The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-08-26
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WHERE THE NATIONAL MONUMENT Will!
STAND. RIVERSIDE PARK.

STAND, RIVERSIDE PARK
There was hardly n sound. except the roll
Of drums in the distance and the tro al OF up
proachiny troops. while the collin was lowered
into the case and the undertaken screwed oL
the lit. Then tn" wreath OF oak leaves that
the dead generals gran1cllild Julia alrl Dr..
Douglas little daughter mad" in the woods al
Mount Mcircsor was placed upon IT,. llIi:
wreath, with others put OF a(terward by the
Meade Post, went into the tomb with the
boly
There was another pause and another open.
in; in tine groups Il minute later when the
members OF t;rnoral Grants family wal!:c |
very slowly from their carriages anu halted
near the pail bearers at the head of tie colin.
Very few expected that the ladies of the
family would be present, and their manifest,
although not at all demonstrativr. griaf at
the hour of final parting touched the hearts
of thousands who witnessed it,
\ cluster of clouds tempered the fierce reyi
of the s,u from the bArel heads OF tlluS!
gathered around the coffin us the Meade liu*i,
Of Philadelphia, joined tho group ncur til!
collin and began tie beautiful ritual of tina
Grand Army of the Republic. Tho entire
l'nst had expected to participates i'll this, AMI
there was great disappointment whrH
General Hancock decided to allow only
twenty members 20 come near tine grave.
Forming in open order around the lody, lhr
post took position, with the commander at
the head OF the coffin. the chaplain at the
foot, the officers and past commanders in
the rear of the chaplain, and the colorS were
brought to the front. After a prayer by thr
chaplain and dirge b. the band Com
mander Reel sald
"One by one. as the years roll on, we are
called together to fulfill the last sad Ii;cs OF
respect to our comrades OF the war.
The present, full of tliH cares and pleasures OF
civil lie, fades away, ami we look back to
the time when, shoultlerto shoulder, on many
battle fields or around the guns OF our mrn
of-war, we fought for our dear old flag. We
may indulge the hope that The spirit with
which on land and sea hardship, privati II.
and danger were encountered BY our dead
heroes may never bo blottad out from th"
history OF memories of the generations tn
coine-, s;iri: uncomplnining, ohedicnt t."
the behe,t of duty, whereby today our Ea
tional honor is secure am! our loved ones rest
in peace un Ter the protection OF the dear oil
flag May the illustrious life of him whom
we lay in the tomb to day prove glorious
incentive u the youth, who. i'll tho ages to
come. may b. called upon to uphold the dnSti'
mics Of our country. As the years roll on we.
too. shall have fough our battles through and
he laid to rest our souls following the long col
unln to the realms above. rs grim death -Four
hy hour, shall mark its victims. ct us so
live that wien that time shall come those W"
leave behind may say above our graves,
'H"re lies the body of trllc-lcactcd. brave
and earnest defender of the Rcpnblic.'
Comrade Moore laid a wreath of evergreen
upon the coffin as symbol Of undying love
from soldier comrades, and Com"adc Weldcr-
slcim placed full blown white rose beside
it as symbol of unScIish devotion. Com.
rade Sellers followed them with laurel
wreath, saying: Last token of affection
from comrades in arms, we crown these re-
mains with Il symbol of victory"
These simple ceremonies We're followed hy
the following address by tho Rcv. j. W.
Sayers, Grand Amy Chaplainin- Chief of
the Department of Pennsylvania:
The march Of another conlrado is over,
and he lies down after it in the house ap.
pointed for all the living. Thus summoned
this open tomb reminds us of the frailty of
human life and the tenure by which We hold
cur own. In such an hour rs ye think not
the Son of Man comcth.' 1t seems well we
should leave our conrale to rest where over
him will bend the arching sky as it did i'll
great love when he pitched his tent or lay
down weary by the way or OH the battle field
for an hours sleep. As he was then 50 he is
stil--in the hands of tine Heavenly Father
God giveth His beloved sleep