Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-04-11
Scenes in Richmond,

and yet it is my business 10 write cooy OF the
great events now Transporting in this city. TcI
write connectedly | will make simply record of
personal observations.
APPEARANCES oF TIE CITY.
Language fails me in any attempt to describe
correctly the appearance Of the city as passed
through the streets this morning at an early hour.
The ruins were still smoking, The fire was sui
Alming flriously IN several places. The pave
ments we're hot to my feet, 80 intense had been
the flames. Granite columns, iron pillars, mar
bic lsclngs broken into thousands OF pieces, with
cart loads Of bricks, blocked the streets The
iremen we're still OF work One Of the engineers
had been burned. The Blnk Of Richmond, Bank
of the Commonwealth, Traders Back, Bank Of
Virginia, Farmers Bank, score Of private bank
ing houses, the American HOTEL the Columbian
Hotel, the Enquirer ard the Dispatch printing
offices, the Confederate Post Office Department,
The State Court House. the Mechanics institute,
all the insurance office, N Con'sder'e War
Depar ment the Confederate Arsenal, tue Lab
oratoiy, DR. Read's Presbyterian Chltch, several
foundrles an machine shops, the llenrico county
Court House, the Dinyille and Petersburg de.
pots, the thre9 bridges across the James, HaxliPo
great Touring mills (he largest in the world)
all the best stores OF the city were destroyed,
The Libby prison was not burned. ltstill stands
monument Of rebel cruelty and humanity. 10
vain were the protests Of the citizens TO General
Ewe he detailed men to set the fires When
the rebel authorities fired Charleston, negro troops
from Massachusetts saved the city from utter
desrucdonj aud here Massachusetts,, in common
with other soldiers Of the North, white and negro
alike thr W down their gus and did what they
could to save the city,
When the rebe rear guard left the city they
broke open the stores panes OF window glass,
which cost hundreds Of dollars, were smashed
without conjunction dry goods, boots shoes,
jewery, everything was taken which pleased their
fancy Why should they not plumber after the
example set them by their leadersP
The poor people and negroes who have had
hard work to keep soul and body together, i'm
proved the opportunity TO help themselves 10
what was left. There was d grand rush to the
stores,and some very ludicrous scenes. Onenegro
had three Dutch ovens on his head piled one
above another, stew pan in one hand aud a
skillet in another. Women had bags Of aour IN
their arms, baskets Of salt and pals Of molas4es
or sides Of bacon. No miser ever goated over
his gold SO eagerly as they over their supply o.
provisions. They had all but starved, but LOW
they could eat TIL satisfied.
ARRIVAL or PRESIDENT LINCOLN.
was standing upon the bank Of the river, view
ing the scene Of desolalion, when boat, pulled
by twelve sailors, came up stream. l. contained
President Lincoln and his son, Admiral Porter
Capt Penrose of the army, Capt a. H. Adams
Of the navy, Lieut.. w. w. Clemans Of the 'igns
corps. Somehow the negroes on the bank oil ID,
river a.certaned that tpe tall man wearing
black hat was President Lincoln. There was
sudden shout IA officer who had Just pcket
fifty negroes to DO work on the dock, found him
self alone. They left work AID crowded rJunC
the President.
There was NJ carriage near 80 the President
leading his son, walked three quarters o! mi (
up % Gen Weizsfa headquarters -Jeh Davis
mansion, What a spectacle il was. such {
hurry blrly-such wild iadeienbabie Icstste Joy
| never Witnessed. A colorsd man iced as sa,de
SIX sailors, wearing taer round blue auc
short jlckets and Banging pants, with navy car
bine', vas The advance gl-GI. IAtn came th,
President and Adnif4l Porter, flAnked by the
officers &C omp nying him aud The correspondent
Of The JournI, then siX more sailors with car
bines-twenty Of Us all io.d-Aui1 surginl
mass Of men, women nd children, Ollck, whit
and yellow running, shouting, dlncug aioginl
til il caps, bonpes aud hiulke'chie,s. The sol
dtrs saw rim and sgsllel he crow, Ch.et,lg II
will enthusiasm, All could ses h.m was s.
taIlso conspicuous.
One c).otri woman, standing 10 4 doorway
as the Pres, lent pissed aloag ius sidewalk
sh ued - Thank you, dear Jesus, for this
thank you, Jesus :" Asolher Standing by her sd
WAS clipping her hands Nd shouting B.e's d
Lorl'
A few shile omen .o-king out from To
houses waved their hludkucaieis. Oae lady i
large md elegant building looked awhile, au
!, then turned away beg head Is Il 1t Vas disgust
I ing SIGHT.
President Lincoln walk d in silence, acknowl
edgg the sllules Of oili-yt, aud solder. and {
cllzeus, black and iehiie Ii was The uaa Of Ii
. people among the people. L vas tie great Dc
liyeter meeting the delivered Yesterday morn
ing he maj my 81 tae thousands who ccowde
the streets and numbered our advance were slaves
+ Now thty we're ire,, and behold him Who ha
= given them their liberty, Ten. Shepley met ID
President IN the street., aud escorted nlm " Gel
Weiz;!s quarters.
Alter tedious walk lhe mansion OF jeff ia
' Wis was reached. Tae lmm=nse crosd sweE
+ round the corn { Of thu s,reeI and packed th
q space in from, Gen. Wezg received the Pres
dent al the door Cheer upon cheer went u
' from the excited mulutude-Iwo thirds oi whUI
u were colored.
n The officers who had assembled were ptesenle
to the President in the reception room Of III
: mansion.
Judge Campbell, once on the Supreme bsuel
Of the United States, who became q traitor, cam
IN and had brief interview with the Presldet
q the drawingroom. O.her citizens cllied-thos
who have been of The Ul,on though all the wal
The President then took ride through III
J. city, accompanied by Almtll Porer, Gsn' Shel
e icy, Wei Be, and other ollie rs.
r No wonder thlt Presden. L,ncoln VINO has
ohild's heart felt ms soul stirred that the tear
almost came TO his eyes as he heard the thank,
T gy.nss TO God aud Jesus, anI tbs blessings u
d tered Tor him from lhlnku hearts. They WEI
- true, earnest aud heartfelt expressions Of glat
lude to God. There are thousands Of men
y Richmond 10 night WIN would lay down tue
J. Ives for Prssiden, Liuc1ln-~,her great dsyrre
: their best friend on earth. lie came a uo d.
IL them auheradel, without pomp or parade. II
!. walked through the streets as II he were only
= private eiulsn and not tue head oi mighty al
% ton. lie came Tot as oonquefor-not with bi
b terness IN bis heart, but with Ainduess. lie can
n ma friend, to alleviate sorrow aud sui.rng-
rebuild shat has been destroyed.
CARLETON.
----.-----a. 49, .-----------
IL Affairs in and About Richmond