I GEX. ULYSSES S. GRANT. Death OF ©ver^eraf LI. |> €\rar\t. yunppal JUBpmopiaK jSprtiirp AT BRISTOL, R. I. AUGUST 8th, 1885, Providence: J. A. & R. A. REID, Printers. 1885. GENERAL U. S. GRANT. General U. S. Grant died at Mount Mc- Gregor, Saratoga County, N. Y., on Thursday morning, July 23, 1885, at eight minutes past 8 o'clock. The sad tidings were almost instantly flashed all over our land, and caused universal sorrow. Soon after the event became known in Bristol, flags were set at half-staff", and the show-windows of stores were draped in emblems of mourning. At the suggestion of a number of prominent citizens, the town council issued the following SPECIAL NOTICE. The citizens of the town of Bristol are requested to meet at Town Hall, this, Friday evening, July 24, 1SS5, at S o'clock, for the purpose of making suitable arrangements for the due ob- servance of the death and obsequies of General Ulysses S. Grant. Per Order of the Town Council. In response to the above request, a large number O DEATH OF GEN. U. S. GRANT. of citizens met in Town Hall, at the hour desig- nated, and were called to order by Councilman John Post Reynolds, Esq., who, by request, acted as temporary chairman, and read the call by the Town Council. He stated that it was the desire of the council that the citizens should take action in the matter. The meeting then organized by electing John Post Reynolds, permanent chairman, and Philip H. Coyle, secretary. Brief remarks were made by Hon. Samuel P. Colt, Hon. Isaac F. Williams, Col. George O. Eddy, and Col. George T. French, upon the life and eminent services of General Grant, and the demonstrations our town had made on similar oc- casions of great public grief. Attention was also called to General Grant's visit to Bristol, in 1875, as the guest of our lamented General Burnside, and it was believed to be the wish of every one present to honor our dead general by public ob- servance upon the day of his funeral. A committee of live was elected to report a plan of memorial exercises to the meeting, viz. : George O. Eddy, Samuel P. Colt, Wm. J. Miller, Isaac F. Williams, George T. French. The committee immediately retired for consulta- MEMORIAL SERVICE AT BRISTOL, R. I. 7 tion, and during their absence the meeting was ad- dressed by Judge LeBaron B. Colt, who spoke of General Grant's career as a soldier and statesman. The committee, through their chairman, Col. George O. Eddy, reported the following plan for the day of the funeral : That thirteen guns be fired at sunrise, on the morning of the funeral : That a procession be formed upon the Common, at 10 o'clock in the morning, composed of veterans of the war, the military and civic organizations, and the citizens of the town, to make a short parade through the principal streets to the Town Hall, where appropriate exercises be held ; That the bells of the churches and manufactories in the town be tolled from the time of starting the procession until it reaches the Hall, and minute- guns to the number of sixty -three (indicative of the age of General Grant) be fired upon the Com- mon, under the direction of the Bristol Train of Artillery : That immediate action be taken to secure some public speaker of ability, to deliver a eulogy upon General Grant ; that prominent citizens of the town be invited to deliver addresses, and take part in the exercises of the day ; and that competent vocal and instrumental music be secured ; 8 DEATH OF GEN. U. S. GRANT. That the citizens be requested to decorate their residences and places of business with emblems of mourning ; that flags be placed at half-mast, and that the Town Hall and other public buildings be draped in mourning in honor of our dead hero ; That the observances of the day close with a national salute of thirty-eight guns, to be fired at sunset. The report of the committee was, by vote, ac- cepted, and the committee was continued, to carry out the order of exercises, as reported. It was further voted to increase the committee to nine, and the following named gentlemen were added : Augustus O. Bourn, Wm. T. C. Ward- well, Wm. H. Spooner, Henry W. Hayes. The committee was empowered to make all necessary arrangements, appoint sub-committees, and attend to minor details connected with the oc- casion, to the end that the day may be appropri- ately observed. The meeting then dissolved. The Committee of Arrangements met immedi- ately after the adjournment of the citizens' meet- ing, and organized by the election of Col. George O. Eddy, as chairman, and Col. George T. French, as secretary. MEMORIAL SERVICE AT BRISTOL, R. I. 9 The following sub-committees were appointed : On Resolutions — Wm. J. Miller, A. O. Bourn, S. P. Colt. On Programme — Geo. O. Eddy, Henry W. Hayes. On Invitations — Geo. T. French, S. P. Colt, Wm. H. Spooner. On Decorations — Henry W. Hayes, Isaac F. Williams, Philip H. Coyle. On Salutes — Wm. J. Miller. On Ringing Bells — Wm. H. Spooner. Col. George O. Eddy was designated to preside over the exercises in Town Hall, on the day of the funeral service. The several committees entered upon the dis- charge of their duties with commendable zeal, and as the day designated for the public funeral ap- proached, all was in a state of complete