The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-04-25
AaShriIIe aGniOu.
office on Printers Alley, between
Union and Dcaderick Streets.
SATURDAY MORNING. APRIL as, 1868.
The bread Riot I'm Richmoud.

The Bread Riot in Richmond.
Under this head the Army Correspon.
dent of the n Y. Herald gives a start
ling account of the starvation riot at the
seat of JEFF. DAvIs's kingdom. It re-
veals fearful destitution in the very
heart of rebeldom. But we fear that
such announcements will do US far more
harm by max ing us lapse into a feeling
Of security and consequent indifference,
in prosecuting the war, than they will
do us good by inspiring us with hope.
We have trusted entirely too much to
the scarcity Of food among the rebels,
and have wasted months in waiting for
them to be starved into terms, when we
should have used all our power, and en-
ergy to whip them into submission. 1t
is evident that we have not improved our
best opportunity to gain success. In
stead of waiting for Providence to send
us victories, we should have struck when
chance was offered us. Our best time TO
strike is when the enemy are weakest,
and most disheartened. Let the feeble
ness of traitors and the might Of the
Government be brought into contest
when the fret is at its worst, and the
second at its best: lll
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE PoToMAcl
April ii, 1868.
The Cause The BEGINNING AppeaEto Gov
e17lor Letcker n Failure = The Militia
Undvailable-Ffopects of Future Riots,
9-c.
A refugee from Richmond, who left that
city on Tuesday, gives an interesting ac-
count Of the riot of the I'd inst. Com
siderable excitement had prevailed for
some time in consequence of the exorbi-
tant prices, and rumors Of popular
movement had been in circulation for
several days. Females had begged in
the streets and at the stores until begging
did no good, and many had been driven
TO robbery TO sustain life. On the morn
ing of the I'd inst large meeting, COM
posed principally of the wives and daugh-
iers Of the working classes, was held in
the African church, and a committee
appointed to wait on the Governor to re-
quest that articles of food should be sold
at government rates. After the passage
of sundry resolutions the meeting ad-
journed, and the committee proceeded to
wait upon Governor Letcher That
funclionary declined to take any steps
in the matter, and upon urging the case
the ladies were peremptorily ordered To
withdraw. The result of the in
terview was soon made public, when
a body of females, numbering about
three hundred collected together
and commenced helping themselves "a
bread, flour, meat, articles of clothing
&c. The entire city was at once thrOwt
into CONSERVATION. Stores were closed
the windows barred, doors bolted, anC
every precaution taken against forcibl,
entries but hs;ohets and axes II
the hands of women rendered desperat,
by hunger made quick work, and build
ing after building was rapidly broker
open. The destruction commenced OF
Carey street, above Fifteenth street, ant
was becoming general in that section o
the city, when the City Guard, with fxet
bayonets, arrived at the scene of opera
tions. A few individuals attempted 4
resist the women, but without success
One man who struck a female wa
wounded in the shoulder by shot from
a revolver, and the threatening attitud
of those armed with hatchets, &c, in
I undated others from attempting force
The Mayor soon appeared, and, mount
ing a stool on the sidewalk, proceeded
10 read the RiOtact. During the readinl
! of that document, portion of the crow
: suspended operations; but no sOone
had the Mayor concluded than lhe seiz
ure Of provisions commenced again NOR
= vigorously than before. AT this juno
ture an attempt was made to arrest tn
more violent: but the party immediatell
} scattered, aud, entering Main street, re
sumed operations.
Governor Letcher then appeared, an,
mounting q vehicle in the centre of tn
street, addressed the throng character
izing the demonstration as a disgrace an
stigma upon the city, and announcin
that but FIVE minutes would be give
them in W hich 10 disperse. II in tha
time the order was not complied with
the troops would be called upon to acr
Again the crowd broke up, and in a few
I moments burst into the stores on Frank
lin street. Bnt little damage was don
!, here, however, and the riot finally sub
sided, but not until after the arrest c
+. about forty Of the women, and the pro
4 mise Of the Governor 10 relieve the want
ofthe destitute. A large amount Of brea
aud bacon was carried of, aud all en-
= gagged in the riot succeeded in getting
good supply of provisions Steps hay
? been taken to provide for the immediat
wants of some Of the families; but gres
suffering still prevails, and is daily in
. creasiug. Another uprising is ieare'
and precautionary measures for its sup
r preston have been institutedi but gres
uneasiness is felt throughout the city, an
merchants are adding TO the strength (
doors and shutters in every possible man
ner. The eject of this riot upon n
n troops about Richmond was very demo
d ralizing. The authorities are much el
h. ercised over il, and the greatest vigilan'
3 is enjoined upon the police force. III
y leading men OF the city attempted
"a circulate the report that the women wei
pr 'Irish and Yankee hags," endeayOring
~ mislead the public concerning the amour
ls of loyal sentiment in the city, but mis-,
AZ nfta faoN nf fh.fw H.ettf.