Page images
PDF
EPUB

OBSEQUIES IN BALTIMORE.

Baltimore prepared to receive the honored remains of the Chief Magistrate with every mark of reverence. A procession was arranged to meet them at the Camden Station of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad; and this point, in spite of the inclemency of the weather, became a centre to which, from early dawn, people of all ages, sexes, and colors began to hasten. By eight o'clock, every thoroughfare near it, except those occupied and kept clear by the troops, was so densely crowded as to prevent all passage.

Shortly before ten o'clock, a pilot engine entered the depot, announcing the funeral train of the illustrious dead but a few moments behind. On the platform were assembled Governor Bradford; Lieutenant-Governor Cox; the Governor's staff; General Berry and staff; Hon. Wm. B. Hill, Secretary of State; Hon. Robert Fowler, State Treasurer, with other of the officials of the State government; Mayor Chapman; the City Council of Baltimore, with the heads of the departments of the city government; Major-General Wallace, Brigadier-General Tyler, Commodore Dornin, and many other officers of the army and

navy.

At ten o'clock, the car bearing the body and escort reached the depot in charge of General McCallum and John W. Garrett, Esq., and in a brief time the coffin was removed by the guard -sergeants of the Invalid Corps-and, with uncovered heads and saddened hearts, it was escorted through the depot buildings by the State and city authorities to the hearse or funeral car awaiting its reception on Camden-street.

The hearse, furnished by Mr. John Cox, East Baltimore, was almost entirely of plate-glass, which enabled the vast crowd on the line of the procession to have a full view of the coffin. The supports of the top were draped with black cloth and white silk, and the top of the car itself was handsomely decorated with black plumes.

The escort from Washington was followed by an imposing military array, which excited admiration by their precision and soldierly appearance. The entire column, under the command of Brigadier-General H. H. Lockwood, attended by his staff and

a number of aids, formed in line on Eutaw-street, right resting on Conway-street, and moved in reverse order. First came a detachment of cavalry, with their buglers on the right, who announced the approach of the line; then followed the infantry troops of the First, Second, and Third Brigades, all of whom moved in platoons, with arms reversed, and accompanied by their fine bands, playing solemn dirges. An artillery battery, consisting of six three-inch parrots and caissons, each drawn by six horses. Included in the infantry were the Eleventh Indiana Volunteers, which are stationed at Fort McHenry, and commanded by Colonel Daniel McCauley. Following the battery was a detachment of United States marines, from the United States receiving ship Alleghany. A detachment of United States seamen followed the marines, Companies II and K of the Second United States Artillery, stationed at Fort McHenry, carrying the regimental flag, accompanied by the full band. These companies were posted on each side of the hearse containing the remains of the lamented President. The rear of the escort was brought up by a large number of officers of various departments, including medical and other branches, all mounted. Among these were Major-General Lew Wallace and staff, Surgeon Josiah Simpson, medical director, General E. B. Tyler, Brigadier-General J. R. Kenly, Colonel S. M. Bowman, and others.

The procession commenced to move precisely at 10.30 A. M., over the route previously designated. A few minutes before one o'clock, the head of the procession arrived at the southern point of the Exchange. As the head of the military escort reached Calvert-street the column halted, and the hearse, with its guard of honor, passed between the lines, the troops presenting arms, and bands of music wailing out the plaintive tune, "Peace, troubled soul."

The general officers dismounted, and formed with their staffs on either side of the approach from the gate to the main entrance to the Exchange. The remains were then removed from the funeral-car, and carried slowly and reverently into the building, and placed on a catafalque prepared for them. After they had been properly placed, and the covering removed, the officers present passed slowly forward on either side of the body.

The civic part of the procession, which was under John Q.

A. Herring, Esq., as Chief-marshal, and headed by Governor Bradford, Governor-elect Swan, and Lieutenant-Governor Cox, then followed.

The noble columns on the east and west sides of the Rotunda were draped with black cloth, whilst the base of the wall around the entire hall was covered with the same material. The galleries were likewise tastefully draped, and from the upper gallery, at the base of the dome, four large national flags, one starting from each cardinal point of the compass and meeting in the centre, draped in graceful folds over the catafalque, which was erected immediately beneath the dome. The ends of these flags were gathered in rich folds and united with festoons of black cloth, forming a circle of drapery over the catafalque. This structure was a model of good taste highly creditable to its designer, Charles T. Holloway, Esq. The catafalque consisted of a raised dais, eleven feet by four at the base, the sides sloping slightly to the height of about three feet; from the four corners rose graceful columns, supporting a canopy eight feet from the base, having a projecting cornice extending beyond the line of the base. The canopy rose to a point fourteen feet from the ground, terminating in clusters of rich black plumes. The whole structure was richly draped with exquisite taste. The floor and sides of the dais were covered with fine black cloth, and the canopy was formed of black drap d'été, rich folds drooping from the four corners and bordered with silver fringe. The cornice was adorned with silver braid and a row of silver stars, whilst the sides and ends of the dais were similarly ornamented. The interior of the canopy was of black cloth, gathered in fluted folds to a central point, where was a large star of black velvet, studded with thirty-six stars, one for each State of the Union.

