, and through doubt more clear,
Seeing in clouds and darkness One appear
In whose dread name the Nation's sword he drew.
Rest, rest for him; and rest for us today
Whose sorrow shook the land from east to west
When slain by treason on the Nation's breast
Her martyr breathed his steadfast soul away.
[Illustration: THE FUNERAL CAR]
This car bore the remains of the Martyr President to his home in
Springfield, Illinois, where they were laid to rest. The funeral train
left Washington, D. C., on the 21st of April, 1865, proceeded from
that city to Baltimore, Maryland; Harrisburg and Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania; New York City, Albany and Buffalo, New York; Cleveland
and Columbus, Ohio; Indianapolis, Indiana; Chicago, Illinois; and
finally to Springfield, reaching the latter place May 3, where the
last sad rites were performed on the succeeding day. The body lay in
state in all the above cities, brief stops being also made in many
smaller places.
Richard Henry Stoddard in the following Horatian Ode made a beautiful
analysis of the Martyr President's character, with a magnificent
picture of the nation's tribute of mourning for its dead chief:
THE FUNERAL CAR OF LINCOLN
Peace! Let the long procession come,
For, hark!--the mournful, muffled drum--
The trumpet's wail afar--
And, see! the awful car!
Peace! let the sad procession go,
While cannon boom, and bells toll slow:
And go, thou sacred car,
Bearing our Woe afar!
Go, darkly borne, from State to State,
Whose loyal, sorrowing cities wait
To honor all they can
The dust of that good man!
Go, grandly borne, with such a train
As greatest kings might die to gain;
The Just, the Wise, the Brave
Attend thee to the grave!
And you the soldiers of our wars,
Bronzed veterans, grim with noble scars,
Salute him once again,
Your late Commander--slain!
Yes, let your tears, indignant, fall,
And leave your muskets on the wall;
Your country needs you now
Beside
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