Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-05-31
DECORATION DAY.
GENERAL SUSPENSION OF BUSINESS IN
The CITY, AND HOUSES CLOSED.
Large Procession OF the Military-The
Mexican war Veterans, Grand Army
of the Republic and State
Military in Line.

of the Republic and State
Military in Line.
Yesterday was generally given up, in thi
: city, to tie observance of the occasion
Decoration Day. There were no Courts il
session, the city fathers postponed their regu
lar weekly meeting, the railroad shops an,
many others in the city were closed, tn
banks did not open, and many of the princi
pal business houses and mercantile shops ais,
put up shutters for the afternoon. The day
was delightful for the gathering. and made
invigorating by a good cool breeze from thi
SOUTH The city wore half-hoiday, yet re
fective, appearance, from lgs almost every
where displayed, yet standing at hslf-mast
The profusion of flowers brought in for deco
ration purposes, il response to the hotict
given, gave evidence of the general approval
Of the commemorative services and desire
to ioin in their perpetuation. COMMITTEE;
from the Grand Army of the Republic visited
the New Helvetia and Catholic cemeteries IN
the forenoon and placed wreaths and flowers
upon the graves of the soldiers VINO were
buried there, but the general services OF the
day took place in the afternoon at the Clty
Cemetery.
THE PROCESSION.
The military companies and others joining
the ceremonies convened On K street, in the
vicinity Of the Grand Army headquarters. at
soon after o'clock P. NJ, and the procession was
then formed, but did not move until O'Clock.
The procession was organized as follows
Sacramento Hussars, Lieutenant Hebron
commanding Fourth Brigade, commander
and staff, consisting of Brigadier- General
John f. Sheehan, Majors ?. j. Harvey, d.
NJ. Burns, L. Tozer, w. l. Wallace, August
Hebron. w. G. Van Fleet, DR.. G. g. Tyr
rell, c. H Hubbard, Harry w. Carroll and
! CAPTAIN III. A. Weaver. Tie First Artillery
Band tits full nuinber). Next followed Col
onel Greed Raymond, commanding First
Artillery Regiment, and staff. mounted; fol-
lowing which were Company G, Captsin
J. Burke Governors Guard Cadets, Cap
tain w. E. McEwan Company B, Lieu
tenant J. T. Lucas commanding. Next
in line was an open carriage prcfusely
decorated with flags, streamers and
looped with Grape, the buggy containing a
| beautiful floral tribute, to be placed at the
grave Of William g. Brown, the engineer
who was killed at Oakland wharf. This was
sent to the city from San Francisco by Col
onel J. I'll. Dickinson and the First Infantry
Regiment. After this came Sumner Post,
No. 3, Grand Army of the Republic, in uni
form, 81. A Burnett, commander, accom-
panied by ex- soldiers and sailors of the Union
army, and three or four who had worn the
gray, but who. desiring to bury in forgetfulness
all strife of the past, Joined in the services Of
paying honors to the memory of their fallen
victors. Next to the Grand Army came the
Mexican War Veterans Association, B. F.
Stewart, which in turn were followed by the
Chaplain and Poet of the day, the Mayor
and city officials in carriages, the Golden
Eagle bus with a select chorus of twenty
four, private conveyances, and others on
foot.
The procession marched down X to Second
street, thence to j, along j to Tenth, and
thence to the City Cemetery. Most OF the
members of the companies and organizations in
line carried wreaths, bouquets and other de-
signs in flowers, and each member of the Grand
Army and most in the procession were fur
nished with button-h hole bouquets by the
wives and daughters and lady friends of
Sumner Post. The streets and balconies
were lined with spectators as the procession
passed, and the walks were crowded follow
ing with it to the cemetery. Just before
reaching the entrance to the grounds the
military companies halted and formed lines
to right and left. allowing the Grand Army,
Mexican War Veterans and carriages to pass
through and take the advance, in which man.
ner they proceeded to the platform erected
upon the south side of the cemetery grounds,
where the services were to take place.
