GENERAL GRANT'S GRAVE.
Selecting a Last Resting Place for
the Dead Soldier.
An Immense Funeral Details of
1 the Arrangements,
Details of the various events of importance
and interest which occurred during the first
few days; succeeding General Grant's death
are given In dispatches from Mount McGregor
and New York city as follows:
On June 24, General Grant handed to Col
onel Fred Grant a slip of paper on which
was written substantially this:
'There are three places from which I wish
a choice of burial place to be made:
''West Point I would prefer this above
others but for the fact that my wife could
not be placed beside me there.
"Galena, or some place in Illinois. Be
cause from that State I received my first
general's commission.
'New York. Because the people of that
city befriended me in my need."
When he had delivered this slip to the col
onel he walked back into the sick room. In
a few minutes he reappeared, walking round
in front of the colonel
"I don't like this, father," the son said,
holding out the slip.
"What is there about it you don't like?"
asked the general, in a husky whisper.
"I don't like any of it. There is no need
of talking of such things."
The general took the slip, folded it, tore it
lengthwise, across, and again until the pieces
were so small that hardly a word could have
been made out from any of them, and throw
ing them in the waste basket went back to
his room without speaking.
, Central Park Chosen at First.
A dispatch from Mount McGregor, dated
the 24th, says: General Grant's body will rest
in the city whose people befriended him in
his need. New York has been decided upon
as the place of interment, and Central Park
as the spot The general's preference and the
family wishes will thus both be met. The de-.
cision was reached this; afternoon. To-.
day .au early train brought Mr. TV. L.
Turner, representing Mayor Grace, to tender
a burial site for the body in any of the
New York parks. He mentioned the River
side park by way of suggestion from the
mayor. The family would not consider,, it
Central park seemed to them 'the proper
Slace. : There was i some delay in' a final .
ecision, caused by telegraphic correspond
ence between Mr. Turner and Mayor Grace
in regard" to the condition imposed in the
Ireneral's note that Mrs. Grant should
ie beside him. The mayor evidently had
to wait for the 'common council to
meet in order to give official assurance,
that no obstacle would stand against
that condition. It was 4 o'clock before a
final message came from Mayor Grace pledg
ing his faith and that of President Sanger, of
the board of aldermen, that the wishes of the
family would be followed. Colonel .Grant
Raid at once that he would proceed with ar
rangements to that end.
The mayor was authorized by the alder
men to appoint a committee of one hundred
citizens to proceed to Albany to accompany
the remains to New York.
The Fnneral Arrangements.
Another Mount McGregor dispatch of the
2ith says: The body lay to-day in the parlor
near the spot where the general spent his last
night The face was' peaceful, unclouded by
any trace of suffering.'- A flag was furled over
the body. On the breast reposed a wreath
of oak leaves, gathered yesterday by
Julia, the colonel's daughter, and the two
child daughters ' of Dr. Douglas. , The
three girls went into the woods yester
day do searcn ior me leaves ior wis purpose.
Taking them to the parlor the 'nurse Henry
helped them fashion the wreath, and they
laid it with tearful reverence on the hero's
breast Then Julia, her little heart swelling
with grief , leaned over the calm face and
kissed it, while her sobbing companions tried
to comfort her with caresses, and pressed
their young lips, too, where the grand
daughter's had been.
Adjutant General Drum came this after
noon. He bore authority from the President
to make any arrangements for burial under
1 1 AL.l 1 - 1 A. . IX
Kuvvruiucuv aiutyuxa tuaii uiikuu suiu
the family. Colonel Grant informed General
Drum of the decision to place the general in
Central park. He informed him also of the
offer from the U. S. Grant Grand Army Post
of Brooklyn to guard the body while here,
which he had accepted this morning. . - 1 .v
A plan was soon devised leading up to the
time of interment The body will lie at the
cottage, in the room of the death scene until
Tuesday, August 4, when funeral services
will be held here at 11 o'clock. AJarain will
start for Saratoga at 1 o'clock, reaching
there in an hour. After a stop of thirty
muni tea the train will push on to Albany.
