The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-27
FUNERAL OF CAPT. BRANCH.
BURIED Is HIS SUIT OF CONFEDER-
ATE GREY.

vannah Cadets, the OglethOrpe
Light Infantry, the Daughters of
the COnfederaCy and Many Friends
Paid Tribute 10 His MemOry-Lau-
rel Wreaths with Battle Flags in
Flowers Among the Numerous and
beautiful Floral Tributes.
In his suit Of Confederate gray and with
the Confederate flag around him, the body
of Capt. Hamilton McDevitt Branch was
laid to rest in Bonaventure yesterday. The
traditions which he had preserved in life
and which have animated his entire fam
Ly were well preserved in the circum-
stances attending his burial.
Emblems Of the Lost Cause were present
on every hand. The flag which draped
the funeral car was the first flag of the
Savannah Cadets, in which company he
served as lieutenant during the war The
flag which lay upon the coffin was the old
battle flag of Cleburnes division. having
been the flag of the Fifty-fourth Georgia
which regiment the Cadets formed part.
and beside the flag lay the sword and sash
which he had worn when following that
flag. The Confederate Veterans, with
whom he had labored so actively and so
faithfully, paid him their last tribute and
the Oglethorpe Light Infantry and the
Savannah Cadets, with both of which COM
pands he had fought fired their volleys
over his grave. The Daughters of the
Confederacy, in which organization he had
shown much interest, attested their SYM
patty by their presence and their tributes.
The floral designs, which were unusal,
both as TO number and excellence, were
in harmony with the occasion, the Con-
federate colors and battle flags worked
In flowers and surrounded by laurel
wreaths being much in evidence
The funeral took place from ST. Johns
Church in the afternoon and the very large
number present testified to the esteem and
respect in which the deceased was held.
There were over 100 Confederate veterans
present, the turnout being the largest
which the veterans have made at any fun
erai in years. The constant activity of the
deceased in the cause which they represent.
and his general popularity in the assocla-
ton, was accountable for this rather than
the fact that he was an officer of the or
ganization. The Savannah Cadets and the
Oglethorpe Light Infantry both turned out
with full ranks
The body was received at the church by
the Confederate veterans, standing in line
uncovered, and the Cadets and Ogfethorpes
standing at present arms. TIE honorary
preceded the funeral car They
were Gen. c.. NJ. Sorrel Mr. r. N Tbeus
Mr.. w. b. Puder, Mr. c. r. Woods, Capt.
John w. Anderson. Mr.. r.. NJ Butler.
Hon. Robert Falligant and Mr.. Horace A.
Crane, representing the Confederate Veter-
ans, the Savannah Cadets and the Ogle-
thorpe Light Infantry. The active pail
bearers were: Messrs. u. H. McLaws. W
I. Dixon, Fulton Saussy, w. G. Strobhar.
n M. Hopkins, Thomas Screven, Jr., A.
u. Krenson F. M. Hun, Jr., and w, 2.
Brooks
After the coffin. followed by the members
oil the family, the Confederate Veterans
marched into the church and occupied
the seats on the right and left of the main
aisle They were followed by the Cadets
and Oglethorpes. the two companies stand
ing at attention in the aisle during the
service.
The beautiful and impressive funeral
service of the Episcopal Church was read
by Rev. c. II. Strong. after which the
eoiiln was returned to the hearse and the
procession to the cemetery began. A dlrge
was played by the band of the First Geor-
gia Infantry as the body was removed
from the hearse to the church. and again
as II was returned. The military and the
veterans escorted the body to Liberty and
ifaoersham streets, where the three or
CARNATIONS took cars for Bonaventure.
An unusually large crowd gathered AT
the Branch lot in the cemetery. and re-
NAMED in perfect silence while the last
opsequies We're performed. Several hymns
We're beautifully sung by a choir consist
ing OF Mr.. Cuyler Gordon. Mr.. w. f. Blols.
Mrs. Finnie and Mrs. Hunter.
After the grave had been filed the
mound was entirely covered with exoulsite
floral tributes. The last to be placed upon
the grave was a .arge laurel wreath. in
closing the Confederate battlehag, worked
IN carnations. tribute of the Confederate
veterans. This was placed at the head by
the president Of the association. Gen. Nc.
Giashan. The batuehag Of CIeburne's IL
vision was laid upon The grave bv Mr.
"Aiiam Gavan Of Baltimore, who. as a
member of the Cadets. brought the aao
back TO Savannah with him after the ua,.
Taps. the last sound TO fall upon the So
aiers ear at night were sounded by Cant
W, n, Nichols upon ale historic bugle
used for this purpose
The services having been concluded
three volleys were fired over the grave
ny the Cadets and Oglethorpes the for
mer being commanded by Lieut.. r. s Men
ana the latter by Lieut. c. H. Richard
son.
Among the floral tributes were hand
some tributes from the veterans the ca
dets, the Og.ethorpes. the Daughters az
the Confederacy. the Royal Arcanum and
a large number from friends and relatives
lheluding several from the North ana
west. That of the Daughters OF the Con-
federaey was pillow bearing their badge
a laurel wreath inclosing the Confederate
oclors. A large and beautiful pillow Of
flowers was accompanied by a note con.
tanning the words, I'm memory of thair
TREND, from few of his co-workers :,
Cpon the pillow were the words "Dear
friend-True man"
such general testimonial to tho Nom.
DRY OF. man who occupied no pubic no.
siuon and was never before the pubIic
prominently, except as a worker In Tho
cause dear to him. has seldom been seen
in Savannah.
FUNERAL OF J. w. JOHNSON