Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-08-05
FUNERAL CEREMONIES.
Gen. Grants Last Day on Mt.
McGreg0r.
Sermon by Rev. DR.. Newman at
the Cottage,
The Funeral Train Takes the
Remains TO Albany,
Where They Lie In State Until
1880 O'clock, A. NJ, To-day.
MT. MCGREGoR, Aug. 4.

On the mountain brow. by the Eastern
Lookout, cannon doomed suddenly at 4
o'clock Tuesday morning. The shock of
the reverberations was vet heavy in the air
when a second report shook the earth. Artll-
lery men had began firing thirteen guns to
mark the sunrise of Gen. Grants last day on
the mountain. In quick succession the guns
were fired. The guests at the hotel and the
family in the cottage were startled by the re-
ports, but the meaning of the guns heavy
booming was quickly suggested. The morn
ing crept on TO 5 o'clock and again the half
hour gun doomed its solemn token of respect
from the mountain side. Then heavy
breeze came up from the direction of the
Catskills and found openings in the low lying
clouds and they began moving. Streaks of
gray vapor were torn from the lifting fog
by the tree tops and foated lazily off toward
the north east. Distances heightened to the
vision and tree trunks and tops became visi-
BILE
The cottage and hotel became so clear that
several artists for illustrated papers were
enabled to catch their outlines. The soldiers
received orders to break up camp and in less
than twenty minutes all the tents had disap-
peared among the trees and were packed
away in boxes ready for shipment. Notwi,h-
standing the heavy rain of the night the
soldiers had slept well and were comfortable
At six o'clock the buglers of the four COM
panies of troops were sounding the revile,
and as the last strains floated over the noun
tain they were swallowed up in the booming
of the gun hat every half hour will thus
mark the significance of the day. Then the
soldiers in full uniform stood at parade rest
for roll call
Down where the battery of guns is planted
+ Al. n l,.s IL
Lookout, at 7 o'clock the shock of a gun
awoke the clear echoes over the mountain
down the slopes. The family at the cottage
were astir as the morning touched o'clock,
and correspondents and guests were moving
at the hotel. The mountain train at o'clock
had begun to bring up people and every hour
the little engine drew up at the depot. The
funeral car to carry the remains from the
mountain to Saratoga came up early.
At eight the sun was shining brightly.
Last night the family in a group had taken
their final farewell of the remains of the dead
General and to-day they gave up his body to
the nation. At nine o'clock the family with
the exception of Mrs. Grant repaired to the
hotel for breakfast. On their return Colonel
Grant and his wife and Mrs. Sartoris paused
upon the ridge at the rear of the cottage to
scan the bright picture of the mountain and
valley, fresh fields and glistening leaves
away to the eastward and then the family
entered the cottage and preparations began
for the funeral journey.
Maids and men servants were busy and so
was s:euographer Dawson, who was receiv-
ing closing suggestions from Col. Fred
Grant.
At $50 the doors of the Grant cottage had
been thrown open. and stream of visitors
poured in steadily for over an hour. About
nine the head of the long line of buggies.
wagons, omnibuses and various kinds of
vehicles appeared climbing up the steep in
cline near the eastern outlook, and soon the
area in the vicinity of the cottage was
thronged with wagons, and farmers with their
wives and families.
AT $50 train of two cars brought Gen.
Hancock and a number of distinguished Wis
itors, two companies of regulars being drawn
up in line to recei, them. They proceeded
from the station to the cottage in the follow
ing order: Gen. Hancock and Col. Jones.
Admiral Rowan and Gen. Sherman, Senator
Evarts and Gen. Rufus Ingalls,, Senator Mil
Ter and Joseph w. Drexel, Gen. Hancock's
staff, Miss Drexel, her aunt and cousin
dressed in deep mourning.
On the same train came the LOYAL Legion
under Assistant Paymaster Gilbert A. Robin
Paymaster Geo. d. Barton, Brevet 1t. Col.
Frederick Clareson and Augustus NJ. Clark
and Capt. Edmund Blunt.
At 10 o'clock services in the cottage were
held in the presence of over one thousand
persons. Cane chairs and rustic settes were
provided for the ladies under the trees in the
grove before the cottage.
The funeral services afterwards opened
with the reading of Psalm xc., which was
followed by an impressive prayer by Bishop
Harris. 1.-The hymn ''My Faith Looks up
to Thee WAS joined in by the whole assem-
blage present with fine effect. DR.. Newman
then came forward and delivered sermon on
the subject of the dead General, the family
in the meantime sitting about the remains in
the psrlor.
DIR. Newman's Discourse.
We'll done, thou good and faithful servant,
enter thou into the JOY of thy Lord. Mat
thew XIV, 2l.
Such is the eulogy that God shall pronounce
upon human goodness and fidelity wherever
found among the sons of men. The acci-
dental distinctions between prince and peas
ant, millionaire and pauper, commanding
general and private soldier, are but as the
dust in the balance in his estimation of per-
sonal worth He regards not the person of any
man: he looks upon the heart. II a renowned
philosopher searched an ancient city for a
man, God is ever in search for a character.
which in his sight outweighs the transitory
distinctions of earth and time, and out of
which are the issues of life. Tell me not
what man possesses-the beauty of Absa-
lomy the glory of solomon, the learning of
Paul, but rather tell me what he is 10 his
modes of thoughts, in his emotional being
in the trend of his passions, in the temper of
his mind, in the tenor of his life, out of his
life, out of which comes the totality of his
existence and the finaiity of his destiny. This
is the man as he is, and by it let him be
judged.
His was the genius Of common sense, en-
abing him to contemplate all things in their
true relations, judging what is true, useful,
proper, expedient, and adopt the best means
to accomplish the largest ends. From this
came his seriousness, thoughtfulness, pene-
tration, discernment, frmness, enthusiasm,
triumph. Wherein others dreamed of sue