The body will lie in state at v the
Capitol from 4 :30 o'clock in the afternoon until
noon on August 5, when it will proceed
to New York. It will lie in state in the
Sovernor's room In the city hall until Satur
ay, August 8, when public services .will be
held at tbe interment in Central park. - .As
the Brooklyn- post will guard'-the cottage;
Colonel Grant thought there ; would be no
need of a guard here by assignment from the
armv. It was decided that the body should
pass, after-the services at the cottage, to
the '. charge i : of . a- guard '' appointed
by the President, such guard to attend it up
to the tinn of interment' General Hancock
has been designated for this duty. : He will
make all appointments. ' The arrangement to
have the tody lie in state at the .capital was
brought about through Secretary of State
Carr, acting not only for Governor Hill but
in his capacity as commander of , the third
division of the grand army,- vA. u
A week ago last Friday, in a note to the
Rev. Dr. Newman, the general broached the
subject of his funeral to Dr. Newman as his
spiritual friend.; "I desire the funeral service
of the church performed," he wrote, "when
I am gone." Such will be the nature of the
service here. The coffin will be brought
to the porch, hear the - old place where the
general used to. Bit None but the . family;
and close personal friends or special guests
will be admitted to the cottage. The Presi
dent and members of the cabinet, friends
eminent in military and naval service and
from civil life may be invited as guests. There
will be very few invitations. The pas
tor will - stand on the . porch. Be
fore him, on the slope spreading toward the
hotel, will gather those who may come to
bear the services. The services will follow
the ritual, closing with an address. It will
be a simple. and not a long service. It is
probable that at its close the people will be
allowed to cross the porch to look upon the
general's face. Within two hours from
ae time of , opening the service the train ,
will start for Saratoga. The services at
New York may be less simple, but they will
be strictly of a religious nature.
The embalming was completed to-day. The
cheeks.and face by the process made use of
have been made io, assume a fullness, the
deeper furrows and lines have been filled out,
and the expression of the face is now pne of
peace and rest.
members of Wheeler G. A. rv. rost, of Bar
atoga, are watching at the house to-night
They sit in the hall outside the door. Over
the coffin in which the general re3ts burns a
brilliant electric light, revealing with dis
tinctness every line in the rigid face below
the glass cover of the coffin. Across the
coffin is thrown an American flag. Members
of the family from time to time walk into the
room, and gaze long and earnestly at the dead
general's face.
Further Tokens of Sorrow and Sym
pathy.
On the SSCOnd dav ftiiWAA1inr ftAnornl
Grant's death the same manifestations nf
sorrow were shown throughout the United
States as on the day of his demise, prepara
tions being made evervwhAm fcrt nhsnnra t.ha
day of the funeral with public ceremonies.
In New Hampshire all officers of the State
National Guard were directed to wear,
mourning for six montha Resolutions
of grief were passed by Grand Army posts
and other " : military ' ; organizations in
all Darts of tbe Union, and preparations made
by them to join in the. funeral ' ceremonies.
It was annouucedjhathsre would be a gen
eral susnsTWorTfUBiftjis all over the coun
try on the day' of the funeral' Governor
Thompson of South Carolina ordered the
flags to half mast on the public , buildings of
that Btate. ' (secretary ; cayara air ec tea
United States diplomatic and consular oraees
to display flags at half mast over their offi
ces, and to show emblems of mourning for
thirty days.
General Benjamin F.Butler accepted an in
vitation to deliver an oration at the public
memorial services to be held in LoweU.
The effect of thedraraneon the capital and
other public buildings in Washington wat
very impressive, particularly at the White
House and the treasury building. .
Vice-President Hendricks telegraphed from
St4Clair Springs, Mich., to' Sergeant-at-Arms
Canaday designating the following
named Senators to represent the Senators
to represent the Senate in the funeral cere
monies: Justin Morrill. John Sherman, John
A. Logan, Jr Donald Cameron. Wade Hamp
ton, W. M. Ransom, Joseph E. Brown, J. G.
Harris and John P. Miller.
The commander-in-chief of the State guard
of North Carolina issued a general order to
the Southern State troops in camp at Ashe
ville, praising the patriotism and achieve
ments of General Grant,; and recalling his
generous treatment of . General Lee and the
Confederate prisoners at Appomattox.
