The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-05-31

fts Observance iu HSrtysmd-The Deeora.
ton III S6laiefs, Graves

L
hal Day more general in Portland Than ever
before; but the fence, unrelenting heat was
too powerful, and hundreds were constrained
to forego their intentions. consequently the
gathering of the people on the street was COM
paratively small while the assemblage of spec
| tators at Evergreen Cemetery in the afternoon
was less than last year; yet tie horse cars
were crowded, and great many carriages were
| collected around the grounds during Tue sei-
vices.
The services proper began at about O'Clock,
wben tho various SQUADS, detailed from the
ranks OF the Grand Army. Of the Republic,
marched out from headq aarters, Joined by DEL
egations from the Army aud Navy Union, to
decorate the soldiers graves in the city CO ne
teres and those in Cape Elizabeth. The drum
I beat attracted small knots OF spectators to the
diff rent yards. Few and short were the prayers
said by the chaplains. The holy work was
performed speedily and accompanied by mill
tary honors. At the Eastern Cemetery flo-
raj tribute was laid at the foot of Commodore
Preble's monument, and garlands of evergreen
decorated the tombs of Burrows, Blythe and
| Waters, the heroes OF the Enterprise and Box
er engagement, and the graves OF some revolu-
tionary heroes who sleep in the enclosure were
also remembered. The graves of soldiers of
the Rebellion, thus visited yesterday number
218, MS follows: Evergreen Cemetery 100; East
ern 10; Western "a; Forest City SO; Calvary
| 70: City Hospital 5; an increase of AZ from
last year. BY noon the duties in all but Ever
groen Cemetery were performed, and prepara-
tons were made for the principal services of
the day at that beautiful City of the Dead
| The procession formed at O'Clock, the es-
| cort being com posed Of the three uniformed
military companies in the city, which formed
| on Congress street, with the right resting on
Center street. The Army and Navy Union
took position on Elm street, aud the Grand
Army on Federal street, in front of their hail.
The different divisions were rapidly taken up
by the military and in a few moments the
whole were in procession. and took up the
march, with the tolling bells and the minute
| guns marking mournful cadence. At City
Hall Gov. Perham and Col. f. E. Shaw, one
| Of his aids, the Mayor and members of the City
| Council, and heads of departments were re-
ceived with the usual honors. and the process.
| sion again moved on, in the following or0er:
Platoon of Police. t
Marsh Al and aides, mounted.
Portland Band, 70 pieces.
Portland Mechanic Blues. 80 men. undor command
IL. Of Lieut. L0vett.
Portland Cadets, So men, under command Of Capt.
John Anderson, with drum CORPS.
Portland Light Infantry, 30 men, under command of
Lieut. Fesse nden.
Gov. Ferham, Mayor and members OF City Govern
Army and Navy Union, 50 men; under command of
Post Besworth, 100 men. under command of Post
Commander w. b. Smith, with dun corps.
The battalion was commanded by Capt.
George w. Parker, assisted by Adiuta7t
Charles j. Pencil. Each member of the
Army and Navy Union aud Post Bosworth
bore floral tribute and the latter body car
ried besides the American flag a beautiful
white silk banner, IL by feet in size. on
the diverse. of which was the badge of the
order and the inscription ''Post Bosworth No.
2. G. A. R. Dept of Name" The reverse
was the same with tho addition Of the follow
ing: "Organized Sept. 2. 1867 referring to
the origin of the Post 1t was the work of
Thomas X. Jont s. a amber of the Post
The procession proceeded at once to the
High School building on Cumberland street,
where it halted and faced the building, while
a squad of members of the Post, led by Com
mander Smith, entered the grounds, and the
chaplain, Rev. N. W. 7. Root, decorated the
Lincoln tree " it'll heautital wreath of ever
green, calais and roses, encircling an elegant
floral cross. A direct route was then made
for the Portland and Rochester railroad depot,
where train of twelve cars stood in readiness
for the procession Arrived at the Soldiers
Lot in the Cemetery, the squads were told off
for the different sections of the yard, each man
carrying memorial offering, and the officers
in charge stationed one at each grave. As
soon as the reports had been received at the
stand that the men had all been stationed, the
signal gun was fired, and each man, barring his
head, reverently laid his offering ON his com
rade's resting place. As the gun doomed out
its report, the battalion rested on their arms
with bowed heads, while the Band took up the
solemn notes of the dirge (The Soldiers Prayer,
by Deems). A garland, similar TO the one
used at the Lincoln tree, was then placed by
the chaplain on a tree in the middle of the lot.
