Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1888-08-23
sHERIpAs.s FUNERAL.
n Compliance with his Request the Last Rites
We're VuostentatiOss.


The funeral OF Gen. Sheridan took place at
Washington. The sentry had paced up and
doEn in front Of the catafalque and the
dimly lighted church all night; the guard OF
honor of the Loyal Legion had beens sitting
IN the front pew at his side. When the light
Of the early morning drove the dark shadows
from the chancel and revealed the SOM
about the church the fr~equehters OF
early mass came, and with them great
number OF working people to take one look
at the casket for the last time. Twice only
had the casket been o~pened-oBee to permit
the brother John. who had just arrived from
the plains, to see the remains for the first
and last time again to permit Mrs. Sheridan
to have one more look at the soldiers face,
and then all withdrew.
After early mass the church was closed for
a time, and when IL was reopened those pro-
yided with tickets beganto arrive.
The invitations had requested thnt those
who held the cards should be in their seats a
little before 10, and the suggestion Of the
military officers was q command. None dis
regarded :t except the president and Mrs.
Cleveland and Secretary Baynard. They
can after the family had entered. TIT
civilians for the most part were
and navy officers were in full uniform.
The congregation, OF persons of mixed re-
ligious belief, or none, was not very familiar
with the ceremonial O fthesr Catholic high mass.
And some reared in Calvinistic faith made
poor work oft when they undertook to par
I~icipate. The incense burning, the jingle OF
bells, the gennfeetions, the, elapping OF the
master Of ceremonies, the intonations of the
Dominican priests were the features Of a re
igious which were new To many
who were present. and the religious attitudes
which some of them attempted were not
characterized by military precision few
Z. r. L. 7 - H. n.nAlaa
voices of the officers in command Of the
troops forming outside could be heard
through the opan windows, the altar boys
lighted the high candies about the altar, and
the low strains Of funei nl musk from the or
gan mingled with the chanting Of the priests.
"A procession Of sanctuary boys issued from
the sacristy, the clergy entered In solemn
procession, a chorus Of Dominican priests be-
gan the information Of the "Miserere' and the
waiting notes of the .dirse music broke forth
from the organs as the cardinal in his red
robe Of Office knelt befoIe the altar and as
oended the cardinals throne. The mass
ended and the cardinal delivered an address.
After tine ermo the ceremony OF absolu-
ton was begun. The cardinal was arrayed
by his assistants in a black cap decorated
with gold. On his head was N tail white hat.
Thus, preceded by the altar boys and the
clergy, he left the place at the altar and pro-
ceeded to the casket OF the dead. The car
lhE hhtANs Nv NtiOtE vi DpAlliilNdti1 1Ah
'Lbcra me Domino" the cardinal rose aud
spriDkled the casket with holy water and in.
eensed il with burning incense and pronounced
the absolution. The cardinal re-
turned to his throne, the Dominicans
chanted "Benedictus," the priests, as they
finished their parts, silently disappeared into
the sacristy, and the high requiem mass was
at an end. While the services werein progress
the cnisson was placed in a position TO re-
ceiye the easket, and the generals horse was
led TO a place Immediately behind. The
horse is a dark bay, and was bought by gen.
eral Sheridan in Chicago about four years
ago. II was bridied and saddled just as when
last ridden by the general. The generals
military boots were in the stirrups, with the
toes pointing backwards. Tho animal was
led by a tall sergeant in full uniform.
In accordance with the wishes Of Mrs.
Sheridan the funeral was a strictly military
affair, and the escort was formed precisely
as prescribed by the army regulations for an
officer Of the rank of the deceased. Just be
fore the close of the services Gen. Schofield
and his aides arranged themselves in front of
the troops and prepared to receive the unera
party. The clanking Of sabers and
the steady tramp of artillery ser
ed the final notes of the "Bene-
dictus, and the strong arms oithe sergeants
bore the easket to the caisson at the door.
Then the loBg hot march to Arlington com
menced. Gen. Schofeld, mounted up
on a splendid horse, gave the word of
command. That word was echoed down the
line. The bugle sounded and the procession
moved. Two score of mounted police
reached Arlington half an hour before the
recession, and proceeded at once TO clear the
space about the grave. Not only was
sitting room cleared for the family
and official mourners, but sew
eral acres were vacated, SO that the hundreds
of worthy rifjz ans were unable IN uet ayan n
glimpse of the ceremony Of the interment.
This was needless, and could serve no other
purpose thnn 20 permit some one clothed in
brief authority to exercise his power A
young staff officer gave the order. 1t ex-
Guided from the line a man who had made
many campaigns with Sheridan, anil another
who recounted from behind the sacred
boundary experiences he had had in the bat
ties Of his country years before the gilded
young lieutenant was born. The earth had
been removed twenty feet from the grave
and placed under an adjacent tulip tree, and
the sward SO carefully cleaned that there wee
no traces Of earth upon it. The grave itself
was in fact a soldiers grave. II was simply
an excavation in the earth. There was no
brickwork and no ~eementing or sheathing-
nothing to keep the earth or water from clos
ing in about the casket. The man in charge
said that that was Sheridan's wish. He de-
sired TO be buried as a soldier. A more ap-
prOpriate spot could not have been selected
for the grave OF the general Of the army.
Philip Sheridan living was always at the
head Of his army; Phil Sheridan dead also at
the head Of his army, but il is a vast silent
army-16,460 strong. Their graves lie be-
hind him, marked by long lines of white head
stones; line after line, column after column;
ike regiments and brigadcs at rest. In this
enclosure there are ] 100 ncres, and room, 1t
Is estimated, for loo, 600 graves, and every
soldier of the army or old soldier of the wal
who desires, has the right Of sepulture there.