Book excerpt: Excerpt from Address Delivered at the Celebration of the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge: February 27th, 1857 The pilgrimage of patriotism is accomplished! The pious purpose which has ruled the hearts of this vast multitude is fulfilled, and we stand on hallowed ground. Again we gather around that altar of freedom long since erected by our gallant forefathers in this temple made by God's own hands, and again we give to that altar the offerings of our filial devotion. I bid you welcome, my countrymen, thrice welcome to a scene so rich in its traditionary renown, and around which still lingers the glory of a feat of arms, which nobly heralded the greater glory of your country's freedom. I congratulate you on the advent of another anniversary of a day long canonized in the historic calendar, and which should ever be hailed with the proudest memories that can swell the heart of the patriot. I rejoice, men of North Carolina, to meet you here to-day, for my mission is to speak of the virtue, the valor and the fame of those with whom you claim lineage, and to kindle alike your gratitude and your pride by rehearsing the deeds of that high heroic ancestry of which you were horn. Well does it become us thus to assemble to do honor to a day and a deed so eminently worthy of our commemorative homage. For full four-score years has this spot, early consecrated to patriotism, rested amid these woods in undistinguished repose, unhonoured by any formal festivity, untrodden by any pilgrim crowd; and seldom has the deed which hallows it, been made the theme of patriotic encomium. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.