prepara- tion. THE TOWN - HALL, BRISTOL, R. I. The Day— August 8, 1885. The day opened auspiciously, the weather being all that could be desired, and the plan of exercises of the Committee of Arrangements, adopted at the citizens' meeting, was inaugurated as follows : At sunrise a salute of thirteen guns was fired, on the Common, by a detachment of the Bristol Train of Artillery. Soon after 10 o'clock a procession was formed on the north side of the Common, near State Street, in the following order : Moore's Band, Gustavus T. Mott, leader. Bristol Veteran Association, Col. George O. Eddy, commanding. Officers of King Philip Steam Fire Engine Co., No. 1. Committee of Arrangements, Town Council, other Town Officers, Orator, and Clergymen. Bristol Train of Artillery Veteran Association, C. A. Greene, commanding. At 10.30 o'clock, as the procession commenced to move, the bells of the several churches and manufacturing establishments were tolled, and 12 DEATH OF GEN. U. S. GRANT. minute-guns were fired. The procession moved from the Common to State Street, down State to High, down High to Constitution, down Constitu- tion to Hope, up Hope to Bradford, up Bradford street to Town Hall, where the following services were held, Col. George O. Eddy presiding : Dirge — by Moore's Band. A quartette, consisting of Mrs. George O. Eddy, soprano, Mrs. George A. Sherman, contralto, Mr. Win. C. Liscomb, tenor, and Col. Joseph B. Burgess, bass, with Miss Lena Warren, organist, sang with fine effect, " Farewell, Father, Friend, and Guardian." Solo— By Mrs. Eddy. " All our land is draped in mourning, Hearts are bowed, and strong men weep ; For our loved, our noble leader, Sleeps his last, his dreamless sleep; Gone forever, gone forever — Fallen by our Father's hand ; Tho' preserved his dearest treasure, Our redeemed, beloved land." Chorus By Quartette. " Farewell, father, friend, and guardian, Thou hast joined the martyr band ; But thy glorious work remaineth — Our redeemed, beloved land." Prayer — By Rev. Alonzo A. Hoyt. Infinite Lord : As we are assembled on this eventful occasion to memorize the death of our MEMORIAL SERVICE AT BRISTOL, R. I. 1 3 country's hero, General Ulysses S. Grant, we implore the benign blessings of thy grace to rest upon us. We are not here to deify the dead, but to bring our tribute of honor to the memory of him who became an important factor in the maintenance of our free institutions, and wrought victory to our nation's arms. In this we recognize thy merciful providence and overruling power; and we most devoutly render to Thee our heartfelt gratitude, that, amid the dark hours of our country's peril, Thou did'st raise us up a deliverer. Our grateful memories, comprehending the im- portant history of this civilized and happy people, from the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers to the decisive victory of Appomattox, bring to our hearts emotions of praise and honor to Thy Great Name, for the untold blessings of free national in- stitutions. And while we turn our attention to the sad event of death, which has laid low the strong man, we realize a commingling glow of pleasure in the contemplation of the fruitful changes and blessings which have so recently fallen to our ex- periences : that from Maine to Texas, from Florida to California, our whole people join in one com- mon interest, and devoutly mourn the death of the dauntless hero of our national struggles and 14 DEATH OF GEN. U. S. GRANT. victor}-. We rejoice that so soon after the procla- mation of emancipation to an enslaved race, the surrender of the rebellious faction to our national flag, and the establishment of peace to our country ; that in the very centre, and through every part of the once rebellious district, memorial services are this day being held in honor of him who so faith- fully and untiringly stood in defence of the stars and stripes — the ensign of liberty and civilization. And now, gracious God, we most humblv in- voke thy rich blessing upon the services of this hour. Impart strength and vivacity to those who shall address this assembly ; and may their words impress our hearts with a deeper sense of our obligation to Thee, to our country, and to each other. Remember with divine favor these scarred veterans. Having been partaker with them in their experiences, we can but remember the hard- ships and the scenes of blood and carnage which they endured. In memory's vision we behold again the starry flag that once waved above the head of the deceased conqueror, and led us on to the fearful conflict. May Heaven grant that these brave men may stand as nobly for truth and God as they have done for their country's honor. Bless those who preside on this occasion, and MEMORIAL SERVICE AT BRISTOL, R. I. 1 5 those who chant the sweet and solemn strains of national melody. And may the hearts of this entire assembly receive deeper imprints of loyalty to the free institutions and laws of our country, to truth and integrity, to righteousness, to God. And at last may we be brought to share the eternal riches of Thy grace, and the immortal glory of Thy kingdom. Amen. Singing — " Peace at Last," by Quartette. " Look on the face of our hero, now dead ; Gather, _ve mourners, about his dear bed ; Sainted