The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-04-07
THE CAPTURE OF RICHMOND.

EUident Intention of JEFF. Davis to Destray
the City-A Fiendish Act-Eaplosio,, of the
Ponder Magazine : The Inmates of the
Alnas-ROase Blotcn into Eternity The
Stores PIundered by the Rebel Soldiers Il
Scene of Wild Devastation.
2m WASHINGTON, April 6.
AdVices from Richmond, dated Tuesday.
April A, have been received.
The public warehouses were fired by Gen.
Ewell, just prior to the evacuation. 1t is as
serted that Gen. Breckenridge demonstrated
against exploding the magazine by which many
lives were lost, including nearly every inmate
of the aims house. These unfortunate victims
were sleeping when the match was applied,
and awoke in eternity. Itwas uuquestionably
the intention Of Je1f. Davis and his associates
to have burned the entire city. ds
The who'd blew freshly from the South, car
ryiDg burning shingles on to other roofs, and
by noon on Tuesday the flames had consumed
every building between Main street to the
river from 7th street up to 18th street, with
other buildings. Among the prominent edi-
fees burned are the fine Mechanics Institute
which the rebels used as q War Department,
the old State Court House on Capitol Square,
aaxel's. Fl our mills, the Enquirer printing Of
flee on 18th street, the Dispatch office, corner
of 18Th and Main street, and the banks.
The fire was checked by blowing up the
Traders Bank at noon by order of Gen. Welt
EEL Nearly all the eating houses have been
burned. Also the tobacco factories of Crew
and of Smith. Lock Davenport, citizen, was
killed by the falling of a portion of the wall Of
the American House. Several persons were
wounded by the explosion Of shells in the
buildings. The county Court House was
burned, but the clerks office was saved.
Before the rebels left, their stragglers plumb
cred nearly all of the stores on Main Street,
helping themselves to jewelry, hats, shoes and
clothing, and destroying what they could not
take away. The city authorities had all the
liquors poured into the cutters; but the rebel
stragglers managed to get intoxicated, and
scene of wild devastation followed. The press
room of the Examiner was destroyed. The
Offices of the Sentinel and of the Wing alone
remain uninjured. Publication of the Wing is
to be resumed to-day by Ira Smith as its pro
prietor, who has pledged himself 10 Gen.
Shepley that it shall be loyal sheet
Major Stevens cavalry were first at the
Capitol; but the honor of actually raising the
stars and stripes belongs TO Lieut.. G. L. Du-
peyster, aid de-camp TO Gen. Shepley, whose
headquarters storm flag was hoisted. Gen.
Devens is to-day said to have been the first
general officer in the city. He occupies the
governors house. extra Billy Smith not hav-
ing remained to do the honors Gen. Devens'
advance pickets were commanded by Col. M.
T. Donahoe. 9th New Hampshire; Capt 81.
G. Sargent, 18th New Hampshire; and Capt.
A. e. Leavenworth, 9th Vermont, were early
in the streets, and at once commenced patrol
ing them. e9p afai
DR. E. P. Moony, Acting Medical Director
of the gath corps, Las inspected the hospitals.
He reports they are four in number. each d.
vided into four wards, and each ward contain
ing about five hundred beds. Strict martial
law is enforced. The Union officers and sol
diers, white and back, behave nobly. Private
property is respected. Willing deserters are
giving themselves up, having secreted them
selves. - M PERLEY.