Post by Rabble on Jan 21, 2008 0:43:09 GMT -6
From Brooklyn Daily Eagle October 11 1877
Custer's Funeral
The funeral services over the remains of General Custer at West Point yesterday were of a most imposing character. The body was taken from Ploughkeepsie by the steamer Mary Powell. The procession in that city was a fine one, and was attended by the military, the cadets of the Ploughkeepsie Military Insitute, the Mayor and Common Council and a large number of citizens.
The hearse was drawn by four black horses, and was decorated with flags and black crepe. The coffin containing the remains was draped with a flag, a single floral offering, a shoulder strap with two stars formed of geraniums and immortelles.
The stars were made of tuberoses. The horse with an empty saddle which had all the equipments belonging to Custer's rank, followed the hearse.
The remains were put ashore at West Point at twelve o'clock, under the escort of the Ploughkeepsie military. A detachment of cavalry under command of Brevet-Colonel Beaumont, received them, and with other escort attended them to the chapel where they were deposited and left under guard.
The hat and sword of General Custer were placed on the coffin before the final service.
Mrs Custer was present at the services, attended by Major General Schofield. E.H. Custer, the father of General Custer, Mrs Nettie Smith, his sister, and several other immediate relatives were present; also Lieutenant Braden, of the Seventh Calvary(sic), who fought with Custer, and had been several times wounded.
After the services, which consisted of the reading of a portion of the Episcopal burial service, with responses sung by a choir of cadets, the line of march was formed, and the procession moved to the cemetery in the following order:
Major General Thomas H. Neill, with escort, consisting of a detachment of cavalry, commanded by Colonel Beaumont
Cadet battalion of artillery, Colonel Piper, West Point Band, and cadet battalion of infantry, with arms reversed and colors draped.
Carriage with clergyman
Caisson bearing the body.
Horse with vacant saddle and covered with a blanket
Brevet Major General J. H. Fry, Brevet Major General B.B. Marcy, Brevet Brigadier General J.B. Kidder, General T.C. Devins, Adjutant General Forsyth, Colonel Stephen Clyford, Colonel Ludlow and Colonel Mitchell, pall bearers.
Carriages containing mourners and friends.
Officers of the Naval Academy.
Naval and Army officers.
Loyal Legion, Veteran Organisation of New York, commanded by General George H. Sharpe.
Volunteer and military officers.
Detachments, Twenty first Regiment and Bald Eagle Battery of Ploughkeepsie.
Delegation of the Society of the First Connecticut Volunteers.
Citizens
A large concourse of people witnessed the procession and the solomn scene at the grave. An infantry salute of three rounds was fired at the conclusion of the services at the grave, and at four o'clock the procession was dismissed.
The grave is near the cemetery entrance, to the left of the gate not far from General Scott's last resting place.
Ron
Custer's Funeral
The funeral services over the remains of General Custer at West Point yesterday were of a most imposing character. The body was taken from Ploughkeepsie by the steamer Mary Powell. The procession in that city was a fine one, and was attended by the military, the cadets of the Ploughkeepsie Military Insitute, the Mayor and Common Council and a large number of citizens.
The hearse was drawn by four black horses, and was decorated with flags and black crepe. The coffin containing the remains was draped with a flag, a single floral offering, a shoulder strap with two stars formed of geraniums and immortelles.
The stars were made of tuberoses. The horse with an empty saddle which had all the equipments belonging to Custer's rank, followed the hearse.
The remains were put ashore at West Point at twelve o'clock, under the escort of the Ploughkeepsie military. A detachment of cavalry under command of Brevet-Colonel Beaumont, received them, and with other escort attended them to the chapel where they were deposited and left under guard.
The hat and sword of General Custer were placed on the coffin before the final service.
Mrs Custer was present at the services, attended by Major General Schofield. E.H. Custer, the father of General Custer, Mrs Nettie Smith, his sister, and several other immediate relatives were present; also Lieutenant Braden, of the Seventh Calvary(sic), who fought with Custer, and had been several times wounded.
After the services, which consisted of the reading of a portion of the Episcopal burial service, with responses sung by a choir of cadets, the line of march was formed, and the procession moved to the cemetery in the following order:
Major General Thomas H. Neill, with escort, consisting of a detachment of cavalry, commanded by Colonel Beaumont
Cadet battalion of artillery, Colonel Piper, West Point Band, and cadet battalion of infantry, with arms reversed and colors draped.
Carriage with clergyman
Caisson bearing the body.
Horse with vacant saddle and covered with a blanket
Brevet Major General J. H. Fry, Brevet Major General B.B. Marcy, Brevet Brigadier General J.B. Kidder, General T.C. Devins, Adjutant General Forsyth, Colonel Stephen Clyford, Colonel Ludlow and Colonel Mitchell, pall bearers.
Carriages containing mourners and friends.
Officers of the Naval Academy.
Naval and Army officers.
Loyal Legion, Veteran Organisation of New York, commanded by General George H. Sharpe.
Volunteer and military officers.
Detachments, Twenty first Regiment and Bald Eagle Battery of Ploughkeepsie.
Delegation of the Society of the First Connecticut Volunteers.
Citizens
A large concourse of people witnessed the procession and the solomn scene at the grave. An infantry salute of three rounds was fired at the conclusion of the services at the grave, and at four o'clock the procession was dismissed.
The grave is near the cemetery entrance, to the left of the gate not far from General Scott's last resting place.
Ron