American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-03-22
BSERELDOEE,
rom the Richmond Enqulrar.'

ed the Blue Ridge at Rockfsh Gap, OPP
posed by Early and some fifteen hundred
men, The opposition was fruitless, how
ever, our forces being almost surrounded
by over@ helming numbers, and over a
thousand captured. The enemy then en-
tered Charlottesville unopposed. The
following letter gives an interesting sketch
of the occupation of that place:
CHARLoTTEsvILLE, March 9.
NeSsrs Editors: The Yankee army
five thousand strong, entered this place
on Friday, at two o'clock p M, the Sd
instant, unopposed The Mayor and the
civil authorities of the corporation met
The enemy on q hill southwest of the
University rotunda, where the town was
surrendered by the Mayor, and protee-
ton 70 private property guaranteed by
the Yankees to the citizens and to the
authorities of the University. At first
five horsemen, with drawn pistols,srode up
to the flag OF Truce, and then immedia-
tely galloped to town, then followed six
others and then General Custer, surroun
ded by dozen or twenty men, bearing
Confederate flags captured from the ie-
feated and routed troops of Gen Early;
then followed the entire column through
the Main street to the front Of the Bap-
tist Female Institute All the stores were
closed, and the windows Of the houses
were generally blinded, and but for the
rabbe of negroes and mean, low-bred
white women on the streets, everything
II To-, o,l l,,,vin1 nit SANp
after the arrival of the invaders, guards
were placed at every street crossing along
the line Of march Gen. Merritt head
quarters were established at mrs. B. II.
Shackelfofds, and Gen. Sheridrns at
Miss Elizabeth Coles; the signal corps
held between the Mayor and Rev. DR..
Broaddus and Fen Custer, when the lat
ter assured these gentlemen that every
necessary protection should be given to
private property At the close Of the
day the Mayor and Aldermen were sent
for at the headquarters of Gen. Merritt,
and requested to procure corn and forage
to supply the horses of the invaders, and
delivered to them at their camps. Unless
this was done. an order to search the
premises Of the citizens would have to be
made. The civil authorities promised to
make inquiries among the citizens to as
certain how much Of the articles required
they had on hand, the General saying
when he needed them he would send his
wagons for the articles. Four hundred
bushels of corn belonging to our Govern
ment We're found at Cochran's mill, aud a
few hundred bushels of wheat belonging
to private persons were found and taken
possession of. At night the farms around
Charlottesville were covered with cavalry,
presenting a sad picture to the eyes Of
ourctizens.
In town quiet prevailed during the
night, except the noise Of passing troops
as new detachments arrived. Out Of the
town depredations and thieving were car
ried on at all places where the occupants
had failed TO procure private guards
which had been given to all who rcques-
ted it. On Saturday morning in the out
skirts Of the town disorder began TO pre-
vail; stores broken into and robbed, pri-
-vate houses entered and searched; but
these were stopped by the orders and in
reference Of officers, and during the stay
of the army the discipline was rigid and
severe, and very little damage was done.
and private houses were free from inter
ruption from soldiers, and, were private
guards were given, no soldier dared enter
the house without a special written per-
mission from general headquarters. The
farmers, however, were not protected in
their property and provisions; everything
satable for man and beasts was consumed.
and acts of arocity aod meanness were
committed Threats of vengeance were
mado to ladies, in order to get their
watches; the wretches held pistols to their
heads to intimidate them and compel
them to give up their property. These
and similar acts were done for ten miles
cast Of Charlottesville, as far down as the
enemy Yentured to go. Scouting and
robbing parties were sent out in all direc-
tions on Saturday and Sunday, plunder-
ing as they went. The slaves were not
exempt from plunderings. Whenever
one had any gold or silver it was shure to
be stolen by these pretended negro wor-
shippers. On Saturday and Sunday all
the able bodied negro men were pressed
into the Yankee service to destroy the
iron railroad bridges, and on Sunday even.
ing the wood trcstle work ot these bridges
was burned and are now heap of ruins
The county free bridge was burned on
Monday morning Monticello would
have been burned had not the wife of the
present occupant been sick. The van
dals threatened to destroy it On their next
visit. A raiding party that went down
to within two miles of the Hon. w. C.
Rives threatened to burn his house al
so.
Grain, forage, provisions and horses
were taken off the farms, in some instan-
ces leaving not a particle to feed the cat
tie with, yet generally the hogs, cows, OK
en-, sheep and fowls were not disturbed.
In some instances hog, or a beef, or a
sheep was killed, but none were wantonly
destroyed.
On Friday night the factory of Mr.. Mar
chant was destroyed On Monday that
.ofNr. Flanagan was also destroyed, and