The herald. [microfilm reel], March 17, 1898, Page 7, Image 7

About The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900

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A NATION'S HERO HONORED
Stately Funeral of Gen, William
S, Rosecrans
THE TRIBUTE OF OLD COMRADES
Requiem High Mass at the Cathedral-Cere
monies at the Cemetery—The Procession
Viewed by Hundreds of Children.
Floral Offerings—Messages
It was a soldier's funeral in the truest
tid tcnderest sense of the word. There
<tave been pageants more extensive and
imposing ln the larger cities when the oth
er great union generals were laid to rest
under "the low green tents, whose curtains
never outward swing," but never was there
one moreslmply beautiful, more tender ami
sympathetic Chan was that of Major Gen
eral W. 8. Roßecrans. Tho rapidly dimin
ishing ranks of tht'men. in their advanced
years, taking leave of the last of their old
commanders gave more than an ordinary
touch of pathos to the every day story of
death. It was in no small measure a per
sonal loss to each one of the hundreds of
the old boys in blue who gnzed for the last
time at the once familiar features and
gathered around the bier at the final serv
ice at the cemetery.
At 9 oclock yesterday morning the bods
was quietly removed from the city hall, un
der a guard of honor to the cathedral on
Main street, whero It was placed In fron;
of the altar rail in the center aisle. The
only pall on the casket was the Stars and
Stripes, and on It Iny the chapeau anil
sword of the commander and a large bou
quet of violets and ferns. Six candelabra
filled with burning candles, emblem of
eternal life, blazed above and the guard of
honor, with drawn sabers, stood at their
posts during the service. The cathedral
bell, which began to toll as the casket was
placed before the altar, continued until It)
oclock, when the priests and acolytes In
black and white vestments entered to cele
brate the requiem mass.
REQUIEM MASS
Bishop Montgomery Delivers the
Funeral Sermon
The celebrant was the Rt. Rev. Bishop
Montgomery, with Fathers McAullffe and
Glrarde, deacons of honor; Fathers Clif
ford and Maloney, sub-deacons; Father
Adam, assistant priest, and James Rear
don, master of ceremonies. A vast audi
ence filled the aisles and seats nnd hun
dreds were unable to enter. Schmidt's
requiem mass was rendered complete by
the choir, composed of Misses Tertiila Bis*
enmeyer, soprano; Tllllo Scanlon, contral
to; Karl S. Thrower, tenor; Joseph Scott,
bass, assisted by Misses O'Kane, Bleknei:,
Roth, Mrs. Banks, Messrs. Sullivan and
Lamb; A. J. Stamm, organist. A violin and
violoncello obllgato was rendered by Wis
ncr and Blerllch.
At the conclusion of the muss Bishop
Montgomery delivered a brief sermon, tak
ing his text from St. John xl:21-27: "Lord.
If thou had been here our brother had not
died," etc. He spoke of Christianity as
the mainspring of civilization, giving man
his dignity, character and independent
epirlt. "It Is the blessing held out to the
despairing, to those bereaved by death.
It is the promise which invests the bodies
of the dead In our church with the spark
of Immortality."
Referring to the deceased, the speaker
■aid: "Gen. Rosecrans needs no eulogy,
no panegyric. His acts as a citizen, as a
soldier and as an official, speak for them
selves. He served his country In Its peril
ous need with fidelity, courage and zeal.
He served It religiously and to the satisfac
tion of the government and the people. He
Is a part of our nation and a part of our
history. In paying a last tribute to the
dead, the Catholics have a special right to
pride themselves, for he was one of them.
He served his country well, but ln that
duty he served a higher power; he served
the church and he served the ruler of all
governments. He was a soldier, but he
was a Catholic—an Intelligent, practical,
consistent, devoted Catholic. As such, I
say, the Catholics have a special Interest
ln the deceased. He early entered the
church to which his family had already
given a son. who became the bishop of the
diocese at Columbus, Ohio.
"As a Catholic, as a soldier, as a true
patriot and citizen, Gen. Rosecrans passed
. away. With how much justice may it be
said of him, 'Well done, thou good and
faithful servant; thou hast been faithful
in a few things; I will place thee over many
things. Enter thou into the kingdom of
heaven.' "
At the conclusion of the sermon absolu
tion for the dead was pronounced ln Latin
and afterward translated into English.