and silent, he's draped for the grave, He who led onward to victory the brave. ' Let us have peace ! ' were his words, that have rung On through the years echoed still by each tongue. ' Let us have peace ! ' now life's battle is past ; He our great leader, sweet peace at last." Chorus. " Bright was his watch-word, in God was his trust, Now his bright armor lies low in the dust; All earthly warfare is over and past, He hath now vict'ry and peace at the last." Mr. Wm. J. Miller presented and read the fol- lowing report, from the committee on resolutions : We, the citizens of Bristol, assembled for the purpose of joining in the funeral rites in memory of General Ulysses S. Grant, being desirous of testifying our appreciation of his great services in behalf of the republic, and our sorrow at the great r 1 6 DEATH OF GEX. U. S. GRANT. loss which the nation has sustained in his death, — and that our posterity may know, though but in a slight degree, the love and reverence which we, in common with the entire nation, bear to him — have Resolved, That in his death the nation has lost its most illustrious citizen ; one who, exalted to the highest positions, and receiving the highest honors of his country, discharged with distinguished abil- ity and integrity every trust committed to his keep- ing. As a soldier, and the great leader of the Union hosts, he was signally successful ; and when / victory crowned our arms, his magnanimity to his foes mitigated the bitterness of defeat, and aided in the restoration of fraternal feelings. As a states- man, he was firm and sagacious ; as a citizen, modest and unassuming, and in his career he justly received the world's homage. When fatal disease seized upon him, and through the treachery of trusted friends misfortune overwhelmed him, it was then that his more loving traits of character conspicuously shone forth, and drew all hearts unto him. How patiently and uncomplainingly he en- dured the great physical and mental strain — forget- ful of self in his thoughtful care for those whose tender ministrations were so grateful to him ! How heroically he labored, taxing his fast waning pow- MEMORIAL SERVICE AT BRISTOL, R. I. I J ers, to finish his life work ! And when his work- was all done, and well done, he'yielded up his life with Christian resignation, and entered into rest ! " So sleep the brave who sink to rest, With all their country's honors blest." Resolved^ That the Town Council be requested to cause these resolutions to be entered on the town records, and to be suitably engrossed and framed, to be forever preserved in the Burnside Memorial Hall, in memory of this day. Ex-Governor Augustus O. Bourn arose to move the adoption of the resolutions, and spoke as fol- lows : Mr. Chairman : In moving the passage of the resolutions, I feel that I express the sentiments of every person in this large audience. The tolling of bells, the slow booming of can- non, the emblems of mourning that surround us, testify that a great nation to-day pays its tribute of love and respect to a departed hero. " Bury the great chief With a nation's lamentation. Let us bury the great chief To the noise of the mourning of a mighty nation, Mourning for its chieftain's fall, Warriors carry the warrior's pall, And sorrow darkens hamlet and hall." . l8 DEATH OF GEN. U. S. GRANT. We have met together at this hour to participate in the last sad rites to the memory of General Grant. As we stand beside his open grave and listen to the "• mourning of a mighty nation," and view the "sorrow that darkens hamlet and hall," we realize that a great chieftain has indeed fallen. Great must be the sorrow that bows a nation in universal grief. Great must be the affection for his memory that pervades the hearts of the people. Within our recollection the nation has been sorely afflicted in the loss of those for whom its heart beat quick. In our affliction to-day, we remember our martyred Presidents, Lincoln and Garfield, — Lin- coln, whose wisdom conducted the nation through the terrible ordeal of the War of the Rebellion, who by a stroke of his pen struck the shackles from four millions of human slaves, who died a martyr's death, but not until he had seen the triumph of our country's cause, — Garfield, who fell by the cow- ardly hand of a miserable assassin, and whose Christian fortitude in his vain struggle for life, ex- cited the admiration and the sympathy of the civil- ized world. We remember, too, our own beloved Burnside, stricken in the prime of life, with scarce a moment's warning, while watching and praying with us at the bedside of a dying president. MEMORIAL SERVICE AT BRISTOL, R. I. IQ And now we are called upon to mourn the loss of one whose bravery and whose talents enabled Lincoln to see the fruition of his hopes, who from an humble private citizen rose in a short time to command the greatest armies of modern times, who saved from destruction this Union that is so dear to us all, who was twice elevated to the highest posi- tion in the gift of the people, and who, in his last lingering sickness, exhibited those traits of charac- ter that doubly endeared his name and his memory to the American people. Seldom has a nation sought to testify its regard for a departed hero