Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Poetry and Incidents., Volume 1.
Frank Moore, Ed.

Philadelphia, May 8.--A gentleman who has just made his escape from Memphis, Tenn., gives the following account of a solemn ceremony which took place in that city a day or two before he quitted it. He says that he was an eye-witness to the whole of the proceedings, and as he is a man of the greatest respectability, his statement may be relied on. In the one solitary square which Memphis possesses, stands a statue of Andrew Jackson. By the side of this statue a large pit was dug, and on the day in question our informant, who was standing near the place, saw a body of about five hundred men slowly approaching, headed by a band of music performing the “Dead march.” After the band came eight men bearing the dead body which was to be consigned to the pit; this corpse was no more nor less than a large standard of the Stars and Stripes, which was solemnly lowered into its final resting-place, the company assisting in respectful silence. The earth was then thrown upon it--“ashes to ashes, and dust to dust” --and the pit was filled up. The spectators then dispersed quietly, apparently thoroughly satisfied at having paid the last respects to an old friend's remains. The tomb-stone has not yet been put up, nor have we heard what sort of an epitaph is to be inscribed on it; but no doubt it will do credit to Tennessee.--Philadelphia North American, May 9.