New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-06-01

ms %enHtifni ladies' beside couple of German
singing societies and the full Marine band in the
celebrated red uniform-the band which has pipedon
every great state occasion in half the history OF the
country 1t is q gathering less formal, anu
more republican than we are IN the ha4S Vi VII
Messing here, where power goes for every thlhg anu
talent and money cheap. Mrs Grant, heT laJheI'
and child are among the ladies' and Gen: Howard
Gen. Nye, and a few Others appear III UNIFORM De
hind the stand are numerous carriages, with people
sitting in them and under the trees IN front OF the
stand is the bulk of what is estimated as t9ta az
tendance of 1000 persons. Groups and families are
scattered through the woods and cemetery, PIC
nickng or tying flowers together; and at TINS early
hour find that every grave IN the entire cemetery
has a little bouquet dropped upon IT, by commit
tees working with most thorough conscientousness;
the ladies of the Grand Army" have not omitted
any grave, however lOwly, whether of the white or
black known or unknown, soldier OF freedom or sol
der of section.
The exercises were medley of military and civil
performances. The Patent Office had its full share
of prominent personages the orator of the day being
S. S. Fisher the new Commissioner, and the preSid-
ing officer Gen. Samuel A. Duncan, prominent
Official OF the same In literary point OF view the
services not equal TO those of last year. when
Gen. Garfield delivered an Grafton in the tender ana
yet manly strain which IS Significant of bis chaI
ter. Gen. Duncan however, presided with yOutn5
full dignity which reminded of his seltPotSe anu
direCneSS in the war; the singing societies rendeIe9
themselves in the fun feeling of the OecaslO' a t
DR.. Newman, who has taken deep ana +InIitn
root in the admiration of the people OF htsLIusoi,
gave prayer after his exquisite anu III '''''''
rhetoric ,,.o
During tho exercises it was pleasant and sad to see
the effect upon the orphans OF tne souieIS u
plaintive music of the band playing urges, DeiTIo
The exercises began Duponts battery one OF the
pillars of the war fired hundred guns .
Gen Grant during all these proceedings was
provriv taikafive with Rawlns at his side, and he
was observed to wear an elderly face rs OF one who
bad but just escaped and for an instant merely nom
grave and prosecuting responsibilities When all
the civic and ceremOniOus formulas were over, the
assembly resolved itself into procession, and paid
sweet and moumful visit round the great war
graveyard The first tomb that TO the mlscella-
neOus unknown dead, great granite block planted
close by Arlington House, in the back yard OF the
Lee family indeed, telling its whole story Ill these
Beneath this stone repose the bones of ALL unknown
Run aud the the Rappahannock; their remains
could not be identified, but their names and deeds are
recorded in the archives on ther country anu us
lul citizens honor them as OF their noble army OF martyrs
May they rest in peace september, A, u 1850. . Al,
This mighty mausOleum, mighty indeed IN the
number of its TepOsltOrs as many as whole armies III
The early years Of the country, was decorated In
very ornate manner, flags being canOpled ABOVE IT,
mock siege pieces planted upon its COInCe and can
non balls piled above the center, while around 1t
solid wall of flowers was set and the pillars OF Its
canopy were columns Of color and blossom. Ihe
scent of it filed the whole air. When the wlnd
blew across this tomb OF the unknown, 1t waited 70
The nOstrls of the multitude such OdOrs as made the
grave precious. Around this tomb broad arch OF
spectators kept at decorous distance by guards
who paced as in camp, on slow and viglant picket
and in the circle few eminent guests, the
President and Cabinet, and the orphans OF tho
soldiers and sailors. After prayer by DR.. Butler
These orphans raised little shrillvOiced hymn.
pressive of all plsntveness and helpleSsness, the
refrain to which was: :" Shall We know each other
theTeP
In perfect silence the leaves overhead MUIR
muring, the great multitude heard those slender
voices piping and sObs went up from those without
which reached the sympathles OF those within ana
several Of the little singers themselves Tell acrylng
1t was the only instance the had during the day
that somebody was dead indeed. and that somebody
was grieving and disconsolate Yet the eye could
mark this same lesson in the pale little faces of the
lads and girls and see il reflected in some widows
countenance who looked on apart and felt that this
was graft feelings
times the cracked little chorus would quite stop or
be carried on upon quayering voice or two but IN
the end they all took courage and bore II along IL e
forOm hope or the rally blown by the last bugler.