The floor of the dais, on which the body of the illustrious martyred patriot rested, was bordered with evergreens, and a wreath of spiræa, azaleas, calla lilies, and other choice flowers, the whole presenting a most touching and beautiful and appropriate resting-place.

The crowd surrounding the building was immense, but owing to excellent police arrangements and a strong military guard, every thing passed off in an orderly and decorous manner. But a small portion of the throng in attendance were able to obtain a view of the President's remains. At about half-past two

o'clock, to the regret of thousands of our citizens, the coffin was closed and the face that was so dear to the nation was hidden from view, and, escorted by the guards of honor, the body was removed to the hearse. The procession then reformed and took up its mournful march to the depot of the Northern Central Railroad Company. The coffin was placed in a car tastefully draped, and the escort on a train specially assigned to them, which was also draped, and started for Harrisburg at a few minutes past three o'clock.

OBSEQUIES AT HARRISBURG.

General Cadwallader, commanding the Department of Pennsylvania, accompanied Governor Curtin.

When the train reached York, at the request of the ladies of that town, a beautiful wreath was placed, with due solemnity, upon the coffin.

The remains arrived at Harrisburg at eight o'clock. Owing to the heavy rain, it was found impossible to proceed with the intended military and civic display. Throngs of people, however, lined the street and followed the remains to the State Capitol, where the body lay in state, in the House of Representatives. The coffin lay upon a catafalque, around which was a wreath of white flowering almonds. The coffin-lid was open from nine to twelve o'clock at night, during which the hall was crowded to excess with those wishing to get a view of the President's features. They passed in and out with order. At the appointed hour the doors were closed, and the remains locked up until seven o'clock next morning, when the lids were again thrown open and the vast assemblage commenced entering the hall. While citizens generally, especially ladies and children, were entering, the military escort, in column of march, formed in line of procession in the following order :—

Band of music, cavalry, artillery, 10th regiment Veteran Reserve Corps, Pennsylvania V. I.; officers of the army and navy, dismounted; officers of the army and navy mounted; commanding officers of the escort and staff; chief marshal and aids; clergy; pall-bearers and escort; the family relatives and the delegation of the State of Illinois as mourners; his Excellency A. G. Curtin, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and Major-General George Cadwallader, commanding

Department of Pennsylvania, and staff; Diplomatic Corps; exPresidents; Chief-Justice and Associates of the Supreme Court of the U. States, Senate of the United States, House of Representatives of the United States; Federal Judiciary and Judges of other States and Territories; Secretary of the Commonwealth, and other State officers, including Justices of the Supreme Court and members of the Legislature; the authorities and judiciary of the county of Dauphin; Mayor of Harrisburg and City Council; Committee of Arrangements; delegations from other States; delegations from other places; soldiers of the war of 1812; honorably discharged soldiers of the present war; fire department and civic associations.

At nine o'clock, the hall of the House of Representatives was closed to all citizens and soldiers except those taking part in the military and civic procession. At the head of the catafalque sat Brigadier-General Eaten, who was assisted by Admiral Davis and another general officer. There were three general officers on duty every six hours. Just one hour was allowed for the various bodies comprising the procession to pass through, and this having expired, Mr. Sands, United States superintendent of burial, who had the body in charge, closed the coffin, after which all ingress to the Capitol was barred. During the procession and other demonstrations, guns were firing in memory of the honored dead. The hall was draped in the most artistic style, and in the centre, behind the Speaker's desk, was a portrait of President Lincoln, looking natural as life. The Speaker's desk was handsomely interworked with chaplets of flowers. Wherever one travelled in the city there was evidence of deep grief. The houses were draped in mourning, and the people everywhere manifested their reverence. The Patriot and Telegraph offices had suspended from them beautiful flags fringed with black. Eleven o'clock having been fixed for the departure, the special delegations were already at the depot. The military and civic processions escorted the cortège, followed by throngs of citizens.

An assemblage of the people of Elizabethtown, as well as from the country and villages, gathered around the car containing the remains, and vainly sought to gratify the longings of their hearts. At Mount Joy men and women stood with uncovered heads, and the latter wept.

« PreviousContinue »