Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-10-24
Richmond Refugees-WheEe VIII
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The Enquirer advises the women and
children and other non-combatants e
leave Richmond tor safer quarters, but the
sage of that sheet does not tell them where
to 90. Having been driven from our own
home, We are in o condition to sympathize
with all who have 70 fy from the enemy,
and we ask for all such every kindness
and assistance that onr people have it in
their power 20 bestow; but We can tell such
of the citizens of Richmond as many seri-
ousIy contemplate a ''change of base,p
that there is not Q vacant honse between
the Roanoke River and Mobile. -a asln
The country is already oVeErun With
refugees, and the idea of getting decent
habitation anywhere on oe near the main
lines of communication, the thing is ont
of the question; aud, even could houses be
obtained, provisions are very scarce and
very high. Raleigh is probably about as
cheap a place to live in as can be found in
the Confederacy, and the pay of Major
General would not pay the rent of a decent
house here. We learn that an ordinary
two story dwelling on Hillsboro' street has
been rented for the next year ut $1,000
Wood is worth from $50 to SIS a cord,
bacon Sc to 81 90 q pound, and other
things in proportion.
We know It is hard to be compelled to
remain with the Yankees, but how much
better will 1t be here and further South,
especially after Richmond and Petersburg
shall have emptied their whole population
upo us2 II they come, we hope they will
receive a hearty welcome 70 such as ne
have, but We would not have them decieV-
ed or mfsled as to the character of the
feast to which the Enquirer invites them.
And how does the Enquirer know that
the people of Richmond desire to leave,
even to escape the presence of the Yam
kees2 Many of the people of that city
have acted nobly, and we honor them for
it; but they will not probably average bet
them, we are told, have elected to go
Yankee association. Will Richmond do
better 2 We fear not. We see notices in
the papers almost every day where parties
or squads have gone to the enemy, or been
arrested in attempting to get through, but
we do not hear of any of them moving fur
Their into the Confederacy. And as Rich
moud is no worse probably than other cities
and towns, we should really like to know
what proportion of our people do want
independence. One thing we do know
aud that is that every man in the Conted-
eracy, who is out of the army, is bending
all his energies TO keep out, and as there
--~--
to fight, and who could be easily spared
from the industrial pursuits OF the coun'
try, their efforts to keep out prove thai
they are Indifferent about Independence
This may seem strange, butit isstime oul
people understood one another and thu
general situation. rf5 e. -
We doubt not but that the whole power
of the Federal Government will be hurled
against Richmond and Petersburg within
the Rext sixty days, and unless immediate
steps be taken TO add many thousand true
aud tried men to our own forces, the ehGnec
tOiH Be greatly agGinSt our holding thos
cities. CoDscripts to be enrolled the las
of October aud in November will not do
we must have the men in position within
a few days. or Il may, and most probabl!
will be, 700 late. dLApd If Richmond g0eI
the lStRte with it. for il Is folly TO tall
about further help from that State afte
the territory shall have passed from ne.
We sympathize with the people Of Rich
mond, and trust that the EHqWiTeT's, fear
of fighting in the streets of the city maj
never be realized;. I'VE can tell them, how
ever, that il they come this way they MAJ
expect q hard time, for houses are not 4
be had for love or money, and landlord
are about as soulless as they are in Rich
mond