Chapter 4

ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE NAVY.

[From official records in the Navy Department.]

GENERAL ORDER.

NAVY DEPARTMENT, _April 5, 1841_.

The Department announces to the officers of the Navy and Marine Corps the death of William Henry Harrison, late President of the United States, which occurred at the Executive Mansion, in the city of Washington, on the morning of the 4th instant, and directs that, uniting with their fellow-citizens in the manifestations of their respect for the exalted character and eminent public services of the illustrious deceased, and of their sense of the bereavement the country has sustained by this afflicting dispensation of Providence, they wear the usual badge of mourning for six months.

The Department further directs that funeral honors be paid him at each of the navy-yards and on board each of the public vessels in commission by firing twenty-six minute guns, commencing at 12 o'clock m., on the day after the receipt of this order, and by wearing their flags at half-mast for one week.

J.D. SIMMS _Acting Secretary of the Navy_.

OFFICIAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FUNERAL.

[From official records in the State Department.]

WASHINGTON, _April 4, 1841_.

The circumstances in which we are placed by the death of the President render it indispensable for us, in the recess of Congress and in the absence of the Vice-President, to make arrangements for the funeral solemnities. Having consulted with the family and personal friends of the deceased, we have concluded that the funeral be solemnized on Wednesday, the 7th instant, at 12 o'clock. The religious services to be performed according to the usage of the Episcopal Church, in which church the deceased most usually worshiped. The body to be taken from the President's house to the Congress Burying Ground, accompanied by a military and a civic procession, and deposited in the receiving tomb.

The military arrangements to be under the direction of Major-General Macomb, the General Commanding in Chief the Army of the United States, and Major-General Walter Jones, of the militia of the District of Columbia.

Commodore Morris, the senior captain in the Navy now in the city, to have the direction of the naval arrangements.

The marshal of the District to have the direction of the civic procession, assisted by the mayors of Washington, Georgetown, and Alexandria, the clerk of the Supreme Court of the United States, and such other citizens as they may see fit to call to their aid.

John Quincy Adams, ex-President of the United States, members of Congress now in the city or its neighborhood, all the members of the diplomatic body resident in Washington, and all officers of Government and citizens generally are invited to attend.

And it is respectfully recommended to the officers of Government that they wear the usual badge of mourning.

DANL. WEBSTER, _Secretary of State_. T. EWING, _Secretary of the Treasury_. JNO. BELL, _Secretary of War_. J.J. CRITTENDEN, _Attorney-General_. FR. GRANGER, _Postmaster-General_.

[The Secretary of the Navy was absent from the city.]

[From official records in the War Department.]

DISTRICT ORDERS.

WASHINGTON, _April 5, 1841_.

The foregoing notice from the heads of the Executive Departments of the Government informs you what a signal calamity has befallen us in the death of the President of the United States, and the prominent part assigned you in those funeral honors which may bespeak a nation's respect to the memory of a departed patriot and statesman, whose virtue and talents as a citizen and soldier had achieved illustrious services, and whose sudden death has disappointed the expectation of still more important benefits to his country.

With a view to carry into effect the views of these high officers of Government in a manner befitting the occasion and honorable to the militia corps of this District, I request the general and field officers, the general staff, and the commandants of companies to assemble at my house to-morrow, Tuesday, April 6, precisely at 10 o'clock, to report the strength and equipment of the several corps of the militia and to receive final instructions for parade and arrangement in the military part of the funeral procession.

The commandants of such militia corps from the neighboring States as desire to unite in the procession are respectfully invited to report to me as soon as practicable their intention, with a view to arrange them in due and uniform order as a part of the general military escort.

The detail of these arrangements, to which all the military accessories, both of the regulars and militia, are expected to conform, will be published in due time for the information of all.

For the present it is deemed sufficient to say that the whole military part of the procession, including the regular troops of every arm and denomination and all the militia corps, whether of this District or of the States, will be consolidated in one column of escort, whereof Major-General Macomb, Commander of the Army of the United States, will take the general command, and Brigadier-General Roger Jones, Adjutant-General of the Army of the United States, will act as adjutant-general and officer of the day.

WALTER JONES, _Maj. Gen., Comdg. the Militia of the District of Columbia_.

ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, _Washington, April 6, 1841_.

The Major-General Commanding the Army of the United States and the major-general commanding the militia of the District of Columbia, having been charged by the executive officers of the Government with the military arrangements for the funeral honors to be paid to the patriot and illustrious citizen, William Henry Harrison, late President of the United States, direct the following order of arrangement:

ORDER OF THE PROCESSION.

FUNERAL ESCORT. (In column of march.)

_Infantry_.

Battalion of Baltimore volunteers. Company of Annapolis volunteers. Battalion of Washington volunteers.

