Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1885-08-06
Placed i'm the Casket.
The Funeral Arrangements General
HancOck's Orders.
THE GUARD.

MT. MCGREGOR, n. Y, July GA
5:15 this afternoon train of three carr
pulled by one engine and pushed by an
other, hauled into and stopped at The
depot. From the rear alighted SO mel
of Battery A, Fifth Artillery. The
had been sent by Gen. Hancock from
Governors Island to form part of the
guard about the cottage, and the officer
in command were Brevet Col. w. B
Beck, First Lieuts. A. W. VOgda al q
W. B. McCollum aud Second Lieut.. Col,
braith. The middle car of the train was
q baggage car, containing the tents and
luggage of the newly arrived regulars
The men were at once marched to the
camping ground, near the eastern look
out. The little engine then pulled the
train along to the freight platform. The
car next the engine was the observation
car, in which the remains of Gen. Grant
will be borne to Saratoga. From this
car stepped Undertaken Merritt, his son
and representative of the firm that
made the casket in which Gen. Grant is
to be inferred. The casket was then re-
moved from the car and placed upon 4
light lumber wagon, and taken to the
south steps of the cottage. The casket
in its heavy oaken shipping box, was
carried up the steps and into the rear
parlor of the cottage, which is divided
from the room in which the dead Gener.
al lies by heavy curtains. The heavy
nickel-bound box was opened, and the
casket removed and borne into the next
room, where it was placed beside the
remains. Undertakers Harrison, of AL
bany; Sullivan, of New York, and C. E
Bennison, of Boston, the two latter be-
ing the embalmers, then attnded to the
practical details of transferring the re-
mains to the final receptacle. The New
York undertakers, Harrison, the Gener>
ais servant, and Henry, the nurse, were
present. 1t was found that the harden>
ing process that results from cmbalm4
ing had begun, and the embalmers ex>
pressed the belief-established by prece-
dent-that the body would remain in its
present condition without change for at
least six months. Harrison was permit
ted to aid in the final preparation of the
remains as far as possible. A suit of
black broadcloth was placed upon
the remains, the coat being a Prince
Albert. A white linen standing collar
circles the neck and black silk scarf
is tied in plain bow at the throat. The
tie was arranged by Harrison, and he
also adjusted pair of low-cut patent
leather slippers upon the Generals feet
when they had been encased in white
stockings. The act of tying the silk
bows of the slippers was probably the
last personal service Harrison may
do for bis late master. Gold studs
are fixed in the shirt front and plain
gold buttons in the cuffs. When the re-
mains had been finally attired and placed
within the casket the double-breasted
Prince Albert coat was buttoned closely
from the top to bottom. The right hand
was folded across the breast, and the
left was disposed in an easy position by
the side. Col. Fred Grant at this point
entered the apartment. He approached
the casket where it rested beneath the
black draped canopy, and leaning above
it some moments, studied the face of
his father in silence. Then taking in
his own the right hand of the General.
Col. Fred Grant placed upon the third
finger plain gold ring, and then re>
placed upon the breast the stiff, thin
band. Before turning away the Colonel