The pallbearers came forward, the guard
keeping their places beside the remains,
und as it was borne slowly clown the aisle
"In Paradisum" was chanted by a choir
of male voices and the ceremonies of the
church were ended. The remains were
then turned over to the veterans of the
G. A. R.
THE FUNERAL CORTEGE
An Imposing Fageant Marches to
Rosedale
The procession moved at once, without
any delay, break or halt. Preceding the
hearse were Brigadier General C. F. A.
Last and staff, then followed Troop D, cav
alry, under Captain C. H. Howland; the
Seventh Regiment band, with muffled
drums. Then came the signal corps, under
Captain Lawrence, all members in full
dress uniform.
Colonel John R. Berry and staff preceded
the Infantrymen of Companies A, C and F,
Soventh regiment, N. G. C. After the sol
dier boys marched the Sons of Veterans,
100 strong. The Confederate veterans made
a strong showing, and were followed by
Northern veterans. The following posts
turned out nearly all their members: Ken
esaw, Bartlett-i.ogan and Stanton. The
Loyal Legion and the Union Veterans'
League directly preceded the hearse. Eight
hundred old soldiers were in line.
The hearse was Hanked on either side by
the active and honorary pallbearers on
foot. A rlderles charger, with martial trap
pings in mourning, was led behind the
by an orderly ln full dress.
Tbe carriages, carrying the relatives of
the deceased, the representatives of the va
rious civic and commercial organizations,
made up a procession several blocks long.
The line of march was south on Main
to Washington street, and thence to Rose
dale cemetery. At Ninth and Main streets
many of the veterans took tho cars pro
vided for them.
All along Main street on either side were
thousands of spectators. From Fourth
street south to Sixth were thousands ol
school children. Many of the schoolß were
closed during the forenoon to permit the
children to pay a last token of respect to
the gallant dead. On Washington street
tho children were assembled holding their
Hag as the procession passed.
At thu cemetery the receiving vault and
space around It was roped oft to keep the
crowd ln check. As the cortege moved
slowly ln to the slow strains of the funeral
march It was an impressive sight. The
blue sky above, tho waving pepper trees,
the measured steps of the militia, the
furled flags of the veterans and showy uni
forms of the cavalry. In front of the tomb
were deposited a number of massive and
elegant floral pieces. Immediately in front
on a draped bier the remains were placed
and tho immediate relatives seated near.
The mllltla marched in. preceded by the
bishop and assisting priest, and stood at
parade rest, forming a barrier, the Sons
of Veterans and veterans circling around
the casket. Bishop Montgomery read ths
prayers for the dead In Latin, afterwards
translating them into English.
Captain Cressey at the close presented
the badge of authority to Post Commander
A. C. Shaffer, who conducted the G. A. R.
ceremonies.
NORTH AND SOUTH
Veterans Join Hands Over the Casket
of the General
Then occurred a scene to embalm ln song
and story. While tho band played the air
In time-honored association with the
words: "Praise God From Whom All Bles
sings Flow," tho pallbearers, four veterans
from the northern and four from the south
ern army formed on either side of the cas
ket and over him whose last written mes
sage was one of fraternity, clasped hands
as brothers. Tears started from "eyes un
used to weep" and the whole assembly was
deeply and visibly affected. Led by Cap
tain J. A. Osgood, tho assembly Joined in
singing General Rosecrans' favorite
hymn, "Rock of Ages Cleft for Me." It
came from the heart of every veteran pres
ent and swelled out on the air in strong,
Impressive chorus. Comrade Shafer then
delivered the following address:
COMMANDER SHAFER'S ADDRESS
"Comrades and Friends: A noble life has
gone out from us. Our hearts are desolate.
LOS ANGELES HERALD* THURSDAY MORNING, MARCH 17, 1898
The flag is lowered, not ln dismay, but only
to wrap In Its priceless folds a hero's form.
The trumpet of God haa sounded and our
comrade and beloved commander, having
fought well his battles here, has answered
I the call to Join the victorious army ln the
1 grand encampment of all the brave dead.
