On Sunday, May 28, 1893, a few days before
"Memorial Day", in New Orleans, a story began that overshadowed
all other events.
This was the day when the remains of
Jefferson Davis, former president of the Confederate States of
America, was taken to Richmond, Virginia for final burial.
Jefferson Davis died in 1889 and over
200,000 people witnessed his temporary burial at Metairie Cemetery
in New Orleans. Four years later on a rainy Saturday, on May 27,
1893, the remains of Jefferson Davis was removed and taken to
Confederate Memorial Hall in New Orleans.
At 4:30PM, May 28th, a funeral service was
held for Mr. Davis and a moving memorial address was delivered by
Louisiana's Governor Murphy J. Foster as thousands listened. A
reverent silence fell among the people as the casket was given to
the commitment of veterans from Virginia.
The procession then formed for a slow march
to the railroad station on Canal Street.
Train No. 69, with Engineer Frank Coffin,
waited patiently as the casket was taken to the platform and
passed through an open observation car to a catafalque.
Train engine No. 69, of the Louisville and
Nashville Railroad slowly pulled out of New Orleans Station at
7:50PM for the 1,200 mile trip.
After a brief stop at Bay Saint Louis, and a
slow-down at Pass Christian, where hundreds of people lined the
tracks, the Jefferson Davis Funeral Train stopped at Gulfport,
Mississippi, near Beauvoir the Southern president’s last home.
Uncle Bob Brown, a former servant of the
Davis family and a passenger on the train, saw the many flowers
that the children had laid on the side of the railroad tracks.
Brown was so moved by this beautiful gesture that he wept
uncontrollably.
In Mobile, Alabama, the train was met by a
thousand mourners and the Alabama Artillery fired a 21-gun salute.
Locomotive No. 69 was retired and Locomotive No. 25 was coupled to
the train. The new train's Engineer was C.C. Devinney and Warren
Robinson was its fireman.
The Atlanta Journal reported, quote, "The
Cradle of the Confederacy is ablaze with life and light tonight.
Everything is ready for honoring the memory of Jefferson Davis.
Tomorrow morning with the rising of the sun the funeral train from
New Orleans will reach Montgomery.” unquote.
Church bells rang in Montgomery, Alabama
when the train pulled into the city at 6:00AM on May 29th. A
severe rainstorm delayed the funeral procession to about 8:30AM
when a caisson carried the body of Davis to Alabama's state
capitol. A procession carried the casket through the portico where
Jefferson Davis, in 1861, had taken the oath of office as
President of the Confederacy.
The casket was placed in front of the bench
of the Alabama Supreme Court. Above the right exit was a banner
with the word "Monterrey" and above the left exit was a banner
with the words "Buena Vista." During the War with Mexico Jefferson
Davis was a hero at Monterrey and wounded at Buena Vista.
At 12:20PM the funeral train departed over
the Western Railway of Alabama and Atlanta and West Point Railroad
for Atlanta.
At 4:30PM the funeral train pulled into
Union Station in Atlanta, Georgia. It is estimated that 20,000
people lined the streets as the funeral procession made their way
to the state capitol. When Davis’ body lay in state at the
Capitol, it was guarded by Atlanta’s Gate City Guard which had
served as Company F, 1st Georgia (Ramsay’s).
At 7:00PM the train went north on the
Richmond and Danville Railroad. The train traveled through Lula,
Georgia, Greenville, South Carolina and stopped at the North
Carolina capitol at Raleigh.
A brief stop was made in Danville, Virginia
where a crowd of people gathered around the train and sang,
"Nearer My God To Thee" as city church bells toiled.
Finally, the train reached Richmond,
Virginia on Wednesday, May 31, 1893, at 3:00AM. It was Memorial
Day. The casket was taken to the Virginia State House.
At 3:00PM, May 31st, the funeral procession
started for Hollywood Cemetery.
With Mrs. Jefferson Davis were her
daughters, Winnie and Margaret. Six state governors acted as
pallbearers. It was estimated that 75,000 people attended this
final salute to President Davis. The ceremony concluded with a
21-gun salute and "Taps."