Sumner Post and the Mexican War Veterans
then formed hollow square in front of the
stand. with the children of soldiers inclosed
in the area. Order was called by Com
mander Burnett, and Adjutant G. W. Ficks
Aha al NJ fha ~ e,,L
Commander ON this coast directing the COM
memorative services Of the day. Prayer was
offered by the chaplain OF the day. Rev. DIR.
l. Z. Dwinell A chorus of twenty-five
voices then sang THE Brave, Noble and
True" The following poem, written for the
occasion by Mrs. Addie l.. Bailou, was in
pressively read by her:
All we sadly remember that tar-fretted morning,
When olya cloud swept across the pale east
Yet, ere midday, was muttsred nations wild
warning,
And at sunset with gloom all our sky overcast.
For fash upon fash and with voice of the thunder,
challenge from Sumter, with death on the air,
Gave never a moment to pause to wonder,
The three huadred thousand equipped for the war
Droop softly and iow DER the mounds below,
Flag OF our country and, lilies of snow,
Kiss the green grasses that over them grow.
Brave were the hearts of the wives and the mothers
Who gave up their dearest-ther husbands and
SONS.
All they were the truest, the grandest Of brothers,
That Ger faced an enemy's threatening guns.
They were the pride OF our hOmes-and tine nations
Stalwart of heart as their patriot sires
Who defended the right against foreign dictatcn,
When the old Revolution had kndled her fires
Droop softly and low, Ger the mounds below.
Flag of our country-and, lilies OF SNOW,
Kiss the green grasses that over them grow.
Oh the long weary months of suspense, ard OF
waiting,
-; 81, 4
Through the yigils OF night with faith unabating-
Til the anguish of months made the compass OF
years.
And many, with hopeful good-by at the parting,
Came never more back TO our bosous again
Where they fell on the field the wild grasses
starting,
Where they sleep fall the daw and the summer.
time rain
Droop softly and low, DER the mounds below.
Flag OF our country and, lilies of suov,
HIS the green grasses that over them grow.
Oh beautiful eyes, on whose lid, are forever
The kiss, and the tears a the riildew Of death :
From your home with the stars 60 you watch for us
never?
Do your lips never speak in some sweet blossoms
brea h?
Oh they sIeep-yet they rest not for over and over
They walk By our side in tie land Of our dreams
As softly as faileth the dew on the clover
Or the simmer of stars on the bosom Of streams
Droop softly and low DER the mounds below
Fig OF our country-a aud lilies OF snow,
Mss the green grasses That oYef tAem grow.
And sometimes the touch Of these perishine fingers
Now pulsoless and cold on the bosoms below,
Seem clnspcd with ol- Own, while fond mcmory
fingers,
Like the perfumes OF vieets under the snow
Aud sometime know that our eyes shall behold
when our summers aud winters are over and
In the land Of hereafter, our arms shall enfoId
Where death never takes from our bosoms our
own.
Droop softly and low, DER the mounds blow,
Flag Of our country ard lilies Of snow.
Kiss the green grasses that over them grow.
Year after year, how the comrades are pas ing
TIE river OF mists, to the sha4owy lani;
And white are the feet that while evermore cross
ing,
Till ain shall be gone but legend, a story
The sword OF n grandsire-a rustcd carbine-
uniform covered with dust. and with glory
In the garrett a knapsack and soldiers eanteen.
Droop softly and low, DER the mounds oe'o",
Flag Of our eoun:rg-lilies OF snow,
Kiss the green grasses that over them grew.
And white are the plains where tivouac the angeis
Whom death on bis roll call has musterei on hiSh,
Where picketed still ore the nations eyI rgels,
The vanguard that guides on our march to toe ssy'
And at last when each veterans name for prom oiion
Is called to advance with the last eountsrsign,
The angel on guard for heroic devotion,
win bid them a fall III" with the heavenly line.
DToop soft J snd low, DER the mounds below,
Flag Of our country and lilies Of snow,
Kiss the green grasses that over them grow
- I.tn shafN