The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-07-18
REMAINS
OF GENERAL
GREENE.
General Assembly Committee
Reports ON Intermsnt In Their
Final Resting Place.

What is perhaps the most elaborate re-
port ever made by Rhode Island state
commission is that submitted by the joint
special committee OF the general assembly
appointed Ito take into consideration the
desirability OF securing within the state
of Rhode Island a permanent resting
place for the remains of Gen Nathaniel
Greene" now made in print. in a hand
some volume. entitled THE Remains OF
Mai. Gen. Nathaniel Greene, just from
the press.
1t will he recalled that, upon the report
of the discovery OF the remains OF Gen.
Greene in an abandoned tomb OF the old
Colonial cemetery in Savannah. Ga. by
a committee OF the Rhode Island branch
of the Society of Cincinnati. a movement
was set on foot TO have the remains
brought TO Rhode Island for interment.
A committee appointed by the general
assembly to this end early discovered
that, not only the people OF Savannah.
but a ma jority OF the descendants OF the
distinguished Rhode Islander, preferred
that the remains should be Te-interred in
the city of their original burial and the
state where Gen. Greene had made MS
home and died Accordingly the Joint
special committee was authorized TO CO.
operate with the Savannah people and
moval OF the remains TO a final resting
place beneath the Greene monument in
Savannah and TO participate I'm the cere-
monies arranged therefor. which were
observed on Friday, Nov. II, 1902
This volume. The Remains OF Mai.
Gen. Nathaniel Greene" comprising 260
pages. beautifully printed and bound and
copiously illustrated, altogether a work
OF great dignity In its mechanical make
up. is officially the report OF the joint spe-
cial committee, Horace r. Horton, SEN
ator from Cranston. chairman: James +.
Banigan. senator from Pawtucket Frank
T. Easton. representative from Provi-
dence; j. Stacy Brown. representative
from Newport. Harry III. Shepard. rep
resentative from Bristol and Francis w.
Greene; represe entative from Warwick
Edward Field of Providence secretary.
But the volume is no ordinary report
Indeed the report OF the participation OF
the Rhode Island delegation particlpst-
ing In the ceremonies incident to the re-
iISerment of the honored remains may.
on the whole, be regarded as OF .nino-
importance when the whole work written
or compiled by Secretary Field. under IN
struction OF the joint special COMMITTEES. is
considered. The report is not simply
formal recital OF the trip made 20 Savan-
nah by the committee and their guests
OF the cordial reception acc orded them
by the hospitable Georgians, nut IL en-
bodies an exhaustive and readable ac-
count OF the exercises of the day, which
latter is OF the more interest because Of
the important historical addresses that
marked the occasion, and besides the az.
count furnishes the results Of the latest
researches as TO the life ami character
OF Greene
The volume. indeed. gives a full exact
and Illuminating history OF the discovery
OF the remalns-a quite sensational event.
by the way. that reflects extraordinary
credit on the committee OF the Society OF
Cincinnati that instituted the search and
particularly upon the Hon. Asa Bird
Gardiner, the individual genius of the en-
terprise-a story drawn from authentic
sources OF the events antecedent. In con-
nection with an attempt 10 find the re-
mains: of General Greenes birth death
and burial, and from the historical ad-
dress and other sources. is gathered the
newest story Of the life and public ser
vices OF Greene All documents are
printed in full and there are copious notes
and references.
Altogether it Is an exhaustive work pre-
pared with consummate skin and ia. IN
effect, an important historical document
that will fill a conspicuous niche I'm the
Rhode Island archives.
The Illustrations comprise portraits of
the Rhode Island committee their guests
OF the occasion. OF citizens OF Georgia.
who bore a part In the episode. with a
wealth of view and illustration calcnatei
20 illuminate the printed record The
frontispiece is a portrait OF Gen. Greene
from a rare possession Of the Rhode ISL
and Historical society Mr. Field fixes
the much disputed date OF Gen. Greene's
birth as Aug. Z. 17i2.
Mr.. Fields fitness for this unusual l:n-
dertaking IN the way Of an official re-
port Is unquestoned and this work adds
10 his fine reputation for historical writ
ing. The report" reflects the highest
credit on the members OF the committee
identified with the wholly extraordinary
duty committed TO them.