The following are among the further tele
grams received by the Grant family:
Washington, D. C. July 24.
Mrs. U. S. Grant:
Her majesty the queen requests me to con
vey to yourself and family her sincere condo
lence on the death of General Grant
British Minister. .
London, July 24.
Mrs. U. S. Grant: : w
Accept our deepest sympathy in the loss of
your distinguished husband. - We shall ah
ways look back with gratification at having
had the advantage of knowing him person
ally. Prince and Princess of Wales.
Montreal, July 24.
Mrs. Grant: - .,, v. -v ;'
I am greatly grieved to get the sad news
of the general's death. . Pray accept my most
sincere sympathy. . . ' . --.. 1
Chester A. Arthur.
v Windsor, Vt, July 24.
Colonel Fred Grant: . ?: " .
I hope sincerely that the universal and ear
nest wish of the people of the State and city
of New York may lead the family to approve
of the great city as a burial place. v .
. - . Wu. M. Evabts.
Notes and Incident . .
- The disposition of the cottage in which
General Grant died rests with Joseph W.
Drexel, and it is announced that the cottage
will never again be occupied" by any family
or persons. Mr. Drexel will in due time pre
sent it to, the State or national government
The house .will be presented intact with all
its present belongings, furniture and fixtures,
as a gift to the nation or Commonwealth.
: The last time General Grant signed his
name was a few days before his death, when'
he put it - on the back of a check for $l,000i
which he had received from the Century
Publishing company four or five days before.
. The mourning garments of the female
members of General . Grant's family were
mads. In New York. , AU the gowns are of
very simple pattern, and made of Henrietta
cloth, trimmed with heavy English crepe.
The bonnets are of crape, without trimming
other than the long crape veils. - ,
The coffin in which ' General Grant will be
buried was made in Rochester, and is six feet
long and made of polished copper, incased in
a shell of polished red cedar. This is lined
with lead ani covered with purple silk vel
vet, fastened in place by a framework of
solid silver. ; The top is of French plate glass
with beveled rifle-AO. And mnA
full length ot the coffin, . The interior is lined
with cream colored satin elaborately tufted,
and General Grant's head will rest on a satin
pillow. The handles are solid silver, and
the inscription plate is foldsix inches lnno-
four inches wide; The outside' box is riveted
steel witn an oval top.
A movement for the erection of
a national monument to General Grant
was initiated oy Mayor Grace, who
has appointed a committee of the city's rep
resentatives men to take the matter in hand.
General Grant left no will, but his instrue-
Mums w cne aisposition oi au nis little effects
were written from time to time within the
past iew weeks and given to Colonel Grant
General Grant left no property whatever,
IPI.A JH4Mi 1. 1.1- 1- , I . j .
j. up miiertisb ui ua dook oeiongs to nis wire,
the contract with the publisher being signed
In addition to the instructions which Gen
eral Grant gave from time to time to the col
onel he has left a sealed packet of instructions,
which has not yet been opened.
General Grant's sister, Mrs. Mary Grant
Cramer, with hnr tinshn.nr1 T)i r .T
Cramer, arrived in New York from Europe
on the day after her brother's death. She
was much affected when she learned that she
had arrived too late to see her brother alive.
Memorial services in honor of the dead gen
eral were held in many places. In Faneuil
hall, Boston, the mayor presided at a mem
orial meeting, and Governor Robinson and
Genoral Devens made addresses. --
Services In Weatm luster Abbey
A number of American gentlemen as
sembled at the residence of Mr. Phelps, the
American minister in London, to arrange for
memorial services in London on the day of
General Grant's burial in New York.
Mr. Cyrus W. Field proposed a resolution
for the appointment of a committee to wait
upon the Dean of Westminster and make
suitable arrangements with him for a com
memorative service in Westminster Abbey.
' Senator Joseph R. Hawley, of Connecticut,
seconded the resolution, which was adopted
by a unanimous vote, and tbe committee was
at once appointed. It consists of Mr. Phelps,
who is chairman; Mr. Hawley, Mr. Field,.