or statesman as we seek to honor his memory. Every part of the land, the North and the South, the East and the West, joins in the solemn ceremonies at this hour with an earnestness that testifies to the deep sincerity of the nation's grief. The man whose death can thus stir a mighty nation to its very depths, in a time of profound peace, with nothing to fear from foreign foes or domestic agitation, who commanded the love and reverence alike of friends and foes, who is lamented by the civilized world, could have been cast in no common mould. It rarely falls to the lot of a nation to produce a 20 DEATH OF GEN. U. S. GRANT. man who will be remembered by the ages to come as one of the great men of the world — men whose labors or whose talents have controlled events that changed the entire history of nations or the world. History, which is but a record of the lives and ac- tions of the great men of every age, reveals to us but few, very few names that were not born to die. Men are remembered for centuries, not for their lineage, not for their professions, not for the posi- tions they occupied, but for their deeds. Poets, philosophers, warriors, have abounded in every age — but how few, alas ! are known to fame. Of all the poets that nourished for twenty-five centuries after Homer sang his immortal verses — how few are known even by name. Of all the philosophers that have flourished since Socrates spoke his al- most divine words, scarce a vestige remains. We remember Alexander the Great, not as the son of Philip, or the king of Macedon, but as the impetuous soldier who led his armies from con- quest to conquest, until all the kingdoms of the world lay prostrate at his feet. We remember Ceesar, not as the Emperor of Rome, the destroyer of the republic, but as the invincible commander of Rome's victorious legions in the greatest war of conquest she ever waged. We remember Charles / v ^ MEMORIAL SERVICE AT BRISTOL, R. I. 21 Martel, not as the mayor of the palace, not as the founder of a race of French kings, but as the hero whose sledge-hammer blows drove back the hitherto irresistible tide of Moslem invasion that threatened to engulf all Europe and to convert it at the point of the sword to the creed of Mohammed. The name of Napoleon will be remembered not alone that he was emperor, but that he was a great master in the art of war, and at the head of her armies raised the name of France to the highest pinnacle of glory. As the centuries roll on, and the history of our country shall be written by impartial posterity, the names of Washington, Lincoln, and Grant will shine with increased lustre, and will shed a halo of glory on their contemporaries and the age in which they lived. They will be remembered not alone that they were presidents, each for a second term, but for their great services to the republic. — Washington, equally renowned as a warrior and a statesman, that he conducted his country success- fully through the memorable contest with one of the greatest military empires of the age, and by his wise counsels shaped largely both the form of our government and its policy, as they exist to-day. — Lincoln, that to his broad and sturdv statesman- 22 DEATH OF GEN. U. S. GRANT. ship we owe in a great degree the preservation of that which Washington founded, — Grant, that with an untiring energy and an iron will he led our armies from victory to victory, and brought the greatest war of modern times to a successful issue. And all, not for conquest, not for glory, not for self, but solely that his country might be preserved, and that our glorious system of constitutional liberty might be transmitted, in all its beauty and all its symmetry, unimpaired to posterity. As citizens of that great Republic that he loved so well, and whose glory, prosperity, and honor were so dear to him, we participate in these sad rites, testifying thereby not only our affection for his memory and our appreciation of his services, but our love and our devotion to our country, its government and its institutions, its history and its traditions, its people and its mission to the nations. A great trust is committed to our charge. Our fathers suffered untold privations that they might firmly establish their liberties, and this system of government which they bequeathed to us. Under the leadership of Lincoln and Grant, the sagacious Sherman, the brilliant Sheridan, our beloved Burn- side, and other devoted and patriotic leaders, hun- dreds of thousands of brave men risked their lives, MEMORIAL SERVICE AT BRISTOL, R. I. -.