And we aro assembled to pay our tribute
of respect for his heroic life, for tho unity
of tho nation and the freedom of mankind.
Wo remember with patriotic pride the time
when we marched with him to the throb
of tlio drum over mountains, through for
ests and marshes, in the heat of noon and
the chill of night. In rain and snow nnd
sleet and Ice; when we woke with him al
tho bugle call and fought wllh him
on bloody battle fields. Ah, my friends,
who are not of our order, the
tie that holds you together in your frater
nal brotherhood may be strong, but
stronger is the bond of comradship that
binds us to him and to each other, for It
was forged ln the white heat ot battle. His
Initiations Into the Grand Army of the Re
public have taken him across fields of car
nage, Into the Jaws of death, and every
degree he took was sealed In human blood,
shed as a ransom of this nation.
"A scene rises in vision before me. It Is
at Stone river. McCook is broken. The
exultant foe, sweeping on in its taunting
challenge, emerges from the cedars. As far
as eye can see ail Is lust. But, bark! I hear
tho swiftly coming footsteps of the war
horse, and wllh him I see the, hero of many
battles. His figure Is heroic, his stature
(fraud, his bearing superb, his presence an
Inspiration. He rides along the front line
of battle. Men are failing, thick as with
ered leaves before tbe wintry blast. Now
I see one of his aides go down, and now an
other and another Is laid low in death.
A cannon ball sweeping on in Its deadly
mission, missing him by a hair's breadth,
carries with it the head of Gen. Garesche,
his chief of staff. But his courage is un
daunted, his spirit unconquered. He
breathes upon the soldiers tbe inspiration
of his own magnetic personality. Now color
comes back to the blanched cheeks, cour
age to the fainting hearts and strength to
the trembling knees. Banners float ln the
air; Hags move to the front; dead men seem
to be alive again, and all rush onward,
snatching victory from defeat and glory
from Dishonor. Oh, my comrades, the
scenes ot today are in harmony with this
warrior's life. The bugle call, the shrill
fife, the muffled drum, the salute, to the
dead, the scarred veterans, the flying flag
are fitting here. No sooner had the smoke
of battle lifted and the echo of cannon died
away In the mountains than Gen. Rose
crans, like Gan. Grant, said 'Let us have
peace.' Since then he has done much to
bury deep and out of sight the animosities
of the war. To him above all others Is due
the glory of the setting apart of theChick
amauga and Chattanooga National Mili
tary parks to forever memorialize In Im
perishable granite and enduring bronze
America's valor, whether displayed be
neath the blue blouse or gray jacket.
I hoid ln my hand a treasyed relic. His
last signature; his last letter upon earth. It
bears date of February 22, 1898. It is ad
dressed to the union veterans of Los An
geles county. I will give you In his lan
guage one thought that it expresses:
" 'To our brothers of the south my heart
goes out in greeting and sympathy, know
ing well their dash and gallantry in the
face ot the leaden hail, their indomitable
v THE FUNERAL PROCESSION PASSING DOWN MAIN STREET
courage ln the face of overwhelming ob
stacles. Happily reunited and bound to us
In bonds of closest sympathy, should grim
war again assail us there will be none more
ready 'with arms to strike and souls to
dare as quick, as far,' as those gray-clad
heroes and their descendants of the land
of tho waving cotton and the palm.' Now
hear his parting benediction: 'Mayan all
wise Providence keep you all for many
years, to mingle thUB happily together and
to transmit to those who follow us tbe
lessons of fraternity and charity and
loyalty to the flag of our great republic'
"And so the presence here of those who
were of the south is most ttttlng. Thank
Ood, the blue and the gray are no longer
sectional terms. The sunshine of thirty
three years of peace have blended those
colors into one. With us their tearslfali.
but they raise their faces as patriots to
saluto a common flag, washed of its stain
and made glorious by the valorous deeds of
him who lies here, cold In death. Whether
or not a grateful people shall erect to his
memory a lofty monument, carved with
Just eulogies, his name, embalmed ln every
freeman's heart, wfll live, and the silence
of tho grave will hallow his memory and
Increase the splendor of his fame."
