Our Union and Its Defenders An Oration, Delivered Before the Citizens of Burlington, N.J., on the Occasion of Their Celebration of the Eighty-Sixth Anniversary of Independence Day, July 4th, 1862

"Our Union and Its Defenders" by J. Howard Pugh is a stirring speech given on Independence Day in 1862, during the height of the Civil War, that aims to ignite a fervent sense of patriotism within its audience. The author passionately connects the spirit of the American Revolution with the current fight to save the Union, honoring the courage of soldiers both past and present. Pugh underscores the importance of national unity, urging people to put aside their disagreements, remember the legacy of their ancestors, and stand strong to protect the democratic ideals that define America amidst the chaos of a nation divided.