_Marines_.

United States Marine Corps.

Corps of commissioned officers of the Baltimore volunteers, headed by a major-general.

_Cavalry_.

Squadron of Georgetown Light Dragoons.

_Artillery_.

Troop of United States light artillery.

Dismounted officers of volunteers, Marine Corps, Navy, and Army in the order named.

Mounted officers of volunteers, Marine Corps, Navy, and Army in the order named.

Major-General Walter Jones, commanding the militia.

Aids-de-camp.

Major-General Macomb, Commanding the Army.

Aids-de-camp.

CIVIC PROCESSION.

United States marshal for the District of Columbia and clerk of the Supreme Court.

The mayors of Washington, Georgetown, and Alexandria.

Clergy of the District of Columbia and elsewhere.

Physicians to the President.

Funeral car with the corpse.

_Pallbearers_.--R. Cutts, esq., for Maine; Hon. J.B. Moore, for New Hampshire; Hon. C. Gushing, Massachusetts; M. St. C. Clarke, esq., Rhode Island; W.B. Lloyd, esq., Connecticut; Hon. Hiland Hall, Vermont; General John Granger, New York; Hon. G.C. Washington, New Jersey; M. Willing, esq., Pennsylvania; Hon. A. Naudain, Delaware; David Hoffman, esq., Maryland; Major Camp, Virginia; Hon. E.D. White, North Carolina; John Carter, esq., South Carolina; General D.L. Clinch, Georgia; Th. Crittenden, esq., Kentucky; Colonel Rogers, Tennessee; Mr. Graham, Ohio; M. Durald, esq., Louisiana; General Robert Hanna, Indiana; Anderson Miller, esq., Mississippi; D.G. Garnsey, esq., Illinois; Dr. Perrine, Alabama; Major Russell, Missouri; A.W. Lyon, esq., Arkansas; General Howard, Michigan; Hon. J.D. Doty, Wisconsin; Hon. C. Downing, Florida; Hon. W.B. Carter, Iowa; R. Smith, esq., District of Columbia.

Family and relatives of the late President.

The President of the United States and heads of Departments.

Ex-President Adams.

The Chief Justice and associate justices of the Supreme Court and district judges of the United States.

The President of the Senate _pro tempore_ and Secretary.

Senators and officers of the Senate.

Foreign ministers and suites.

United States and Mexican commissioners for the adjustment of claims under the convention with Mexico.

Members of the House of Representatives, and officers.

Governors of States and Territories and members of State legislatures.

Judges of the circuit and criminal courts of the District of Columbia, with the members of the bar and officers of the courts.

The judges of the several States.

The Comptrollers of the Treasury, Auditors, Treasurer, Register, Solicitor, and Commissioners of Land Office, Pensions, Indian Affairs, Patents, and Public Buildings.

The clerks, etc., of the several Departments, preceded by their respective chief clerks, and all other civil officers of the Government.

Officers of the Revolution.

Officers and soldiers of the late war who served under the command of the late President.

Corporate authorities of Washington.

Corporate authorities of Georgetown.

Corporate authorities of Alexandria.

Such societies and fraternities as may wish to join the procession, to report to the marshal of the District, who will assign them their respective positions.

Citizens and strangers.

The troops designated to form the escort will assemble in the avenue north of the President's house, and form line precisely at 11 o'clock a.m. on Wednesday, the 7th instant, with its right (Captain Ringgold's troop of light artillery) resting opposite the western gate.

The procession will move precisely at 12 o'clock m., when minute guns will be fired by detachments of artillery stationed near St. John's church and the City Hall, and by the Columbian Artillery at the Capitol. At the same hour the bells of the several churches in Washington, Georgetown, and Alexandria will be tolled.

At sunrise to-morrow, the 7th instant, a Federal salute will be fired from the military stations in the vicinity of Washington, minute guns between the hours of 12 and 3, and a national salute at the setting of the sun.

The usual badge of mourning will be worn on the left arm and on the hilt of the sword.

The Adjutant-General of the Army is charged with the military arrangements of the day, aided by the Assistant Adjutants-General on duty at the Headquarters of the Army.

The United States marshal of the District has the direction of the civic procession, assisted by the mayors of the cities of the District and the clerk of the Supreme Court of the United States.

By order: ROGER JONES, _Adjutant-General United States Army_.

CERTIFICATE OF THE DEATH OF PRESIDENT HARRISON.

[From official records, written on parchment, in the State Department.]

WASHINGTON, _April 4, A.D. 1841_.

William Henry Harrison, President of the United States, departed this life at the President's house, in this city, this morning, being Sunday, the 4th day of April, A.D. 1841, at thirty minutes before 1 o'clock in the morning; we whose names are hereunto subscribed being in the house, and some of us in his immediate presence, at the time of his decease.

