The New York herald., 1869-05-30
Interesting Ceremonies at Ar
fhngtOn Heights.
Addresses by Distinguished Speakers at Arling-
ion, BOsten and Elsewhere.
Programme Of the Ceremonies in New
York and Brooklyn To-Day.
TnE MEMORIAL SERVICES At WASHINGTON.

Els,i,sauishcd Persons Present--Intcresting
Address by $. 3. Fisher--Anectins CeremO-
nits-- Scenes und Incidents.
WASHINGTON, May 29 1862
Tie city to-day presented the appearance Of sun
Gay, thousands having LEFT TO attend the solemn
ceremonies OF the decoration OF the graves OF our
fallen heroes who lie buried beneath the sod at
Arlington. The departments were all Closed and
but one subordinate Official was in attendance at the
White House. The President, accompanied by Mrs
Grant and Mr. Dent, her father, left in his private
carriage shortly before noon to attend the decoration
ceremonies. All the heads OF departments were
ALSO at Arlington paying tribute to the hOnored dead
The road u Georgetown and through Georgetown
and across the Aqueduct bridge TO the cemetery was
thrODged ut early hour, and the carriageways with
vehicles of all descriptions. The street ears were
literally packed all the morning. battalion o.
marines were on the grounds.
The visitors passed through the grounds and
visited oil points OF interest," AMI stopped for while
among the graves. Before eleven O'Clock the crowd
was immense, and every moment brought additions.
TN the ground Major Lubey, Colonel Sandbum,
captain Fachtz, and other members OF the committee
Of arrangements were busy carrying out the pro-
gramme and necessary preparations. The platform
draped all over with flags and banners, and large
American flags covered the 'front.' with the banner OF
the Eighteenth brigade veteran corps in the centre
The rear OF the stage was decorated with two large
flags upon star draped either way to represent the
front Of tent Small banners were grouped around
The edges while above all was the green foliage OF
the Overspreading oak, the lower boughs OF
which were gracefully draped with the
national colors One Of the greatest points Of at
traction was the "romb OF the Unknown" The
monument erected to the unknown soldiers stands
10 the front and right of the stand. Around it had
been erected a canopy OF American iags supported
Iy SIX upright posts. The canopy was beautifully
trimmed with wreaths OF cvergreens, ana decorated
with small flags and streamers OF parti-coored
cambria The monument is solid block OF granite
about eight feet square and SIX feet high. On either
corner is placed an iron tweve-pOunder. Between
these guns Is piled stack OF the balls used in the
guns. Around the monument were tastefny hung
beautiful wreaths OF evergreens. laurel and choice
roses. The effect was elegant. The inscription ON
The monument is as fQllows;--
Recorded The archives OF their country and It's grateful
they rest in peace. September, A. d. 1865.
Beneath this stone repose the bodies OF two thousand
one hundred and eleven unknown soldiers, gathered
alter The war from the fields OF Bull Run and on
The route to the Rappahannock. The national salute
Of twenty-one guns was fired al one O'Clock precise
iy by Colonel DuponLs battery, which was stationed
IN front Of the Arlington House. The assembled
multitude, which had gathered between the stage
@ and tue tomo OF S the snSn9wn was then called TO
Committee OF Arrangements who, in brief speech,
appropriate to the occasion, introduced COmrade
ment OF the Potomac, as President Of the day.
Comrade Duncan then proceeded TO address the
fnrOng
FROM the Georgetown Aqueduct to Arlington, a
distance OF nearly two miles, the road was traversed
by thousands OF pedestrians and many carriages OF
R Glasses, including ambuances, that travelling
was somewhat dangerous. Long before the COM
nenccment OF the exercises a dense crowd was IN
'front.' OF the stand, which was decorated with ever
greens ana flowers and a profuson OF national na2s
About one O'Clock President Grant and family, Gen.
erai Sherman members OF the Cabinet Foreign Min
,sfar nd hen
q salute was fred to indicate the commencement OF
ceremonies. Comrade Samuel A. Duncan. Grand
called the assembly to order. when Q full
marine band played the "Miserere." and
prayer by the Rev. Ur. Newman followed.
