Evening star., 1863-04-09
The BREAD RIOT IN RICHMOND.

The sensation style of the statements that
can e first in relation 10 the reported bread rio
in Richmond threw some doubt over the whole
story, but later particulars have been received
confirming the reports and showing terrible
stue OF distress and destitution existing in the
rete capital. The numbers engaged in it is
now reduced, however, to some five OF six hun.
dred persons.
The Richmond Sentinel OF the 7th, received
an the Army OF the Potomac, acknowledges
ttaS there had been a riot, but said the papers
we're prevented from making any illusions to
it. The Sentinel endeavors to ridicule the affair,
saying 1t was composed of men and women,
whose cravings were more for piunder and
rohbery than the necessaries OF life
The Baltimore American of this m srnng has
the following:
s'Colonel Stew art, of The Cd Indiana Cavalry,
VINO was cOuEned IN Libby f'risOn, Richmond,
ior sone time alter his capture by the Rebels,
hfriyes IN Baltimore yesterday morning by the
Old Point boat, having been exchanged. The
Colonel confirms i'll ali the main points the
previous accounts OF The bread-r and dis
in The Rebel Capital. He was himself an
eJeW itEess, and could not be mistaken. The
chief lEsurrectlontIy movement, or danou-
e'ratiOn Was made OH Thursday last. There
W. IT. between five and six hundred women and
children engaged i'll it. They appeare upon
he streets in condition Of terrible distress and
destitutlon, demanding bread to keep them
from starvation, and in some instances forced
:heiT way into stores, taking what they could
get.
At,his junction General Winder appeared
tetCrr the distracted crowd and made an
adGre-s, appealing TO them to desist and dis
p'Tse but tney peremptorily refused 20 do SO,
declaring that they must have something to eat
CT perish from hunger. The General than sent
for JEFF. DAVIS, who soon appeared i'll the
rieseEce Of tie mon and made Il speech. He
counseIled forDearance upon tie par, OF the
1Orri.tcr, nrcE09SIn1 10 render whatp N
hi> power TO alleviate their suffering condition.
pom this assurance being given, after some
time the crowd dispersed, retiring to their
homes, but not until assured they would oe
supplied with daily rations by the Govern.
IrpHs uuhOritifS.
After President Davis had retired from the
sceLe, renegade rebel General formerly of
Indianapolis, Indiana, stepped forward and
made Il brief address. He confessed speaking
rs he said from practical observation and sx-
leritnC that the people OF the South could
not possibly exist three months longer under
skisi!rg circumstances, and unless more and
better supplies of food and clothing were OBJ
tanable, the thing would be all up with them.
This confession was openly made, it is be.
AeVed in the presence OF JEFF. Davis.
The see nes attending this demonstration are
described as terriblesand distressing in the
tTeme.
Col. Stewart, from whom the above facts are
gathered, is well known, and highly respect
able gentleman"
A deser'er who came into our lines at Suf.
folk l6st week, reported the occurrence OF 8
similar demonstration among the starving peo-
pie of Richmond. Deserters from the Confed-
esate armies Oh the Rappahannock, and in the
Southwest tell a like story Of destitution ex-
listing in their camps.
It's not three weeks since a similar disturb
anoe occurred at Savannah The mob there
was racIfird by promises Of instant relief;
humter OF wealthy men contributed on the
epct several hous and dollars to ease the suf-
fcring. Only a few before this Savannah riot
a mob OF women marched the streets of Allan.
"a, entered provision shops, demanded food for
themselves and families, and where it was
refused, their leader, described as tall and
told locking woman, presented pistol at the
head OF the shopman, threatened him with
instant death if he resisted, and ordered her
corpanicns to help themselves.
Although there may be a considerable amount
of food scatte red through the agricultural dis
t:icts of the South, it is evident that in the
camps and the cities, wherever any consider
aele number OF people are collected, the quan.
uiy is 30 inadequate as to cause terrible want,
ard i diminishing SO rapi. iy under the steady
drain and the great wasti ye inseperable from
army use that terrible alarm is seizing the
minds Of the people of the South as to a future
supply, especially in view OF the fact that in
consequence VI the rigid CONSUMPTION few are
.1fI 10 cultivate another crop.
PERaoNAL.-Wm Il. Webb Superintendent
CT the Metropolitan Police force, LETT the city
yesterday for New York. Captain McEivey,
OF the detective corps, viii perform the duties
O. the suie:ints nd at duri his absence.
Commissioner io!e has ,ne to New York to