American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-10-05
Inside Of Richmond.

IlOIl llUitl bllC iODSl A%N -
resided in Richmond for number oil
years, and her circle of friends and ac-
quaintanees gave her facilities for know
ing what was transpiring In and around
the city. About year ago her husband
came North, and she remained behl1d I'M
I'll the present time, when she rejoins him
in Philadelphia. She started from Rich
mond with $4,000 in rebel money, and
the fare and hotel charges for herself and
child left her with but S5 of the same
money when she reached here.
The day before she left Richmond, ru-
mors had reached thereof Early's defeat
at Winchester but it was not believed.
Still the people were muce depressed at
the gloomy prospects for the winter, and
this depression was Increased by an order
from the authorities advising all females
and complaints to leave the city as
soon as possible. The people have no fear
that Richmond can be taken by assault
They believe it to be well defended by
earthworks and men, and their present
view of the situation is, that Grant dare
not attack Lee and Lee dare not attack
Grant But they are apprehensive that
Grants army shall be reinforced sufficient
" to enable him 20 take possession of the
remaining railroads, and thus reduce the
tity to the condition of a siege, and to
starve them into surrender. 1t is freely
admitted by all, that the loss of Rich
mond is the end of the rebellion, but
they are determined to hold out to the
last, and only fear Grants starving pro-
cess.
Lees army is believed to be large
enough for the defence of the city against
assault, but they also recognize the fact
that the more men they have when Grant
surrounds the city, only iusures his sue
cess in the effort tostarye them into a sur
render. Hence the hesitation in bring
ing roinforcements from the Southwest
and the order to all non combatants to
leave the city, is one vast military camp
Every male between tho ages of IL and
70 is in uniform, These young and old
men are enrolled in the militia, and must
hold themselves in readiness to answer
the summons to arms They are compel
led to attend drills at stated periods and
nothing is discussed but the prospect of
being called into actual service.
The condition of the finances of the
q Confederacy may be judged from the fact
that the lady, when shereaches Philadel-
phia, wore a dress which any servant
here would have thrown aside with dis
dain, and yet it cost her Sl75. A pair
Of shoes, Of poor material, sther Sl25,
and pair for her child cost her Sl05.
Wages do not bear any comparison with
these cxhorbitant prices. Few mechan-
les receive more than SIS per day. This
is not sufficient to supply their actual
wants. The Rebel Government in en-
deavorinG to remedy this by a system of
supplies to the people. When beef is
selling in the markets for one dollar and
q half a pound, the Government will is
sue it to those who make application for
one dollar pound. In this way the peo-
pie have been kept quiet, as they are told
that the Government is doing all in its
power to assist them.
The order advising the non combat
tants is being taken advantage of, not on.
ly by those for whom the advice was in
tended but also by the soldiers The la
dy overlook party of fifty rebel soldiers
who had deserted the day before she left
Richmond. General Grants late order.
promising to send deserters North, is do
ing great mischief in the rebel army.
Before it was issued, the rebel soldiers
were under the impression that if they
deserted they would be compelled to fight
in the Union armies, and they argue that,
if compelled to fight at all, they preferred
to fight in behalf of the South. Now,
that this impression has been removed,
the soldiers, tired of the war, are deser-
ting in large numbers, and the loss to the
rebel army isnot replaced by conscription,
as that has already been carried to its full
extent All that is needed now is
steady tide Of reiniorcements for Grants
army.
APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC.
The Riohmond papers confess that their
people are suffering. Among other evi.
dences to this effect is the following ap-
peal to the public" which appears in the
advertising columns of the papers of that
city:
"The Relief Committee of Richmond,
through their Directory, appeal to the
public for aid in behalf of the refugees
and suffering poor in this city.
"Richmond is at present filed with
refugees from every portion or the Con-
federacy, many Ct them without employ
ment or means, but worthy of our war
NEST sympathy and support. Our citi-
zens in their individual and corporate ca
pacity, have been severely taxed for the
relief of these persons, and the poor gen.
orally since the commencement of the
war; and while they arc willing to bear
their full portion of the burden, yet they
think an opportunity should be afforded
TO the benevolent and patriotic everywhere
to unite in this good work The presence
of two great armies in the immediate Vi
cinity, and the interruption to transporta-
tion on our railroads, have produced a
scarcity of supplies which can only be
so far as those for whom we
appeal are concerned, by contributions
from individual or corporations, Every
precaution will be taken by the coihmit-