The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-24
GEN. RIULINS's GRAVE.
Not Even n Shrub 10 Mark H-Gen. Grants
Careless Indifference.

WASHINGTON, May 22.-In an unfrequented
corner of the Congressional Cemetery is the
grave OF John A. Rawins who was Major
General in the United States army and Grants
frs, Secretary OF War The grave Is neglected.
Not even a wooden hcadbonrd or n shrub marks
1t. as the last resting places OF unknowns are
marked.
Yet this neglect is not so disgraceful to his
surviving comrades in arms as it is to those
who laid him there. Gen. Rawlins died early
in September 1869 and his body WIS borne 20
tho cemetery with beiltting honors. 1t was
placed in n public vault and forgotten. In the
Bclknap era that followed this docs not now
seem strange. although Grants devotion to his
living friends has always been insisted upon AZ
distinguishing Characteristic trait.
Congress voted tho widow OF Gen. Rawlins
the balance Of his years salary and pension
Of $50 per month. II was said by the White
House coterie that Rnwlns died poor, and the
wealthy few who had donated hundreds oi
sands for the family OF the dcnd Secretary Of
War. What became OF this money do not
know. Tho widow removed in January 1872
and u few ycnrs later died.
Congress. June 10. 1872. appropriated 10000
to erect n statue oi !tawlins in a reservation
west ~ the new State Department and overlook
ing the kidwell marshes But still the body
remained in the public vault Of the Congress
sionnl Cnmptcrv forgotten by all suve the num-
hlc superintendent. He could find nobody who
felt sufficient interest 10 have the remains prop
erly disposed Of. He appealed To several Hu-
thOrities In vain. Finally. in October 1873, ho
went to the President himself and hssurri MIN
that unless something was done promptly. ho
must appeal to public charity. After som" hes
itation, Grant iinally gavo him the following
Eucr,ivr MaSsios w,smSeroS oct g. 1874
Go ahchi-hufy the remains ui RaWhns and hold me
responsible. tSightdl L. ) thANr
This the superintendent thought. WIS rather
summary. and he waited upon liabruck, and
suggested the attendance Of the President and
Cabinet. This was arranged for the 9Th ot De-
tnhcr 1873. The President. his Cabinet, and
Bnbcock witnessed the removal Of the r"nNins
from the public vault 10 their present unmarked
The superintendent Ind previously opened
the "askct TO- ascertain whether the fHce might
be viewed. He found the body cNccllcntly pre-
served, and the face as natural US on the day
81 tho funeral. more than four years previous.
Strange To shy. the beard had grown wonder
fully. and flowed over the gorgeous uniform.
the gold lace mud buttons ~ which were unfair
nsheh The Presidential party however. de-
clined to view the remains. and with some haste
The body was lowered into the grave: and while
the distinguished company loter"d about tho
cemetery tho sexton and his assistant filed up
the grave. The superintendent had procured
a few evergreens and tho mound being raised
rounded. and smoothed. Grant held a sprout
while the earth WIS pushed about its roots, ana
the Cabinet officers did the same. But tho eV-
ergreens, though carefully cared Tor by the SUI
pcrintcndcnt. did not live.
The bronze statue OF Rawlins In the reser-
walton named in his honor was unveiled lew
years since with appropriate ceremonies. Tho
only memorial u be found in the Congressional
friend moulder there il the following entry on
the day book OF the sexton:
To digging grave in Nos los and 100 range 40 Tor re
% ii. A IN