The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1891-02-25
laid TO RBST.
End Of General Sherman's Journey
to the Grave.
HALF a MILLION PEOPLE
witness One Of the Grandest Funerals
Ever Seen in America, Y
A MONSTER PROCESSION
HALF A MILLION 7EoPl
A MONSTER PROCESSION

have been sounded, the buglers have
trumpeted forth last farewell and
Gen. Sherman sleeps with his kindred
Only the fresh-turned earth on mound
in Calvary cemetery tells the story that
the last of that great triumvirate of
American generals whose fame Is as i'm
perishable as the nation has been laid
to rest between the devoted helpmate,
who, until called away, smoothed and
comforted his declining years, and slit
tie Willie" his idolized soldier boy.
The pageant, the funeral service, the
grave, all were in harmony with the
man. The one imposing as was his
career; the second, simple to severity,
as was hiss life and habits; the third,
with nothing but fringe of shrubbery
to separate it from those of the com
rades and veterans with whom he loved
to mingle.
General Sherman's desire that his OBJ
sequies should be Of military charac-
Ger were obeyed to the most extreme
particular. But, at the same time. 1t
was found impossible to draw a hard
line that would prohibit the great mass
Of the people Of the city in which he had
spent 80 many years Of his life from
paying last tribute of respect to his
memory. So, something almost with.
out precedent in a strictly military fu.
neral, two civic divisions were added TO
the procession and formed not the least
impressive feature of the event. In the
business, center Of the city there were
no outward manifestations of mourning
beyond flags at half-mast and an occa-
sional picture of the dead man with its
border of crepe In a store window, but
out In the resident district which was
traversed by the profession, there was
hardly residence that did not exhibit
some token of sorrow.
1t was within few minutes of $3.50 a.
m. Saturday when the booming of gun
by battery A Of the st. Louis artillery,
which was stationed to the east of the
depot, announced that the funeral train
was on the other side Of the big bridge.
There was an immense crowd outside
the depot, but large force of police
was on hand and no one lacking the
necessary authority was allowed to en-.
ter. The train was brought over the
bridge by two Vandalia locomotives
draped in mourning, and was shunted
onto special track. Meanwhile sew
enteen-gun salnte was fred by the bat.
terry. When the train had come TO
standstill II was boarded by a deputa-
tion of old comrades of Ransom post,
g. A. R., and which, after relieving the
guard, received the remains and mount
ed guard. Meanwhile the occupants OF
the cars were waited upon by commit
tee Of citizens, twenty-five In number,
who extended the freedom of the city
and expressed desire to do anyth nR
that would contribute to their comfort
or convenience. Ex-Gov. Z. o. Stan.
nsrd and Henry Hitchcock were assigned
to the family Of the deceased, but none
Of the mourners left the place, pre-.
ferring 10 remain on the train until the
time set for the funeral.
A few minutes before eleven o'clock
the caisson-one that had been specially
brought from Fort Leavenworth-and
drawn by four coal black horses, WIS
drawn up in front OF the main entrance
to the depot and amid the roar Of artil-
lery the casltet was borne from the
train by eight members OF Ransom post
and placed on the carriage. It's head
was draped with the stars and stripes,
its feet with the Union Jack that had
covered the caisson containing the re-
mains Of Gen. Joseph Hooker and Gen.
George II. Thomas. Under escort of
the infantry the caisson was then driven
TO the point at which II was TO take its
position In the parade, while the rela-
tives and other members of the funeral
party were assisted to carriages which
followed the caisson at distance of q
few blocks. The last stage of the Jour
ney TO the grave was now about 10 com
mence. Gen. Merritt gave the signal,
there was double salute of artillery
and the head of the column began 10
move west on Pine street
From beginning 10 end the procession
was over five miles In length. With per
haps the possible exception of the dem
onstration that accompanied the inter
ment OF the remains of Ulysses s. Grant,
Il was the most notable tribute TO the
memory Of an American that the coun-
try has ever witnessed The route was
fully five and half miles In length,
but at no point was there a perceptible
diminution in the unbroken line of spec
tators. II seemed as though twice the
entire population Of the city was on the
streets. Minute guns were fired by the
battery; church bells were tolled as the
caisson passed by and the brass bands
alternated the Dead March in Saul with
other dirges and the old familiar
Marching Through Georgia" to slow
time.
II was nearly 3 o'clock when the head
OF the column reached Calvary. Outside
the gates the cavalry and artillery de-
ployed TO the right and left. Gently the
old veterans of the Thirteenth infantry
lifted the casket from the caisson and
bore Il up the Way OF the First Dolor,
through the Way Of Bethany and TO It's
crossing with the Holy Rosary. Here
they laid II down upon bier placed di-
rectly In front OF the grave OF little
Willie, who died at the age of years,
In 1868.
To the right was the grave OF Mrs.
Sherman surmounted by handsome
monument; To the left that of Baby
Charles, who died in 1854, before his
first year Of life had passed The wind
whistled through the branches OF
the trees but every head was bowed and
barred as Father Sherman stepped TO the
head Of the casket.
The service performed by Father
Sherman was very similar TO that con-
Quoted by him prior to the removal Of
the body from the generals late resi-
dence In New York, and when he had
concluded the casket was gently low
cred by the survivors Of his old regi-
ment TO It's last resting place. Then
were the military taps beaten and
bugle sounded a hast requiem, the earth
was shoyelled In and ali that was NOR
tal OF "0ld Tecumseh" had passed for