} tens of thousands died on the field of battle, that this Union should not be destroyed. This sacred trust is now committed to us, to be cherished as a precious legacy from our fathers, and by us in turn transmitted to posterity. Animated by the memory of this day, by the example of the wise and brave men that have gone before us, and realizing the responsibilities that rest on us as American citizens, let us be true to that trust, and, whatever may be our lot or our station, register a solemn vow that, come what may, before all other earthly things, we will hold the glory, the honor, the unity of our country dear to our hearts. Attorney-General S. P. Colt, in seconding the resolutions, spoke as follows : Mr. Chairman : I second the resolutions, the appropriateness of which for this occasion, has al- ready been commented upon. It is most fitting that such resolutions should be transcribed upon the lasting records of the town, that our children and our children's children may forever be reminded of the part we have taken at his death, in honoring the great soldier who saved our country. It is also appropriate that the resolutions after being engrossed should be hung in the " Burnside 24 DEATH OF GEN. U. S. GRANT. Memorial Hall*' — that building dedicated to our own gallant chieftain, the companion in war of Grant, who honored him and our town by a visit, while President of the Nation. Mr. Chairman : I move the adoption of the resolutions by a rising vote. When the presiding officer put the vote on the adoption of the resolutions, the entire large audi- ence rose to their feet. The quartette then sang, with deep feeling, with- out instrumental accompaniment, "The Vacant Chair." " We shall meet, but we shall miss him, — There will be one vacant chair; We shall linger to caress him, While we breathe our evening prayer. When a year ago we gathered, Joy was in his mild blue eye; But a golden cord is severed, And our hopes in ruin lie. CHORUS. " We shall meet, but we shall miss him ; There will be one vacant chair; We shall linger to caress him, W T hen we breathe our evening prayer." Then followed the address by Judge Le Baron B. Colt : Mr. Chairman : From the time it was first known that the disease MEMORIAL SERVICE AT BRISTOL, R. I. 25 from which General Grant suffered must prove fatal, there has been a deeper and more universal expression of grief on the part of the people than has ever been witnessed before. This feeling has had no sectional or party bounds — it has embraced North and South, Democrat and Republican, alike. From countless homes, from organizations of every kind, military, religious, civil, there has come the same message of tender sympathy. Strong men have wept when they passed the house where Grant lay suffering ; others have remained as sentinels during the long hours of the night. Be- side the devoted family which surrounded the dy- ing soldier has stood, watching and hoping, the whole American people, the Confederate as well as the Union soldier. And when death came at last, we behold the nation's grief finding expression in a multitude of touching forms. The tolling of bells throughout the land announces that the end has come. Old comrades hasten to Mount McGreg' ir, begging the privilege of guarding, not with arms, but with their hearts, his lifeless form. From all quarters of the world come messages of tender svmpathy to the afflicted family. The President of the United States, the governors of the states, the mayors of the cities, announce the event in fitting 26 DEATH OF GEN. U. S. GRANT. terms, and, giving expression to the popular voice, call for its proper recognition. The stars and stripes, wherever found, float at half-mast. The land is draped in mourning. States vie with each other for the possession of his remains, and the people ask that he be buried at the Capital, because he belongs to the nation. Monuments are pro- jected to perpetuate his fame. Across the ocean, in the older home of our race, within those walls which contain the shrines of England's greatest men, and in the presence of her most distinguished representatives, impressive exercises are held, and the character and fame of Grant set forth in words of burning eloquence from the lips of Canon Farrar. To-day the country is one vast funeral train. The highest dignitaries of the land, civil and mili- tary, as well as the humblest citizen, stand at this hour beside the open grave of Grant. The blue and the gray under the same flag march side by side at his bier. Whoever on the face of the earth lays claim to the title of American citizen, is a sin- cere mourner to-day. What is the cause of all this ? Why this universal grief, these habiliments of mourning, these funeral ceremonies, under the direction of the chief magistrate, and in which MEMORIAL SERVICE AT BRISTOL, R. I. 2J the whole people participate? How does it hap- pen that, stripped of his earthly possessions, de- prived of power, holding no office for years, placed on the retired list of the army only when his days are numbered, without even sword or uniform, the suffering and death of this simple American citi- zen should so affect the country? It is because Grant's name is symbolical of national unity, power, and greatness ; because his life and deeds illustrate what is greatest and best in the national character ; because he acquired a fame while living such as was never accorded an American citizen, " that his death is so widely felt. Grant stands as the embodiment of the national idea, and of an in- separable union of a reunited people. The ties which bind us to the nation, and which connects us in so many ways with the struggle of *6i, are sev- ered at his death. Our social relations are many and complex, springing from common blood, com- mon interests, a common history, and a common destiny. There are ties which unite us to the fam- ily, the community, the state, and nation. The familv mourn, and the