The funeral of Col. Netter yesterday was a most imposing affair. Personally, he was known to but few of our citizens, but his reputation was familiar to all. The large military procession which followed his remains to the grave, gave proof of the high regard entertained by our citizens for the services of so gallant a soldier of the Republic.
The remains of Col. Netter arrived on the steamer Delaware late Saturday night. This was the first authentic intelligence obtained of the Colonel’s death. No opportunity was given to announce the time of the funeral, which was fixed for 4 o’clock. Adjutant Sonntag, however, did his best to notify the members of the different companies of the Indiana Legion, and by half past 2 o’clock they commenced collecting at their various headquarters. By 3 o’clock they were in line on Third street, where they were formed the regiment under the command of Lieut. Col. Gwathmey and the battalion under Major Walker. The regiment was headed by the German Brass Band and the battalion by the Crescent City Band.
Attached to the regiment was a company each of cavalry and artillery. The guards took up their line of march about half past three o’clock, for the residence of Mr. Fournier, brother-in-law’ of the murdered Colonel, where the body was taken on Saturday night. Gens. Love and Blythe accompanied the procession in an open carriage. At the residence of Mr. Fournier, military services were performed, when the procession was re-formed and proceeded to the grave yard, used exclusively by the Israelites. There were at least 1,000 Home Guards in the procession, and many of the companies presented the appearance of veterans, with such stateliness and precision did they march.
The ceremonies at the grave were few and simple. The artillery fired minute guns as the body was lowered to its final resting place, and soon the vast crowd turned their steps homeward with a sigh over the early death of a soldier who bid fair to inscribe his name high up on the Temple of Fame.
“The paths of glory load but to the grave.”
The Daily Evansville Journal, Evansville, IN