Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-05-26
COL. ). II SKINNER DEAD.

Col. James H. Skinner died between hal
past six and seven o'clock last Thursday
night, the 10th inst, at his residence
Sailors Rest in this city. His health
had been gradually failing for several years
was due to no special malady but to old ag
made premature perhaps by wounds ant
shock received in the great civil conflict
The funeral took place Friday at Emmanue
Episcopal church at $50 p. M, and the re
mains were taken to Norfolk on the 20
a. m. train Friday night and were deposit
ed in the family burying ground of tina
city. Rev. K. 9. Jett, rector of Emmanue
church, and Alex. F. Robertson accompanied
the remains to Norfolk The following
members of Emmanuel's vestry were active
pail bearers Alex. f. Robertson, Berkeley
Minor. b. M. McIhany. Joseph b. Wood
ward, George M. Harrison, Thomas d. Ran
son, R. w. Burke, William Il. Abney, 81
W. Hilleary, Lyman Chalkley, Heber Ker
and the following acted as honorary pail
bearers: Joseph A. Waddell, A. f. Kinney
II. D. Peck, Geo. NJ Cochran, Marshall
| Hanger, DR.. 3. M Atkinson.
| There never was a more innate gentleman
than Col. Skinner He was the soul OF
politeness, the embodiment of chivalry.
quiet, reserved. not given to mingling in the
| whirl and rush of business but withal at
| tentive to those business matters which
| were incumbent upon him, a student Of men
| and times, an encyclopedia Of events, a pro-
found historian an orator of great force and
beauty, not a politician in the sense Of mod
ern phraseolOgy though at times actively
engaged in politics and at times candidate
for Office. since the close of the war his
physical condition rendered 80 by the wounds
he received did not permit of his engaging
actively in his profession, the law, hence he
has led since then a life OF partial business
retirement and devoted himself to literary
pursuits which were peculiarly tasteful.
Possessed of ample means and enjoying the
comforts of refined home, his environ
ment was cons genial, and his occupation
pleasant. He was devoted Episcopalian,
and took peculiar interest in the school
for young ladies conducted by Mrs. j. E. B.
Stuart in the city, which has been to some
extent under the auspices of that church.
He was born at Norfolk Y years ago, the
son of Commodore Charles w. Skinner of
the United States navy. He came to Staun-
ton in 1874. studied law under the distin-
guiShcd judge and teacher Lucas P. ThOmp-
son, was admitted to the bar in 1919, became
partner of Thos j. Niche under the firm
name of Niche & Skinner and practised up
to the war.
lie entered the army as captain of Com
pany A, Sind Virginia infantry, which went
out August s, 1861, with John B. Baldwin,
colonel, M. q. Hartman. Northumberland
and A. q. Ross, major. Ga the reorganiza-
tion OF the regiment in 1862 the same field
officers were elected. but Col. Baldwin soon
resigned to enter the Confederate congress.
and Col. Hartman succeeded him, which
promoted Capt. Skinner to major. Col.
Hartman and Lieutenant Colonel Ross were
wounded at the battle of Mcdowell and
Major Skinner commanded the regiment,
and in the Valley campaign at Cross Keys,
Port Republic, the Six Days Around Rich
mond, at Cedar Mountain, or Cedar Run,
and Second Manassas. On the second day
of Second Manassas, shrapnel she'll burst
destroying two companies severely wound
ed Major Skinner, which kept him out OF
the war for several months. He was wound
cd again at Gettysburg, but he again COM
manded in the Wilderness fight, and on the
18th of May in the cei lated hattie of the
Bloody Angel he was shot in the eye which
disabled him for further active service, and
closed as magnificent war record as was
won by any man in the civil war. The sole
survivor of Col. SINNERS family is his sis
ter. Miss EannY who lived with him.