homestead looks desolate, when the head is taken away, because the affec- tions and associations which grow up within the familv group are rudely severed ; so on the death of 28 DEATH OF GEN. U. S. GRANT. Grant, the leader of our armies, the defender and preserver of the Union, twice its chief magistrate, the great national family mourn, and the land be- comes desolate, because the affections and associa- tions, the common struggles, sacrifices, and tri- umphs which bind us together as one people, have received a cruel shock. A few years ago the country was divided into two hostile camps. The question was one of na- tional existence. The welfare and happiness of millions of people, of countless generations yet un- born, were involved. Were the labors and sacrifices of our forefathers in vain? Were we to prove re- creant to the sacred trust we inherited? Were these free institutions to perish ? Were our national hopes and aspirations to be forever destroyed? Were the fairest prospects ever held out to any people to be blighted? The North said, No ! But the task was herculean, and seemed for a time al- most hopeless. How could you conquer more than ten millions of people, civilized, prosperous, well- armed, and spread over nearly a third of a continent? Amid discouragement and defeat the country turned to Grant. He alone seemed to grasp the magni- tude of the contest, and the only means by which success could be finally secured. Not any sudden MEMORIAL SERVICE AT BRISTOL, R. I. 20. movement, however brilliant, or any single battle, however decisive, could end the war ; but the South must be permanently occupied, the opposing armies captured or destroyed, the people exhausted. With this view, the great water routes which flowed through the border states should be controlled, — the Ohio, the Tennessee, the Cumberland and the Mississippi at the West, and the Potomac and the James at the East. In the capture of Fort Henry on the Tennessee, Fort Donelson on the Cumber- land, and of Vicksburg on the Mississippi, we see the carrying out of this plan. With what joy was the capture of Vicksburg hailed ! What courage and hope were derived from the fact that the Mis- sissippi once more ran unvexed to the sea ! Even General Halleck, who was slow to put confidence in Grant, now wrote him : " In boldness of plan, rapidity of execution, and brilliancy of routes, these operations will compare most favorably with those of Napoleon about Ulm. You and your army have well deserved the gratitude of your country, and it will be the boast of your children that their fathers were of the heoric army which reopened the Mis- sissippi River." Vicksburg was followed by Chatta- nooga, and then Grant turned his attention to the Potomac and the James. The combined plan, of 30 DEATH OF GEN. U. S. GRANT. which the battles of the Wilderness, the siege oi Petersburg, Sherman's march to the sea, Sheridan's brilliant operations in the Shenandoah Valley are but parts, and which ended in the surrender of Lee at Appomattox, and of Johnston's army, thus effect- ing the complete overthrow of the rebellion and ter- minating the war, are familiar to all. The master mind by which this was accomplished was Grant's. The people do not credit those who assert that Grant did not rank with the famous generals of history. They believe that his great deeds show a great character, and military abilities of the highest order. They believe he was raised up for the work he accomplished. He won victories. He captured armies and strongholds. He ended the war. He saved the Union. All wars differ in character, but for the successful conduct of our war, where large bodies of men had to be moved great dis- tances, over impassable roads, through rivers, woods, and swamps, Grant alone possessed the iron will, the unbending courage, the tenacity of purpose, the power to overcome obstacles, the calm, unerring judgment, and the supreme confidence in ultimate success, which was equal to the emergency. When we think of his achievements, can it be wondered at that the people should show their gratitude in the hour of his suffering and death ? MEMORIAL SERVICE AT BRISTOL. R. I. 31 Grant is also remembered as the twice-elected head of the nation, who turned back the tide of inflation, which threatened us with financial dis- aster. When he was president, the Geneva arbi- tration was skillfully and successfully conducted, a policy of peace established with the Indians, the public debt greatly reduced, while the country grew rapidly in prosperity. The scandals con- nected with his administration never touched his personal integrity, though they showed that he sometimes gave his confidence to corrupt and un- scrupulous men. Not only as the successful leader of our army and as chief magistrate, is Grant known, but his trip around the world made a most profound impression on the country. Xo citizen of the Republic ever before received such consid- eration. Foreign nations vied with each other in doing him homage. Kings, princes, and peoples, wherever he went, whether in Old England or the far nations of the East, showered honors and favors upon him. Wherever our country was known, he carried with him her name and her fame. But it is not Grant's