Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-10-17
PAPER TELLS OF BURIAL
OF LEE FIFTY YEARS AGO
Lexington Gazette, Dated October
IL 1870. Printed Story OF OBJ
scquics for Southern Hero.

-hi:NiNGToN. VA. Oct. l6.-.Octobcr
iSS,h 1870, was tho nftieth anniversary
OF the burial OF General Robert L.
LIE; who died at his home In Lex
mgton Gazette. OF October 81, 1870.
|.PnDiishcd detailed report OF tho
-seath and funeral of General Lee, as
-io!lcwS, In part:
al about 1880 p. NJ, Thursday.
me large procession which had FORM
co. according To previous arrange
ments. TO escort tho remains OF Cen
-eral Leo from his late home on the
college campus. moved with slow and
|-pcculiarly solemn tread from In front
|-cf the presidents home to the college
-enapel. and after making n complete
|-rircuit of the building, entered from
the front. Tho procession was very
appropriately headed by former oni-
I-ccrs and soldiers OF the Confederacy.
These were followed by the clergy,
ana after Thorn camo tho corpse In
charge OF pall-bearers.
l. Besides tho hcarso tho noble gray
horse. Traveller. which had borne tho
departed hero through the dnngers Of
the greatest battles this continent
L favorlte saddle horse OF President
Lee. was led with the sable trappings
|-oi mourning, the sole memorial OF a
-ssp!endid military career; Next fol-
lowed the trustees, faculty and stu
dents OF Washington College; and
after them, board OF visitors, tho fac
|-nity. officers and cadets of the Vir-
Rtnia Military Institute Icne limo
-of citizens followed these. making in
-aii u most solcmp and Impressive pro-
accession. On reaching the chapel. tho
- enn Eva was taken from the hearse
was to lie In state until its Inter
.ment.
'LIstnEuishcd Men In Procession.
I'nfThe funeral obsequics were held
Saturday. October l5. at +. NJ. &C.
sion formal al the Episcopal church.
IN 'front.' OF the presidential residence,
AMI 10 the sound of solemn music by
,HG :. NJ. !. band. II moved down
Franklin Hall. thence 10 Main street
ir front OF the hotel. tho ranks wcre
oprncd and the committee from tho
virginia Legislature. the representa-
OF the University. Of Virginia. and
other distinguished guests took their
appointed places. Moving on, in
'front.' OF the courthouse. It was Joined
mus the long line moved slowly down
to- the Virginia Military Institute.
where the CORPS OF cadets and fac.
WY joined the procession and NOV.
Ell on to the college chapel.
The funeral service OF the Ep!sco.
PAL church was read with imDres.
s,Fe soiemnity by the Reverend w.
~. Penoleton, ID. D, the rector CT tho
ed. and distinguished officer who
mad served under him throughout tho
war In the Army of Northern Vir.
ginia. When the services were con-
me vault In the basement OF tho
chapel. which had been prepared for
!,s reception"
Comn Uncovered From Flood.
Is OF interest to recall that the
ro'tn IN which General Lee was
buried was recovered from a rock
reap on an island In North River.
h"'9w Lexington. following n great
th'H section for week previous TO
Generals Lees death. and when he
passed away there was no coffin Of
suitable size or material In LcSing-
ton in which to bury the distinguish
"i! corpse. The unprecedcntcdly high
"aicrs had cut OFT communication
Win Lynchburg. Richmond and other
cites by the destruction of the canal,
WITCH was the only means OF trans.
pOFat!on ut that time. hence Il was
imgnssible TO secure a collin.
The high water had swept away
thciwarchousc "a, East Lexington in
which were stored several metallic
caskcts for G. VI. Koones. undertaken.
II occurred to Mr.. kooncs that pos
sib!y these collins had lodged some
where along tho river. 30 with sew
erai OF his workmcn. ]. Is. Holmes.
W-B. Hnrtigan and Pompey Root, he
set out TO make Il search. Coming
across two young men near the river
bank Just below East Lexington. Mr..
kaoncs told them Of his mission. and
they volunteered TO help. They were
Charles II. Chi;tum and Harry wal
lace. Securing boat these Two
crossed the swift current to an island
Just below the first dam across North
River. and after n short investIga-
ton among the debris. Mr.. Chittum
discovered long box on top OF 4
Pile Of wreckage. which proved to
be one OF the collins washed from
the warehouse. The coffin was
Occurred and was used for General
Lees intcrmcnt. Mr.. Chittum is the
|-onIy survivor of the exploring party.
.and is st!ll living in Lexington. In