OTHER ADDRESSES
Rev. Knighten Pays Tribute—Taps
and "Lights Out"
Col. Glaze then recited part of the ritual
of the Grand Army, after which a shot
address was made by Rev. W. A. Knighten.
who spoke In part as follows: "We are met
here by the waves of this western sea to
pay our last sad and sorrowful tribute of
love to our dear departed comrade and
i friend. He has followed the heroes Into
THE LAST RITES IN THE CATHEDRAL
the realms of the Invisible and immortal.
Here lies the sacred dust of a noble and
true-hearled friend of humanity. He laii
his life upon the altar of his country
In his boyhood and faithfully kept his
lofty consecration to the No scheme
of self-aggrandlzeraent could ever lure
him from his sublime purpose. He loved
the flag. He followed tt amid the smoke
of battie and the thunder of cannon, giv
ing hope and strength to the brave and
loyal men who trusted Sis command. The
history of the war for the union, with all
Its horrors and all Its blessings, cannot be
written without his name. Tt shines in the
constellation of the renowned, the great,
the strong, tihe true, the brave. In the
pursuits of peace he has shown his high
integrity as a citizen. Here ln the home,
the office and the place of civil power his
nobility of character shines forth.
"Now, at the last moment I write of one
great virtue—his deep, broad and magnani
mous fraternity. At his request today
there stand beside his bier two armies
one in gray, one in blue. They are Invited to
shake hands again on sacred soil, directed
to the past as a panorama of great scenes
to be forgotten. Let us as veterans hear
his parting counsels. Let us draw new and
holy inspiration from his illustrious exam
ple. His wars are done; he is within the
city where beats no muffled drum, no flags
half masted hang, no tears are shed, no
farewells ever spoken, no marching col
umns to the grave. We leave him to his
rest."
Led by Capt. Osgood, the veterans sang
"Tenting on the Old Camp Ground," and
there were few dry eyes in the assembled
ranks.
Tho casket was then borne into the vault,
and Comrade Stlne advancing placed upon
it a wreath of smllax tn behalf of the veter
ans, Capt. Oliver a rose, emblem of purity
and Comrade Poindexter a laurel wreath,
the emblem of the victor. A volley of
three rounds was fired by the Infantry and
then the colored bugler, Henry L. Tomey.
raised his Instrument and "taps" and
"Lights out" reverberated among the tail
monumonts and low white stones, over the
hills dying awuy to a faint echo in the dis
tance. Slowly the young boys in blue and
the old ones turned away from the silent
rf-sting place of :he man whose deeds have
made his name immortal.
BEAUTIFUL FLORAL TRIBUTES
Magnificent Pieces Sent by Loving
Friends and Comrades
The family of the late Gen. Rosecrans
present at the funeral were his only son.
Carl S., who resides near the city; his wife
and daughter and Miss Rosecrans, his sis
ter. A daughter, wife of Governor O'ToOIS
of Montana, was unable to be present ow
ing to Illness In her family.
The floral tributes at tho tomb were very
beautiful. The chamber of commerce sent
a broken column of white carnations. From
the Free Harbor league there was sent a
large shield in red, white and blue crossed
by a sword in pink and white sweep pea g.
W. S. Rosecrans camp. Sons of Veterans,
sent a shield with crossed sabers. A beauti
ful wreath of laurel on a standard-, another
of ivy fastened with violets tied with pur
ple ribbon, large bouquets, a star and other
embiems were sent by S. J. Fleishman, Mr.
and Mrs. R. N. Bulla. R. H. Herron. Mrs.
C. Brodtbeck and children, Mrs. Edward
Martin of San Francisco.
A large bank, three feet by four, of ex
quisite flowers, bordered with maidenhair
ferns and annunciation lilies, on which lay
a shield and around which were the words
"The City of San Francisco," told Its own
story. With it came the following mes
sage to Mr. Carl Rosecrans: "The city of
San Francisco, so faithfully served in
congress by Gen. Rosecrans, hastens to lay
its tribute of gratitude on his bier, and to
express Its sympathy with his sorrowing
friends. (Signed) James B. ' Phelan,
Mayor."
