A Hymn for the Confederacy
Suitable for the National Fast-day Appointed by President Davis, on March 27, 1863

Air. – “God Save the King”

While on our guilty land,
God lays His chastening hand,
Our sins to scourge;
Father! Give us to see
How we have slighted Thee,
And by repentance flee
From ruin’s verge.

O God! we would repent,
And make acknowledgement,
Of errors past;
Pardon for all receive,
To Thee allegiance give,
And in Thy favor live,
Ever steadfast.

While war’s dread havoc reigns,
And rapine stalks our plains,
O be Thou near!
Our cruel foes restrain,
And drive them back again,
Our country’s cause maintain,
O Saviour hear!

On Thee our trust is stayed,
Thy power has been displayed
In our defence.
Still may we claim Thy care,
Thy kind protection share;
Our bleeding country spare,
Omnipotence!

God of our fathers hear;
Answer the nation’s prayer,
Which now we make;
From war grant us relief,
Bid rage of battle cease,
O give our country peace,
For Jesus’ sake!

—O.M.A.
Camp Velasco, Texas, March 15, 1863

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