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Secretary Abel P. Upshur
Secretary Thomas W.Gilmer Commodore Beverly Kennon Hon. David Gardiner Hon. Virgil Maxcy (d. 28 Feb 1844) {Congressional Cemetery, DC: Public Vault -- Removed} | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Abel P. Upshur, Secretary of State Thomas W.Gilmer, Secretary of the Navy Commodore Beverly Kennon, Chief of the Bureau of Construction & Equipment Hon. David Gardiner, former Senator from New York Virgil Maxcy, Charge d'Affaires of the United States to Belgium (included in the planned order of procession but funeral private at the family's request) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The National Intelligencer, Thursday, February 29, 1844 Most Awful and Most Lamentable Catastrophe! Instantaneous Death, By the Bursting of One of the Large Guns on Board The United States Ship Princeton, Of Secretary Upshur, Secretary Gilmer, Commodore Kennon and Virgil Maxcy, Esq. In the whole course of our lives it has never fallen to our lot to announce to our readers a more shocking calamity-shocking in all its circumstances and concomitants-than that which occurred on board the United States Ship Princeton, yesterday afternoon, whilst under way, in the river Potomac, fourteen or fifteen miles below this city. Yesterday was a day appointed, by the courtesy and hospitality of Capt. Stockton, Commander of the Princeton, for receiving as visitors to his fine ship (lying off Alexandria) a great number of guests, with their families, liberally and numerously invited to spend the day on board. The day was most favorable, and the company was large and brilliant, of both sexes; not less probably in number than four hundred, among whom were the President of the United States, the Heads of the several Departments, and their families. At a proper hour, after the arrival of the expected guests, the vessel got under way and proceeded down the river, to some distance below Fort Washington. During the passage down, one of the large guns on board (carrying a ball of 225 pounds) was fired more than once, exhibiting the great power and capacity of that formidable weapon of war. The Ladies had partaken of a sumptuous repast; the gentlemen had succeeded them at the table, and some of them had left it; the vessel was on her return up the river, opposite the fort, where Captain Stockton consented to fire another shot from the same gun, around and nearer which, to observe its effects, many persons had gathered, though by no means so many as on similar discharges in the morning, the ladies who then thronged the deck being on this fatal occasion almost all between decks and out of reach of harm. The gun was fired. The explosion was followed, before the smoke cleared away so as to observe its effect, by shrieks of woe which announced a dire calamity. The gun had burst, at a point three or four feet from the breech, and scattered death and desolation around. Mr. Upshur, Secretary of State, Mr. Gilmer, so recently placed at the head of the Navy, Commodore Kennon, one of its gallant officers, Virgil Maxcy, lately returned from a diplomatic residence at the Hague, Mr. Gardiner, of New York, (formerly a Member of the Senate of that State,) were among the slain. Besides these, seventeen seamen were wounded, several of them badly and probably mortally. Among those stunned by the concussion,, we learn not all seriously injured were Capt. Stockton himself; Col. Benton, of the Senate; Lieut. Hunt, of the Princeton; W.D. Robinson, of Georgetown. Other persons also were perhaps more or less injured, of whom, in the horror and confusion of the moment, no certain account could be obtained. The above are believed, however, to comprise the whole of the persons known to the Public who were killed or dangerously or seriously hurt. The scene upon the deck may more easily be imagined than described. Nor can the imagination picture to itself the half of its horrors. Wives, widowed in an instant by the murderous blast. Daughters smitten with the heart-rending sight of their father's lifeless corpse! The wailings of agonized females! The piteous grief of the unhurt but heart-stricken spectators! The wounded seamen borne down below! The silent tears and quivering lips of their brave and honest comrades, who tried in vain to subdue or to conceal their feelings! What words can adequately depict a scene like this? The bodies of the killed remained on board the ship last night. They will be brought to the city this morning. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The National Intelligencer, Friday, March 1, 1844 The Late Calamitous Accident The bodies of the lamented Upshur, Gilmer, Maxcy, Kennon, and Gardner were brought to this city yesterday, in coffins, from the ship Princeton, on board of which, on the preceding afternoon, they passed from life to death by means not less fleet or fatal than fire from Heaven. The coffins were conveyed, with due solemnity, to the President's House, and placed in the East room, there to await the Funeral ceremonies. The gloom which fell upon every spirit on the first news of the sad accident on board of the Princeton was visible in every countenance yesterday. Responsive to a Message of the President on the subject, both Houses of Congress adjourned immediately after adopting Resolutions expressive of their feelings. They will meet again tomorrow only to attend the Funeral, which is appointed to take place on Saturday at 11 o'clock. No death has occurred, in consequence of the terrible accident, besides those mentioned yesterday, except that of a servant of the President (a colored man) who was near the gun at the time of its exploding. Those who were wounded, citizens, officers, and seamen, are, we are glad to learn, generally less hurt than was supposed, and are doing well. In regard to this unhappy occurrence, it is well remarked by the Globe, that "the only circumstance calculated to relieve the all-pervading distress, is, that of the multitude of ladies who were on board the ship, not one was injured. The happy exemption of such a multitude of the tender sex, who witnessed the havoc made in the midst of them of the most distinguished and beloved of their countrymen, while it brings some solace to the circle of their immediate friends, cannot but deepen the sympathies which they, and the whole community, feel for the bereaved families of those who have fallen." This is a theme upon which it must be needless further to dwell; but undevout and hardened indeed must be the heart of him or her who is not profoundly grateful that, dreadful as the result was, it was less than, under the circumstances, could have been hoped upon any human computation. TO THE CITIZENS OF WASHINGTON
The members of the Board of Aldermen and Board of Common Council are requested to assemble this afternoon at 4 o'clock, in their respective chambers, to take such order in regard to the late melancholy event as may appear to them due to the mournful occasion.
By order of the Committee of Arrangements, the Volunteer Soldiers and Citizens of the District of Columbia, and of the neighboring cities, are invited to participate in the solemnities of the burial of those who were recently killed on board the steamship Princeton. The funeral will take place at the President's House on Saturday morning at 11 o'clock, and from thence the procession will proceed to the Congressional Burying G round. The programme of the procession will be published in the papers of this evening and tomorrow morning. From the official notice in another column it will be seen that the Attorney General (Hon. John Nelson) has been appointed Acting Secretary of State, and Commodore Lewis Warrington to be Acting Secretary of the Navy. In consequence of the melancholy catastrophe which occurred on board the steamship Princeton on Wednesday, the citizens of Washington and visitors to the city are informed that no company will be expected at the President's on Friday evening. We have been requested to state that in consequence of the recent melancholy accident on board the United States ship Princeton, the ball intended to be given by the Secretary of War on the 7th March will not take place. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The National Intelligencer, March 2, 1844 The Hon. Virgil Maxcy The remains of Mr. Maxcy were brought from the President's mansion to the house of Francis Markoe, Jr., his son-in-law, late on the evening of the 29th instant; from whence, at an early hour on the following morning, they were conveyed to the estate of the deceased, at West River, Maryland, for the purpose of being interred in the family vault, in accordance with the wishes of the family. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The National Intelligencer, March 2, 1844 Funeral Arrangements The Members of the Senate and House of Representatives are requested to assemble in their respective halls at half past 10 o'clock on Saturday morning, the 2d of March, ,for the purpose of attending the funeral of the two deceased members of the Cabinet. Carriages will be in attendance to convey them to the President'' House, where the procession will be formed. W.C. Rives, on behalf of the Committee of Arrangements of the Senate G.W. Hopkins, on behalf of the Committee of Arrangements of the House of Representatives The Committee of Arrangements respectfully invite the members of the Foreign Diplomatic Corps to attend the funeral of the Hon. Abel P. Upshur, the Hon. Thomas W. Gilmer, Captain Beverly Kennon, the Hon. Virgil Maxcy, and Hon. David Gardiner, at 11 o'clock, a.m., on Saturday the 2d March, at the President's Mansion. In pursuance of authority vested in us by the President of the United States and the Committees appointed on behalf of Congress, we hve determined upon the following official arrangements for the funeral solemnities of Abel P. Upshur, late Secretary of State; Thomas W. Gilmer, late Secretary of the Navy; Captain Beverly Kennon, United States Navy, late Chief of the Bureau of Construction and Equipment of the Navy; Virgil Maxcy, of Maryland, late Charge d'Affaires of the United States to Belgium; and of the Hon. David Gardiner, late of New York.
