Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1870-10-28
Funeral Obsequies of Gen. Lee.


Funeral Obsequies of Gen. Lee.
The following is the most succinct and
account of the obsequies we have
seen:
At ten o'clock precisely the procession
was formed on the college grounds, in front
of the presidents house, and moved down
Washington street, up Jefferson street to
the Franklin Hail. thence to Main street,
where it was oined in front of the hotel by
the representatives of the State of Virginia
and ether representative bodies in their order,
and by the organized body of the citizens in
front Of the court house. The procession
then moved by the road to the Virginia
Military Institute, where il was joined by
the visitors, faculty and cadets of the Vir-
ginia Military Institute, in their respective
places. The procession was closed by the
students of Washington College as guard
Of honor, and then moved up through the
institute and college grounds to the chapel
The procession was halted in front Of the
chapel, when the cadets of the Institute and
the students Of Washington College were
marched through the college chapel past the
two bodies on the south side Of the chapel
The remainder of the procession then pro-
ceeded into the chapel and were seated under
the direction of the marshals The gallery
and side blocks were reserved for ladies'
As the procession moved off to solemn
dirge by the Institute band, the bells Of The
town began to toll, and the Institute battery
fred minute guns, which were kept up du-
ring the whole exercises. In front of the
National Hotel the procession was oined by
the committee Of the Legislature, the dele
cation from the City Of staunton, Colonel
C. S. Venable, chairman of the faculty. and
committee of students from the University
and others.
Along the streets the buildings were all
appropriately draped, and crowds gathered
J on the corners and in the balconies to see
! the procession pass. Not a flag foated
above the procession, and nothing was seen
that looked like an attempt at display Tb e
old soldiers wore their ordinary citizens
dress, with simple black ribbon in the
lapel of their coats, and ''Traveler," led by
two old soldiers, who had the simple trap
pings Of mourning. The Virginia Military
Institute was very beautifully draped, and
from its turrcts hung at half-mast and
draped in mourning the flags Of all the
States of the late Southern Confederacy.
When the procession reached the Institute
it passed the corps Of cadets drawn up in
line, and guard of honor presented arms
as the hearse passed. When it reached the
chapel, where an immense throng had as
sembled, the students and cadets, about
$50 strong, marched into the left door and
aisle past the remains and out by the right
aisle and door to their appropriate place
The rest of the procession then filed in, the
family, Joined by Drs. Barton and Madison,
the attending physicians, and Coils. W. Fl.
Taylor and G. S. Venable, members of
Gen. Lees staff during the war, occupied
seats Immediately in front of the pulpit, and
clergy, Of whom a number were present:
the faculty of the college, and faculty of the
Institute, had pisces on the platform.
The coffin was literally covered with
flowers and evefgreens, while the front of
tuc uldpcIy IuIOWu OVcI H. NdS OGCOIdl Gu
with crosses Of evergreen and immortclles.
Rev. DR.. Pendleton, the long intimate
personal friend Of Gen. Lee, his chief of
artillery during the war, and his pastor the
past five years, read the beautiful burial
services Of the Episcopal Church. No ser
mon was preached, and nothing said besides
the simple service, in accordance with the
known wishes Of Gen Lee.
After the funeral services we're conelud ed
in the chapel the body was removed to the
vault prepared for its reception, and the
concluding service read by the chaplain
from the bank on the southern side CT the
chapel, in front OF the vault, The vault is
constructed Of brick, lined wish cement
The top just reaches the floor of the library,
and will be handicapped with white mar
Bile, on which is the simple inscription.
ROBERT EDWARD LEE,
Born