ANNOUNCEMENT TO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES ABROAD. [From the Sun, New York, September 21, 1881.] [LONG BRANCH, N. J., September 20, 1881] LOWELL, Minister, London: James A. Garfield, President of the United States, died at Elberon, N. J., last night at ten minutes before 11 o'clock. For nearly eighty days he suffered great pain, and during the entire period exhibited extraordinary patience, fortitude, and Christian resignation. The sorrow throughout the country is deep and universal. Fifty millions of people stand as mourners by his bier. Today, at his residence in the city of New York, Chester A. Arthur, Vice-President, took the oath of office as President, to which he succeeds by virtue of the Constitution. President Arthur has entered upon the discharge of his duties. You will formally communicate these facts to the British Government and transmit this dispatch by telegraph to the American ministers on the Continent for like communication to the Governments to which they are respectively accredited. BLAINE, Secretary. ANNOUNCEMENT TO REPRESENTATIVES OF FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS IN THE UNITED STATES. [From official records, Department of State.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, September 20, 1881. SIR: It is my sad duty to announce to you that the illness of the President of the United States, which you have followed with an anxiety similar of our own and a sympathy which you have repeåtely testified to this Department during the sorrowful period that has passed since he was shot by an assassin on the 2d of July, terminated last evening, when he expired at thirty-five minutes past 10 o'clock. As soon as the order and details of the funeral ceremonies are arranged you will be duly informed thereof. ROBERT R. HITT, ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE ARMY. [From official records, War Department.] Acting Secretary. HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, Washington, September 20, 1881. I. The following order of the Secretary of War announces to the Army the death of James A. Garfield, President of the United States: WAR DEPARTMENT, September 20, 1881. With profound sorrow the Secretary of War announces to the Army that James A. Garfield, President of the United States, died at Elberon, N. J., at twenty-five minutes before 11 in the evening of September 19 1881. The great grief which is felt by the nation at the uptimely death of the President will be especially felt by the Army, in whose service he bore so distinguished a part during the War of the Rebellion. In him the Army has lost a beloved Commander in Chief, friend, and former comrade: Proper honors will be paid to the memory of the late Chief Magistrate of the nation at headquarters of each military department and division and at each military station. The General of the Army will give the necessary instructions for carry. ing this order into effect. ROBT. T. LINCOLN, Secretary of War. II. On the day after the receipt of this order at the headquarters of military commands in the field, and at each military station, and at the Military Academy at West Point, the troops and cadets will be paraded at 10 o'clock a. m. and the order read to them, after which all labor for the day will cease. At dawn of day thirteen guns will be fired at each military post, and afterwards at intervals of thirty minutes between the rising and setting sun a single gun, and at the close of the day a national salute of thirtyeight guns. The national flag will be displayed at half-staff at the headquarters of the several military divisions and departments and at all military stations until the remains of the late Chief Magistrate are consigned to their final resting place at Cleveland, Ohio, at 2 p. m. on the 26th instant. The officers of the Army of the United States will wear the badge of mourning on the left arm and on their swords and the colors of the regiments will be draped in mourning for the period of six months. III. The following officers of the Army will, with a like number of officers of the Navy selected for the purpose, compose the guard of honor and accompany the remains of their late Commander in Chief from the national capital to Cleveland, Ohio, and continue with them until they are consigned to their final resting place: The General of the Army, Major-General Winfield S. Hancock, Quartermaster-General M. C. Meigs, Adjutant-General R. C. Drum, Inspector-General D. B. Sacket. By command of General Sherman: R. C. DRUM, Adjutant-General. [From official records, War Department.] GENERAL ORDERS, No. 72. HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, Washington, September 20, 1881. The following order has been received from the War Department: The Secretary of War announces to the Army that upon the death of James A. Garfield, President of the United States, Chester A. Arthur, Vice-President, on the 20th day of September, 1881, at his residence in the city of New York, took the oath of office as President of the United States, to which office he succeeded by virtue of the Constitution. President Arthur has entered upon the discharge of his official duties. By command of General Sherman: ROBT. T. LINCOLN, Secretary of War. R. C. DRUM, Adjutant-General. ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE NAVY. [From official records, Navy Department.] NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, September 20, 1881. The officers and men of the Navy and of the Marine Corps of the United States are hereby notified that President Garfield died at Long Branch on the 19th instant at 10 o'clock and 40 minutes p. m. Under the Constitution and laws of the Government Chester A. Arthur, then Vice-President, duly took the oath as President of the United States, and has entered upon the duties of that office. As President and Commander in Chief of the Navy of the United States he will be obeyed and respected by all persons connected with this Department. It is becoming that at a time when the heart of the nation is heavy with grief a proper expression should be given to the respect and affection so sincerely and universally entertained for the memory of the wise, patriotic, and noble Chief Magistrate who has departed this life under circumstances so distressing. To this end the officers of the Navy will see to it that all honors and ceremonies befitting the occasion are observed by their respective commands in accordance with the regulations of the service. The offices of the Department will remain closed for all business during the time the remains of the President shall lie in state at the Capitol. WILLIAM H. HUNT, Secretary of the Navy. [From official records, Navy Department.] SPECIAL ORDER. NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, September 23, 1881. Struck down by the hand of a cowardly assassin, in the day of his vigor and usefulness, on the eve of departure from the capital in search of much-needed rest from the toils and cares of office, our Chief Magistrate, President, and Commander in Chief, James A. Garfield, after bearing with heroic fortitude untold suffering, succumbed to the dread summons and yielded up his life at Elberon, N. J., on the evening of the 19th instant. The nation mourns its loss. The funeral services will take place at Cleveland, Ohio, on Monday, the 26th instant. It is eminently fit and proper that special honors should be paid to the memory of the late President on that day, and the Department therefore directs that at all naval stations and on board all vessels in commission the flags shall be at half-mast from sunrise to sunset and a gun fired every half hour during that period. The period of mourning by half-masted colors will cease at sunset. On foreign stations this order will be carried out on the day after its receipt. The navy-yards will be closed and all work suspended during the day. Officers of the Navy and Marine Corps will, as a further mark of respect, wear crape on the left arm and sword hilt for six months from the 20th instant. ED. T. NICHOLS, Acting Secretary of the Navy. ACTION OF SENATORS AND OF REPRESENTATIVES ELECT IN WASHINGTON. The members of the Senate and members elect of the House of Representatives in Washington held meetings on September 22 and selected the following gentlemen to accompany the remains of the late President to Cleveland, Ohio: Senators Henry B. Anthony, of Rhode Island; John Sherman, of Ohio; Thomas F. Bayard, of Delaware; John J. Ingalls, of Kansas; James L. Pugh, of Alabama; Henry W. Blair, of New Hampshire; Johnson N. Camden, of West Virginia, and John T. Morgan, of Alabama. Representatives elect John Randolph Tucker, of Virginia; John A. Kasson, of Iowa; Samuel J. Randall, of Pennsylvania; Frank Hiscock, of New York; Benjamin Wilson, of West Virginia; John R. Thomas, of Illinois; Amos Townsend, of Ohio, and Charles M. Shelley, of Alabama. ORDERS OF THE HEADS OF THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS. [From the National Republican, Washington, September 21, 1881.] LONG BRANCH, September 20.* It has been agreed here by all the heads of Departments that the Departments shall remain closed from this time until the conclusion of President Garfield's funeral ceremonies in Washington, and it is understood that you will notify the acting heads of all Departments of this arrangement. ROBERT T. LINCOLN, Secretary of War. * * * *Sent to the chief clerk of the War Departinent. [From official records, Treasury Department.] ORDER. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, Washington, D. C., September 20, 1881. It is ordered, as a mark of respect to the memory of President Garfield that the Treasury Department be closed during this day. H. F. FRENC', Acting Secretary. [From official records, Treasury Department.] NOTICE. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, Washington, D. C., September 21, 1881. As a token of respect to the memory of the late President, James A. Garfield, the Treasury Department will be closed to public business to-day at 12 o'clock noon, and remain closed Thursday and Friday, the 22d and 23d instant. H. F. FRENCH,. Acting Secretary. [From official records, Treasury Department.] ORDER. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, Washington, D. C., September 24, 1881. In accordance with the proclamation of the President* appointing Monday, the 26th day of September, as a day of humiliation and mourning, being the day of the burial of the late President, James A. Garfield, it is ordered that this Department be closed during that day. H. F. FRENCH, Acting Secretary. [From official records, Post-Office Department.] POST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C., September 20, 1881. Ordered, That, owing to the death of President James A. Garfield, this Department be closed for all public business until after the funeral party shall have left Washington for Ohio. |