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Order of Procession:
Funeral Escort in Column of March Volunteer Troops Battalion of United States Marines Squadron of Cavalry Troop of United States Light Artillery Commander of the Escort and Staff 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, and Staff Major General Scott, commanding the Army, and Staff CIVIC PROCESSION The Mayors of Washington, Georgetown, and Alexandria Clergy and Medical Faculty of the District of Columbia and elsewhere Committees on the part of Congress, and the Executive Pall-Bearers
HEARSE OF THE LATE SECRETARY OF STATE Family and Relatives of the Hon. Mr. Upshur Pall-Bearers
HEARSE OF THE LATE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY Family and Relatives of the late Hon. Mr. Gilmer Pall-Bearers
HEARSE OF CAPT. KENNON, LATE CHIEF OF THE BUREAU OF CONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPMENT OF THE NAVY Family and Relatives of the late Captain Kennon Pall-Bearers
HEARSE OF MR. MAXCY, LATE CHARGE TO BELGIUM Family and Relatives of the late Hon. Mr. Maxcy Pall-Bearers
HEARSE OF THE HON. DAVID GARDINER, LATE OF NEW YORK Family and Relatives of the late Col. Gardiner The President of the United States (Tyler) and Cabinet Ministers Ex-Presidents of the United States The President of the Senate and Secretary Senators and Officials of the Senate The Speaker and Clerk of the House of Representatives Members and Officeres of the House of Representatives The Chief Justice and Associate Justices and Officers of the Supreme Court Foreign Ministers and Suites 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 several Courts The Judges of the several States The Comptrollers of the Treasury, Auditors, Treasurer, Register, Solicitor; Commissioners of Land Office, of 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 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 their respective positions Citizens and Strangers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The troops designated to form the escort will assemble in the avenue, north of the President's House, and form line precisely at 10 o'clock a.m. on Saturday, the 2d instant, with its right (Capt. Ringgold's troop of Light Artillery) resting opposite the western gate. The Procession will move precisely at 11 o'clock a.m., when minute guns will be fired by detachments of Artillery, stationed near St. John's Church and the City Hall, by the Columbian Artillery at the Capitol, and by the Commandant of the Washington Navy Yard. At the same hour the bells of the several Churches in Washington, Georgetown, and Alexandria will be tolled. The Adjutant General of the Army and the General Commandant of the United States Marine Corps are charged with the military arrangements of the day, to be aided by the Assistant Adjutants General on duty at the Headquarters of the Army and the Staff of the Marine Corps. The United States Marshal of the District of Columbia, aided by such assistants as he may appoint, is charged with the direction of the civic procession. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The National Intelligencer, March 2, 1844 MARSHAL'S NOTICE The doors of the President's House will be opened at 9 o'clock a.m. for the admission of the Heads of Departments, Foreign Ministers, and others, who, by order, are entitled to admission. The following gentlemen will be respected as Assistant Marshals and will be on horseback with appropriate badges. They will assemble at the President's House at 9 o'clock a.m.
DIVISION ORDERS-MILITIA OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
For that purpose they will assemble in front of the President's House at 8 o'clock on Saturday morning, and form in battalion at 9 o'clock. The senior officer of each of the volunteer companies as appear on the ground will take command of the battalion. As it is yet uncertain what other troops may come in to form the column of escort, the command of the column will be assigned on the ground. The officer commanding the battalion of volunteer companies will report to the officer who may be designated to the command of the column of escort, and take his orders.
