Sketches of the Early History of the City of Raleigh Volume 1, No. 2; Centennial Address, Fourth of July, 1876 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1877 Excerpt: ... MR. BATTLE'S ADDKESS. Fellow-citizens: --I appear before you, designated by the Board of Aldermen of the city of Raleigh, in accordance with an Act of Congress and the proclamation of the President thereupon, to deliver an address on the history of the city of Raleigh. The time allowed me has been short, the materials for the construction of such a sketch are not easily accessible, and the difficulty of the undertaking is increased by the destruction of the records of the city in 1865, when Sherman's army entered Raleigh. Still, believing that if I should refuse, probably the work would be undone, I have, as far as other demands on my time which could not be omitted or postponed, allowed, done my best to aid in perpetuating facts in the history of our city which neither we nor our posterity should allow to be forgotten. Tne task is all the more difficult because it is demanded to compress these facts about the past into the limits of a single address--material worthy of a volume into a slender pamphlet. It is within the spirit of this Centennial period to recall events long since passed. I therefore will not chronicle recent transactions, within your own memories. I will not attempt a complete history of our city. I will only endeavor to perpetuate what is in danger of passing into oblivion. HISTORY OF WAKE. It is to be regretted that no special effort is to be made to unfold the history of Wake county. I hope this will be done hereafter. The Centennial of Raleigh has not yet arrived. The Centennial of Wake has passed. The county of Wake was born in stormy times. A little over one hundred years ago, on the lGth of May, 1771, the roar of cannon in battle was heard for the first ime in the forests of Middle North Carolina. One army, 1,200 disciplined troops, w...