Hospice at Drexel cottage — Part 9

This is the latest in a series of posts about the last weeks in the life of Ulysses S. Grant, as reported in The Morning Star of Glens Falls.

Curiosity seekers continued to flock to Mount McGregor on July 24, 1885, even as family members grieved the death of Ulysses S. Grant the previous day.

“All the trains arriving from Saratoga bring heavy loads of people, many of whom are friends of the family,” The Morning Star of Glens Falls reported. “The cottage where the remains of the general repose is the center of all eyes, and each member of the family as they appear upon the porch are objects of curiosity.”

The family, laden with grief, tried to stay inconspicuous.

“The ladies have remained in the upstairs rooms all day, while the colonel and Jesse (sons) have been busy all day attending to the affairs connected with the coming arrangements.

Dozens of telegrams arrived, including messages of condolence from President Grover Cleveland, 1884 Republican presidential candidate James G. Blaine, and New York Gov. David Hill.

“Flowers arrive on every train. They are placed around the room as fast as received.”

Holmes & Co undertakers of Saratoga was hired to embalm Grant’s body.

Gov. Hill sent a delegation to Mount McGregor to discuss funeral arrangements with the family.

Grand Army of the Republic Post Wheeler #92 of Saratoga Springs sent an honor guard to the cottage.

“They will remain in charge of the body until relieved by a guard which will be sent up by Gen. Hancock from Governor’s Island,” The Morning Star correspondent reported that evening. “Everything is quiet, and hardly anyone can be seen storming around the place.”

At Glens Falls, the evening’s musical program at Thomas N. Doutney’s ongoing temperance tent meeting was a tribute to Grant.

Professor Charles Hurst sang “Let Our Flag be Draped in Mourning.”

Hurst and Anna Fish sang “Our Home Beyond the Tide.”

Mrs. Potter and Mrs. Doutney sang “Many Are the Hearts That Mourn Today.”

And some curiosity seekers may have been watching Drexel Cottage from a distance.

“The electric lights on Mount McGregor are plainly seen from the village,” the South Glens Falls correspondent reported in The Morning Star. “With a strong night glass a portion of the Hotel Balmoral can be seen, and one can locate the cottage in which lie the remains of General Grant.”

On July 25, Drexel Cottage was quiet, but all around it was active.

“More than 200 Grand Army post representatives are expected here from all parts of the country. Tents are in readiness on the mountain for their accommodations,” The Morning Star reported.

By July 27, G.A.R. post representatives from Maine, Connecticut, New York, Michigan, Wisconsin and New Mexico were camping in “the cool and quiet” of the mountain.

“The guard of honor from U.S. Grant G.A.R. of Brooklyn has arrived and begun their duties at once. Two of them attend constantly inside the cottage.”

Representatives of Wheeler Post G.A.R. of Saratoga Springs continued to guard outside the cottage.

The day was sunny and cool on July 28.

“There were but few visitors here. The absence of Col. Grant made matters unusually quiet at the cottage.”

Mrs. Grant, deep in grief, was secluded in her room most of the day.

“She reads the Bible a good deal and she prays for strength and support in her affliction.”

On July 29, thirty-eight soldiers of Company E, Twelfth United States Infantry, arrived at Mount McGregor to relieve the Saratoga Springs G.A.R. post of guard duty outside the cottage and on the grounds.

On July 30, the Grant family received a message of consolation from a joint meeting of former Confederate and Union soldiers at Murfeesburg, Tenn.

Lighting stuck telegraph wires at Mount McGregor on July 31, and two soldiers were “knocked senseless” to the ground and a woman hotel guest knocked temporarily unconscious.

About 500 people came to the mountain to view Grant’s body in the casket.

On Aug. 2, Rev. John Philip Newman held another Sunday service on the mountain, but this time attendance was limited to just Grant’s family.

Crowds continued to come to pay their respects, or, in some cases, simply to satisfy curiosity.

“Hundreds of visitors came up on the little mountain railroad. The sense of nearness of the closing scene seemed to rest on all alike.”

Click here to read the most recent previous post in the series.