Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-01-27
OF THE REMAINS OF GEN
AIBFBr SYDNEY JOHNSTON.
The solsmnllle. of the occasion.

! The body, it was now seen, had beer
1 buried in a zinc case and q mahogany
coffin The latter was found to have
been greatly deeayed during the past
! four years. But, to understand its con-
/ dition il should be remembered that the
body had been only buried about month
/ before the arrival of Gen. Butler in this
city, and that il was to him that the idea
| had occurred of instituting a search for
| treasure in the resting place of the dead.
| Acting upon this thought provost guard
appeared before the present sexton (ac-
cording to the statement which the latter
now makes, and ordered him to conduct
/ the party to the grave Of the departed
soldier. The sexton did so he was then
made 10 open the tomb, and the cofilp
was removed therefrOm. Without wait
| ing for the formality of unscrewing the
| lid, it was violently pried open; one oI
| the side pieces was forced from its fasten-
| ings. and il was not until a hole was cut
! In the zinc case, which Vas placed in
side of the coffin, that the curiosity Of
the party was satisfied. The coffin, thus
partially destroyed, was then returned TO
its resting place. and the act was suose-
quently recognized by the then existing
authorities, by the payment OF the ordl-
nary fees 10 the sexton for his services
upon the occasion
The coffin and zinc case, when disin-
TERED, still betrayed the rude treatment
il had received. and as il was otherWlse
almost destroyed, new one was pro-
vided. made of black walnut, covered
with velvet and adorned with silver
mountings. About an hour previous to
the time appointed for its departure from
the graveyard. the coffin was exposed to
public view, and was soon covered with
chsplets and bouquets streWn by Wo-
mans hand.
The committee from Texas appointed
| to receive the remains of Gen. Johnston
had called upon Mayor Monroe and stated
to him that it was the wish OF the de-
ceased. EXPRESSED before his death, and
also the wish of his family, and the
/ people Of Texas, that he should be buried
| in the state Of his adoption. To this, i'm
mediate assent was given, and at the
hour appointed, the distinguished gem
tIemen Of Texas and this city who had
been requested 10 act ss pall-bearersi
proceeded to theSt. Louis cemetery with
ne more display than what Is made by a
half a dozen carriages. When the latter
reached the tomb, not more than nun
dred people most Of them ladleslI had
gathered there in advance. However
the space Immediately around the tomo
lit was in Mayor Monroe's that the body
had previously restedl was extremely
limited, and for that reason some Of the
adjoining tOmbstones were occupied by
eager spectators.
The usual religious exercises Of the
Episcopal church were read, commenc-
ing I am the resurrection and life" by
Rev. J. W. Beckwith, of Trinity church,
assisted by Rev. DR.. Leacocki Of Christ
church.
The following named gentlemen acted
as pail bearers Gen. Beauregard, Gen.
Bragg, Gen. Hood, Gen. LOngstreet,
Gen. Dick Taylor, Gen. 5. B. Bucknerr
Gen. Hays, Gen. Maury, Gen Gibson
Gen. G. w. Chiffon, Gen. y. P. Luckett,
Col. Geo. Deas, Col. Ashbel Smith, Col.
D. w. Jones, Maj. Tom Ochiluee.
Reaching the street, the body was de-
posted in a hearse made Of black cypress,
/ very richly mounted with silver, and
which had never before been used. The
| silver-mounted harness gas also new,
and with the black horses used upon the
occasion, constituted an equipage which
was fitting to convey the remains OF q
| departed hero.
The crowd had now swelled to perhaps
a thousand strong, and tribute OF re-
spect was here paid to the memory Of
| the great leader which has never before
| been witnessed in this city-nOt even
/ when Col. Chas. DreuX was interred-the
! first Of the war victims from the state,
| and one Of the most popular men that
| has ever lived in our midst. The mark
| Of respect which was shown upon the
| present occasion was the marching 10
| procession, and on foot, Of the ladies' Of
/ the city.
In this extraordinary procession we
| observed many ladies Of advanced years,
and all, young and old, walked through
mud and mire in the middle OF the
| streets. Such a spectacle has never been
| seen in New Orleans within our oUserVa-
| ton. We are told that at the funeral oI
| the wife Of an illUstrious general, which
! occurred in the midst of the war, there
| was a like exhibition OF womGnly ssntl'
! msHt, q sentiment expressing admiration
/ FOR heroism and respect for every Onj
/ allied to the hero; but with the eXcep-
ton Of that sad sOlemnily, which we cIl
not witness, no such spectacle as that o.
Yesterday has been seen in New Orleans
/ during the last quarter OF a century, anC
perhaps never before.
No one. so far as we could Observe
rode, excepting the ministers who ON
ciated, and one Of the generals who hat
lost the use of his limbs. The rest FOL
lowed, although the way was long one
on foot. At every square the crowd rsp
idly increased, until 1t seemed TO absort
all Of the passing population OF the
streets. At one time it must have eN
tended in length almost a mile. Il Wa
composed, without exception, OF tht
most respectable population Of the city
1t certainly was the saddest we have eNel
seen. There was not an exclamation Ol
a shout upon the streets as II passed
there was no appeal 10 the emotions ~
any dirgelike music; there was scarcel,
any whispering OF conversation IN Tx
immense thrOng that followed. Tue FAC
that the remains Of great man were
being removed, who had once eminenul
commanded respect, and that no disp-a,
in music, colOTs or professional band
had been attempted, sppeaied NOR
strongly 10 every beholderls sympathl
than if the most imposing funeral rte
had been prepared. II was this feeling
doubtless, that prompted the ladies' Q
walk as mOurneT5 and 10 show Tor th
memory Of the deceased the most touch
ing evidence OF their respect ever ye
| witnessed in this city.
The procession proceeded along Cont
Rampant, Canal and Chartres, TO til
ferry near the jackson square. tn
body was then conveyed down the rive
70 the Opelousas depot, which place
will leave tomorrow morning. IL vi
arrive the same night at Brashear city
the next day at Galveston, and froI
thence will be conveyed, by way {
Houston, Washington, LaGTange an
! RastrOp to Austin.