Tho remains of Gen. Rosecrans will re
main in the receiving vault until its final
disposition shall be decided upon by the
Army of the Cumberland, his old com
mand.
IN MEMORIAM
Chamber of Commerce Gives Grateful
Recognition to the Dead
At yesterday's meeting of the directors
of the chamber of commerce the following
memorial was offered by Director Mc-
Kinley and, on motion, unanimously
adopted and the secretary instructed to
have the same engrossed and presented to
the family of the late General Rosecrans:
The chamber of commerce of Los An
geles joins In the universal tribute of a
grateful people to the memory of Gen.
William Stark Rosecrans.
One by one the men who made history
in the dark days when the existence of the
Union was Imperiled pass away and re
ceive the last sad rites with which a united
and prosperous nation honors Its heroes.
Time, silent, persistent, and more reslst-
less than armed battalions, is fast van
quishing the mighty armies of the past.
Today we have laid to rest one of the
last of our great generalH; one who ln
peuce as ln war proved his devotion to
his country. Even ln his last years, with
his poysleal powers enfeebled by disease
und the strain of prolonged public service,
at an age when most men think only of
their own ailments, his mind was ever ac
tive In Its Interest In the welfare of his
country and his Influence exerted for the
benefit of this region, which he loved so
well.
Words are too feeble servitors to portray
great deeds, express sorrow, or convey
sympathy. Tbe life and labors of General
Rosecrans are a better eulogy than formal
resolutions; the memory of his noble rec
ord ls sweeter to those who loved him than
i mere words, heartfelt though they be.
"What place is left for words of measured
praise,
Till calm-eyed history, with her iron pen,
Grooves ln tho uncharging rock the final
phraße
That shapes his Image In the souls of
men?"
ARMY AND NAVY LEAGUE
Resolutions of Respect Adopted by
Soldiers and Sailors
Tho following action has been taken by
tho Republican Army and Navy league;
Resolved, That the Army and Navy
Republican league of Southern California
ex-Union soldiers and sailors, veterans of
the war of the robelllon, ln common with
all patriotic citizens, are called upon to
mourn the loss of the last of our gallant
army commanders, Qen. W. S. Rosecrans.
Our beloved comrade and commander
has answered the last roll call, and now
sleeps ln the silent bivouac of the dead.
The bugle has sounded, the lights are out,
and at the next reveille he will be mustered
In the ranks of the army of patriot heroes
gone before, now camping on the other side
of the "dark river."
"He sleeps his last sleep,
He has fought his last battle,
No sound can awake him to glory again."
Thus, one by one, in silent procession
even as his grey-haired comrades passed
his silent bier and took a last affectionate
farewell look at his noble form—are the
nation's defenders passing away.
In General Rosecrans the nation mourns
the loss of both soldier and citizen, for
though by education and training a soldier,
yet his voice was always for peace and
fellowship among his countrymen. Since
the great struggle, in which he took so
gallant and Important a part, was ended,
like his illustrious comrade and friend, U.
S. Grant, his motto has even been: "Let
us have peace."
As Californtans, we take pride ln count
ing him a citizen of our Golden State and
a resident of Los Angeles county, where
his voice and pen were ever ready to up
hold and advance the best interests of his
fellow citizens. And, while we extend our
most heartfelt sympathies to his afflicted
family, we feel that the death of General
Rosecrans is in the broadest sense a na
tional bereavement.
Resolved, That these resolutions be
spread on tbe minute records of this league
and that an engrossed copy of the same be
sent to his noble son, Carl Rosecrans.
A. E. DAVIS.
T. F. LAYCOCK.
E. BAXTER.
Committee.
GENERAL ROSECRANS' CAREER
His Life and His Home ln Southern
California
Gen. Rosecrans was. at different tlrpis
during his long life, a merchant, a soldier,
a statesman, a diplomat and a farmer and
fruit raiser, says the Chicago Times-
Herald. His whole career was that of a
gentle, noble man. His mind was given to
the serious side, of things, and he was in
tensely averse to speaking about tbe one
experience of his life that lifted him high
above his fellows and made men take a
deep interest in his personality, and that
was his work as a soldier fighting for the
union. His name is associated with many
of the fiercest battles of the civil war. Ha
was conspicuous at Rich Mountain, £arol
fax Ferry, Corinth, luko, Stone River and
Chlckamauga.
