Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-06-01
DECORATION DAY.
HOW 1T WAS OBSERVED IN sAcRA-
MENTo-A PLEASING CELEBRATION.

at half-mast, in honor of the dead soldiers
the Union. About noon it was announce
that General B. F. Butler of Massachusetts
member of the Grand Army of the Repu'
lie, would stop over here on his trip to IL
Pacific and take part in the exercises of tt
day. This announcement drew upon til
streets great numbers of people, who had
natural and pardouable curiosity to see th
MISUNDERSTANDING man, who was one of tn
Major-Generals of the Army of the Unite
States during the late war of the rebellion
Sumner Post, No. 8, G.. a. R., assemble
at its hall on Sixth street at o'clock, unde
command of Fred Dustman, acting Con
mandant of the Post, and at 2:30 the forma
ton of the line began. When it was con
pleted it moved under direction of Gran
Marshal j. D. Kent in this order along l
street to Second and thence to j.;
Advance, squad of police.
First Artillery brass band, Grand Marsha
J. D. Kent, Chief Aid John Dougherty
Special Aid j. d. Bailey, Aids Martin Mad
den and l. S. Moore.
Brigadier General j. +. Sheehan and staff
Fourth Brigade, n. G. G.
Battalion of the First Regiment of Artil
lery, Fourth Brigade, Lieutenant-Co
Thomas H. Berkey commanding.
Company A, City Guard, Captain kear
ney.
Company G, sarsfeld Guard, Captain
| Sheehan.
Sacramento Cadets, Captain AIcEwen.
Company B, Light Artillery, Captain AT
wood. This company was dismounted, bu
had in line one piece, from which to tir
Sacramento Zouaves (colored), Captain
Emory.
Independent Drum Corps, Major Shields
Veterans of the Mexican war, B. +
Stewart, Marshal.
Ex-soldiers and sailors, Mr.. Burnett, Mar
shall.
Sumner Post, No. 5, G. A. r., f. Dust
man commanding.
Arrived at Second and J streets, carriage
from the depot were taken into the line
which then moved up j street with these ad
ditions:
Carriage with General B. T. Butler, Georg,
W. Ficks, President of the day, Webste
Prentiss and ]. H. Chadwick, of Genera
Buffers party.
Carriage with Colonel 0. D. Barrett, Mrs
T. A Hildreth, Mrs. Harrington and Mis-
H. II. Heard of General Buffers party.
Carriage with Rev. A. J. Frost, Chaplain
of the day, and Miss Lucy c. O'Brien
reader of the day.
City Board of Education.
Citizens III carriages.
The procession moved out to J, to Tenth
to n, to Eleventh, to the City Cemetery.
All the members of Sumner Post were wei
supplied with bouquets and wreaths, as also
were the soldiers in line and veterans. Ii
addition, large quantities of choice flowers,
sentin by citizens, were conveyed to the GENE
,l-1A, In IL, IS Il
delegations from Sumner Post. visited al
the other cemeteries, and placed flags and
flowers on soldiers graves.
AT THE CEMETERY.
Arrived at the City Cemetery, arms were
reversed, and to the music of funeral marches,
the procession entered the gates and proceeded
to the G. A. r. plot. An immense concourse
of people, to be numbered only by the thou
sand, were assembled on the cemetery
grounds, the large majority being women and
children.
When the troops had taken position and
the Post was drawn up in order at the ap.
pointed plece. J. ID. Kent, Grand Marshal,
called to order, and in few pertinent word.
stated the purpose of the gathering. Post
Adjutant Burnett then read the general
orders commanding the observance Of the
day.
Chaplain Frost invoked the blessing of
God upon the ceremonies. the people and the
country.
A chorus Of mixed voices, led by J. L.
Skinner. sang We Shall Never Forget
Miss Lucy c.. O'Brien then recited, in an
impressive manner, the poem of the day,
written by Mrs. Addie l.. Ballou.
THE RoEM.
Scatter the garlands of roses
MI oil Z NJ
Above each low mound that incioses
The pcrishiug patriots clay;
They who went out in the glory
OF hope and the rapture OF life
To fields that were smoking and CORY,
And were foremost to lead in the strife,
Oh, cover them tenderly, over them all,
Like mantle of love, let the sweet blossoms fall.
They were the truest OF brothers
They were the bravest Of men !;
And the pride OF the Roman mothers
Was blessed in our sons again.
For what the smoke OF the battle,
Or the thrust Of the saber or sword
The cannon's OF musketry's rattle,
To national honor restoTedl
Then cover them tendery, over them all,
Like mantle of love, let the sweet blossoms ail.
Guarding the perilous passes
With never a heart dismayed,
Down by the poison morasses
Where pestileuce indolent stayed,
Down BY the turbulent river,
And marching on to the sea-
Yet guarding the colors forever
Whatever the danger might be.
Then cover them tenderly over them all
Like mantle OF love, let the sweet blossoms fall
See what they gave US in dying
On, banner undimmed OF your stars,
The grasses above where they're lying
On, kiss with the sweep OF your bars
For ne, er again shall they waken
Or recall them to duty or pain;
I our gratitude never fOTsllSe them
Who sleep meath the dew and the rain.
Bat cover theIs tenderly, over them all,
Like mantle OF love, let the sweet blossoms fall.
over tile clustering tresses
On brows that white as the snow,
On lips that some memory kisses
SPECIFICS and silent below,
Hands We have clasped so tightly,
Arms 50 protecting and brave,
Priced We not too lightly
Till bid by the ptiless grave:
Then cover then tenderly, over them all
Like mantle OF love, let the sweet blossoms fali.
In the star-fretted evening often,
When night wish her ger is set,
Sad mem'ries our hearts will soften
OF comra Is cannot forget.
AID well weep for the manly graces
Lying under the silent cay,
Aud wsep for the tear-stained faces
They left when they went away.
Then cover them tcnderly, over them all,
Like mantle OF love, let the sweet blossoms fall
But millions OF dlsl.ier faces
Forever above their graves
VIII bless them willie history traces
They died To- make freedom OF slaves;
So let as rejoice, Tor the angel
That ,sures TIE deeds OF worth
Has sent us ration e.angel,
And peace is again on earth.
Then cover them tenderly, over them ALL
Like mantle OF love, let the sweet blossoms fall
For the grsadest of nations no longer
With the spirit Of snger is rife,
And each year shall be riveted stronger
The hearts that were foes in the strife
Ard at last when the final muster
Shall call each 70 the ramparts above,
Around them their comrades will cluster
With charity, friendship aud love.
Then cover them tenderly, over them all,
Like 6 mantle OF 9ye let the sweet blossoms fall
PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
George ". Ficks, President of the Day,
then delivered an address, in which
he sketched the causes which gave rise
to the custom then being observed. and
pointed out its purposes and its influence
upon the youth of the land, in impressing
upon the developing mind the fact that the
Republic was won and preserved by the de-
votion Of its citizen soldiery. He pronounced
Memorial Day to be the second anniversary of
American independence. He reviewed briefly
the causes which have led other nations down
to their death, and appealed TO the patriotic
hearts of Americans, with the warnings OF
the past in view, to guard this Union from
the pitfalls aud snares which had proven the
doom of other peoples