Senator Eustis, of Louisiana, Mr. George
Smalley,kMr. , Manton Marble, Mr. , B. H.
Brewster, ex-atorney-general; Mr. J. S.
Morgan, Mr. J. . T. Lord, Mr. Thomas M.
Waller, the American consul-general; Mr.
Howard Potter, and Dr. Harwood. of New
Haven. A sub-committee, : consisting of
Messrs. Phelps, Field and' Smalley, was sub
sequently chos9n to see the dean, and in the
afternoon the sub-committee saw the dean,
who readily granted the use Of the abbey for
the desired services.
Grant's Letter on HI Waning- Life.
Dr. Douglas has produced the following re
markable document, which was written by
General Grant in Dr. Douglas's presence at
Mount McGregor on Thursday, July 2:
"I ask you not to show this to any one, un
less the physicians you consult with, until the
end. Particularly, I want it kept from
my family; If known to one man the
papers will get it and they (the fam
ily) will get it . It would only distress
them almost beyond endurance to kntfw it, and,
by reflex, would distress me. I have not
changed my mind materially since I wrote
you before in the same strain. . Now, how
ever, I know that I gained strength some
days, but when I do go back it is beyond
where I started to improve. I think the
chances are very decidedly in favor of your
being able to keep me alive until the change
of the weather toward winter. Of
course : there - are contingencies that
might arise at any time that would
carry mev off very suddenly. The
most probable of those is choking. Under
the circumstances 'Jife is not worth the liv
ing.' Iam very thankful (for thankful, glad
was written, but scratched out and thankful
substituted (to have been spared this long,
because it has enabled me to practically com
plete the work in which I take so much inter
est I cannot stir up strength enough to re
view it and make additions and subtractions
that would suggest themselves to me and are
not likely to suggest themselves to any one
else. Under the above circumstances X will
be the happiest, the most pain I can avoid.
If v there s. ie to be any extraordinary
cure, such as some ' people believe
there is to be, it will develop itself, s I
would say, therefore, to ' you and your
colleagues, to make me as comfortable as you
can. If it is within God's providence that 1
should go now, I am ready to obey his call
without a murmur, I should prefer going
now to enduring my present suffering for-a
single day without hope of recovery. As I
have stated, I am thankful - for the prov
idential extension of my time ' to enable
me , to continue my work. ' I - am further
thankful, and in a much greater degree
thankful," because it has enabled me to see
for myself the happy harmony which so sud
denly sprung up between those engaged but
a few short years ago In deadly conflict " It
has been an Inestimable blessing to me to bear
the kind expression toward me in person
from all parts of our country, from people of
all nationalities, of all religions and of no re
ligion, of Confederates and of National troops
alike, of soldiers' organizations, of
mechanical, scientific, religious and other so-
cieties, embracing almost every -citizen in the
land. They have brought joy to my heart,
if they have not effected a care. So to you
and your colleagues I acknowledge my in-
debtedness for having brought me through
the valley of the shadow of death to enable
uiv w ntvuvow VMWBW V1AAISJ ' ' ' '
?c'i'''-- "U. 8." Grant.
"Mt McGregor, N. Y., July 2, 1885."
, - '; ',-" ' . ' ' '.!i4i.rf';''
IWrs. Orant inucn Depreasea.v
A Mount McGregor dispatch of the 26th
says: Mrs. Grant Is still much depressed.
She stays in her room all the time and has
her meals taken to her. but has no appetite.
Her heart is beneath the flag that envelopes
her illustrious husband. Her children, who
are keeping up for her sake, ; are with
her constantly - and do everything, in
their power to console her. Even
immediate friends ot tbe family are not al
lowed to-see her, as the least reference to the
cause of her sorrow only adds to the intensity
of her grief. She will'not visit the room that
contains the body of her dead, nor look upon
his face again until the body Is put into the
coffin, which will arrive on Tuesday. After
the coffin arrives the U. S. Grant Post will
take charge of it and remain with tbe body
constantly until the end. They do not sit in
the room now with the body, but remain
upon the porch outside the door.
