The Portland daily press., 1869-06-03

The exercises were opened by Major /. Lu-
bey, chairman of the committee Of arrange
ments, who introduced Gen. Samuel A. Dun
can, Grand Commander of the Department of
the Potomac, and President of the day. Gen.
Duncan made short and pertinent speech,
which was very fayorably received. He pre-
sided with great ease and excellent taste. The
Miserere from II Trovdtore was beautifully per-
formed in solemn and subduing accents by the
Marine Band, in full uniform. A prayer by
Rev. DIR. j. p. Newman followed, in which he
touchingly adverted to the sacrifices and strug
giles that were made on the battle field by the
soldiers whom we had come to commemorate.
and the untold benefits which had resulted to
the nation from their lators and suferings.
Francis De Haes Janvier occupied a short
time in delivering fine poem, which opened
with the following beautiful sentiments:
se. Bring the fairest flowers that bloom,
ata7 Full OF beauty aud perIume,- N
9s. Lay garland on each tomb.
Every sepulcher you see
Is shrine, henceforth TO be
Consecra,ed to Liberty. fant M
Next followed the oration by Hon. s. 8
Fisher. 1t was short but manly and patriotic
performance. lfu. .'.
'd Leaving the stand, the procession passed to
the sepulchre Of the Unknown Dead, in which
two thousand, one hundred and eleven soldiers,
whose names are unknown, are buried. Over
the granite monument, which is surmounted.
with cannon, a canopy some thirty feet in
height was erected, composed of battle flags
and flowers, supported by firm pillars, entwined
with ivy and other evergreens. Boqnets,
crosses and .estoons of flowers and laurel
wreaths adorned 1t, and thrilling notices, of
which the following exquisite lines are spec-
men:
"On Fame eternal camping ground
And glory guards. with solemn round,
The biyouac Of the dead"
When a circle had been formed around the
tomb, Beethoven's Dead March was performed
by Heald's American Brass Band. and fer
vent prayer offered by Rev. J. G. Butler, fol-
lowed by requiem by the Beethoven Club
The orphan children of the fallen soldiers from
the Soldiers and Sailors Orphan Home, about
sixty ip number, then sung the thrilling song,
"Shall we know each other thereY' As their
innocent and shrill voices rung out upon the
clear Air, under the canopy of the majestic
oaks, the sluices of many an eye were opened,
and the pearly drops chased one another in
quick succession to the ground, t
The procession, the band in the meantime
playing, passed from the tomb to the National
Cemetery for the general decoration. At the
National Cross, on which were inscribed the
names of the principal battle grounds Of the
rebellion, and which was wrsathsd with flow
ers, the orphan children each presented boz
quet of flowers to the widows of the fallen sol
diers, after which the committee of decoration, !,
with their assistants, Immediately deployed
and the general decoration was commenced.
In very short time it was completed, and so
completely was 1t performed, that there was
not, to my knowledge, single grave of that
great army of thirty thousand sleepers that
are buried there, which was overlooked or left
unadorned. After the decoration was compile.
ted, benediction was pronounced by Rev. B.
Swallow, and the ceremonies ended. a4s4o
As witnessed this grand pageant IN honor
of the Union dead, 1 felt proud Of my country.
No 9TH Or nation has exhibited so much refine
ment Of civilization in the care aud honor
shown its soldiers on the battlefield, in the hos
pital, or at their sepulchrea. England has not
attained it. France can not boast Of 1t. 1t 10
peculiar, unique, our own. May we we still
advance in this civilization and Christian spirit
| and may other nations emulate our example,
till all shall arrive to that state Of national re-
tinement, hoped for but not yet seen, when all
national differences, whether internal or for
eign, viii be settled, net by the arbitration of
the sword, but by the great Congress Of Ma
tons. 1lLsE OBSERVER.