The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-04-14

from the city, Major Stevens met ba-
rOuche and five men mounted bearing a
white flag The party consisted of the
Mayor, Judge Meredith of the Confeder-
ate States Court and other gentlemen who
rendered the surrender of the city Major
Stevens entered the place amid the widest
demonstrations of JOY on the part of the
colored people and the poor whites. They
danced and shouted and prayed and bless
ed the Lord and thanked him that the
Yankees had come. Major Stevens in
formed me that some of the colored peo-
pie threw themselves upon the ground and
prayed and laughed and shouted and cried
for joy. He saw several Union flags
thrown out from houses. Gen. Weitzel
and staff entered the city at eight O'Clock,
with the whole of his command following,
bands playing, flags waving in the bright
morning sun, the soldiers cheering and
singing the John Brown song. A delega-
ton of the Christian Commission accom-
panied them and had the blue flag of the
Commission waving from !, house before
noon, ready to minister to the soldiers
On Saturday night Il dispatch was re-
ceived from Gen. Lee for Gen. Ewell to
send all his available troops to Petersburg.
as his lines were threatened. All Satur-
day night they were passing through the
city, taking the Petersburg Railroad The
city patrols and the government battalion
were at the same time ordered TO the
trenches.
There was a jubilant feeling. for it was
stated that Johnston had given Sherman
the slip, that he was at Bellville, above
Weldon, with thirty thousand men, and
Hardee was Oh the Danville road with
twelve thousand, making force of forty
two thousand. which would fall upon
Grants left at Hatchsr's Run, and smash
him to pieces. 1t was going to he Ma
nasSas over again. 1t was an execution
of a plan which l discovered as 4 possible
movement of johnson in letter written
last week. 1t was the best thing that
Johnston could ito but he was too late
The Divine Providence which let johnson
reach Manassas on Sunday. July II. 1861 9.
did not let him reach Hatcher's Run OH
Sunday. April :, 1865.
Perhaps jeff. Davis has had some mis-
givingS as 10 the ability OF Lee TO hold
Grant i'll check. There is no doubt he
disposed of his plate two weeks ago.
Mrs. Davis and the children left Rich
mond on Thursday last. hut jeff. remain
ed He was at church on Sunday morn
ING. The minister was preaching. when
an orderly entered and handed a note 10
the President of the Coniederacv. Ii WAS
a dispatch from Lee that his lines were
broken in three places. and that Richmond
must be evacuated. 1t WAS as if Il
hard had written once more. "Mene
meme. teker'-thou art Wei ghed and found
wanting: thy kingdom Is defeated
| He turned pale. hut taking his hat he
hurriedly left the church. The hour OF
twelve came. The people as they passed
the capitol on their WAY home from church
SAW men hurrieilv bringing out the STATE
papers and piling them upon the ground
and setting them OH fire. 1t WAS ths first
intimation they had that the city WAS To
be evacuated
There was commoiion everywhere
among the officials. among the soldiers.
among the citizens. and among the women:
trunks were packed in hot haste: carpet
bags were stuffed in moment. There
was stampede for the Danville depot
Jeff. Davis went in the first train. leaving
his hOusekeeper in charge OF his house.
important papers in his private room upon
the table. Such hurry and confusion
never WAS seen i'll Richmond before. Car
riases We're driven furiou>ly TO the depot.
Citizens fled toward Lynchburg on horse
back, in wagons. coaches. and on foot.
So passed the afternoon and the night.
People who could not get away did NOT
dare TO 90 10 bed. for the order was issued
TO withdraw all the troops at davbreak.
spike the guns, and blow up the gunboatS,
They were afraid that the city would he
fired by Gen. Ewell. who Swore that the
Yankees should find only heap OF
: smoldering ruins. They were afraid ulSo
that the rear guard would give themselves
up 10 pillage. 1t was horrible night
a night which tries nerves-which makes
young men grow old. l speak now moi
only of those who are hostile in feeling.
but of those who longed TO see the star.
and stripes once more in Richmond. They
feared the transition period-the hour OF
10 government.
AT four o'clock the iron-clalS. one after
another, were blown up, shaking the city.
rattling the glass from the windows. Jar
, ring down chlmncys, and almost taking
away the breath of men in the streets. Al
the same moment the torch was applied to
) several unfinished rams and boats on the
shore, also to several tobacco warehouses.
: Gen. breckenridge, the Secretary OF
War, protested TO Gen. Ewell that ii would
} be an act of inhumanity to fire the city
, but Ewell, who is a brutal man, who Is
brutal to his soldiers, course and rude in
all his acts, swore that the tobacco should
|. be destroyed and the arsenal He sent a
man to fire the Tredegar iron works, but
the man in charge said ''these are private
works, sir, and if You undertake to fire
them Ill shoot you" The officer charged
with the execution of the burning with.
, drew, but the tobacco houses and the AZ
senal and Il large Touring mill on the bank