The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-06-02
Letter from Washington.
DECORATION DAY AT ARLINGTON.
WASHINGTON, May 81, 1871.

DECORATION DAY AT ARLINGTON.
WASHINGTON, May 81, 1871.
To the Editor of the Slate journal.
A more beautiful day for holiday could
not have been selected than yesterday
proved to be. At an early hour joined
the miscellaneous throng who poured along
the road to Arlington in every description
of vehicle known to the wheelwrights vo-
cabulary. On arriving at that magnih-
cent estate, visited the old mansion,
where the Decoration Committee where
still at work. The columns in front were
wreathed with evergreen, aud suitable in
scriptions appeared above From the
right side of the mansion line of poles
extended around the circle where the olli-
GERS graves are situated, aud a continuous
line of evergreen hung in graceful fcstoons
entirely around the circle.
at the tomb of the unknown (where re-
pose the homes of over two thousand SOL
ders who. perished at Bull Run and on the
route to the Rappahannockl, canopy OF
flags shaded the spot. The guns were
draped with bunting of the national colors,
aud crosses, wreaths and hanging baskets
OIL l06 IilDSl UGdutllul AOWcin WOlS uoS.t
profusely in its decoration.
Within the cemetery proper there are
nearly sixteen thousand graves, and at the
head of each Union soldier there was
placed small flag previous to the regular
ceremony of the day.
Prompt to the hour, as when they first
fell in line at tho call of their country, the
members of the Grand Army of the Re-
public moved at half-past twelve to the
music of solemn dirge At the entrance
of the principal avenue, the procession
halted, and Rev. DIR. Rankin offered fer
vent prayer. The decoration of the graves
was then commenced, and minute guns
were fred until the close of this part of
the ceremony. As stood upon slight
eminence and gazed upon the long rows OF
white head-boards, and noted the vast
throng distributing their floral tributes TO
the memory of the heroes who rest beneath
them, realized the spirit and meaning oi
the occasion. Long, long, may it be ere
we forget to venerate the memory OF those
who died for their countrys cause
After the decoration was concluded, C4-
| ius Animqm from the Stabat Mater, was
played by the Marine band, and beauti-
| full poem composed for the occasion was
read. The Beethoven Octette then sung
Kuecker's "Loyal Song" most beautifully.
An eloquent Grafton by comrade Stuart
l. Woodford, of New York, followed, and
Mendelsohn's grand composition otis
Thus Ordained," was sung by the Oclette
At the tomb of the unknown, after re-
lgious aldante by the band and prayer
by Rev. Frederic w. Hinckley, requiem
was sung by the Octette aud an eloquent
and feeling address delivered by Hon
Frederick Douglass. He was listened te
by the crowd with the most profound at.
tention. Tho exercises closed by the In.
fammatus from Sabat Mater, by the band
There must have been over ten Thousand
persons on the grounds, and my hasty de
scription will give but an imperfect idea o
the impressiveness Of the scene. A bat
talion of United States marines did guart
duty, and everything was quiet and order
ly. Many of the delegates to the Youpl
Mems Christian Association convention
were present. forgot to mention tha
the main stand was occupied by the Pres
ident and his family and a large numbe
of distinguished persons, but perhaps it /
not necessary, as you hear enough of then
in other ways.
But the length Of this letter admonishe
me to "cut it short" CAPITOL