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The National Intelligencer, Monday, March 4, 1844 The Burial of the Dead The opening of Spring, to which the mind usually attaches none but the most cheering associations, has this year been marked by an event which has obscured its brightness, and made the season of hope and of joy mournfully memorable among us. A general gloom has for several days settled over the city, suspending the bustle of life, clothing all countenances with sadness, and filling every mind with solemn musings. The first hours after the appalling catastrophe of Wednesday last were marked, as might be expected, by high excitement. Astonishment, and a feeling of dismay, mingled with intense and painful curiosity, seized upon the entire community. All tongues were busy in pressing, or in answering inquiries. Sympathy with the bereaved, lamentations over the public loss, wonder at the astounding dispensation of Providence, and speculations as to the consequences, seemed to absorb all minds, and, for the time, to supersede all other thoughts. As the particulars came, by degree, to be learned, and the exact extent of the calamity ascertained, the intensity of this feeling in some measure subsided, but there succeeded to it a deeper-seated and more enduring consciousness of the weight of the blow. In the first moment men rushed out of doors, crowded the places of public intelligence, gathered in knots about the streets, and with eager countenances turned to every new-comer for further intelligence; while, within doors, female sensibility yield its ever-ready sympathy to the agonized wives and bereaved orphans of the dead. Probably there were few families in Washington which on the night of that day enjoyed their wonted rest. The next day crowds poured down to the wharf where the bodies were expected to be landed, and, though long disappointed, continued to wait, hour after hour, till at length the minute guns from below announced the departure of the coffins from on board the Steamer, and the commencement of their melancholy route up to the city. As the boat which bore them approached her landing-place, the surrounding shores were covered with spectators, while a long line of carriages stood in waiting to follow in the train which bore the remains of the dead. Six hearses, in horrid contiguity, stood side by side, and received in succession their sad freight, as the coffins, borne by Seamen and followed each by an escort of Naval Officers, were brought along through a lane of sympathizing citizens, who opened to the right and left to let them pass. More than sixty carriages followed to the Presidential Mansion, whither the dead were carried by the President's particular desire, and deposited in the East Room. Yet, in that vast apartment so often the scene of brilliant festivity-so often echoing the strains of joyous music and the mingled voices of the gay-now converted, by the act of God, into a sepulchral chamber, cold and silent as the grave. Here they were visited during the whole of Friday, by numerous groups, moved by that deep irresistible feeling which draws us to spectacles of terror and of grief. The upper parts of the coffins were open, the countenances of the dead, (with one exception,) being exposed to the public view, covered, however, with plates of glass. Saturday was fixed upon for the Funeral Ceremonies, which were conducted with appropriate order and solemnity. The aspect of the Pennsylvania avenue forcibly called up the remembrance of the scene when General Harrison's lamented honored corpse was borne along it to the tomb. Although the chief market day, and the busiest day of the week, with all classes of vendors, the bustle of business was hushed at an early hour, the streets were silent, though full of moving masses, the stores ad places of business being universally closed, and many of them hung with the drapery of mourning. Notwithstanding that thousands from other cities and from the country were added to the thousands of the metropolis, to witness the solemn rites and funeral pomp of the occasion, yet the order and decorum which reigned throughout were not less gratifying than the entire exemption of the day from the slightest accident. The expectation of the people now, as at the funeral of Gen. Harrison, thronged the avenue with waiting multitudes hours before the Procession made its appearance. The perfect silence observed in the gathered throngs, and the clouded gloom of the sky, sensibly deepened the solemnity of the scene. At the Presidential Mansion, the Officers of Government, civil, military, and naval, the Foreign Ministers, Members of Congress, of both Houses and relatives and personal friends of the deceased, had the entre at an early hour. Before the bodies were removed, appropriate religious services were performed by the Rev. Mr. Hawley, the Rev. Dr. Laurie, and the Rev. Mr. Butler of Georgetown. The Procession was then formed, and presented an imposing coup d'oeil; the Funeral escort (composed of United States troops and Volunteers in their beautiful uniforms) heading the column. Then in the order announced in our last, came the bodies, each in its own hearse, accompanied by carriages containing the pall-bearers, and others filled with the mourning relatives of each sad victim; next, the President's carriage, shrouded in mourning, and then a long train of official persons, Heads of Departments, Senators and Representatives in Congress, Judges, Comptrollers, Auditors, etc., together with the members of several civic societies. [The body of Mr. Marcy was not among them, the family having already conveyed it for sepulture to his home in Maryland.] While this sad array was moving slowly on, minute guns were fired and the bells tolled at measured intervals. In this manner, the bodies were borne to the Congressional burying ground, where the