Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 March 1907 — The Volley Over the Grave. [ARTICLE]

The Volley Over the Grave.

The firing of a volley by soldiers over the grave of a dead comrade is a survival of a very ancient custom. In days gone by, when superstition was practically universal, it was generally believed that making a noise kept away evil spirits, and the passing bell came into vogue for that reason. When firearms were invented volley, firing was substituted for the passing bell, the belief being that the sound of battle would be more efficacious in the case of a soldier.