Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 26.djvu/186

 176 Southern Historical Society Papers.

federacy with soldiers' blankets in exchange for cotton), with five other intimate friends of the deceased general, most of whom are paroled Confederate officers, acted as pall -bearers on the occasion. Several Federal officers, in uniform, were in attendance at the obse- quies." [The pall-bearers were General Beall, of the Confederate service, and General Stone, Major Trowbridge, Major Prime and Lieutenant Mowry, of the United States service, and Mr. S. L. Mer- chant. C. B. D.] "The Rev. Dr. Morgan Dix, Rector of Trinity, was the officiating minister, assisted by Rev. Dr. Ogilvie.

"The corpse of the deceased was brought from Governor's Island about 12.30 o'clock on Saturday morning, and placed in the vesti- bule of Trinity, where, for half an hour, the friends and relatives were allowed to view the features of the late general.

" The body was embalmed, and on the coffin lid were laid beauti- ful floral offerings of natural camelias, in the shape of a cross and a heart. The face of the deceased was of the handsomest and most manly character. The coffin was rosewood, silver-mounted, and the breast-plate bore the following inscription:

"MAJOR-GENERAL W. H. C. WHITING, C. S. A."

"BORN IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI." "DIED ON GOVERNOR'S ISLAND, NEW YORK HARBOR,"

" March 10, 1865." ''Aged 40 years, n months and 18 days."

"After it had been closed, lady friends of the deceased placed upon the lid two beautiful crosses of white camelias, fringed with ever- green, and a wreath of the same.

" Shortly after i o'clock, Drs. Dix and Ogilvie began the solemn service, in accordance with the prescribed ritual of the Episcopal Church. The coffin was then placed in front of the altar, and as it was borne up the aisle, an incident that attracted some attention was the placing upon the coffin, by a young lady, a beautiful cluster of camelias, bound with a black ribbon.

"After the usual services, the prayer of the commitment was read by Dr. Dix, at the foot of the coffin.

"After the benediction, the body was borne to the waiting hearse, and the solemn cortege of carriages passed down Broadway en route to Greenwood, where the remains were placed in a receiving vault."

The following obituary appeared in a North Carolina paper: