New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-08-05
THE DECLINE AND FALL
AN SIDE VIE w.
RICHMOND A YEAR AGO.
OF
TEE SOUTHERN C0NFEDERiCY'


have been focby impressed with the signs OF security
and confidence which at that time presented themselves
OIL every hand-in the faces OF BUSTING citizens brght
with genuine horefunessi in the pucky demeanor OF
soldiers uyalided or on leave; in the hearty greetings
Of old eronies. refugeed from 1.-THE Neck or the val
lev" in the gay gaddngs Of girls in the familiar jostle
and IoungDg Of hotels in the composed attendance OF
,hronged Churches in the mild gongs and comngs Of
tourieIs between the War Department and the 'front.'
whose possible tidpgs of triumph disaster of lines
eanked or broken works stormed or mines exploded,
excited extraordinary remark; in the placid chat
Dgs onithe steps OF the Executive Office OF here ana
there some more iusrious hero Of the hour. in from
the 'front.'" most of ALL in the rapturous beaungs ana
bele.ngs Of Capitasquare Band days, when dapper
gray jackets and sunty Rebel hats desperately TOOK
40 thought of the morrow, what they should eat or
wherewithal they should be clothed. There were no
rurses on the air then murder in the hearts of Rich
mond folk Fre-eaters cooled their monstrous swai'
lows in Pizines ices at four dollars saucer. and the
bitter tongues of inhanmatory damseis sweetened
themselves in Antoni's jelies ct five dollars glass
payable some time after the ratification Of peace. For
Mars Robert" knew what he was about. and every
thing looked lovely though the Independence goose did
hang little ont of reach. To be sure Sherman was
xieh Islands and the Straits of Magellan; but jeff
Davis would check him with strategy, and two bat
talons of penguins. at Cape st. john To be sure
Grant still kept up his pertinaciOus pounding, and
piled in the men" in prodigal holocausts whenever
Lee made catseOmbs: but these were more than
magnificent demonstrations of the inexhausrbepess Of
Yankee resources in flesh, blood and Dutchmer, pow
der proecties and Generals bounties obstinacy and
,pf., ,pdiS DIV In viii
drunken waste were flung against "the adamantine
srey Of Lee" while in the Valley and in Maryland the
day of Jubal e. had come" and ransomed refugees
were returning home.
Nor the grounds for this almost unanimous Ella
ton altogether unsubsantial. The Valley was free"
again till next time. The enemy had precpitatey
tired before the pretentous advance of Early, whose
scouts beat the country from the Baltimore and
ONO Railroad to SauntoD. Martinsburg, that Mercu-
Ito Of border towns, which, out OF the fcke-
ness Of its fortunes might well have cried
"a pagne both your bousesl' once
more saluted the Rebel hag and owned that gray
your only wear Ladies' who perveIsely affected the
uniasionable blue shrdnk in loyal seouson behind in
dgnant window blinds and mpatently waited for the
tap OF their fayorte drum whne gentlemen OF the same
color Of thinking made haste to put the Potomac be-
tween them and the Blue Ridge whose uniform was,
10 their imagination treacherous as gueirllias dis
guse. Winchester, Berryvle Front Royal, Strasourg.
Woodstock Ednburg, Mount Jackson. Luray. New
market Hauisonburg Mount Crawford, Port Repub-
lie and Stanton all in Dixie more,and Rebel
dsmses Of that region conspred with lovers on clutches
and cousins in splints WANTED: an Albert Smith.
TO write the natural history Of the Virginia Cousin an
animal that inhabs window curtsins at twilight. and
feeds on Flushing damses Of the First Families, whom
decoys with pensve condolences and eDsnares in cum
ming traps Of privileged consangunity.] 70 oontrive
patriotic excursions to fields consecrated TO epic re-
nown by the exploits OF an Ashby a Jackson.
Sheetes a Mostly, Blackford Gimor. Re-
hyed for the from the exciting duties Of the On
derground Mail, and in the enjoyment OF half
holiday from the evershing stations of the Grapevine
Telegraph, they firted with Peace under their barren
bgtree, Jessie Scout made them afraid
M not these the fresh hoof prints Of Mosby in the
glen and did not McNeil's camphres still smolder
byyonder spring. Best of all. were not Early and
Bieckinridge and Gordon and Wharton and Rsmseur
even now knocking at the gates Of Washington. and
defending Richmond with the considerations of Penn.
Dlvanisf
Through Wilmington as through straw, the Con.
iclerscy still sucked sympathy bacon, hooped skirts,
preussion caps, ladies' CATERS, gray CLOTH photo.
Der TAs London Tines copper wire. fancy note.paper
eAoroiorm, spy glasses, artificial flowers, Grape
gsnine gum elastic, suspenders. opera music and
dope, Main and Broadsts., and Capitol Square, on
band DAYS bore evidence, as ample the crinoline
lat made them gorgeous. that the blockaderunning
gsen good for an average of five cargoes week. and
ng but vessel in 90 equal 10 any reasonable
niOirenents Of war, wooing wedding or death.
The soulshocking signal Of that dreadful bell tolline
% midnight raid in the suburbs, longer startled
l. ingenious exempts from their begrudged repOse; nc
'did visions Of reeking swords and ravenou'
"'heA and all the fell fury of riot rapine and raysh
mt make mad the dreams Of tender Treasury clerks
ree or gender safe iron the clutch of the enrolling
e' For the pretty programmes Of the Fitzpatrick.
"s Daalerens were played out, Wade Hanpton'
4 iu"os riders picketed every approach to the city,
n 'Oled every negrohut and cow.pen where Yam
s~oe might ambush, while every Sunday, at ST.
s'Ohuieh the iaintheerted few might read ser
"us' aha patience in the calm gentle, genuine
'"e ~aa Of Whom that shrewd student Of human
OUT murdered President. said in his kindly
H. ~ never does a cruel thing aad never saws a
" bsh... Aee one glimpse Of which a seven.
~ n,,, ~'He iVr the most sensitive nerves in Rich
SsrA,.
sadv,.%e this soothing atmosphere of success
by Il. W confidence and abundance was distuI bed
irsio., i. m OF "Crcakers ""spies, towards
UuSnr.S Yankees ir.wisheIs, mischief makers
TIE Dusl defined in that standard lexicon Of
the!Ehooo,,s Wv tne Last Dictionary. These were
eesa Il. o.s,.' see the clements of generous sue
hYprs, . .aleS Of brutality. profanity, ndecency,
ir-ess,oe lneSs conceit, jealousy, charatanry
ply ss,oars-. a1ce and apple,jackuence, which, hap