Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1870-10-22
The Funeral at Lexington.

\ dispatch received from Lexington gives
the following account of the funeral:
At ten o'clock precisely the procession was
formed on the college grounds, in front Of the
presidents house, and moved down Washing
tou street, up jefferson street to the Franklin
Hall, thence to Main street, where it was join
ed in front Of the hotel by the representatives
of the State Of Virginia aud other representa-
tive bodies in their order, and By the organized
body Of the citizeuS in front Of the courthouse.
The procession then moved by the road 70 the
Virginia Military Institute, where it was joined
by the visitors, faculty and cadets Of the Nir-
ginia Military Institute, in their respective
places. The procession was closed by the stu
dents Of Washington College as a guard OF
honor, and then moved up through the iusti-
tute 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 remains,
and were afterwards drawn up in two bodies
ou the south side of the chapel. The remain
deF Of the procession then proceeded into the
chapel aud were seated under the direction OF
the marshals. The gallery aud side blocks
were reserved for ladies. As the procession
moved OF to a 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 during the whole exercises. In
front Of the National Hotel the procession was
Joined by the committee Of the Legislature the
delegation from the city Of Stauuton, Colonel
c. 5. Venable, chairman Of the faculty, aud q
committee Of students from the University aud
others.
Along the streets the buildings were all ap-
propriately draped, and crowds gathered on
the corners and in the balconies to see the pro-
ceSsion pass. Not flag tloated above the pro-
cession, aud nothing was seen that looked Ike
an attempt at display. The old soldiers wore
their ordinary citizens dress, with simple
black ribbon in the lapel Of their coats, and
" Traveller" LED by two old soldiers, who had
the simple trappings Of mourning. The Nir-
GINA Military Institute was very beautifully
draped, and from its turrets hung at half-maSt
aud drapei 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 4 guard Of honor presented arms as the
heaiSe passed. When it reached the chapel,
where an immense throng had assembled, the
students and cadets, about ESQ 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 fled in, the family, Joined by Drs. Bar
ton and Madison, the attending physicians, and
Coils W II. Taylor and c. S. Nenable, men,
bers Of Gen. Lees staff during the war, occu-
pied seats Immediately in front Of the pulpit,
and clergy, Of whom q number were present,
faculty Of the college, and Acultyo Of the Instj-
tute, had places on the platform.
The coffin was literally covered with flow
ers and eyergrcenS. While the front Of the dra-
perry thrown over II WAS decorated with crosses
/ Of evergreen and immOrteIleS
Rev. DR.. Peudletou, the long intimate per-
soull friend Of Gen. Lee, bis chief of artillery
during the war, and his pastor the past five
years, read the beautiful burial services Of the
the Episcopal Church. No sermon was preach
I ed, aud nothing said besides the simple service
/ in accordance with the known wishes Of Gen.
| Lee
After the funeral services were concluded 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 Of the chapel, IN front of the
vault. The vault is constructed Of brick. lined
with cement. The top Just reaches the floor OF
the library, and will be double-capped with
white marble on which is the simple inscrip-
, ton. Robert Edward Lee, born January
9Th. 1908; died October 18th, 1870"
The burial case was handsomely mounted
with silver aud lined with white silk.
AZ. along the line Of the funeral cortaga the
windows and Porchcs were crowded with weep
ING women and children.