The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-04-14
RICHMOND.
Tr<orc~A:~~ n-A>.l~ 70 A.
1nvoI0otlng Uotaus VI tno
Occupation Of the Rebel
Capital.
The Herald Special Report.

The Herald Special Report.
Occupation Of Richmond
Mr. VIM. HI. Merriams,s Dispatch.
EXECUTIVE MANSION OF JEFF. DAvIs,l
RICHMOND, Va, April 8, 1865.
l have the national honor and pride to
announce the fall of the Confederate capt.
tai, and it's unconditional surrender to the
gallant Major General Godfrey Weitzel
and the forces under his command at seven
O'Clock this morning.
DETERMINATION OF DAVIS AND co. TO
RvACUATR.
1t seems to have been determined as
early last week as Tuesday, at an inn
pressive war council held here, composed
of Jefferson Davis, Gen. Lee, the Confed-
crate Cabinet and large number of the
leading Generals of the rebel army within
reach of the fallen city, that any attempt
to longer hold those immense and power
fully constructed Notifications, ranging in
several lines of outer, continuous and inner
lines of works in the immediate front of
the city, as well as the city itself, was no
longer practicable, and that an immediate
and general evacuation of them, looking
to the surrender of. the city to the forces
on the north bank of the James, was most
imperatively demanded by the exigencies
growing out of Gen. Grants splendid COM
binatiOns.
FIRST INITIATION OF THE WITHDRAWAL OF
THE RNKMY.
At about 3 o'clock this morning Gen.
Geo. F. Shepley, chief of staff to Major
Gen. Weitzel, felt convinced, from the
statements of the large number of desert
ers coming within our then lines, confirmed
by dispatches from Gen. Hartsuffs lines
on the Bermuda front, that all the rebel
works around Richmond were being evac-
uated, and that Lee and his army, and
jeff. Davis and bis government had al
ready taken up the only available line Of
retreat to the North Carolina boundary,
and that the way was clear for the occu-
pancy of the rebel capital by the forces of
the United States. Gen. Weitzel tele-
graphed these conclusions to Lieut.. Gen.
Grant, who replied instantly, saying that
he had no doubt that General Weitzel
could occupy the city without the slightest
difficulty.
On the instant, Gen. Weitzel, so clear
was bis mind on this subject, despatched
Major A. II. Stevens, of the 4th Massa
chusetts cavalry, and Major E. E. Graves
of bis staff, with forty cavalry, to investi-
gate the condition of affairs on the roads
leading to the rebel works and thence to
Richmond. This party had scarcely pro-
ceeded far within the rebel lines when they
espied shabby carriage approaching, the
driver waving a white flag. Approaching
thiS vehicle, it was found to contain
Mayor Mayo, the head of the Richmond
city government Judge Meredith, of the
Superior Court of Richmond; Judge Lyon,
and several other worthless of the rebel
persuasion, who announced that they had
come out to surrender the city to the
competent authority. This took place
within distance of two miles from the
city, after the Union majors had found
their way through several lines of torpe-
does, and was marked by the following
conversation
Maj. Stevens Who is in command of
this flag of truce2
Judge Aeredith-Itis Mr.. Mayo, Mayor
Of the city of Richmond.
: The Judge at the same time introducing
the Mayor and bis associates to Maj. Ste
vens and Maj. Graves.
Mayor Mayo then handed Major Stevens
a small slip Of paper, upon which was
written the following: =
1t is proposed to formally surrender to the
Federal authorities the city of Richmond, hith-
erto capital of the Confederate States of Ameri-
ca, and the defences protectingit up to this
time.
The document was approved Of. and
Major Stevens accepting its terms in be-
half of bis commanding general, it was at
once transmitted to Maj. Gen. Weitzel,
who had already sent out his skirmish line,
and upon the receipt of Mayor Mayo's sur
render instantly moved his column upon
the evacuated city and took possession.
THE FIRST TO ENTER THE CITY.
The gallant Majors then took charge of
the rebel flag of truce party, and advanced
upOu LILO City-GWO CdpdUlc, ciuClenG ana
popular officers of the stout old Army of
the James thus being the first, with their
escort, to enter the fallen and capitulatisg
capital of rebeldom. lf -,....a.- 3. Z
THE NATIONAL FLAG RAISED. TE.
With thought and fash they 'imme-
diately proceeded to the dilapidated struc-
ture wherein treason has run riot for the
past four years, ana creeping to its summit
planted the Stars and Stripes where, but a
few hours before the detestable symbol of
the crushed snake kissed the balmy breezes
of the morning. The national symbols
thus hoisted by the halyards consisted of
two bright and tasteful gridirons from
Companies E and 81 of the Fourth Massa-
chusetts cavalry, of which the noble Ste
vens is one Of the ablest field officers.
The colors of the URion were greeted by
prolonged cheers and other popular demon
STATIONS of applause on the part of rebel
civilians and contrabands.
THE CITY on FIRE.
All the commercial part of the city was
found tn he in f1amoa Con Eorlv be1;no