HAMILTON FISH, _Secretary of State_.



GENERAL ORDERS, No. 69.

HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,

ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE,

_Washington, October 9, 1869_.

I. The following order of the President has been received from the War
Department:

EXECUTIVE MANSION, _Washington, October 8, 1869_.

The painful duty devolves upon the President of announcing to the people
of the United States the death of one of his honored predecessors,
Franklin Pierce, which occurred at Concord early this morning.

Eminent in the public councils and universally beloved in private life,
his death will be mourned with a sorrow befitting the loss which his
country sustains in his decease.

As a mark of respect to his memory, it is ordered that the Executive
Mansion and the several Departments at Washington be draped in mourning,
and all business suspended on the day of the funeral.

It is further ordered that the War and Navy Departments cause suitable