Three volieys Of musketry from the firing
party, composed Of four men from each com
pany, under command Of Major Greene, were
rapidly fred with remarkable precision. As
soon as the decorating parties could be collect
ed upon the battalion, attention was called,
and prayer was offered by the chaplain, Rev,
Mr.. Root, followed by the address by Col. A.
w. Bradbury. Col. Bradbury spoke as fol-
lows:-
My Friends and Comrades,-The revolving
years have brought us once again within these
hallOwed grounds to lay our floral offerings
upon our soldiers graves. The occasion is
enc which must excite in our hearts mingled
aud conflicting emotions. Joy and sorrow,
regretful longing and ardent pride, pleasure
aud pain, all Of them have place within our
bosoms. The eye will grow dim as it turns
upon the tomb Of departed friend; but the
heart swells high with exultation at the
thought, "Here lies a man who has enshrined
himself in the hearts of his couHtry men,"
OF the thousands who are daily passing from
the view of men, it is the fate OF few TO be re-
membered. Friends gather in sorrow about
the new made grave, to do the last kind Offices;
| and they preserve the memory of him no
lies their, 10 their stricken hearts; but to-day
| and again and again so long as each succeed
| ing year shall be warmed by the balmy breath
Of spring, and as the caressDg hand Of May
| shall coax the coy flowers from their winter
hiding places, will an entire Nation stand with
bowed head aud spirit hushed about the last
resting places Of the gallant men who laid
die.
How inexpressibly grand is the sorrow Of q
| whole people! We feel the mighty thrObbing
of one gigantic heart; and the solemn dirge OF
| one vast orchestra ascends to heaven, bearing
with it the Nations prayer for tha repose of
three hundred thousand souls.
The overmastering emotion in US to-day is
| not sorrow; il is an honorable pride. Time,
| with his healing hand has closed the wounds
which bled for our fallen comrades, and we
| are left calmly to contemplate the virtues of
their lives and the glory of their deaths. The
stubborn aud rebellious spirit i0whicb we saw
them fall, has passed away, and given place to
| q chastened "Reminiscences to tie divine will.
As have seen my friend, confident from the
success of many hard fought field and fush-
ed with the morning victory. borne, dying, at
| the close OF day, upon his rude litter, hew often
| have thought mOurnfully and bitterly upon
| the wailiDg verses OF the Trojan hero:
Hell mihi, qualis erati quantnIn muiat1s ab lilo
and would not he comforted. q.
| But if had the power would l call these
| heroes back againi l believe l would not.
Their struggle with the harsh world is over.
| They lie in honorable g.ayes, tenderly cared
for by those whom the God OF battles spared.
Their names have gone into history and we
trust their souls repose 10 paradise.
.sSoldier, rest! thy warfare DER.
Sleep the sleep that knows not breaking;
Dream of battlea fields no more, = a.
Days OF danger, ghts Of waking"
My comrades, this day will net have accom-
| plished its full measure of usefulness, nor will
it be seen ia all its loneliness, if we fail to
| learn from it another lesson than that of devO-
ton to the memory Of the slain. Turn back
your minds eyes a little more than ten years
| upon the page of Time. You will see bappy,
| prosperous aud united people, knowing but
| one country, and having her interests proudly
| at heart. Bound together by our grand hered-
itary title of nobility, american citizan," We