New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-08-05
FAREWELL TO MT. MCGREGOR
THE SIMPLE SERVICE AT THE COTTAGE.
CANNON BOOM ABOVE THE vALLEY-DEPARTURE
OF THE FUNERAL TRAIN.

TBr TELEGRAPH To THE TRfBUSnl
Mt. MCGREGoR, Aug. 4.-That which for the last
ten days has lent such melancholy nterestto the
Drexe cottage has gone from it forever and hence
forth the quiet dwelling-house around which the
pines aud hcmlocks sigh with every breeze will be
place of note simply because of him who was once
its tenant. Seven weeks ago to-day General Grant.
disdanng the aid of anxious friends though death
had even then its grip upon him. walked firmly up
the steps of the cottage down which to-day his life
less body was borne on the shoulders of
stalwart Grand Army men, proud of the
privilege Of paying this last token OF
homage to the soldier hero. whose name henceforth
their Post will bear When from the battery on
the eastern outlook thirteen announced that
dawn had broken on the memorable day, so thickwas
the canopy of mist which hung on the mOu ntains
and hid the valleys from view that the reports
from a distance of few hundred yards sounded
like mufied pistol-shots Steadily all night the
rain had poured down IN perfect deluge and only
about daybreak did 1t cease When Mt McGregOr
began to bcstir itself threatening clouds were
still banked on all sides and no ray OF cheering
sunlight crept through them The prospect
looked gloomy enough Only those wlD believe
that Natures sympathetic when dissolved in tears
could find comfort in il. But slowly. as though re-
luctant TO CO. the omnous clouds parted overhead
and allowed a glimpse of the blue sky to be seen.
Then they gathered their skirts together and fled
hastily to the eastern horizon, there disappearing.
The mists rolled away from the valleys and heaven
smiled a greeting 30 warm that 1t soon became em-
barrassng TO those who could not find shade.
The soldiers In preparation for departure gathered
up the tents where they had encampcd on the east
ern outlook and all traces that remained
Of the temporary village were little hillocks of
ar of xyhich bc trao had made their beds.
print Of General Grant framed IN oak leaves which
had maryeIlously survived the terrible rain storm.
and four frowning cannon, one of which spoke
loudly every half hour in token of the Nations
grief The first train which arrived on the noun
tain shortly after q o'clock, heavily freighted
with visitors nothing daunted by the forbidding
aspect Of the weather Many others at that time
in all manner OF vehicles were slowly winding up
the mountain side. The trains were
run as quickly rs the limited facilities
would admit. and the few stout little
locomotives painted and snortcd in desperate fash
ion. hut not fraction of the people who wanted to
get the mountain couId be got there. After
o'clock people were admitted 10 the cottage to look
upon the face of the dead man. They crowded
thither. each anxious TO cc. what lesson hs capac-
ty admitted of from has,y glance ut the face OF
great man in the calm sleep Of death.
tive was heard making painting efforts away down
on the mountain side crawl u? hill rapidly.
and having only two ears To draw sue
cccdc1 fairly well. When the sounds
were heard there wero buglc fourlshes and the
troops were mustered In their brightest attire and
drawn NJ I'm line along the road leading - the cot
tagc From the two cars alghtcd General Han
cock and his stal In glittcring uniforms and
wcndcd their wiki slo martial steps past the
line of siatuesquc soldiers toward the cottage.
With them were some distinguished visitors, among
them Senator Evarts. senator Warner Miller, Gen
cral sherman Admiral Rowan. Joseph W. Drexe
aud some ladies' of his family. the Rev. DIR. Agnew,
Of Philadelphia. ex-rongrcssman Thomas =.
Ochiltrcc aud ex-Sccrctary Hamilton Fish
and wife Colonel Fred Grant cour-
tcously greeted them the steps. General
Horace Porter who had arrived on the
prcyous night joined them on the stopp They all
went inside the cottage and looked on the face OF
ia. man they had all kn ,wn more orcss intimately
~ life. On the lower. unopened half Of
the coffin, preserved 10y vanish, was
the wreath OF oak leaves which
happy thought hel inspired Colonel Grants little
Julia and Dr. Douglas little daughter to gather
from their playground. II was the only thing
winch by classic sanction might he construed into
an emblem of the military achievements of the
dead solder.
VIZ srEvGrrs OF TIE PORCH.
The services were held on the porch fronting the
botc ! he family were III The chamber where the
dead man lay. There n intrusive eyes could see
their emotions. Among them were Mrs. Corhin
aud Mrs. Cramcr. sisters OF General Grant, Mr.
Dent. brother of Mrs Grant, and his wife, Smp
son Grant. a son OF OryIlle Grant. and Paymaster
sharpe. L. $ \ ard Mrs. sharpe, sister OF
4 ,f, Lee. tuh1 nm
which the Bible lay were the Rev Drs. Newman
and Agucw, Bishop Harris, ex-Posmaster-'icn-
cral j. 4. j. Crcssvcll, Mr.. and Mrs. J. W.
Arkell and Dr. Douglas, General Grants
physician AID friend, hoary-hcadcd. yencr-
able locking and adding dignity to the scene by
his presence; Mrs. Douglas SAT- near him. In the
background were some Grand Army men. Har-
rison Henry and some of the domestics 10 the
loft of these were ranged General Hancock and his
staff. their golden cpaulets aud trimmings some
times flashing in the sunlight. General Hancocks
barred head aud martial features, exhibiting at
times a visible struggle with emotion, |
were conspicuous. as he occupied
ssat near the porch railing. General Sherman wore
no uniform, but his grim features were easily |
There an unwonted expression |
of tenderness about them while DR.. Newman was |
sketcbing the chaIartcr of General Grant. The |
other distinguished visitors with the ladies' who |
them filled up the remainder of the
norch. Seated about the steps were some ladies
from the hotel whom Henry Camp had gathered to-
rethcr to lead IN the singing. On benches were
some forty or more ministers, who were brought
in omnibuses from Saratoga. Many women stood
nm behind and near them. Extending back a hun
dred feet or more from the porch were masscd peo-
pe from the hotel, Saratoga and the
surrounding country There were about a
thousand altogether, and most of them stood
nm IL anybody had taken the pains TO gather
together the benches and rustic seats which are
numerous about the hotel and grounds they could