Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-06-05

at Boscobel. The morning dawned
clear and mild, and the air was such as
made one desire to be out of doors and
join in the solemn services of the day.
The early morning train brought in a
large number of people, the western
train. two hours later, did likewise
From the adjacent country came team
after team laden with people checked
out in holiday attire Not until the
hour of noon did the influx of people
appear to subside. and it was estimated
that from fifteen hundred to two thous-
and strangers were in the city. They
came from all directions, and in all
manner of conveyances. They came
laden with floral offerings and with
feelings of sadness to pay their respects
to the memory of those brave men who
on the field OF battle, in the hospital or
at home, had died that united and
strong republic might live. This mass
of humanity that had gathered on the
streets of Boscobel was there for high
and noble purpose. Hardly family was
there but had representative in the wal
which blighted SO many "reminiscences
and they were assembled for common
purpose-the honoring of their departed
friends
The city presented grand appear
ance. Flags at half-mast; banners
hung from windows, and flowers and
wreaths displayed in many quarters.
The officers of the city had made
every arrangement for the. accommoda-
ton of visitors. This was the first Dec
Grafton Day exercises that had ever
been held in Boscobel, and citizens and
officers did their utmost to have every
thing pass off smoothly and satisfacto-
rily. In this they succeeded beyond
the utmost expectations of any one, and
the 30th day of May, 1884, at Boscobel,
will long be referred to as one in which
the dead heroes were fittingly remem-
! bered
At one o'clock in the afternoon, the
members of John McDermott Post, No.
10l, G. A. r., met at headquarters and
forming into four divisions, marched
out upon the street. The first division,
consisting of twelve men carrying mus
kets, was under command of comrade
Amos Devoe. Sergeant-major of the
Post; the second division was under
command of Lieut. j. Mclaughlin, Com
mandef of the Post; the third division
commanded by comrade N. Z. Birch.
ard, Officer of the Day; the fourth di.
vision commanded by comrade j. w
Nice, Officer of the Guard. The Post
headed by the Boscobel Light Guard
Band, marched to the foot of Wiscon
sin Avenue and took position, await
| ing the members of Demolai Command
cry and the Uniformed Camp of Odd
Fellows. These orders marched down
the street and took places in the column
in advance of the Post. The Mayor
Common council and City officers, il
carriages, took the lead of the column
which moved up Wisconsin Avenue t.
/ Buchanan street, where it was ioineC
by a large number of little grls-abou
one hundred members of the Boscobe
schools, under command of Rev /. W
Cole Following these came citizens il
carriages and on foot, until the column
reached distance of several blocks
The march to the cemetery then com
menced and some fine and fast footing
took place, the children preserving the
pace in the column. Arriving at tn
cemetery, a hollow square was formed
the members of the Post forming three
sides, the members of the Commandery
and Uniformed Camp forming the 9TH
er side. Dr. J.. G.. Armstrong, Chic
MAJ shall of the day, stepped inside o
the square and introduced Rev w
Fletcher Delap, who offered a praye
for the occasion This was followed b,
a beautiful quartette, rendered b,
Messrs. n. +. Birchard, NJ. W. DeLap
VIM. Osborne, and w. f. DeLap, emit
tied REST, Heroes Rest" Conrad
Charles Cook, Senior Vice Command
er of the Post, was then announced, VIII,
made few brief remarks which wer
we'll received
The order was then given for eacl
division of the Post to decorate tn
graves marked for that purpose, o
which there were thirty-elght in tn
cemetery. The divisions, each headet
by two young ladies, marched to tina
part of the cemetery set apart to then
and when marked grave was reached
the order was Halt! Front face
Uncover!'' The young ladies woul,
each take bouquet, fastene,
to stick, and place one at the hea,
and the foot of the grave, then resum
their place at the head of the division
when the command was Cover, Riph
facet Forward march" In this man
ner the graves were decorated. Also
salute by the armed division was free
for the departed comrade When lh
decoration was completed. the division
returned to their starting point an,
were ordered to '.break ranks unit
after the further services were concluded
These consisted of singing by the gen
tlemen above mentioned, and brie
address by Mayor John d. Wilson.
1t had been announced that Mi
Geo. G. Min would deliver the addre3,
but as the announcement was give
out without the arrangements havin
been perfected, the people were dis
appointed at not hearing the gentleman
Consequently Messrs. Wilson and Coo
were pressed into service, and thei
remarks were brief and unprepared, ]
The services at the cemetery close
upon the conclusion of Mr.. Wilson
remarks, and the column reformin