The Evansville journal., 1868-06-01
Homer to the Gallant Dead.
A GRAND PAGEANT
SCENE OF EXQUISITE BEAUTY.
PREPARATIONS.

cert hall Of the new Opera House 70
make preparations for decorating the
graves of the soldiers who repose in
Oak Hill Cemetery. The number in
attendance was not as great by any
mesns as it should have been, but
many who would have gladly taken
part in this sacred duty, were detained
by domestic duties. There was
liberal contribution of flowers, and
the ladies soon worked them into
bouquets, wreaths, and garlands.
THE PROCESSION
Was formed about two clock, aud
to the qualification of al who wished
for the success of the enterprise, it
was far larger and more imposing
than the most sanguine had antiei-
pated. It had been advertised that
carriages would be in waiting to con-
vey the ladies to the cemetery, and
numbers who had contributed flow
ers, and who desired to join in the
ceremonies of the afternoon, assem-
bled at the appointed hour, but found
no conyeyances for their accommoda-
ton, and had to return home disap-
pointed Exactly who was to blame for
this neglect, we do not know, but hun
dreds. supposing that Preparations
would be made as announced, made
no arrangements for resching the
ground until it was too late The
procession was formed as laid down
in the published programme
The Crescent City Silver Band, in
full uniform, lead the procession on
foot to the head of Main Street. fol-
lowed by their magnificent band wag-
on, which was brought into requisition
when The head Of the procession de-
bouched from Main Street. Next
was carriage containing the speak
ers; then came members of the Grand
Army of the Republic on foot After
these followed the artillery two guns,
with caisons, each drawn by four
horses-the artillerymen, or gun
squad, in their splendid uniform of
black pants, with black belts, the
pants trimmed with red cord down
the seam, blue shirts trimmed with
red, and black caps trimmed also with
red, moving to the call of the bugle.
The artillery was followed by several
wagons containing flowers, and these
by citizens in carriages. As the pro-
cession passed the head of Main
Street, there were over forty carriages
in the train, and vast crowd of peo-
ple-men, women and children ac-
companied on foot.
The band carried, on their flag
staff, beautiful chaplet of ever
green, trimmed with flowers and stud
ded with miniature flags, with the in
scription, in golden letters. at its
base, Our Dead" The Grand Army
of the Republic carried their flags
draped in mourning, while the band
played solemn dirge.
A BEAUTIFUL TRIUMPHAL ARCH
Spanned the entrance to Oak Hill
Cemetery, beneath which the long
line passed, all on foot except the
band and those in the flower wagons.
The artillery was planted on the
farther part of the grounds, and the
ceremonies were introduced by the
firing Of National salute. A prayer
was then offered up by Rev. Van
Antwerp, of the Episcopal Church
The flowers were then strewn on the
gravessef the brave heroes, a minia-
ture United States flag surmounting
each Sheadboard, and handsome
bouquet of fresh flowers reclining
against the base of the headboard or
laid upon the top.
THE CROWD
On the grounds was variously esti-
mated at from $500 to 1000, and
each one seemed anxious to take part
in thesaored duty. After the graves
were decorated the people assembled
on the highest ground, beneath the
trees, to listen to
ADDRESSES,
-, From Rev. R. Andrus, Rev. Charles
L. c. Runck aud Captain w. P. Har-
grave. Rev Mr.. Andrus spoke first.
: He said:
Soldiers Of the Union, Ladies and
Gentlemen:
YTlar c;rory,-+ancas oP ---