General Horace Porter went to the cottage
and Colonel Fred Grant met bim and took
him in the parlor to see the face of his old
friend and commander. He was surprised at
the lifelike expression on the face. It was
calm, beautiful, and showed no trace of the
terrible ; ordeal through which the -general
had passed. His hair was a dark
brown and his whiskers close cut were gray
and the face had the same look upon it that
the thousands who knew the general in life
would recognize. Its characteristic features
were determination and strength.
The Brooklyn Grand Army men were on
watch on the veranda of the cottage all last
night, and the men from the Saratoga
Post paced their beats in the moon
light outside. They have already worn
paths which form a square, in the centre of
which is the cottage. There are seven of
these men from Wheeler Po3t, of Saratoga,
and they relieve each other every twenty-four
hours. Colonel Grant this morning requested
them to remain, notwlthstandidg the arrival
of the Brooklyn men, and they will do so.
There are eight of them from the Brooklyn
U. S. Grant Post, and two more are coming
to-morrow.
Selecting a Burial Place.
Colonel Frederick D. Grant and his brother
Jesse Grant accompanied by General Hor
ace Porter, arrived in New York from Mount
McGregor on the morning of the 27th. The
brothers were dressed in black and wore
broad bands of crape on their high silk hata
They: proceeded at once to the Fifth Avenue
hoteL where, in the breakfastroom, they met
General . Sherman - and ex-Senator Chaffee.
They went presently to General Sherman's
room, where a conference of some length was
held, and the nartv senaratd. -
Early in the day the New - York Park
commissioners met and passed the follow
ing, a copy of which had been sent to the
mayor:
Whereas, The tender of a place of
burial for the remains of General Grant in
the park has been accepted by the family
upon the assurance that Mrs. Grant will
have the right of interment by his side.
Resolved, That the right of burial in the
Eark in the same tomb with General Grant
e, and the same is hereby conceded to and
vested in his widow.
The two Grants went to the City Ball and
called on Mayor Grace.
After inspecting the governor's room the
mayor, President Sanger, of the board of al
dermen, and the Grants entered carriages
and were driven to the Fifty-ninth street en
trance to Central Park. There they were
joined by the four park commissioners and
bv Mr. Parsons, tbe superintendent The
party proceeded to Watch Hill, at the north
west corner of the park, near 105th street,
and discussed that point as a possibly suita
ble final resting place for the dead general.
Then the Riverside Drive, from 110th to 123d
street along the Hudson was visited. The
Grants seemed . favorably , impressed with
that locality. They then rode down to seventy-second
street and there passed into Cen
tral Park and inspected the Belvedere tower,
which has been suggested for a temporary
tomb. - :, , -'C- .-k.vi.:s
The Grants left without arriving at a decis
ion about anything. Colonel Grant said he
would confer with his mother before giving
a dennite answer, lie returned to jnt
McGregor on the evening train. -Considerable
opposition had been made
from all parts of the country against the se
lection of Central Park as a resting place for
the remains, of General Grant" It was argued
that the park was a pleasure ground, . and
therefore inappropriate. Some of the dead
general's intimate friends would have pre
ferred to have seen him buried in the grounds
of the Soldier's Home at Washington, .while
others thought that West Point would be the
most appropriate place. - But as the family
of General Grant had signified their wish to
have his remains interred in the city of New
x ork, their desires . were considered para
mount. ;.r4
Mamnrlnl aarrnfiaa in lii-mnr rf th rianA trtm-
eral were held in many places on tbe 27th7 In
faneuu nail, Boston, tne mayor presided at a .
memorial meeting, and Governor. Robinson
and Genera Devens made addresses. It was
announced that the memorial service in west
minster abbey, London, would be held on the
4th, consent having been obtained, and that
the Prince and Princess of Wales and other
mnmiAri nf t.i mvnl fnmilv wnnid hfl nrtw-
ent
Riverside Park Cboeen for General
... Grant's Res tins; Place ; r
Mayor Grace, of New York, received the
following telegram from Colonel Fred Grant
on the morning of the 28th: . ;
AIT. UCUREQOR, JUiy SV- '
Mother takes Riverside park. . Temporary .
tomb had better be at the same place. v
r--'-;-;j - i-i F. Jk GBAjrr. v5-