CHAPTER IX
 

fN THE last days of the Eighteenth Cen¬
tury the news of the death of Washington
reached Hagerstown and here as else¬
where, filled the hearts of the people
with genuine grief. Nothing else was talked
about. Proclamations were issued by the Presi¬
dent and by Governor Ogle of the State of
Maryland, setting apart the patriot's birthday as
a day of mourning, humiliation and prayer. He
desired the people "to call to mind his virtues,
public services and unshaken patriotism and admir¬
ing, endeavor to imitate them. And that they
implore the Most High God to supply his loss."
The day was observed in accordance with these
suggestions. All the business houses were closed,
and addresses upon the character and public ser¬
vices of Washington were delivered in the churches.
But the people were not content to wait so long
for this expression of their feeling of affection and
veneration for the dead hero. On the 15th of
January a meeting was held at the Court House
to perfect plans for a funeral procession. Of this
meeting, Eli Williams was the president, and Na¬
thaniel Rochester, secretary. A committee of ar¬
rangements consisted of Eli Williams, Adam Ott,
Nathaniel Rochester, Jacob Schnebley, George
Woltz, William Fitzhugh, Samuel Ringgold, Da¬
vid Harry, Josiah Price, Thomas Sprigg and Dan¬
iel Heister. The 24th day of January was ap¬
pointed for the observances, and that day witnessed
the largest concourse of citizens which had ever
been gathered together within the County. A
cannon had been mounted and sixteen rounds were
fired. A procession was formed at the Court
House, and moved to the German Lutheran Church
 

to the sound of tolling bells and bands of music
playing the Dead March. First came Col. Schneb¬
ley's Troop, with standard, as were all the other
standards, in mourning; then followed Col. Fitz¬
hugh, the officer of the day; Major Ott's battal¬
ion ; a band of music; Captain Reynolds' Company
of militia; Captain Ringgold's troop; General
Sprigg and his staff; the field officers of the
militia; two German and two English teachers
with their pupils; Mr. Kelley, professor of lan¬
guages, with his school bearing a standard; a
white hoi'se handsomely caparisoned; the clergy of
the county with white sashes and scarfs; a bier,
bearing a hat and sword, carried by four ser¬
geants in uniform; six Revolutionary veterans as
honorary pall-bearers—Col. Price, Major Carr,
Dr. Richard Pindell, Dr. Lancelot Jacques, Col.
Davis and Col. Van Lear; twenty-four ladies in
yvhite robes; the committee of arrangements; mag¬
istrates and other civil officers, and then the mul¬
titude of people. Arriving at the church door,
the military opened to the right and left and
the bier, the clergy and the twenty-four ladies
passed in first. The Rev. Mr. Schmucker had
written three hymns for the occasion, which were
sung to the accompaniment of the organ and other
instruments. The Rev. Mr. Bower of the Epis¬
copal Church, offered a prayer in English, the choir
chanted a psalm, Samuel Hughes delivered an
oration and the Rev. Mr. Rahauser closed the ser¬
vices by a prayer in the German language. The
bier w-as then taken to the front of the church,
and three volleys of musketry were fired over it
by Captain Reynold's troop.

But   the   people   of   Hagerstown   were   by