Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1865-04-20
First Impressions of Richmond.
The Greas ConfagrntiOn in the City
Who was Responsible for it!-The
Libby and Castle Thunder.
Correspondence of the n. Y. Times. !

Correspondence of the n. Y. Times
RICHMOND, April Z, 1865.
So many thousand presented TO tho
mind OF the visitor here in 3 very short space of
time that to record them Systematically is almost
impossible.
Let me say at the outset that the best part of
the city is ruin. That the awful fire kindled by
the enemy, and which at first promised to consume
but few buildings, famed by the rising
wind that, before it could be got under subection
thirty squares, comprising not less than eight hun
dred buildings in the rery best and most raluable
part Of Richmond ,rere in ashes. What the pecu-
MARY loss is no Gne can estimate. Nearly all the
principal mills, factories, warehouses, stores,
banks and insurance Offices were DESTROYED, and
the losses being so heavy, the insurance compa-
nes, perhaps insolvent already from their counte-
nance OF the rebel currency, are now more than
bankrup;ed, and thousands Of property owners,
computed wealthy in their actual possessions three
days ago, arc now reduced to beggary. 1t is
among the things easily discernible, that this
ruin. wrought by their own friends, to whom the
have given all, and to whose tyranny they have
submitted, with even cheeriulness, is the cause
of far deeper gloom among many than that produ-
ced by tn e loss of the city the defeat of their
army. Is is apparent indeed that the transfer of
the city to the Union flag was note only not dstase-
fut TO Gerry large portion Of the people, mann of
them among the best classes but highly grafify-'
ing. No captared city, not even Savannah nor
Columbia, can present the ruin apparent here in
Richmond. IL will carry its painful evidences for
halfa score of years, and the only thing which
will speedily alleviate the dire distress that must
prevail, and give the city chance for speedy
recovery from its present stagnation, is mmedi-
ate peace. 1t is Richmond's only salvation. The
origin of the fire and the incendiares are so well
and positively known that no extended investiga-
ton on these points is required. 1t seems that
Gen. Lee ,oas not responsible for 1t, but that Jeff
Dauis and his Secretary Of War Breckenridge ,cere.
The destruction ofthe supplies and the arsenal
involved the destruction OF the city, and it was
so decided by the leading citizens. General Ewell
and Major Darlington both protested against it in
the most earnest manner, as did also a committee
Of citizens, but Breckenridge, in reply, exclaimed
that he didn't care d-n Jerery house in Rich
moad ras consumed, the warehouse must be burn
ed. Thus this wretched rebel, fo;sted inso a
powerful position with no constituents isre spons-
bic for the dreadful ruin, and his master Davis is
likewise responsible, because he silently counte-
nanced it. .qfEr.ffn
The fire was started in two places, among the
supply warehouse near the wharves and at the
Danville depot where there were 500 hogsheads
of tobacco belonging to the Confederate Govern
ment This consumed the Danville depot, also
the Petersburg depot, and the bridge over the
James to Manchester. The famous Libby Prison
and Castle Thunder, as have already informed
you, were not burned. They were reserved for a
far more appropriate fate, Visited, them yester-
day and found Castle Thunder used as a guard
house for fctious anil thieving negroes, caught in
acts of plunder. while the Libby contained 700 re-
bel prisoners, officers and privates temporarily shut
up together. They looked through the iron gra-
ings with gloomy countenances, while the Union
guard outside seemed to richly enjoy the transition
that the famous building had undergone, evidently