Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-04-26
Latest from Richmond,
JEFF. DAVIS SKEDADDLING FOR
TEXAS WITH 1900 REBEL
CAVALRY.
A GLOOMY CAVALCADE.
JUDAH p. BENJAMIN, TRENHOLM,
REAGAN & Co, IN THE CROWD.

a GLOOMY CAVALCADE.
JUDAH p. BENJAMIN, TRENHOLM,
REAGAN Il Co, IN THE CROWD.
We are favored by Capt. Young, of the mail
boat James T. Brady, for the Richmond Whig
ofyesterday, from which paper we take the
following:
Jefferson Davis.
Great curiosity is naturally felt North and
South to learn what has become of Jefferson
Davis, the head and front of the greatest rebel
lion the world has yet seen. He vanished from
Richmond under cover OF the night of April
I'd ON the 5th he turned up in Danville, where
he tarried just long enough to issue as proc
lamation one of Mr.. Judah p. Benjamin's In.
cubrations, and then again disappeaTed SINCE
that time there has been numerous conJectures
as to his fate. From savannah, via baitim9re'
the report came to MS that he had reached Ma
con, Georgia, on the 10th instant. 1t occurred
to he had made extraordinarily good time
between Danville and that point, but not being
satisfied what feats of flight man in his cir
cumstances might not accomplish when rear
lent wings to his heels, we published the ru-
NOR without comment. Subsequently, by ad-
vices from Newbern, N. G, via Washington,
we heard that he was with Johnston's army,
at Hillsboro', on the North Carolina Railroad,
west Of Raleigh, on or about the 18th. We
credited this report at the time, and have now
the means of knowing that it was correct hav
ing Just received, through trustworthy source,
authentic Intelligence from that portion OF
North Carolina, which throws light upon
Davis movements and explains why he was
not intercepted by Stoneman, who, on the 18th
took Salisbury, which is one hundred miles
southwest of Hillsboro' by the line of the North
Carolina Railroad.
"Dayis was at Hillsboro' from the 18th to
the 14th instants. He then went by rail to
Greensboro, whence, with an escort of two
thousand picked cavalry, selected from Hamp-
toms and Wheeler's commands, he started on
horseback for the far South, taking the country
road due south to Ashboro' and CheraW. By
this route he left Salisbury and Stoneman forty
miles to his right From Cheraw he probably
struck southwark to Columbia, South Coroli-
ma, from which place the country was open
before him until he reached the lines of Gems.
Canby and Wilson. His one object now is to
escape to the Trans Mississippi, and he can
not regard himself out Of extreme danger until
he has run the gauntlet OF the United States
armies now operating In Alabama. These
aIcods as thew toi aoUe the southern sandy
roads under a southern sun. Perhaps they are
cheered by the feeling that they bear Caesar and
his fortunes; they certainly cover all that is
left OF the so. called Confederate Government,
and themselves compose the only organized
force that Davis has on this side OF the Missis-
sippi river. Davis, Breckinridge, Trenholm,
BENJAMIN, st. John and Reagan all ride in the
center of this forlorn band; and how many un-
derstrappers keep their company ii Is bootless
TO know. They bear with them no affection of
the people of Richmond, though they have left
us a lasting memento in the charred and black
ened ruins OF the tairest portion OF our beauti-
ful city,
Horrible Explosion and Loss of Life in
Danville-A Raid on the CommIssary
Department.
From gentleman of intelligence, who has
reached this city on foot from Danyille, we
have some interesting particulars of events
that occurred there after the surrender OF Gen
Lees army. When this event became known
in the town and surrounding country, crowd
OF citizens of all classes, ages and colors, ana
q large number of soldiers, collected around
the buildings in which were stored immense
quantities OF commissary stores, and after g.
shCrt deliberatlon, made general rush upon
the establishments: The parties in charge Of
the stores al first attempted to resist the mob,
but were quickly forced to desist and seek
their own safety in flight. The individuals of
the mob scattered throughout every part of
the buildings, each one plundering according
TO his or her fancy. In one Of the buildings, it
appears, there was large quantity Of ammu-
milton, gunpowder in kegs and percussion CABS
The soldiers and country people swarmed
around the powder eager to secure it for fowl
ing purposes. While they were thus engaged,
by some means fire was Communicated to the
powder, and in an instant the building and its
contents, including over fifty persons, were
blown to atoms. This horrible tragedy for q
time put check upon the plundering, which,
however, was soon recommended, but with
somewhat more circumspection.
Ex-Gov. Extra Billy Smith was in Dan willie
when our informant left He had been yapor.
! ing good deal about his determination never
to surrender, saying that sooner than succumb
he would turn bushWhacker, guerrilla, or
something of that SORT Notwithstanding this
our informant learned, Just before leaving, that
| Extra Billy had sent flag Of truce to General
Meade, the object of which had not transpired
We may mention, in this connection, the report
| which has obtained circulation here that the
citizens OF Lyn chburg either requested or com.
PEELED the Ex-Governor to leave their town
From Petersburg.
Some residents OF Petersburg have been in
| this city during the past two days. From them
| we are pleased TO learn that all of the promi-
nent citizens OF the town are readily taking the
oath Of allegiance.
Perfect order and quiet are preserved, and
| the people are in all respects happier than
| tour years.
The Poor of Richmond.
Gen. Ord announces that it is not intended
that assistance furnished to the Door of Rich.
| mond, by the United States authorities within
| the last fortnight. shall be permanent. Work is
| to be provided for all, and those who do not
| ayaii themselves OF the opportunity to work,
will be deprived Of rations.
All destitute persons, white or colored, who
| have come in from the country are directed to
| return to their homes where there is abundance
of work and where work will produce food.
| 1t has been announced to the authorities that
| instances have occurred OF persons dra wing
rations when they where already supplied
| with food. Similar cases will be summarily
| and severely punished. 1t Is intended to sup.
| ply none but those who are absolutely desti-
tuIe, and who are unable to obtain work.
| 1t is also brought to the attention of the an.
| thorities that men and women Of the vagrant
sort upon not receiving the amount of supplies
| or the ration tickets that they claimed, have
| threatened the lives Of the visitors who were
| engaged in investigating their cases. The
promptest punishment will be meted ont to
| any guilty of this offence; men will be placed
| in irons, and women in close confinement at
| once.
| While the United States authorities is anxious
to relieve entire the suffering existing here, it
| is equally determined not to allow its benevo-
lenCe to be abused or misapplied.
| THE PROMPT and laconic manner in which
Secretary Stanton summed up the case against
| General Sherman's agreement with the rebel
To- Johnston, entities him to new vote OF
| thanks from the people. Had Sherman's
| "Basis of Peace" been published with the ex-
planatory notes Of the Secretary of War, thous-
| by them, and incredible efforts would have
| been necessary to correct public opinion. There
was such an incisive keenness and cleaYness