Message from Brigadier-General William Macpherson Announcing an Order by the President of the United States on Funeral Honors for George Washington

Impressed with unspeakable grief and under the influence of an affectionate sympathy which must pervade the hearts of his beloved fellow citizen soldiers, the Blues, Brigadier-General MacPherson announces the following communication:

Philadelphia, December 21, 1799.

Major-General Hamilton has received through the Secretary of War the following order from the President of the United States:

[For order see https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/379173]

The impressive terms in which this great national calamity is announced by the President could receive no new force from anything that might be added. The voice of praise would in vain endeavor to exalt a character unrivaled on the lists of true glory. Words would in vain attempt to give utterance to that profound and reverential grief which will penetrate every American bosom and engage the sympathy of an admiring world. If the sad privilege of preeminence in sorrow may justly be claimed by the companions in arms of our lamented Chief, their affections will spontaneously perform the dear though painful duty. 'Tis only for me to mingle my tears with those of my fellow-soldiers, cherishing with them the precious recollection that while others are paying a merited tribute to "The Man of the Age” we in particular, allied as we were to him by a closer tie, are called to mourn the irreparable loss of a kind and venerated patron and father!

In obedience to the directions of the President, the following funeral honors will be paid at the several stations of the Army:

At daybreak sixteen guns will be fired in quick succession and one gun at a distance of each half hour till sunset.

During the procession of the troops to the place representing that of the interment and until the conclusion of the ceremonial minute guns will be fired.

The bier will be received by the troops formed in line presenting their arms and the officers, drums, and colors saluting. After this the procession will begin, the troops marching by platoons in inverted order and with arms reversed to the place of interment, the drums muffled and the music playing a dead march.

The bier, carried by four sergeants and attended by six pallbearers, where there is cavalry will be preceded by the cavalry and will be followed by the troops on foot. Where there is no cavalry, a detachment of infantry will precede the bier, which itself will in every case be preceded by such of the clergy as may be present. The officers of the general staff will immediately succeed the bier.

Where a numerous body of citizens shall be united with the military in the procession, the whole of the troops will precede the bier, which will then be followed by the citizens.

When arrived near the place of interment, the procession will halt, the troops in front of the bier will form in line, and, opening their ranks, will face inwards, to admit the passage of the bier, which will then pass through the ranks, the troops leaning on their arms, reversed, while the bier passes. When the bier shall have passed, the troops will resume their position in line, and, reversing their arms, will remain leaning upon them until the ceremonial shall be closed.

The music will now perform a solemn air, after which the introductory part of this order shall be read.

At the end of this a detachment of infantry, appointed for the purpose, will advance and fire three volleys over the bier.

The troops will then return, the music playing the President's march, the drums previously unmuffled.

The uniform companies of militia are invited to join in arms the volunteer corps.

The commanders at particular stations, conforming generally to this plan, will make such exceptions as will accommodate it to situation. At places where processions of unarmed citizens shall take place it is the wish of the Major-General that the military ceremonial should be united, and the particular commanders at those places are authorized to vary the plan so as to adapt it to the circumstances.

Brigadier-General MacPherson is charged to superintend the ceremonial in the city of Philadelphia; Major Tousard will attend to Fort Mifflin and will cooperate with him.

The day of performing the ceremonial at each station is left to the particular commander.

Major-General Pinckney will make such further arrangements within his district as he shall deem expedient.

PHILIP CHURCH,
     Aid-de-Camp.

In conformity to the above the volunteers of the city and county of Philadelphia in the service of the United States will parade, completely equipped, at the manege, in Chesnut street, on Thursday next, the 26th instant, at 10 o'clock a. in. The officers, together with the uniform companies of militia who may think proper to join on this mournful occasion, will please to signify their intention to Brigadier-General MacPherson at his quarters on or before Tuesday next at 1 o'clock p. m.,in order that the necessary arrangement may be made to pay the last sad tribute of veneration to the manes of the late Commander in Chief of the Armies of the United States.

By order of Brigadier-General MacPherson:

JONATHAN WILLIAMS,
     Aid-de-Camp.