The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-03-10
cURssToNE cRAYoNs.
Aug. 8, 1885. the Night After General
Grants Funeral.

Grants Funeral.
From the Chicago Inter-Ocean.
The night after the funeral Of Gen.
eral Grant" said the doctor, Il was
one of the guests invited by General
Phil Sheridan and Colonel Charles G.
Otis to a quiet dinner. / had served
that day as an aide on General Otis
staff. as had Colonel Harry Gilmer. an
ex-Confederate. After the ceremo-
MES at Riverside, General Sheridan.
Colonel Otis and other members of
the staff of that day returned to the
Fifth Avenue Hotel. but we remained
there only long enough to wash our
faces and hands. Then we followed
guide out of the hotel and several
blocks to an improvised restaurant
fitted up for the occasion by Colonel
Otis and NJ. Reiotta- And thereby
hangs a tale
cat the beginning of the war Otis
was looking after the interests of his
father in the elevator factory at Yon-
kers. A company Of the Twenty-irst
New York cavalry was organized by
the mechanics in the shops and the
citizens living near. and Otis was
made captain. Among others who
Joined the company was Reiotta. sol
caterer. a chemist and mineralogist
In the course of time Otis was pro-
NOTED to colonel and Reiotta looked
after the headquarters table. In one
of the battles in the Shenandoah val
ley some of Otis men, in panic.
threw down their arms and ran. Rel
otta dropped his own work, caught up
one Of the discarded guns and fought
in the ranks until the enemy retreat
ed From that time Sheridan and
Otis were Reiottas fast friends. and
although the latter was a major be
fore the war ended. he never lost his
enthusiasm as caterer.
"Otis and Relotta had planned to
have Sheridan and his aides and the
ner with them instead OF at the hotel.
and had prepared dishes to suit the
tastes of those to be present. all OF
whom except myself had known Rel
otta in the service. There were If
teen guests. including General Sheri-
dan. Generals Sickles and Butterfield
and Colonel Otis of the committee Of
Colonel Gilmer and
others. The dinner was cooked and
served under the immediate direction
OF Reiotta himself as a sort Of mem
orial offering to old army friendships.
and the whole affair was marked by
a delicacy and sentiment that made
Il memorable.
When the dinner had been eaten
and the cigars lighted General Sheri-
dan said: I'VE have buried today the |
grandest man that ever stepped away
from earth. I ask Colonel Otis to |
-ecite in honor Of the old commander |
The Burial OF Sir John Moore as |
tines IN camp" Colonel Otis stood |
mon his feet as fine q specimen of |
manhood as ever lived. He |
vas q natural orator. and his render |
nS Of Sir John Moore Was more |
han a recitation. His rich voice |
trembled and his hands and arms
moved in impressive but simple ges-
nres. and we seemed standing at |
Grants grave at Riverside.
"As be finished the poem. Otis, |
'carcelv heeding the hearty applause.
aid: y an reminded OF an incident
hat occurred when the old command
+ was s'ive and when most OF us
vere in the service on one side or the
'ther. Before daylight one morning
ras ordered out Of bed by General
Sheridan. instructed TO take eight o.
nv best riders. men Who knew the
ountry. who could swim their horses
cross rivers or iuy1o fences and
make q secret Reconnaissance into the
nemv country and get back BY
reskfasf time. We starfe1 a. once. :
afine nothing 70 eat oe lrink. and
ode hard through the dalk 81 TIE ear
, morning and IN OF the next dav.
ndinR in all the country traversed
ot thing 10 eat
sy1st about sunsef the Guide took |
= along q cowpAth to What vas 70 be
he turning point Of our expedition
Unfortunately ~ took the wrong
sth ard were cultured by Colonel
sinner. the gentleman 70 NV right |
Then We had disl6c44S&G e6lcGe1 e. 4,
'er came to me and ASKED II ne had
1vthins to eat He explained that
,ev hsd started eeriv IN the morninR.
vrerssne tn live ~ the country. but
I'd found absolutely nofhine. I en-
aimed that ne we're -essa H. xosse