The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-11-27
$4,000 Persons in Attendance.
Impressive Exercises of the o.
casiOn.
Dirge by Hon. D. B. French--Ora.
ton by Hon. Edward Everett.
OBLIGATORY ADDRESS BY
PRESIDENT LINCOLN.
A GRAND NATIONAL TESTIMO-
NAL TO OUR FALLEN
BRAVES.
HARRISBURG, Nov. 20, 1868.

HARRISBURG, Nov. 20, 1868.
NV dispatch last night concerning the exer-
cises yesterday: by occupation of the wires,
was made necessarily brief. send you my
full notes of the most impressive civic occasion
Of the war;
A great day for the nation, the burial place
of her glorious defenders on the crisis Of the
national safety was spiendidly dedicated to
valor, to patriotism and to freedom. The
people have been coming all the week, and
some days since the town was full to overflow
ing, SO that the hosts who arrived yesterday
and last night were compelled to sleep ON the
floors of private houses. The demonstration
citizens in the procession was superior to any
thing of the kind ever witnessed in this coun-
try.
Ward II, 1amon, Marshal of Washington,
was Chief Marshal of the day, assisted by nu-
merOus aids. Their dress was according to the
order that has been published.
After the performance of an original piece by
the band, furnished by Gov. Curtin, piece
eloQuently suited to the occasion, which was
performed with prc-emnent skill, Rev. Mr..
Stockton, the venerable Chaplain of the United
States Senate was introduced, who offered up
such prayer as only he is capable of. The
vast assembly stood uncovered in bzeaShiess at
tentiOn during the invocation, ord few indeed
were the hearts however ebdurate, that did not
American nation. Never was man selected
for any service so fit in every respect to per-
form it. There the reverend gentleman stood,
looking as if himself was one of the brave dead
whose graves were spread out before him just
risen from the tomb to invoke the god OF ma.
ton and liberty, to bless the sacred work aud
inspire the hearts of the living with the gran
deur of the work still before them.
Hon. Edward Everett was then introduced.
The procession arrived on the ground just two
minutes before eleven o'clock, and at half-past
eleven the great assemblage was called to order.
Mr.. Everett, the orator, proceeded with a
discourse occupying two hours and four min
utes in the delivery, The conspicuous stand
was filled with officers of the General Govern
ment, Governors and their stats, Foreign Min
listers, Admirals, and the members of the press.
In front sat the President of the United States,
and on his left sat Secretary Seward and Mont
gOmery Blair; behind the President sat Gov.
Tod, Hon. John Brough, Governor elect Of
Ohio, Gov. Seymour, Gov. Curtin and others.
Perhaps the most attentive and appreciative
listener was Old Abe himself he seemed to
be absorbed in attention most profoundly till
the spell was broken by a mistake of the orator
in saying General Lee when he should have
said General Meade The mistake caused the
President to tuTn to Seward and with q lOnd
voice say, Gen. Meade; but the orator did
not seem to hear it. At this time the orator
again made the same mistake, when the Pres-
dent corrected it loud enough to secure cor
rectien by the orator. Another listener whose
'copntenance seemed most to express the pleas
gre felt, was John Brough, Governor elect of
Ohio. For some minutes after the orator COM
menced there was considerable confusion to
the right that seemed not easily to be silenced
The crowd was packed SO densely that the
Marshals who sat on their horses amidst the
multitude, could not move towards the desired
quarter but at length an impressive passage
of the orator, contrasting the importance Of
the Greeian struggle at Marathon, which was
like that of our Republic on the spot where he
stood, the dense crowd gave way, and breath
less attention was maintained throughout.
At the conclusion OF the Grafton, choir
from the Musical Association of Baltimore,
treated the people to the following beautiful