W.W. SEATON, _Mayor of Washington_. DANL. WEBSTER, _Secretary of State_. THOMAS MILDER, M.D., _Attending Physician_. THOMAS EWING, _Secretary of the Treasury_. ASHTON ALEXANDER, M.D., _Consulting Physician_. JNO. BELL, _Secretary of War_. WM. HAWLEY, _Rector of St. John's Church_. J.J. CRITTENDEN, _Attorney-General_. A. HUNTER, _Marshal of the District of Columbia_. FR. GRANGER, _Postmaster-General_. WM. THOS. CARROLL, _Clerk of Supreme Court U.S._ FLETCHER WEBSTER, _Chief Clerk in the State Dept_. JOHN CHAMBERS, C.S. TODD DAVID O. COUPLAND, _Of the President's Family_.

Let this be duly recorded and placed among the rolls.

DANL. WEBSTER, _Secretary of State_.

Recorded in Domestic Letter Book by-- A.T. McCORMICK.

REPORT OF THE PHYSICIANS.

[From the Daily National Intelligencer, April 5, 1841.]

WASHINGTON, _April 4, 1841_.

Hon. D. WEBSTER, _Secretary of State_.

Dear Sir: In compliance with the request made to us by yourself and the other gentlemen of the Cabinet, the attending and consulting physicians have drawn up the abstract of a report on the President's case, which I herewith transmit to you.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

THO. MILDER, _Attending Physician_.

On Saturday, March 27, 1841, President Harrison, after several days' previous indisposition, was seized with a chill and other symptoms of fever. The next day pneumonia, with congestion of the liver and derangement of the stomach and bowels, was ascertained to exist. The age and debility of the patient, with the immediate prostration, forbade a resort to general blood letting. Topical depletion, blistering, and appropriate internal remedies subdued in a great measure the disease of the lungs and liver, but the stomach and intestines did not regain a healthy condition. Finally, on the 3d of April, at 3 o'clock p. m., profuse diarrhea came on, under which he sank at thirty minutes to 1 o'clock on the morning of the 4th.

The last words uttered by the President, as heard by Dr. Worthington, were these: "Sir, I wish you to understand the true principles of the Government. I wish them carried out. I ask nothing more."

THO. MILLER, M.D., _Attending Physician_. FRED. MAY, M.D., N.W. WORTHINGTON, M.D., J.C. HALL, M.D., ASHTON ALEXANDER, M.D., _Consulting Physicians_.

OATH OF OFFICE ADMINISTERED TO PRESIDENT JOHN TYLER IN THE PRESENCE OF THE CABINET.[A]

[From the Daily National Intelligencer, April 7, 1841.]

I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.

JOHN TYLER APRIL 6, 1841.

[Footnote A: The Secretary of the Navy was absent from the city.]

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, _City and County of Washington, ss_:

I, William Cranch, chief judge of the circuit court of the District of Columbia, certify that the above-named John Tyler personally appeared before me this day, and although he deems himself qualified to perform the duties and exercise the powers and office of President on the death of William Henry Harrison, late President of the United States, without any other oath than that which he has taken as Vice-President, yet as doubts may _arise_, and for greater caution, took and subscribed the foregoing oath before me.

W. CRANCH. APRIL 6, 1841.

PROCLAMATION.

TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES.

A RECOMMENDATION.

WASHINGTON, _April 13, 1841_.

When a Christian people feel themselves to be overtaken by a great public calamity, it becomes them to humble themselves under the dispensation of Divine Providence, to recognize His righteous government over the children of men, to acknowledge His goodness in time past, as well as their own unworthiness, and to supplicate His merciful protection for the future.

The death of William Henry Harrison, late President of the United States, so soon after his elevation to that high office, is a bereavement peculiarly calculated to be regarded as a heavy affliction and to impress all minds with a sense of the uncertainty of human things and of the dependence of nations, as well as individuals, upon our Heavenly Parent.

I have thought, therefore, that I should be acting in conformity with the general expectation and feelings of the community in recommending, as I now do, to the people of the United States of every religious denomination that, according to their several modes and forms of worship, they observe a day of fasting and prayer by such religious services as may be suitable on the occasion; and I recommend Friday, the 14th day of May next, for that purpose, to the end that on that day we may all with one accord join in humble and reverential approach to Him in whose hands we are, invoking Him to inspire us with a proper spirit and temper of heart and mind under these frowns of His providence and still to bestow His gracious benedictions upon our Government and our country.

JOHN TYLER.

[For "A resolution manifesting the sensibility of Congress upon the event of the death of William Henry Harrison, late President of the United States," see p. 55.]