deeds, or the high offices he held, or the great honors he received, that appeal to us so strongly to-day : — it is his character as an 32 DEATH OF GEN. U. S. GRANT. American citizen. In whatever position we find him, whether at the head of a victorious army, with the country kneeling in gratitude at his feet, or as President of the Republic, or the companion of foreign potentates, or suffering the tortures of his fatal malady, he is always the same simple, un- selfish, unaffected, uncomplaining, modest man. Form and ceremony, the gilded trappings of office were distasteful to him. His headquarters at Peters- burg were little more pretentious than that of any private in the ranks. With no sword by his side, in modest attire, and covered with dust, he received the surrender of Lee. But if he was simple in his tastes, he was also most magnanimous. There is no act which has contributed so much to reconcile the South and heal the wounds inflicted by the war, as the generous terms on which Grant accepted Lee's surrender, and the firmness with which, in opposition to President Johnson, he insisted on having them strictly observed. He would not humiliate Lee and his officers by demanding the surrender of their swords, while he said the men needed their horses to work their farms. Grant had no revenge to gratify. He believed the war was over, and his only desire was peace. In the treatment of his subordinates we discern his kind- MEMORIAL SERVICE AT BRISTOL, R. I. 33 ness and magnanimity. He said it was due to the officers and men under him that success was achieved. He never took credit to himself. He always gave more than was due to others. When there was a movement to supplant him and put Sherman at the head of the army, he wrote to Sher- man : " No one would be more pleased at your ad- vancement than I, and if you should be placed in my position, and I put subordinate, it would not change our relations in the least. I would make the same exertions to support you that you have done to support me, and I would do all in my power to make our cause win." In the closing days of his life we see brought out in bold relief his kind and uncomplaining nature. He bore his terrible and prolonged sufferings without a mur- mur. His one object was to finish his book, that his family might not be left in want. Dr. Douglas writes: "The world can know him as a great general, as a successful politician, but I know him as a patient, self-sacrificing, gentle, quiet, uncom- plaining sufferer, looking death calmly in the face, and counting almost the hours he had to live, and those hours were studied by him that he might contribute something of benefit to some other fel- low-sufferer. If he was great in his life he was 3 34 DEATH OF GEN. U. S. GRANT. even greater in his death. Not a murmur, not a groan, not a sigh, from first to last. He died as he lived, a true man." During the past generation we have witnessed three solemn occasions of national mourning. Twenty years ago the people bore Lincoln to his prairie home. Four years since the country laid Garfield on the shores of Lake Erie. To-day Grant is buried in the metropolis of the country, in the presence of the bowed heads of millions. These men sprang from the people. They were of humble origin. They owed nothing to the acci- dent of birth or fortune. No one ever could have predicted from their early life the great destiny that awaited them. But when the country needed their services, our institutions afforded them the oppor- tunity to rise. What an illustration of the strength, the justness, and the grandeur of our free govern- ment. Truly this is a government of the people, by the people. And these men always proved faithful to their trust. They never betrayed the cause of the people. They were ever the servants of the people, and never their masters. After the surrender of Lee, it was with difficulty that Grant could be restrained twenty-fours from proceeding to Washington to take steps to disband the army, and to stop the enormous expense of the govern- MEMORIAL SERVICE AT KRISTOL, R. I. 35 ment. In the hour of victory, at the head of the best arm } - in the world, a conqueror in the most terrible war of modern times, he never dreamed of personal aggrandizement, or the perpetuation of military power. He had but one thought — the good of his country. Another characteristic of Lincoln and Grant was their supreme trust in the people, and their confidence in a popular govern- ment. In the trying times of the war, bowed down with discouragement and responsibility, feeling the burden was greater than any mortal man could bear, it was to the people Lincoln turned for strength and hope. And so Grant always made manifest his love for, and confidence in the people. He stood unaffected while royalty with uncovered head crowded about him, but when an address repre- senting more than a million of English people was presented, his heart was moved. During the last months of his life as he lay on his bed of suffer- ing and distress, it was to the people he turned for comfort and consolation, and he was not disap- pointed. In life the people were his strength, in sickness and death he found them not ungrateful. The last thought of Grant was for his country. His