Oh We weary, sad, and tossed ones,
DrOOp not, faint not by the way,
Ye shall join the loved and Just ones,
In the land OF perfect dayl
Harp strings touched by angel fingers,
Murmured In my raptured ear;
EyermOre their sweet song fingers,
we shall know each other therep
From the regally ford tOmbs of the many
known dead the procession reformed, and the two
Gne brass bands which attended the ceremony placed
themselves in the opposite lObes of the great Gene
terry, and played to and ITO most exquisite dirges as
the long commemorative funeral filed down the
asles of graves between sentTles mounted and on
foot From boundary to boundary the Lonesome
lament swung at times like the crown of some High
land pipe again like the murmurous and indignant
diapasOn of prOtestatiOn, which suddenly dropped
again to note OF swelling triumph that capped
death with victory. and fell at last TO donbt even
this latter were compensation. While this was the
music, the procession of women and widows: orphans
and veterans, the mutllated and the perfect, ais
Uubuted themselves down the lever alsIes OF grass
and at every note hundred handfulls of roses fell
From this one, a golden striped lily; from that,
nOddng Turks cap; here, the scarlet petals OF the
Ghalcedonian lily; and there, at an instant, score
Of pale blue heliOtrOpes. The melancholy amaranth
dropped its blOOd-Ted pendants next door TO the
blossoms of the laurel On every hand were he'll
ChyTysums of golden color the everlasting Hover
of all Christian and heather lands where 1t Will
take root
One little scene struck all beholders. A very puny
little Orphan-One who was, as Iafterward learned,
the child of Sergeant who had been shot dead on
plcket-came TO the grave of Rebel private. lhe
boy before him stopped, and on making motion TO
plant bouquet on this grave hesltated and refused
The little fellow broke ranks, walked 70 the head OF
the grave Of the Rebel, and empted all his freight OF
roses there. His manner in doing this that of
nervous courage like one who felt bold thought
and acted promptly on IT, countless OF danger or
opinion, and seemed to be the moral sublime act Of
the day.
Among these graves was a tall cross covered with
flowers, and mock pail stood behind 1t, Here the
soldiers orphans, little we8ZeD faced fellows gath
eTed and they banded their flowers 10 a soldiers
widow who gave them in turn TO mutilated soldier.
lie hung them all upon the cross, and meanwhile the
bands said across the great space TO each other hat
sOTrOWs turbulence OF grief or tender Iemlns-
ccuCe art transmit to sound The park OF artll-
lery fred final salute TO close the sacrament. IL
was growing evening now, and every note seemed
eudcreT and every solemn act OF love, found more
cOusOuant atmosphere. Meanwhile at Alexandra,
that ancient barrack city, they were also haloTing
the dead and for sunday they were arranging How
els TO dress the graves at the Soldiers Home and
Fort Stevens.
When all was done at Arlington the grave shadows
Of the twilight fell deeper gray, under the mighty
shadow Of woods and the hues died out of the flow
ELS which laid On every soldiers breast. Scarlet
yielded to ash, and golden yellow TO dusk. But still
some l0iteTed round; grief was too proud or TOO
modest for open demonstration, and even IN the
night there were weeper5 among the lonely head
boards who had not walked in the procession, nor
she'd tears 20 the these TO the last 10th TO
leave the clOsteTs of the dead, and wondered If
they were humber who rested in the gratitude of