Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-13
THE BURIAL OF COL. BOWERS AT
WEST POINT.

A few days ago, it will be recollected that
Col. T. S. Bowers, Assistant Adjutant on Gen.
Grants staff, was accidentally killed on the
railroad in going in company with his Gen
eral from West Point TO New York. His
remains were carried back to West Point and
inferred, with proper honors, on Thursday
last. From the mournful scenes of that oc-
casion we give the following, as of general
interest. 1t will be observed that No me-
mentos of the late war were present, and
that reference is made to the memories clus-
tering around the chapel in which the cer-
emony was performed, well calculated to re-
woke the spirit of peace and amity:
"At o'clock the procession formed in the
quadrangle of the chapel for the purpose of
listening to the funeral services. The pail
bearers were as follows General Nichols,
General Vincent, Lieutenant Colonel Viper,
Lieutenant Colonel Kensel, Lieutenant Col
onel Mordicai, Lieutenant Colonel Gene
theirs, Brigadier General Sanford The bat
TALON of cadets, equipped in their gray over
coats and white belts, with the bands of their
muskets shining like silver, formed outside
the door and entered the church, every inch
of which is classic ground. The communion
table, covered with the American. colors, with
the inscription "For God and Country" the
thousand memorial tablets with names of the
glorious dead, whose names are linked with
the past fortunes of the republic, the can
mons with George Rex" and the crown en-
graved, and the variegated and richly
trimmed standards, torn from enemies of the
republic from Bunker Hill to Chepultepec.
What gloomy memories are these to cause
American bld1t to throb and boil in the
veins of her chosen children, the cadets of
West Point, destined one day to lead her
embattled hosts to the field. The sacred
spot is full of memories. On yonder pew
knelt the reticent boy Grant, here stern
Stonewall wrestled with the promptings of
the flesh. Yonder was the inner spot where
Lee bowed his proud head under the teach
ings of the humble divine, and in the shadow
of the column yonder volatile and irrepres-
sible Sherman perhaps dreampt of the great
march to the sea, surely it is place sacred
to lofty thoughts and grand inspirations.
Grant and his staff here entered, and as they
pass the gentlemanly looking cadets pay him
and suite the tribute of the military salute
The minister, humbly attired in white sur
plice or gown, ascends the pulpit and COM
mences the solemn and beautiful service of
the Episcopal church.
am the resurrection and the life, saith
the Lord he that belieyeth in me, though
he were dead, yet snail he live, and whose
ever liveth and believeth in me, shall" ETC.
" know that my Redeemer liveth and that
we shall stand at the latter day upon the
earth" These words of the inspired seer of
Patmos fell solemnly upon the ears of the
rapt congregation. The sermon continues
with the Goth Psalm, beginning: Lord,
let me know my end and the number of my
days, that l may be certified how long have
to live" Grant sits quietand placid during
the service, surrounded by his staff. Com
stock and Badenn, with grave, scholarly,
Saxon faces, lost in thought. Hudson, bluff
and soldierlike with the usual Western traits
prominent. Parker, swart, thick-ipped,
and aboriginal, and Werhler little dandi- |
fed. Sitting close together are Washburn, |
with shrewd, open countenance, indicative |
Of power in debate, and Moulhman, with in |
luisitive looking toward the cadets. Grouped |
gracefully together are the silvery heads of |
McCullom and Nicholson, in the corner of |
a pew. The priest closes the book, the SER
vices are ended, six cavalry sergeants bear |
The body forth, and the audience emerge |
into the church portal, some listening with
eager ears to the sweet strains of "Adeste |
Fideles' from the military, and few rumi-
mating on the solemn words just uttered, as
% the nothingness of human life.
THE GRAVE.
The procession, on leaving the church, |
marched TO the cemetery, winding around
he hills in and about the Hudson, and
while on the way to the grave, two wild
eagles, attracted by the sound of the music,
stopped their wild fight, and lowering
lbout in the air, made repeated circles near
he hearse, suggesting the thought of victory
o all present. The battalion of cadets, on
'eaching the grave, formed as if on parade,
md while the clergyman uttered the words
: Earth to earth ashes to ashes; dust to
lust )" Captain Boynton scattered shovel
ul of clay on the coffin. Presently the
'ot6n was lowered into the grave, and all
,eing ready, three successive vollies of mus
retry rung forth on the frosty air and rever-
,erating with strange echoes, announcing
hat another trua and triad Snldiar bad won |