March 15, 1863, The New York Herald
Interesting Marriage Ceremony in General Hooker’s Army.
The Altar Formed of All the Regimental Drums, &c., &c., &c.
Our Falmouth Correspondence.
IN CAMP, NEAR FALMOUTH, March 13, 1863.
Yesterday was a gala day in the camp of one of the brigades stationed here, or, as one of the officers present pronounced it, a […..] a day.” The occasion was the marriage of Captain Daniel Hart, Company E, Seventh regiment New Jersey Volunteers, to Miss Helen A. Lammond, of Washington, D. C. Captain H., is one of the most popular officers of the brigade, and his friends were determined that nothing should be wanting to make the day one of unalloyed happiness. The camp, in anticipation of the event, had been beautifully decorated with evergreens and every preparation made to give a lot to the affair. At precisely noon the regiment was drawn up, forming three sides of a hollow square, fronting the canopy under which the ceremony was to take place, when, the band playing “Hail to the Chief,” General Hooker, with his stuff, followed by a large number of general officers, among whom were Generals Sickles, Berry, Birney, Mott, Carr, Revere, Bartlett, Ward and others, proceeded to occupy a position on the left of an altar extemporized for the occasion, and formed of drums placed one upon another.
Everything being in readiness, with Colonel Francine and Lieutenant Colonel Price as groomsmen, and Miss Ida Lammond (a sister of the bride) and Miss Mollie Lewis, of Philadelphia, escorted by a guard of honor (twelve officers of the regiment), advanced to the canopy, where the worthy captain of the regiment, the Rev. Dr. Rose, performed the marriage ceremony in the impressive Episcopal form. As the party advanced to their position they were received by the regiment at a present arms. After the marriage ceremony had been performed – and this included the reading of the […..] granted by the clerk of the county of Washington, D. C., and approved by the Military Commandant of this district, and the witnessing of the marriage certificate, which was signed by all the prominent officers present – another very interesting ceremony took place, viz: the presentation of a medal to the Rev. Dr. Rose. The medal was one which the members of Company E had caused to be manufactured as a token of their esteem for him and his bravery, as exhibited especially at the battle of Williamsburg, where, combining the offices of surgeon and chaplain, he displayed great gallantry and devotion in his attention to the wounded, receiving two slight wounds upon that occasion. The presentation was made by General Hooker in behalf of the company in one of his brief but expressive speeches. The worthy recipient gratefully acknowledged the compliment, and the whole party adjourned to a dinner which had been prepared by the officers of the regiment – a dinner that would vie with the finest […..] out” of our friends at home.
The sight of the table would have surprised those who expect to find nothing in the army but “hard tack” and salt pork.
After dinner the tables were cleared and the pavilion prepared for a grand ball in the evening. Some twenty young ladies had accompanied the bride from Washington, and this number was increased by the presence of a number of the wives of officers who are visiting their husbands in camp, making as fine a collection of youth and beauty as has ever been witnessed in this part of the Old Dominion.
During the evening there was quite a display of fire works, including a number of rockets the sight of which must have puzzled the rebels amazingly, and I venture the assertion they attributed it to every other cause than the right one.
The festivities continued until the small […..] hours,” and the company separated, each declaring it was the happiest wedding they had ever attended – the married people each making one exception.
Major General Sickles gives an entertainment to the party this evening, and the party will return to Washington to-morrow of the day following upon a special train and boat.
The novelty of the affair and the magnificent scale upon which it has been conducted, have made it one of the events of the war, and an event that will long be remembered by those who were participants.
The weather continues variable – sunshine and shower, particularly the shower – yet the roads are gradually improving under the influence of the high winds which have prevailed of late. Already vegetation gives indication of the approaching spring – the grain fields and meadows a beginning to assume a green appearance.
The rebels opposite us give evidence of their want of forage by turning out their animals to graze upon the budding vegetation.