Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-11-24
GrrrrsBuRe, November 10


National Cemetery commenced this morning By
a grand military and civic display. under command
OF Major General Couch. Tie line OF march was
taken up at ten o'clock. and the procession
marched through the principal streets to the
cemetery. where the military formed in line and
saluted the President At quarter past eleven
the head of the procession arrived at the main
stand. The President and members OF the Cabi-
net together with the chief military and civic
dignitaries, took positions on the stand The
President seated himself between Mr.. Seward
and Mr.. Everett. after a reception marked with
respect aud perfect silence due to the solemnity
OF the occasion. every man in the immense
gathering uncovering on his appearance.
The military then formed in line extending
around the stand-the area between the stand and
military being occupied by civilians comprising
about fifteen thousand people, and including men,
women and children. The attendance of ladies
was quite large The military escort comprised
one squadron of cavalry, two batteries of artil
lery and a regiment of infantry, which constitute
the regular funeral escort of honor for the highest
officer in the service.
After the performance of a funeral dirge by
Birgfield by the band an eloquent PRAYER was
delivered by Rev. Mr. Stockton as follows:
o God our Father. for the sake of Thy Son
our Savior. inspire Us with Thy spirit and sanctify
Us TO the right fufillment of the duties OF this
occasion We come to dedicate this new historic
center a a national cemetery. Ii all the depart
ments OF the one government / hou hast ordained
over our Union and of the many governments
which Thou hast suborninatei 20 the Union, be
here united; if all classes, relations and
interests of our blended brotherhood of
people stand severally and thoroughly apparent
in Thy presence. we trust il is because Thou hast
called u, that Thy blessing awaits Us and that
lo,t IT,
of incalculable. impershable good And so with
Thy holy apostle and with the church in all lands
and ages, We unite in the ascription, blessed be
God. even the Father Of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father ot Moses and the God of all comfort,
who comfortelh Us in all our tribuatiOns that we
NAV be able to comfort them which in any
trouble BY the comfort wherewith we ourselves
are cOmforted of God. In emulation OF all
angels, IN fellowship with all saints aud in sym
pathy with all sufferers: 10 remembrance OF
Thy works. in recurrence of Thy ways, and in
accordance with Thy work, we love and magnify
Thy infinite Projections Thy creative glory. Thy
redeeming grace Thy porvidentisl goodness, and
the progressive, richer, and fairer development
of Thy supreme, universal, and everlasting adj
ministratiOn la behalf OF all humanity, whose
ideal is divine. whose first memory is Thy image
lost and whose last hope is Thy image restored !;
especially in behalf OF our own nation, whose
history has been 50 favored. whose position is
so peerless, whose mission Is sublime,
and whose future is so attractive; We
thank thee for the unspeakabe patience of
Thy compassion, and for the exceeding greatness
OF Thy loving kindness In contemplation of
Eden. Calvary and Heaven, of Christ in the God
on the cross, and on the throne-nay, more, of
Christ as coming again in all subdueng power
and glory gratefully prOlong our homage by
this alter of sacrifice, this field of delverance
on this mount OF salvation. within the fiery and
blood line of these mountains and rocks. looking
back to the dark days of fear and OF trembling
and to the rapture of relief that came after; we
multiply our thanksgivings and confess our obi
cations to renew and perfect our personal and So
cial conservation to thy service and glory. Oh,
had it not been for God for our enemies, they
came unresisted, multitudinous, mighty. flushed
with victory and sure of success; they exulted on
our mountains; they revelei in our valleys they
feasted. they rested, they slept, they awakened
they grew stronger, prouder, and bolder every
day; they spread abroad, they concentrated here;
they looked beyond this horizon TO stores of
wealth, to the haunts OF pleasure and the seats
Of power in our capital and chief cities: they
prepared TO cast the chain OF slavery around the
form of Freedom and 70 bind life and
death together forever Their premature triumph
was the mockery OF God and man. One more
was heard the feebler march of smaller, but
still a pursuing host; onward they hurried, day
and hight for their country and their sod: foot
sore, wayworn, hungry, thirsty, faint. but not iii
heart they came TO bear all, to DO all that is
possible to heroes At first they met the blast on
the plain aud bent before it like trees; but then.
led by Thy hand to the hills, they took their
stand on these rocks. and remained AS firm and
immovable as they. In vain were they assaulted +;
all art all violence all desperation failed to dis
lodge them Bltfied. bruised and broken, their
enemies retired and disappeared Glory TO God
for this rescue. But OBJ the slain, in the fresh
ness and fullne-s OF their young aud manly life.
with such sweet memory of father and mother,
brother and sister wife and children, maiden and
friend From the coasts beneath the eastern star
from the shores of northern lakes and rivers
from the flowers of the western prairies: from the
homes Of the midway and the border; they
came here 10 die for us and for mankind
Alas, how little do for theml We coWe
with the humility of PRAYER, with the pathetic
sloquence OF venerable wisdom, with tender beau
~ of poetry, with the plaintve harmony of mus
ic, with the honest tribute OF our Chief Mags-
trate, and with all this honorable attendance: but
our best hope is in Thy blessing o. LoId! our
God, bless US o. our Fsther, bless the bereaved
whether absent or present; Gless our sick and
wounded soldiers and sailors: bless all rulers
and people; bless army and navy ;fbless the
efforts to suppress this rebellion: and bless all
the associations OF this day, place and scene, for
ever. As the trees aie not dead though their
foliage * gone, our heroes are totdGli though
their forms are fallen Ia their Iroper PERSONAL
u. they are ali with Thee; ana The spirit Of their
example i here-it fills the air. il fills our hearts,
ard, as long as time shall last, it will hover in
these skies aud rest on these landscapes and pill
griulS OF own land snd of all Lands will thrill
with its inspiration and increase aud confirm their
devotion to liberty. rel zion and God
Mr.. Everett then commenced the delivery of
his Grafton. which was listened to with marked
attention throughout
Although heavy fog clouded the lAavens in
the morning during the procession, rheS inn broke
out in all its brilliancy during the Rev. Mr..
cent spectacle The assemblage was of great
ma guitu de and was gathered within a cir Gle Of
great extent around the stand, which was loca-
tel on the highest point OF ground on which the
battle was fought A hong line of maitary sur
rounded the position taken by the imuf nse mul
ttude Of people
The Marshal took up position on Pie left of
the stand Numerous flags and banners, suitably
drAped were exhibited on the stand and among
the audience The entire scene one OF gran
deur due TO the importance Of the occasion. So
quiet were the people that every word uttered by
the orator OF the dsy must have been heard by
them ALL notwithstanding the immensely Of the