last efforts were for national harmony and re- conciliation. As we contemplate his life, as the earth covers all of him that is mortal, let our 36 DEATH OF GEN. U. S. GRANT. thoughts also be directed towards our country. Let our faith in the people, and in our form of government be invigorated and intensified. Let not hostile criticism at any time make us fear that our institutions are too liberal. Let us remember that as God is just, free and equal laws must be just. Let us resolve that henceforth there shall be no North or South, East or West, but one people, dwelling together in unity, love, and peace. The hymn "America," was then rendered by the quartette, band, and audience, — the great volume of sound rolling forth in grand harmony. The exercises in the hall closed with the bene- diction, by the Rt. Rev. M. A. D'W. Howe, d. d. "The peace of God which passeth all under- standing, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God and of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord ; and the blessing of God Al- mighty — the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen." And thus appropriately closed the solemn and impressive memorial service, in Town Hall — a service so impressive that it will remain a life-long cherished memory with many of those who were present. The hall was crowded to its utmost capacity, MEMORIAL SERVICE AT BRISTOL, R. I. 37 the galleries being occupied by the ladies. On the platform were fifty chairs, all filled with the gentle- men taking part in the exercises, the committee of arrangements, invited guests, and prominent citi- zens of the town. Decorations. The following quite elaborate description of the appropriate and tasteful mourning emblems used on the public buildings of the town, was furnished by Mr. Hayes, the chairman of the committee on decorations, and who supervised the same : The Burnside Memorial Building was draped on the outside, and the Town Hall on the outside and inside, by order of the committee appointed by the town. On the outside of the Town Hall long streamers of black and white depended from the top and cen- tre of the tower, and over the entrance doors were loops of the same material. Inside the building, over the inner door as one entered, a single festoon of broad black and white, with drooping knot in the centre, was placed on a black background. On the other side of the door, in the hall, the same idea was carried out, except- ing that the background was white and the festoons were doubled, while on the flat posts on either side 3S DEATH OF GEN. U. S. GRANT. were placed knots with long ends. All the posts supporting the gallery were draped in black with small white bows. The gallery front was covered with black, with large Greek crosses in white, rep- resenting one of the army corps badges, at regular intervals, excepting at the bend, where a large flag was festooned. In the centre of the ceiling a large rosette of black and white (puffed) with black centre was placed, from which broad black and white bands extended in twelve directions to the sides and ends of the hall. The stage end of the hall was quite elaborately draped, but no descrip- tion can give one so good an idea of its appearance, as will the accompanying cut, made from a photo- graph. On the Memorial Building, long streamers of black and white depended from the peak of the building and from the centre of the tower ; ropes of black and white cloth were placed on the eaves of the front of the building ; the three windows were draped at the top as follows : one in black and white bars, another in black and white rays, and the third in black and white loops : from the centre of the third window (in the tower) extended a pole carrying a large flag at half-mast, tied with crape ; the Moorish arches were covered with narrow blocks of puffed cloth, alternating black and 40 DEATH OF GEN. U. S. GRANT. white ; and the pillars supporting the arches were draped in black, with the capitals and bases of white ; from the centre of each arch, streamers of black and white were hung. Other public buildings were draped as follows : The Rogers Free Library had a large, and a num- ber of small flags, tied with black, over the entrance and projecting from the windows. The balcony of the Court House and the porch of the Jail were draped with festoons of black and white. The United States Custom House and Post-Office Building was appropriately draped, by order of the President, — the same to remain for thirty days. The citizens very generally responded to the re- quest of the committee to drape their residences and shops in mourning, and there were a number of elaborately draped fronts, and tasteful emblematic displays in windows along the route of march. The procession, as it marched in slow time through the streets, preceded by the band playing dirges, was a marked feature of the day's service, and deeply impressed the great throng of people who witnessed it. As the sun dropped below the horizon, the artil- lery again thundered forth its national salute of thirty-eight guns — a fitting requiem to the nation's dead hero. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 013 789 258 3 # LIBRARY OF CONGRESS ■ I I 013 789 258 3 . pemiulife® pH8.5