PHILADELPHIA, December 21, 1799.
Major-General Hamilton has received through the Secretary of War the following order from the President of the United States:
[For order see preceding page.]
The impressive terms in which this great national calamity is announced by the President could receive no new force from anything that might be added. The voice of praise would in vain endeavor to exalt a character unrivaled on the lists of true glory. Words would in vain attempt to give utterance to that profound and reverential grief which will penetrate every American bosom and engage the sympathy of an admiring world. If the sad privilege of preeminence in sorrow may justly be claimed by the companions in arms of our lamented Chief, their affections will spontaneously perform the dear though painful duty. 'Tis only for me to mingle my tears with those of my fellow-soldiers, cherishing with them the precious recollection that while others are paying a merited tribute to "The Man of the Age" we in particular, allied as we were to him by a closer tie, are called to mourn the irreparable loss of a kind and venerated patron and father!
In obedience to the directions of the President, the following funeral honors will be paid at the several stations of the Army:
At daybreak sixteen guns will be fired in quick succession and one gun at a distance of each half hour till sunset.
During the procession of the troops to the place representing that of the interment and until the conclusion of the ceremonial minute guns will be fired.
The bier will be received by the troops formed in line presenting their arms and the officers, drums, and colors saluting. After this the procession will begin, the troops marching by platoons in inverted order and with arms reversed to the place of interment, the drums muffled and the music playing a dead march.
The bier, carried by four sergeants and attended by six pallbearers, where there is cavalry will be preceded by the cavalry and will be followed by the troops on foot. Where there is no cavalry, a detachment of infantry will precede the bier, which itself will in every case be preceded by such of the clergy as may be present. The officers of the general staff will immediately succeed the bier.
Where a numerous body of citizens shall be united with the military in the procession, the whole of the troops will precede the bier, which will then be followed by the citizens.