The Encyclopedia is essentially correct.

Commander in Chief John A. Logan's general order is possibly tied to a French remembrance day called "The Day of Ashes" which commemorated Napoleon's ashes being returned to France. Supposedly, one of the originators of Memorial Day was French and made this connection.

The 1971 enactment of the national holiday is derrived from the 1868 general order.

Abby - have any info on the "Day of Ashes?"