Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood
October 28, 1864

Wheeling, West Va.
Saturday Morning, October 22.
The Death of Col. Thoburn.

We had hoped up to eleven o'clock last night that there might be some mistake in Gen. Sheridan's dispatch of the afternoon, announcing the death of Col. Thoburn. - But there is no mistake. A private dispatch at the hour named states that his body, together with that of Captain P. G. Bier, will be here this evening. We are thus reluctantly compelled to accept as true that the gallant and good Col. Thoburn has fallen at last.

What shall we write of him? What can we say that any one in this community would recognize as a just measure of tribute to his honored remains. Noble man that he was, he has nobly fallen in the cause that was dear as his life and his honor to his heart. Col. Wheat well said at the Club last night, that a truer man, a nobler soldier, a more unselfish patriot, had not fallen upon any battle field in this war.

There is not a man in this community, divided though it is in partisan feeling, that did not honor the manhood and the soldiership of Col Thoburn, and not one such that does not feel that his death is to be deplored. It is not politics to set metes and bounds to the public regret for the loss of such a man.

The city had cause to feel a peculiar pride in the distinction to which Col. Thoburn had attained. He was, as it were, her representative among the tried and acknowledged leaders of the war, who had won their way to position by universally recognized merits. Every battle had more and more endeared him to the public heart. We were always learning more and more of his excellence. His course was always upward. Never once did a shadow fall between him and us. The constant report brought or sent by every one was that none were move loved by the soldiers than Col. Thoburn, for he was always unselfish, always brave and genuine.

At the hour we write space nor time will permit us to say all we would gladly say in memory of the fallen hero. The City of Wheeling will do willing honors to the remains of her most gallant citizens.

The following note to Mayor Crangle, Chairman of the Central Union Committee, which had charge of Col. Thoburn?s funeral, was read on Friday evening at the Club, and ordered to be published:

WHEELING, W. Va., Oct. 27, 1864

To His Honor, Mayor Crangle, Chairman Committee of Arrangements:

DEAR SIR:--I am requested by Mrs. Thoburn to express to you, and through you to the Committee of Arrangements, her heartfelt thanks for the many kind services tendered to herself in her bereavement, and more especially for the respect shown to the memory of her lamented husband. While it is utterly impossible to remove a grief such as loving friends must feel at a time like this, yet christian sympathy can do much to sustain the heart that mourns, and in this case it is felt that all human kindness and sympathy could do, has been done to sustain the bitter cup of sorrow. I cannot tell you how highly these services, so delicately proffered and so faithfully executed, have been appreciated; nor can I speak in befitting terms of the tearful sympathy of this whole community, a sympathy so spontaneous, so universal and so deep, that it has made every member of the striken [sic] family circle to feel as if living in a city of relations. May the God of the widow reward you in abundant measure for your kindness to the living, and your worthy honors bestowed upon the noble dead.

I am, Very Sincerely Yours,

J. M. THOBURN,

To His Honor, Mayor Crangle, Ch?n Com. Arrangements.

Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood: October 1864