The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-02-25
General Sherman's Funeral.

General Sherman's Funeral.
The body of General Sherman was taken
from New York to st. Louis for interment,
the train leaving Thursday afternoon and
reaching its destination Saturday morning.
The funeral had been delayed in order that
a son. Rev. Thomas r. Sherman, who was
in Europe, might be present. Father Sher-
man arrived Wednesday evening. AT
twelve o'clock Thursday a short service,
consisting of prayers, was conducted at the
house, Father Sherman and three other
priests officiating. About 100 persons were
present at this service. Among the num-
Der were the widow of General Grant, Sec
rotary Blaine, Mrs. Walter Damrosch and
Senator Don Cameron. Early in the fore
noon President Harrison had been invited
to view the remains but he said he pre-
ferred to remember General Sherman as he
looked when alive. The funeral procession
was very impressive, and business was gen.
orally suspended throughout the afternoon.
The crowds along the streets were immense.
The decorations along the route were not so
numerous or elaborate as on the occasion of
General Grants funeral, but they neverthe-
less were strkingly handsome and in great
profusion. The procession began to form
! about two o'clock, when General Howard
came out of the house and ordered the
| caisson which was to bear the remains to
| come opposite lne uOOT. AL tne same III
! slant a cavalry squad of the Sixth cavalry
formed to the left of the house in the middle
of the streets. The casson came up in
front of the house at exactly two o'clock
! Generals Howard, Slocum, Johnston and
other military dignitaries formed two lines
on the walk and made passageway to the
4, caisson. AS the bearers left the house the
army band began playing funeral march.
Six lieutenants appeared in the doorway
bearing on their shoulders the casket of the
general Slowly they bore their burden to
tho awaiting funeral carriages. All heads
were then bowed and silence reigned from
one end of the street to the other When
the coach oniainng the pail bearers had
driven away from the door Lafayette post
marched up to the caSSon, one half of the
command taking position on one side OF
the caisson and the balance on the othel
side. AT quarter before three the family
entered their carriages. The funeral pro
cession was arranged to move in the follow
ing order The regulation escort, under
command of Colonel Loomis H. Langdon
! First artillery, consisting of one regiment
! as infantry, composed of a battalion o
| Unite,! States marines, four companies o.
United States engineers and six conpanie:
foot batteries) of artillery, a battalion o.
| light artillery from the army and the na
tional guard of New York, and oftw troop
of cavalry from the national guard of New
York. Next came the honorary escort,
Lafayette post, which surrounded the
caisson. ROM wing the caisson were the
pail bearers in carriages D. 'ollows: MAJOR G
General j. NJ. Schofeld, Ma)o,, ueI Rrain -
o. Howard, Rear Admiral ID. L, n.a'"T
Rear Admiral j. A. Greer, Professor II, -
Kendrck, General Joseph e. Johnston
Major-General II. w. Slocum, Majer- Gen
eral ID. e. Sickles, Major General G. NJ.
Dodge, Major. General J. NJ. Corse, Major.
General Wager swayne, Mayor General
/ Stewart l.. Woodierd, ajor- General Ho
ratio G. Wright and Pfigadier- General John
Moore of the United States army. AS the
funeral procession left the residence, the
caisson bearing the body was followed bv
the family and relatives of the deceased
general to the number of nearly a hundred,
all in carriages. Then followed the presi-
dent, vice-president, members of the cabinet.
the senate and house committees, the mill
tary order of the Loyal Legion of Honor,
the Grand Army, the West Point cadets
and the National Guard, consisting of the
Sixth, the Eighth, the Twenty-second the
Seventh and the Twelfth regiments and
the First and Second batteries of artillery
Following these We're the Sons of Veterans
and civic organizations, which brought. up
the rear. The procession moved through
Fifth avenue TO Washington square, where
IL was dismissed, with the exception of the
guard of honor and the escort of mounted
police. There was very large crowd at
the ferry. The most impressive part of the
procession was the Grand Army posts,
which included in their irregular lines many
lame and feeble veterans. The coffin of the
dead general was wrapped in the old flag,
and behind the caiSson was his black horse,
covered with black velvet. The day was
bright and nothing occurred to interfere
with the arrangements as planned. 1t was
the greatest funeral procession, except that
OF General Grant in 1885, that ever occurred
at New York.
The special train which was taken at
Jersey City consisted of seven cars. In the
last one was the presidential party, and this
car was detached at Philadelphia, so that it
might proceed TO Washington. All along
the route crowds gathered at the railroad
stations and stood with uncovered heads as
the train passed by, and the Grand Army
posts and military companies were drawn
up in line. Where the train stopped the vet
Grams were sometimes allowed to look at
the casket, and floral tributes were received.
Often band played " Nearer, Nv God. to
Thee " or some other selection The scenes
along the line were even more impressive
than those at New York
AT st. Louis the train was boarded by
delegation OF Ransom post, who relieved the
guard and remained on duty until the BODY
was borne 10 a calsson on neighboring
street. The casket was covered at the head
with the stars and stripes and at the foot
with the union jack great civil and
military procession had been formed, and
amid the booming of cannon it began its
march 10 Calvary cemetery. The houses
all along the route were draped in mourn
ing. Although the participation of civil or
CARNATIONS in the funeral was contrary TO
the rules governing military funerals il was
found to be impossible to DENY them. The
general Merritt, and Brevet Brigadier-gen-
eral FOrsythe commanded the military