military halted, and, forming in line in front of the gate, received the hearses with military honors and funeral dirges. After the coffins were taken from the hearses and placed in charge of the pall-bearers, the civic procession entered the grave-yard, and religious services again took place upon depositing the coffins in the large receiving vault, where the will for the present remain, awaiting their final disposal, as shall hereafter be determined. The funeral solemnities on this sad occasion were such as reflected the public feeling throughout the national metropolis, and were extremely creditable to its citizens. It was observed that not only were the offices and stores closed during the time of the funeral, but during the remainder of the day. Besides a numerous attendance of the citizens of Alexandria and Georgetown, volunteer companies from both places were present, as were the Faculty and Students of Georgetown College, who formed a part of the procession. The line of military companies, carriages, horsemen, public societies and private individuals extended upwards of a mile. Among the troops that headed the column should be mentioned the company of United States Light Artillery, commanded by Major Ringgold, (which sat out from Fort McHenry at two o'clock the preceding day, and arrived in this city, marching the whole distance, at 8 or 9 o'clock on Saturday morning,) the United States Marines stationed at the Navy Yard, and the following companies belonging to the District cities. Never have we seen a more general turnout on the part of our citizen soldiery. The troops marched in front of the procession in the following order, the entire column, except the Marines, being reversed, according to the established usage of the military at funerals: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The United States Marines Morgan Riflemen of Georgetown, Captain Duvall Mechanical Riflemen of Washington, Capt. McClelland Union Guards of Washington, Captain Harkness Independent Grays of Georgetown, Lieut. Hill National Blues of Washington, Captain Tucker Washington Light Infantry, Captain France Mount Vernon Guards of Alexandria, Capt. Snyder Potomac Dragoons, Captain Mason United States Light Artillery, Major Ringgold. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Besides these companies, the Columbia Artillery, under the command of Captain Buckingham, were stationed on the west terrace of the Capitol, and fired minute guns as the mournful cavalcade approached the Capitol. A detachment of United States Artillery also fired minute guns when the procession reached that portion of the avenue intersected by Four-and-a-half street. Minute guns were also fired by the Commandant of the Washington Navy Yard. And, when the bodies reached the Congress Burying Ground, and were there deposited in the public vault and the religious services were ended, the military fired several volleys in honor of the dead. We cannot close this statement of the public solemnities of the day without noticing, what struck us with peculiar effect, the appearance in the mournful line of the honest and respectable body of Mechanics attached to and residing near the Navy Yard, who spontaneously came forward to render this last tribute of respect to the memory of their beloved ex-Commandant Kennon, who is numbered with the unfortunate and illustrious slain. It falls not within our province to attempt anything like a religious improvement of this distressing dispensation of an inscrutable Providence. That will be performed more fitly by those whose place calls them to the sad duty. To us may be permitted, however-nay, it were unnatural and unbecoming wholly to forbear-the expression of those thoughts which a calamity that fills all hearts with grief calls up in every mind. And may we not say, that in this catastrophe, as in the sudden removal of President Harrison, there is an obvious rebuke of that spirit of vaunting confidence which certainly forms a shade in our character as a people! That arm which has both uplifted and thus far upheld us, but which we are all too prone to forget, terribly and signally smote us, in both instances, in the very act and hour of our high exultation. Let us learn, for our country as for ourselves, to depend for true glory upon our rectitude of conduct; to hope with trembling; to unite with our confidence in Heaven a sense of our own weakness and dependence. And are we not admonished, by the unlooked for instantaneous occurrence of so overwhelming a destruction, to preserve, in our brightest moments of festive joy, a chastened spirit: Let the bitterness of our party strifes with each other be subdued by the remembrance that we are in the presence of One who is stronger than all parties, the lifting of whose hand ends us in a moment, and through whose omnipotent will alone any of our parties can achieve either its own true honor or the country's good. And yet another lesson. Let us be taught by the issue of this sad event, not too much to envy the success of those who, though raised by Providence to posts of the highest dignity and power, can so soon, even in the first hours of their success, be torn from their new-found honors and placed at the bar of the King of Kings. Narrow Escape of the President
In ascending Capitol Hill, as the Funeral Procession was on its way towards the Eastern Burial Ground, the horses, a spirited pair lately purchased, attached to the carriage of the French Minister, became somewhat restive, and the coachman was compelled to leave the line for a short time, when several persons who saw the impending danger ran to render assistance. That part of the road where the horses became restive is very dangerous, being on the south side, edged by a precipice. We are glad to learn that there was no injury sustained. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||