Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1888-08-24
representatives of the Loyal Legion and G.

Representatives of the Loyal Legion and G.
A r., citizens.
The procession entered the western gate
way of the Arlington National Cemetery,
where as far as the eye can reach TO the right
and left under the spreading branches Of
majestic oaks, the grass is thickly dotted
with the gleam of marble headstones
that mark the graves of sixteen thousand
soldiers a little later the five miles weary
march OF the long procession was at an end
AT |. % p. VI. the cavalry escort. with Ma jor-
General Schofield at It> he i'd came to a
halt beside the old Lee mansion. The cavalry
filed to the left, and forming in a line along
the crest stool in silence overlooking the
field The artillery of the escort breaking
from the line passed out OF sight to
the left and came in along the foo5 OF
The hill, where the guns were unlimbere1 aud
prepared for their allotted service. the in
tantry, with pieces reversed with Grape
trimmed colors. moved obliquely acroS; the
field, and at the word halted AMI aligned
across the right, completing the hollow
AS the hearse ca,ne to halt, the
clergy in flowing robes headed
a procession from the carriage to
the grave. Bishop elect John F. Foley,
Of Detroit, was the officiating priest His as
Sistants, Acolytes and a trained choir It
Dominican monks numbered more than a
score in all Next came the pallbearers,
General Sherman and Secretary Endicott
Speaker Carlisle and Secretary Whitney
walking at the head, ard behind them lean
ing heavily upon the arm of Colonel Sheridan,
came the grief stricken widow The mourn
ers included John Sheridan, brother of the
deceased; General and Mrs. Ruczer, parents
OF the widow. her brother and sister, and the
military staff and several other intimate
friends OF the General
The PreSi lent and Mrs. Cleveland and the
committees of the two Houses of Congress,
with barred heads, followed the mourners
Eight sergeants of artillery now lifted the
casket from the calsSOn, and bore it with SLOW
careful steps down to the mouth of the open
grave, placing it there upon rods.
The spot chosen for his resting place is
some distance from the cemetery, and JUST
at the summit of the steep hillside, which
slopes down from the yellow old mansion
toward the potomac. A few trees stand near
the head of the grave and there is a forest
at some distance Over the tree tops
down below, however, the view is unob-
structed, and the river, the city and the
Capitol all are in plain sight. From the city
the spot looks like green OASIS IN the wooded
hills.
After a moment of reverent silence the
clear voice of the BiShop-elect was heard ut
tering the words Of blessing With a sprig
of fir, plucked from a neighboring branch,
holy water was sprinkled over the grave,
AMI the CaSket was lowered by the Sergeant5
The regular burial service brought the re-
ligiOus features of the obsequies to an end.
The priests stood aside and remained in a
group near the head OF the grave, and every
breath was hushed while the widow came
looked upon the casket which held
her beloved dead. As she turne1 away
the other mOurnerS in a bo1y paid
their tribute of love and respect, and then at
a signal the artillery fired a salute Of seven
teen guns. The Legion of honor moved
up in a line and looked in upon the still
uncovered casket and filed away. The
great hollow square now contained but
one figure, that of a stawart cavalry
bugler, who stood at ease, facing eastward,
his bugle under his arm, at the head of tho
grave. There was hoarse command at the
left, echoed and passed on down the line of
infantry, rattle of steel. moment of
pectation and then the simultaneous flash
and roar of five hundred muskets. Again
and again the volley was repeated. Then
the bugler came to attention, raised his
horn 10 his lips and blew ''taps,"
the signal for Lights out" the military
equivalent for goodnight. The tones were
low, mellow and tremulous at the start,
but with each succeeding phrase swelled,
clear, shrilf, commanding, waking tardy
echoes from the surrounding banks of
foliage, which came back to blend again
with the long drawn wait at the
end. AS the last echo died away and just
the shadow of the towering buckeye fell
across and covered the grave as with a pail
the groups of living turned silently home
ward and left the dead to solitude.