That he loved his country who could
doubt? He was proud ot being an Ameri
can, and proud of his fathers, who fought
and bled for the foundation of the repubr
11c. Gen. John Stark of the revolution had
tho same blood that flowed in the veins of
"Old/ Rosey." Seven members of his family
served honorably In tho armies of Wash
ington.
So much for the war. The general's Cali
fornia experiences are perhaps more Inter
esting because of their personal nature.
When peace came Gen. Rosecrans, sur
feited with the Intense activities of the
fighting life turned his mind to farming
Undecided where to settle, he first took a
Journey teethe coast. Regular army men
are noted for being in love with the coast.
There are more retired officers living In
California than in any other state. Han
cock, Sheridan and Sherman were all in
lova with California's glorious
blue skies, its perennial vegetation, the
infinite, peace that settles upon the land,
the exuberance of its soil and the mysteri
ous Pacific, with Its wonderful flora and
fauna. Gen. Grant was making prepaja
tions to end his days in California when
he fell 111. All along the coast from Seattle
to San Diego, are to be found old soldiers
spending their declining years ln sur
roundings the very opposite from those
that accompany the Ufa of the fighting
man.
Gen. Rosecrans cams to California ln
1807. At that time San Francisco had yet all
the bizarre aspects of a city near the gold
mines. Southern California was a wilder
ness of sand and sage brush, tangles of
cacti, fields of alfalfa and other vegetation
native to the soil. Gen. Rosecrans bad
determined beforehand to buy land; ln Cal
ifornia, but when he made Inquiries he was
amazed to find great unanimity of opinion
to the effect that beyond the mld-llnsof the
stato there was nothing worth having.
ARRIVAL AT LOS ANGELES
He was still "looking around" when good
luck threw him ln the way of Captain Ban
ning, one of the pioneers of Southern Cali
fornia. Captain Banning persuaded him
to take a trip on his boat to San Pedro. On
the four days' voyage the general was
struck with the absence of harbors all
along the rugged coast. He was discour
aged. Could commerce ever go there?
When he arrived at San Pedro and went
into the interior he felt that the San Fran
ciscans were right—that the country would
never be anything but a pasture. However,
he visited Los Angeles, then a settlement
of a few cheap houses. On his way he
stopped at an old adobe "half-way house"
and standing on the eminence he cast his
eye over a stretcn of country 1000 miles in
area, as it seemed to him.
Speaking of that sight, he said, a little
time before his death:
I saw at a glance around me all this
glorious valley, with the mountains
forming three-fourths of a circle to the
back and on both sides of me, and the
ocean in front, sounding then and eter
nally. It was a brilliant day, a speci
men day of the 300 perfect ones we have
in this climate. I thought I had never
seen such a sky, nor such colors ln the
atmosphere along near the ground and
over against the mountains. Here, I
said to myself, I will buy land and build
me a home, for If water can be devel
oped, I may be certain to have neigh
bors ln the not too distant future.
DWINDLING OF HIS ESTATE
That view settled tt. He would buy land
there from the government and from the
handful of unsuccessful pioneers who were
already convinced that the country could
never amount to anything. And he did.
He acquired for a song an estate of 14,000
acres. Most of that superb property the
general lost in the mining holes of Ne
vada. At present all that is left of It ls
a ranch of 1100 acres. But that much was
sufficient to gratify his passion for farm
ing.
By degrees his house grew up to be a very
large and pleasant abode. The mansion ls
not really a house, but a collection of
houses of a rude exterior, but comfortable
enough within.
The general farmed wisely after the the
ory of the Southern Californian. "Measure
the value of your land," says Senator Jones
of Nevada to the settler in Southern Cali
fornia, "by what it will bring in wheat and
barley." All but 300 of the 1100 acres are
sown in these cereals. The 300 acres bear
deciduous and citrus fruits, eucalyptus
trees for fuel, a potato field and a straw
berry bed.
Latest styles wall paper at A. A. Eck
etrom's, 824 South Spring street
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