American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-04-27
Army correspondence.
ANNAPOLIS, March %, 1861.

MEssRs. EDIToRs:-Perhaps your
readers would like to see description of
a ceremony seldom beheld in our country
"A Russian funeral While the Russian
vessels, Almaz and Variag, were here, a
couple of Russian sailors having drank of
the Ten Cent Hospitality of Annapolis,
(Bad Whiskey) got into quarrel with a
citizen dram seller, and the citizen shot
him dead. After the usual examinations
and Investigations, the citizen was releas-
ed, and the Russian was buried.
The ceremony was new, imposing, and
grand. The day being beautiful one,
the funeral was attended by everybody
and all their friends The Services were
performed in the chapel of the navy yard;
in the centre lay the body, in plain cof-
fin, surrounded by lighted wax candles,
arranged according to the superstition Of
the Greek faith; and choir of. the petty
officers of the feet, each holding light
ed taper. They chanted very nicely,
while the long haired priest, dressed in his
officiating gown, very richly decorated,
burned incense, which strongly sayored of
Russia or some other strong country
but | did not see all the performance
The press of red tape became so great that
the sergeant of the guard was ordered to
eject all private soldiers-to make room
for these barred dignitaries; all right,
thinks l ga private soldier has TO rights
a white man is bound to respect" and as |
was forced out by the point Of the bayo-
net to make room for these men of rank,
to crafty their curiosity, L thought of the
places | had seen where they were not half
so anxious to crafty their curiosity, and
how | had been deserted on the battle
field by the last one of them. But, after
about an hour the superstitious perform
ance was closed and the procession march
ed to the soldiers burrying ground. First
in order was boy about twelve years old,
carrying in his hand glass covered gilt
representation, | could not tell of what,
(but which ! afterwards saw on the vessel,
associated with their other religious rel
ics,) next came the unfortunate man de-
tailed to carry the lid of the coffin, this he
carried on his bare head from the chapel
to the grave, about a mile; next was the
Pail Bearers, with the open coffin upon
their shoulders, followed by the choir and
the priest, wearing long black gown and
an indescribable hat; next came the Rus
sian band of 40 curiously made instru-
ments, they played skillfully and the mu-
sic was delightful, but relief also, of the
Russians who played on peculiar kind of
bugle, and Brass drums, discoursed the
most melodious discord / ever heard
Then came the escort of one hundred of
his fellow soldiers with muskets of some
what larger calibre than ours; then came
the chief officers of the fleet, whose dress
was rich and gay, and presented a great
contrast to that of the soldiers just ahead !;
then came a detachment of the invalid
corps, very neat and clean, turned out as
an act of respect by the Surgeon in charge
of the navy yard hospital; then came in
promiscuous throng, everybody able to
walk, and in hearing of the delightful m,l-
sic. Having arrived at the burrying
ground, the beautiful slopes of the SUR
rounding hills we're covered with curious