Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1892-09-01
CHAPTER XIV.

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Nitd, aoith osltstretcicd arms, H,roacs her
self forlcdrd to meet him.
A great city is draped in mourning.
On every side, at half staff, the national
flag hangs limp and lifeless in the moist
and misty air, as though of its own yoli-
toin dropping in honor of the soldier
dead Under the sodden skies, through
thronged yet silent streets, III long, long
column chosen detachments of soldiery
are leading to its final resting place the
shrouded clay of him who to such glori-
Gus purpose had led the Union blue in
every field from the Mississippi to the
sea, and who through long years of hon
ored service ranked foremost on the
rolls Of the army-foremost perhaps in
the great heart Of the people For days, as
though in sympathy with the widespread
grief, the heavens have poured their
floods upon the brown and leahess slopes.
All nature seems plunged in wintry
gloom. The black smoke from host
of stacks and chimneys has settled down
upon the silent city, covering it like a
pail. From north and south, from east
and west, battalions and batteries, ma
tional and state, have been concentrat-
ing to take part in the last honors to the
illustrious chief, and dripping, yet dis
ciplined, without the stir of martial
music, the men have marched from the
trains to the rendezvous assigned them
about the town.
AT last the hour has come. The weep
ing skies have checked their tears. The
streets and sidewalks along the line of
march swarm with citizens. whose hush
ed voices and reverent miea speak elo-
quently of their sense of the national
loss. From many stately mansion
and modest homestead out beyond the
business section festoons OF black are
fiuttering in the rising breeze, the flag J
twined with Grape, the windows, bal
comics and steps are alive with spec
tators. And. far out on the west
ward avenue, on sheltered portico that
projects from solid, old fashioned res
ideIcp cf erst stgGE sEsSf a.TIcTt oscr.
hangs the street, there is gathered lit
lie bevy of fair forms and faces which
we saw together for the first time that
Indian sunmery afternoon Of the recep-
ton at .Pawnee.
The rapid trot Of orderlies aud
mounted police, sent ahead to warn the
populace off the street and back to the
sidewalk, and the distant wailing OF
cavalry trumpets far down the avenue,
have told that now the funeral column
is approaching; and from the warmth
Of the cozy parlor, well wrapped in
mantles and furs, the ladies have come
forth into the chilly February day
Mrs. Berrien, Mrs. Holden and her chill
dren; Winifred, whose soft cheeks are
aglow and whose dark eyes turn instant
", eagerly toward the head of the adj
vancing escort; Nita Guthrie, pallid,
lanquid when unobserved by her guests,
yet frightening instantly, brayely, when
addressed, and striving to be her old
gracious radiant self for the sake Of
these and other visitors from Pawnee-
for the Twelfth has been detailed es-
pecially to lead the escort of the great
commander, and all the way from the
frontier and only a few days home from
the stirring scenes of its fierce campaign
the regiment has been brought hither by
the orders of a general who knows their
worth as well he knows their wrongs
and whose soldier heart has felt for them
in all their trials.
1t was in his power to give this honor
to others, but though his own old regi-
ment is within easy call, he means that
the people shall see for themselves what
manner of men are these whom press
and pulpit have assailed, and against
whose fair fame the shafts Of slander
have been hurled, only TO fall blunted
and broken or, like boomerangs, come
hurting back about the ears Of the
/ thrower. Vipdicated by the verdict Of
his peers, doubly vindicated by the
highest powers of the land, gray haired
/ Farquhar is chosen to command the es-
cort, and, though the flower Of the ma
TONS soldiery marches in the funeral
train this day, the eyes Of all the gath
! cred throng are strained to see and hail
ard honor the standard and the guidons
of the men who bore the brunt of battle
! only two short months gone by.
And with the squadrons and the guns
from Pawnee came such of the wounded
officers as We're well enough to be trans
ported hither, and with them half a
I dozen Of the ladies Of the garrison. Tc
the huge delight Of the old battalion
two of whose troops are cruelty thinned
in numbers now, the jovial major is per.
mitted by DR.. Holden to mount "Old
4 Glory and take his position III front OF
the line. To the tremulous Joy Of Wini-
fred Berrien, Mr.. Brewster has tcle.
graphed from Washingto. whittier be
was summoned immediaSIy after tht
close of the investigation at the agency
bidding them bring his horse and cquip
ments, for even though he cannot draw
saber he means to ride with 1.-The blacl
troop" on this day of days. She has no
seen him since that wonderful morning
when, like a young snow king, he burs
through the fieecy barriers about then
and stood before her rejoicing eyes theii
rescucr, her fathers preseryer, her lover
her hero; and ever since in his pride Ii,
has held aloof from her and all sh,
holds dear. She can hardly hush TIN
huttering Of her heart as now, near a
hand, she hears the familiar strains o
the trumpets of the Twelfth, stiIl sound
ing the mournful dead march. Othe
ladies of the Twelfth are here-Mrs
Hazlett. Mrs. Gorham and Mrs. War
rem; and small wonder can there be tha
their soft eyes fill with tears. Ever sine
the brief and bloody campaign the sad
solemn tones have been their dali,
music. The Grape is not yet rusting d
the sword hits Of their lords, worn il
honor of poor Thorpe and Rand ans
Burrows, when it is renewed for tn
general IN chief
And now the crowds have driftet