OBSEQUIES OF GENERAL FOSTER.
IMPRESSIVE CEREMONIES AT NASHUA, N. H.
Nashua, N. H., Sept. 5, 1874.
Since the obsequies of Major Ainsworth, a Nashua man who fell at the head of his command at Front Royal, there has not been so profound an expression of sorrow as that evinced in this city to-day, over the death and funeral rites of her honored citizen, patriot and gallant soldier of two wars, Major-General John G. Foster. The morning dawned foggy and heavy, but mellowed into autumnal splendor, while the populace seemed subdued in thought and mindful that one was being consigned to mother earth who had performed his duty to his country wisely and well. The mills and workshops, stores and offices were closed, and the citizens and citizen-soldiers of Nashua and vicinity vied with one another in paying the last sad tribute of respect to a son of New Hampshire who has honored her on many fields of carnage, and whose name is a household word with her children.
At 8 o'clock a requiem mass was held at the Church of the Immaculate Conception by Rev. John O'Donnell, and at the same hour a detail of ten men from Post John G. Foster, under command of Colonel George Bowers, took charge of the remains at the residence of his mother on Orange square, where the body laid in state two hours. Lighted candles were burning at the head and feet, according to the custom of the Catholic Church.
The body was encased in a heavy rosewood casket, upon which lay the sword, sash and belt of the deceased soldier. On the inner side of the lid, which was turned back, was a large floral wreath about a heavy silver coffin plate, upon which were handsomely engraved emblems of the army and the following inscription:—"John Gray Foster, Lieutenant-Colonel Engineers, Brevet Major-General United States Army, died September 2, 1874, aged 51 years." Hundreds of citizens, women and children viewed the remains, and hundreds more, owing to the crowd, were unable to look upon the face of the dead, which, although emaciated by disease, bore the soldierly impress it was wont to bear in life. The arrangements at the house were under the direction of Captain Solomon Spalding.
The city flags were at half-mast, minute guns were fired from 10 until 12 o'clock, and all the bells in the city were tolled. The cortege received the remains at his mother's residence and proceeded to the Church of the Immaculate Conception, the nave of which was heavily draped in mourning, via. Orange, Concord, Main, East Pearl and Temple streets, where the body was placed in front of the altar, and the funeral service of the Catholic Church was performed by the Right Rev. Bishop Lynch, of South Carolina. The funeral oration was delivered by Rev. Robert Fulton, S. J., and President of the Boston College, connected with the Church of the Immaculate Conception, of which the deceased soldier was a member.
The singing, which was grand and appropriate, was by the choir of the Church of St. Aloysius, assisted by General Michael T. Donahue and others, from Boston, and John McEvoy, of Lowell.
At the close of the exercises in the church the procession was re-formed, when it proceeded through Amory street to Canal street, up Canal street to the Nashua Cemetery, in the rear of the Unitarian church, where the remains of the gallant dead were interred with those of his kindred, and the grave blessed by Rev. Father O'Donnell.