National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-05-31
STREWING FLOWERS
OVER THE BRAVE SOLDIERS, GRAVES.
Decoration Day Ceremonies In and About Washing
ton-Ths Parade in the Horning-Ser.
vices at Arlington and the
Soldiers Home
One of the finest davs of the openins

One of the finest days of the opening
summer was given to the Grand Army of the Re-
| public for their memorial services. The day was
observed as holiday, though it is feared that the
great majority of the people neglected to take part
in the sad offices for which the day has been set
apart and gave themselves up wholly to pleasure.
The day has come to be known among large part
Of the people as picnic" day, when
it is supposed to be the proper thing
to go on public excursion or private picnic.
There was 4 general suspension of business
in the city. and during the progress of the cere-
monies at the cemeteries the streets seemed de-
serted. The statues of military and naval heroes
about the city were adorned with evergreens and
flowers, flags were flying from the public build
ings, and there were the usual signs Of public
holiday The opening of the day was announced
by the firing of salute at sunrise by a detach
ment of the Signal Corps under Captain r. P.
Strong The first public ceremony Was
THE PROCESSION,
which was formed at Pennsylvania avenue and
Ninth street, moving at ten o'clock. The
order of march was as follows: Detachment of
mounted police. Brevet Major General r. B.
Ayres Post /, Maryland), grand marshal; First
Lieutenant George Mitchell, adjutant, and First
Lieutenant Sebree Smith, regimental quartermas-
ter Band of Second United States Artillery
Light Battery A, Second Artillery, four pieces and
caissons. Brevet Colonel 4. C. " Pennington and
LieutenantS A. D. Schenck, E. S. Dudley, and W.
P. Edgerton. Batteries B, C, D, and n, United
States Artillery as infantry, commanded by Breyet
Major Graves, Captain John Gilvray, First Lieu
tenant j. c. Scantling, and Second Lieutenants E.
N. Weaver, Hamilton Rowan and Frank E. Hobbs.
The flag of the regiment borne by B Battery, was
covered with the names of the battles in which the
regiment had participated. United States Marine
Band, forty pieces, under the leadership of Pro-
fessor John 2. Sousa. Battalion of United States
Marines, Captain Charles F. Williams command
ing, with Lieutensnts T. n. Wood and Carroll
Mercer Washington Cadets, Captain C. A. Fleet
wood. Capital City Guard, Captain T. S. Kelley,
First Lieutenant Charles Douglas, Second Lieuten-
ant John Marshall sixty men. Lincoln Light In
fantry of Georgetown, Captain L. T. Johnson.
West Washington Zouaves, Captain Thomas
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC.
Flags of the Grand Army of the Republic; marine
field music; Onion Veteran Corps, Captain s. E.
Thomson; Department Commander William Glib
son and staff; past department commanders; posts
of the Grand Army of the Republic in the follow
ing order: John A. RaTlins Post No. P. ID. Haines
commanding; Kit Carson Post No. 2. James NJ
Edgar commanding; Lincoln Post, No. 8, B. F.
Chase commanding; o. P Morton Post, No 4, Will
lam q. Hall commanding; George W. Meade Post
No. 5, Thomas G. Allen commanding; John F.
Reynolds Post, No. 6, L. B. Parker commanding;
Grand Army of the Republic Cadets, Stanton Wea
yer commanding. The members of the Grand
Army we're attired in the uniform of the order,
Mcclellan caps and blue blouses, aud marched by
fours, making fine show. Nearly every one in
this division carried a bouquet, and there were
many flags along the line. The line of march was
westward from Ninth street on the north side of
Pennsylvania avenue, and through Bridge street,
Georgetown, to the Aqueduct bridge, where the
parade was dismissed.