William Schouler, A history of Massachusetts in the Civil War: Volume 1

[636] and fervor of the verses contributed, the festivities, the collation, the flags, devices, and the entire arrangement, and the excellent manner in which they were carried out, the class-meetings in the different halls, the hand-shakings, the singing of camp-songs by those who had followed the flag, and defended it on so many bloody fields. It was truly a re-union of the men of Harvard. Many of the young men who, three or four years before, had graduated, bore on their shoulders the insignia of generals and colonels. Among these were Barlow, Force, Devens, Payne, Hayes, Loring, Bartlett, Eustis, Sargent, Ames, Walcott, Stevens, Higginson, Savage, Palfrey, Crowninshield, and Russell. Some appeared with but one arm, others with but one leg. Then there were scrolls commemorative of those who had fallen, among whom were Wadsworth, Webster, Revere, Peabody, Willard, the Dwights, Lowell, Hopkinson, How, Shurtleff, and the two brothers Abbott, and many others, whose love of country closed but with their lives.

The procession was formed at eleven o'clock, under the direction of Colonel Henry Lee, Jr., who acted as chief marshal, and it marched, to the music of Gilmore's Band, to the Unitarian Church, which was crowded to its utmost limit.

Charles G. Loring presided, and the services began with the singing of Luther's Psalm, ‘A mighty fortress is our God;’ Rev. Dr. Walker, Ex-President of the College, read selections from the Scriptures; prayer was made by Rev. Phillips Brooks, of Philadelphia; after which, a hymn written by Robert Lowell was sung by the congregation, to the tune of Old Hundred. This was followed by an address by Rev. Dr. Putnam, of Roxbury, of transcendent eloquence and beauty.

After the services in the church, a procession moved to the large pavilion erected on the lawn in the rear of Harvard Hall, where an elegant and substantial dinner was provided. The scene in the pavilion, when all were seated, was one which will never pass from the memory of those who witnessed it. The large number of beautiful and accomplished ladies who were present contributed in no small degree to the beauty and interest of the scene. When all were seated, grace was said by Rev. Dr. Allen, of Northborough.