An ode to the dead having been sung the general
order OF the Commander-in Chief OF the Grand Army
Of the Republic, Logan. ordering an observance OF
the day, was read. The concluding exercises ON the
stage were the singing Of 'G0d Bless Our Native
Iand;' poem, "Our Martyrs" written for the occa
son by Fraucls DE Haas Jarvicr song, 'sleep Well
Ye Heroes Brave" sung BY the Washington Saenger-
bnnd.
Hon. s. s. Fisher, Commissioner OF Patents deliy-
cred the following address,
year ago these mounds, beneath which dead he
rOes sleep, were stfewn with garlands by loving
ba aus and watered by tears from loving eyes. The
flowers that we scattered have long since wlthered;
me spring that gave the flowers has long since
have come and gone. Each grave has been wrapped
In a winding sheet Of snow ana bleak winds have
sung dirges over the spot which the living nad de-
serted. Bat nature never forgets the dead. From
her lap she brings forth green AIDES and leaves and
md 81 wd n9wers ana heGssl n decks te,r m graves
gifts them. She does more than this: for n there
lie any tomb unknown TO US, or that we have for
yard, IN the lonely wood. by the roadside, at the
f0rd, on the picket line, or tenting still ION the
spot where he lies sud flung over him her mantle OF
beauty. fthese graves be dear TO her, by how much
familiar story that one day, in the Roman forum.
the earth opened and great gull yawned in the very
midst. Tde augurs said that this guif would never
close is h0i1i mouth until 1t had been fed with the
most precious thing In Rome. There was doubt az
90 what the most precious thing might be. when a
young sodier, armed and mounted, rode boldly for
ward and plunged into the chasn, declaring that
there could be nothing so precious as life given for
Une day, In our own land, stretching from side TO
side, from ocean to desert, great gulf yawned III.
viding in twain families, communities. States-yea
the very nation itself. Into this widening chasni
we nave cass our most precious possessions-the
youth, the strength, the talent the virtue, the
pa%s 2, e s sposc o o Wass where gray
cabins which sheltered the emigrant Of YESTERDAY
fresh from the shores that he LEFT IN search OF free
dom; from the lap OF luxury; from cramping
poverty; from the waysde OF the blacksmith: from
the broad acres Of the farmer; from the woodland
clearing Of the pioneer from the jewelled cave OF
sme miner; from the halls where pale students
gathered; from the marts o. trade where
manhood; aye, aud with the hating OF
age, they came In great throng to stand between
nAllOn ana lts 1OcS. INC Qult tS closed, but
seams aud scars like these remind us how imminent
the danger and how great tue sacrifice. The storm
has passed, but many giants OF the forest are laid
low, and many trunks are torn and twisted and
manned and blasted. We come not here 10 NOUN
the loss Of men like these. Fire no minute gun over
their graves. Toll no funeral bell. Rejoice rather
that the nation has gwen birth to such sons.
Deck their tomps with the crowns and garlands
ana laurel wreaths OF victory bid their children and
ours mark well their example: and for ourselves,
let us draw fresh inspirations Of love for our land
end for liberty, and seek rom them lessons OF de-
hvcrancc from narrow party spirit, greed Of gain
and lust Of power And first among these lessons
These graves remind US that we have country.
Tits seemed once to be DOUBTED. We were told by
nnricndIy nations-and ourselves repeated and half
ncheved the charEe--that we were such w0rslippers
% EOd that we had lost the love of country. that the
Wy iorm OF our government had iostered state
m'ae m anu DESTROYED pride in the nation;
inas men loved party, but not their native
land; that they hated their politjcal opponenis.
~ hn tnelr country's foes; that boasling OF