The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1906-02-02
FUNERAL RITES
OVER WHEELER
In New York City Were Imposing
and Solemnly Impressive.
THOUSANDS PAY HOMAGE
Military Pageant Feature of Services
and Was Witnessed by Great ThrongS.B
Body Arrives in Washington.

An imposing military pageant pass
ing across Brooklyn bridge, brief SER
vices at st. Thomas Episcopal church
on Fifth avenue and an escort across
the North river ferry to Jersey City,
where the body was placed on a train
to be taken to Washington for inter
ment in the national cemetery at Ar
lington, marked the funeral in New
York city Sunday OF Brigadier General
Joseph Wheeler, cavalry leader OF the
confederacy and later one Of the most
prominent figures among the generals
of the Spanish American war.
The body of the dead soldier was
wrapped in the flags under which he
had served with almost equal ylgor
and distinction-the stars and bars
OF the confederate states and the stars
and stripes Veterans OF the south
ern and northern armies mingled to-
gether in paying tribute to General
Wheeler, with the younger veterans
Of the Cuban and Philippines cam
paigns of 1898 and 1899. The route
Of the funeral cortege was lined with
great crowds, most OF whom stood
with barred heads as the funeral
passed
The funeral took place from the
home Of General WheeIer's sister,
Mrs. Sterling Smith, in Brooklyn,
where General Wheeler died. The
body was borne from the house by
eighty non-commissioned officers Of
infantry and placed upon fag-draped
artillery caisson. The seventy-frst,
commanded by Colonel w G. Bales,
served under General Wheeler in
Cuba, and on this occasion was given
the post Of honor Infantry from Gov
ernOrs Island, headquarters of the de-
partment of the east, United States
Army, also joined the procession.
A riderless horse, with boots re-
yersed in the stirrups and a cavalry
sword dangling from the saddle, was
led just behind the caisson.
The church edifce was thronged.
Seats had been reserved for members
of the Southern Society, the Confed-
crate Veterans Association, the So.
ciety of the War of 1912 and several
other friends of the family.
Reservations also had been made
for the honorary paIlbearers, the staff
of Frederick D. Grant, United States
Army, and the officers OF the escort
The altar of the church was almost
hidden beneath the floral Offering,
among them a great wreath sent by
President Roosevelt
The brief services were conducted
by the Rev. Ernest Stires, rector Of
the church, who was formerly rccc5r
of the Church of the Good Shepherd
in Augusta Ca, which is situated near
the birthplace of General Wheeler,
assisted by Rev. Morgan Dix, rector
of Trinity church.
DR.. Stires, in beginning his sermon,
said:
This is one of the great occasions
of our lives. For we are met to hon
or the memory of a rare man. 1 do
not speak to you of him principally
as a citizen, statesman or soldier, for
the mere record of his deeds is far
more eloquent than any praise OF ours
could be. 1t is of the man l think
at this hour Was he entitled to be
called great? 1t is not difficult for
you to decide. He was distinguished
by courage without rashness, by wis
dom without pride, by gentleness
without weakness, by patience with
out heedlessness and by justice with
which always leaned toward mercy.
The body arrived in Washington at
1885 Sunday night, and was at once
taken to st. John church. A detach-
ment of Spanish war veterans formed
an escort from the station and con-
stituted guard OF honor at the cas-
ket.