The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-12-25


or a pall-covered coffin to the grave Of q
hero commander or comrade. and there
laying him to rest in an honored grave
while firing a parting voley over his rest
ing-place, seem engaged III fitting ser
vice, and those who observe it recognize
its propriety. The popular idea of sol
der burial is based on such scene in
sight or story. These are the scenes which
have made their impress on the public
mind, on the occasion of the burial OF
great commanders.
We read, it is true, of an occasional
hurried soldier burial, VIXEN there is no
time for ceremony or display, and no op-
portunity for marking the place of the
hero grave. Yet it is hard to realize that
of the great majority of soldiers who fell
in battle in our civil war, as in all great
wars from the beginning until now. 1t
might be said at the best, as of Sir John
Moore at COrunna:
Not drum was heard, nor funeral
note,
As his corse to the rampant we hurried;
Not a soldier discharged his farewell shot
Ger the grave where our hero we bur-
led.
Slowly and sadly be laid him down,
From the field of his fame fresh and
CORY:
We carved not a line, we raised not a
stone
But we left him alone in his glory
The mind is reluctant to admit this as
the truth. and whenever it is possible to
show honor to the remains Of a soldier his
comrades will in some way gladly do 1t;
and those for whom he died have sad
pleasure in joining in such tribute OF
respect. Soldiers are always DESTROYS of
at least securing a Christian burial to a
comrade, if that be possible. and friends
ut home want to think that this possibility
exists in every case.
BURIAL OF COL. ELLSWORTH.
One Of the earliest deaths in our civil
war to attract National attention was that
of young Col. Ellsworth, of the New York
Fire Zouaves, who was shot down under
peculiarly distressing circumstances at
Alexandria. Va. in May, 1861. 1t was in
itself great shock TO the loyal people of
our land. Many felt at that time as
though the opening war could never bring
any good sufficient to compensate for that
loss. Even President Lincoln cried out,
My boy, my boy, was it necessary this
sacrifice should be nader The young
heros body lay in state for while at the
White House, as he had been a personal
friend OF the President. 1t was thence
borne TO Its last resting place through the
ranks of mourning thousands. To the
community this seemed no more than fit
ting respect for such soldiers services
and worth, and the suggestion made at the
time, by portion of the metropolitan
press. that this could hardly be deemed
precedent for soldier funerals generally, III
the great conflict then opened, was deem
ed unfeeiing, in view of existing public
opinion.
The sentiment shown in that soldier
funeral manifested itself in other in
stances. and in other localities, 50 long
as its exhibit was possible in the com
munity at home or in the army in the
field. Only when dire necessity compelled
a very different course did such sentiment
seem not to prevail. Indeed the impress
siye display in connection with military
funerals, in our cities and villages, when
dead soldiers were brought home from the
field of battle, was an important factor
in newly arousing and deepening the pat
riotic enthusiasm which kept our armies
supplied with recruits.
l felt the influence of such display.
when, On Washington's Birthday, 1862,
before Joined the army. was witness
in New Haven of the funeral ceremonies
f Col. Charles L. RUSSELL of the 10th
Conn.,, who was killed at the battle of
Roanoke Island The whole city was
moved by the passage through the principal
streets of the funeral procession carrying
his body to its burial. Admiral Foote,
then at his home, disabled by wound re-
ceiyed at Fort Donelson. stood on crutches
at the door of his house on Chapel
street to join in the common tribute of
honor to the dead hero, participated in by
all the citizens, from the President of
Yale College to, the humblest day laborer
in the streets. l felt then that | could
not any longer stay at home, and it was
not many months before / was in the syery
regiment which Col. Russell had com
manded.
AN ARMY BURIAL.
The first soldier / was called to bury,
after joining my regiment in Newborn.
\. C., was an enlisted man who had died
Of congestiye chills. then saw that the
occasion did not command the attention
OF all the regiment. although certain forms
were strictly observed within the limits of
his own company. A number of men
were detailed as a guard. A few special
comrades followed as mourners. The
coffin containing the body was brought out
from the camp hospital. and lifted into an
ambulance. The guard presented arms as
the body Of their dead comrade was borne
past them. Slowly the little procession
p"HTNh oh as way " Sptt Stletttu dS lIP
resimental burying place, Just outside of
the camp lines. The guard marched, with
arms reversed, to the music of muffied
drums. As the coffin was lowered into
the grave / read selections from Scrip
ture, prayed, and spoke earnest words
over the first man of my charge | had
been called to part with in army life
No parting volley was fired over that
grave, as Departmental order had for
hidden the use of mnsketry except within
certain hours, lest All unnecessary alarm
be raised. The procession moved back
TO camp with a quick st&p TO the sound
OF a lively tune. This seemed little in
congruous but it was in accord with mill
tary custom. When the dead are buried
there is other work for the living TO do.
and they must be at ii speedily.
Every man to his duty!
We have buried our dead''
SOLDIER BURIAL PLACES.
Each regiment was likely to have a
burial place for its own men near its
camp. If the body of comraje was sent
for from his home. il could be disinterred
and forwarded while the regiment remain
ed near the spot. But 1t was rarely that
grave was marked with a permanent