Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-08-01
General Wickham's Funeral.

AT 'dlckOry I'LL LILO Oiu AainAy noaAS
stead and the residence of the late Genera
Wickham, is also the family burylng
ground, and there he was laid to rest OF
the morning of the 25th ultimo. 1t il
located on the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail
road 81 miles above Richmond. There
ware fully 5000 persons present, 1,2OO be-
ing from Richmond. The funeral services
of the Episcopal Church were rendered by
Rev. Mr.. Hepburn. of st. Paul's parish,
Hanover. = Eight OF the. old colored ser
wants of the General were the active pail.
bearers, and like number of neighbors
and friends were honorary. Governor Lee
was present as was full representation OF
| the business and professional citizens OF
Richmond. Nearly the entire population,
white and colored, of all the surrounding
country were there. The Generals old
army Comrades of the Hanover troop and a
representation from Lee Camp we're among
the organization, principally made up of
Railroad men present.
The following is copied from the Whig's
report.
The burying-ground is in the midst of a
grove of cedars, which completely hides it
from view, and seems to stand a perpetual
guard over the slumbering dead. A more
suitable spot could not have been selected,
and the sOlemnly simple words of the Epis-
copal service, as they fell.upon the ears of
the silent multitude, created an impression
not soon to be forgotten.
At the conclusion of these services, a
trio, consisting of Messrs. F. W. Cunning
ham, E. D. Hotchkiss and M. Leonard,
sang "Nearer My God to Thee" in which
most of those present joined.
As the coffin was lowered Captain Gun
bingham sang "The Christians Good
Might plaintive and sympathetic little
solo that seemed to be peculiarly adapted
for the occasion.
After the grave was filled, Captain Cum
ningham. in compliance with request
made of him after his arrival on the ground,
sweetly rendered that grand hymn, "Home
Of the SOUL" 1t was curious coincidence
that this hymn should have been composed
by the sister of Vice. President Gates, of
the Newport News and Mississippi Valley
Company, who came from New York on
special train to attend the funeral.
The floral tributes were banked upon the
mound completely covering the grave.
The following designs were among the
most noticeable: An anchor, Maltese cross,
broken wheel; motto -"Asleep"; locomotive
and tender; scroll with inscription "Soldier,
patriot, statesman and friend" all four
from employees of the Chesapeake and
Ohio shops; Gates Ajar, from Brotherhood
of Locomotive Engineers, Division No. 26;
holo n he arff ,I,,a
brakemen and clerks at depot; and a large
pillow from the general officers.
Mr.. Huntington was in Cincinnati when
he received the intelligence Of General
Wickham's death. The Dispatch cores
pendent had an interview with him, from
which the following is copied
speaking of General Wickham, he said
with genuine sorrow: 81 feel that have
lost the truest friend I ever had. I have
known the General for twenty years init
mately, and have never yet met man of
more admirable character. He had in him
many of the elements of greatness, and his
public life brought them prominently into
view, but to me the true greatness of the
man lay in his simple integrity and honesty
of purpose, his extreme delicacy of the
1oo1DgS VI Otu6IS, LIS ClcaI AluC, Anu lis
native sense of justice and fair play; for
these qualities make up mans nobility of
soul. The General and were associated
in the management of the Chesapeake and
Ohio road during all its eyentful history,
and in the long and unbrokBn friendship
that existed between US 1 learned to thor
oughly appreciate and love him for his
strong qualities of head and heart. My in
terests in the South led me to make many
trips through the Virginias, and had come
to look upon the Generals presence on at
least a portion of each trip as an indispen-
sable adjunct to the comfort and pleasure of
it. l shall miss greatly his genial humor,
which, however playful, was always kind.
He was gentleman by nature and true to
the line everywhere and all the time, and
it will be many years before the State of
Virginia will send out his equal. I am
sorry for the loss she has sustained by his
death, but am profoundly affected by the
sharper suffering of his family and intimate
friends, who can better realize the calamity
that has befallen them"
DR.. McCaw, General Wickham's family
physician, says the cause of his death was
failure of the action of the heart, and that
recent exertion and fatigue probably pre-
eipitated the fatal attack.