The Indianapolis journal., 1885-08-10
The Concluding Exercises at the Tomb
In Riverside Park by the G. A. R.
The Grant Family to Return to Mt. McGregor
Address by Rev. R. L. Collier at
Manhattan Beach Yesterday.
From Our Second Edition OF Sunddy.1
AT THE GRAVE.
Kne Hero Laid to Rest-The Concluding
Services by the G.. A. Il.


went but the funeral car was yet long way Oh
and moving very slowly. Beneath a fir tree at
the crown Of the knoll, rested small charcoal
furnace, and near it were the tools and materials
with which to seal the eaden lining of the cedar
case into which the casket and remains OF
General Grant should be placed. Down the
slope nearer the vault. was portable furnace,
such as is used by workmen for heating bolts.
In a group near by were five men-mechanics-
who should rivet fast the steel casket, within
which both coffin and cedar box should finally be
preserved. The steel case rested upon two
marble blocks two and one half feet high, three
feet wide, and eighteen inches thick. Similar
marble blocks had been sunk in the floor. flush
with the surface, and upon those the remains of
Mrs. Grant expected to repose. Many per-
sons were permitted to peer into the tomb. where
the steel receptacle was awaiting the body then
being borne up town.
A carriage came in view. In it was General
Hancock He was the only occupant and stood
erect Trooping behind him on horseback, were
the members of his staff. The General rode to
point near the tomb. When he aliehted he was
met by Superintendent Murray, Commissioner
eral Hancocks staf and aides swept past. There
were among them, General Fitzhugh Lee, and
General Gordan, whom General Sheridan once
met 80 warmly in other times, and under other
circumstances. Upon a commanding slope one
hundred yards north of General
Grants tomb, the staff officers and aides drew
rein beneath a clump of spreading trees. Mean
tine helmets were glistening and plumes were
moving over the slope toward the southwark;
cannon and imbers drawn by horses that were
ridden by artillePymen came over the brow Of
the southern slope and orderlies gaoped to
and fro; sabers and accOuterments cattered
and ratified. The regulars and the marines.
with light Battery F. of the Fifth Artil-
lery were coming down the drive.
They marched out upon the slope,
where Hancocks staff was halted and there the
infantry and marines assumed positions of
rest in the shade, and out upon the slope to-
wards the Claremont Hotel, which was covered
with black black drapery, mounted men with
plumed helmets: marines, with the uniform o.
the tars: saddled horses with riders diSmounted,
but holding their bride rein; cannon muZzles
thrust from behind the lower bend OF the hlock:
pyramids of stacked guns with glistening bayonets
interlOcked; along the drive, solid walls of people
upon the curbing; lines of uneasy and bobhng
mbrellas; through the trees, vista in which
the brown and rugged rocks of the palisades
pierced the woods and iutted above the river;
the Hudson. too, glistening and flowing in the
sunlight. So looked the scene northward from
the tomb.
The Twenty second and Seventh regiments
marched up from the east, and down by the
-S2mb. and we2e drawn up in line on the brow of
Ehe bluff overlooking the river. The line reached
and were at rest So near the
ledge of the bluff were the regiments drawn up
that the hundreds of men in bright uniform,
formed line of sllhouettes against the sheen of
the broad river in which the afternoon sun was
reflected.
Suddenly gun doomed out over the water
and a cloud of blue and white smoke puffed over
the stream. The Powhatan lying down under
the bluff. had fred the first of salute. Hills
were calling back in echoes. and the guns of the
other war vessels in the river anon shook the
bluff and started the echoes flying in the woods
on the Jersey hills. Three and o'clock
passed. The tomb yet waited. But
there came a. bugle call from the
trumpets, and sooE the sound of muffied drums.
Carriages came into view and rolled slowly
through the park to the tomb DR.. Newman
and Bishop Harms occupied the first and then
the clergy; and then Drs. Douglas, Shrady, and
Sands The bearers came after these. Gen.
Joe Johnston rode beside General Sherman, and
Buckner and Sheridan were paired while Gen
eral Logan and ex-Secretary Boutwell, followed
Distinguished men came ALSO beside these
The bearers and those invited allghted, and took
places near the tomb.
Then the Davids- Island band, playing Cho
pins Funeral March. came irto view, while be-
hind the black plumes of the funeral car could
he seem The car stopped abreast the tomb
the guard of honor assembled to bear down
the casket. Colonel Beck formed his
two companies OF escort into a hollow
square between the tomb and the
hearse The family carriages had drawn near;
their occupants alighted and took positions near
the foot of the steps of the car. So they stood,
while the casket being removed from the
car, and when it was borne into the hollow
square toward the vault. the relatives followed
in this order: Col Fred Grant and wife, Mrs
Sartoris and the Colouels children. Julia and U.
S. Grant; Z. S. Grant, ir.. and wife, leading
little Nellie, the daughter of Jesse Grant, Jesse
Grant and wife, q. S. Grant, second of Or
Vile Grant: Mrs. Fred Dent and Mrs Dent: Dr.
Cramer and wife, Potter Palmer and wife, Hon.
John A. J. Creswoil and wife,
The cedar case rested upon supports at the
door of the sepulcher. The casket was deposited
therein. Meade Post No l, of Philadelphia,
represented by fifteen men, circled the casket
The commander took post at the head, with Off
GERS and post commanders at the foot: the chap
tain stood at the foot and the colors were placed
in front The ritual services were then per-
formed
Post Commander Alexander Reed-"Assem-
bled to pay the last sad rites of respect to
late commander and illustrious comrade u S.
Grant, let US unite in prayer The chaplain will
invoke the Divine blessing"
Post Chaplain &. Irvine Wright-"God of bat
ties Father of all. amidst this mournful assem-
blace we seek Thee, with whom there is no
death. Open every eye to behold Him who
changed the night OF death into morning. In
the depths of our hearts we would hear tine
celestial words i am the resurrection and life;
he that beieveJh in Me- though he we're dead
yet he shall live AS comrade after comrade
departs, and we march on with ranks broken.
help us 10 DO faithful unto the end to each
other We beseech Thee look in
nd OH $
deceased comrades and with Thine own
tendernessconsole and comfort those bereaved
by this event. which calls US here. Give them
the oil of JOY for mourning. the garment of
praise for the spirit of heaviness. Heavenly
, Father, bless and save our country with the free
dom and peace of righteousness, and through
Thy great mercy. Saviors grace, and Thy
holy Spirits favor, may we all meet at last in
Joy before Thy throne in heaven, and to Thy
great name shall be praise forever and forever" I"
a. men y inined all the dirca ra,as