Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1865-04-13
Evacuation of Richmond

Nothing that has transpired since
the war began has given loyal hearts
everywhere such ecstatic joy as the
news of the evacuation of Richmond
has done All sorts of demonstrations
of Joy were manifested in all the
towns and cities of the Northern
States, such as the booming of can
non, display of flags and banners,
ringing of bells, bonGres and illumina-
tons, &c, &c. Meetings were called
and the throng harangued by states
men and politicians, and the clergy
addressed their audiences upon the
one absorbing topic on Sunday.
1t appears that on Sunday after
noon, April I'd, Gen. Lee sent a des-
patch to jeff. Davis that Gen. Grant
had so pressed his lines that both Rich
mond and Petersburg must be evacu-
ated. Davis received the despatch at
81 o'clock P. NJ, while at St. Paurs
(Episcopal) church. The despatch
was at once made known, and the
worshiping rebels skedaddled. jeff.
was fully prepared to leave. As soon
as night set in he went on board the
train of the Danville road taking with
him 100000 in specie, and horses and
carriages in order to escape to the
country should the railroad be disturb
ed. 1t is said that his point of desti-
nation was Augusta, where he would
attempt to set up his government, but
this is highly problematical. He had
previously sent his wife and family to
Charlotte, N. c., Gen. Lees wife re-
naming at Richmond,
The Confederate Congress were in
session till eight o'clock Sunday eve
ming, when they dispersed and Success
fully made their escape. Breckenridge
remained till nearly morning and by
his order much of the city of Rich
mond was burned, against the earn
est protestations of the citizens.
At about three o'clock on Monday
morning, Gen. Weitzel, commander of
the colored troops, learned that Rich
mond was being evacuated, and imme-
diately moved forward. He met with
no opposition. The Mayor, Joseph
Mayo, went out to meet Gen. Weitzel
and formally surrendered the city,
merely pleading for protection of life
and property. Gen Weitzel establish
ed his headquarters in the State Capt.
tol, lately occupied by the Virginia
House of Delegates, and Immediately
instituted measures to restore order to
the town. Gen. Weitzel issued an Or
der making Gen. Shepley Military
Governor. The latter issued an order
calling upon the citizens to aid in put
ting out fire, and referring them to
the Presidents proclamation for dispo-
sition of rights and duties.
The rebel rear guard retreated in
the direction of Lynchburg only few
minutes before our advance entered
the town, but the main body Of the
rebel army had been moving out since
ten o'clock Sunday morning.
An inspection Of the rebel works
disclosed the fact of their having left
in great haste. Arms of every descrip-
ton were found in profusion, also cloth
ing of every description, and in some
officers quarters were found their pri-
vate correspondence. The enemy had
planted torpedoes in front of Fort Gill
more and so thickly that it was found
necessary to march the column through
the fort. They had attached to every
torpedo a stick with piece of red
webbing tied to it. This precaution
they had observed for the safety OF
their own men,
Nearly all the principal buildings
had been set on fire by the rebel au-
thorities, and it is estimated that fully
one-third of the city is ruins. This
embraces the main business part OF
the town. The Enquirer and Despatch