The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-04-06
Particulars of the Occupation of Pc
tersburg Good Behavior Of she
Union Tr0ops-I.ine of Retreat.
press Dispatch

Press Dispatch.l
PETERSBURG, April 3-The Army of
the Potomac has been in and out Of Pc
tersburg this morning, merely making a
flying visit. The rebels commenced
evacliating hast night at 10 o'clock, and
by 3 o'clock this morning were across the
river, having burned about a million dol
lars worth of tobacco, the Southside rall-
road depot and the bridges across the
AppomattoX. Oar troops charged the
inner line Of works at daylight, taking a
pcket line of some 500 men prisoners.
The troops on entering the city behaved
most admirably, not more than half a
dozen stores being entered by them and
these mostly containing tobacco, cigars,
sugar, &c, The provost guard soon ar.
rived and established order the Mayor OF
the town met the troops as they entered
and handed to the officer commanding
the following communication offering
the surrender of the city:
Lieut. Gen. U. S. Grant, commanding
the armies of the United States or the
Major General commanding United
States forces in front OF Petersburg:
General-The city of Petersburg having
been evacuated by the Confederate troops
We, committee authorized by the com
mon council, do hereby surrender the
city to the United States forces. with il
request for the protection of the persons
and property of its inhabitants, We are
respet lively your obetlient servants.
OIL :, ". w. TONNES, Mayor
DARCY PAUL.
Protection was promised on the part CT
the troops, and the citizens have nocause
of complaint, for certainly there is no i'll
stance on record where all army, alter
living so long IN front of a place of so
much importance, and losing so many
man in the efforts to capture it, entered
n CITY with less disorder and doing less
damage to private property than III this
case. lG .r.. .r...,
For more than two months past the
rebel troops had been receiving less ra-
tions than ever before, only just enough
being brought to last from day to day
Citizens say they have suffered much
hut it is well to take such stories with
good deal of allowance. The rebels
managed to get away with all their ar
tillery excepting one or twolold tcotum-
biads aud few heavy mortars whlch
they could not transport readily. A
large number of men deserted as our
troops entered, when they made their
appearance and were taken into custody
1t is believed the enemy retreated to-
ward Lynchhnrg or Danville. Onr ar
my crowned with victory is willing to
travel at any rate and any distance to
head them off. r..- .- :,
The city presents very cleanly and res
pectahle appearance Many houses in
| the lower part of tile city have been bad
ly injured by shot and shell thrown
from our batteries last summer, and
since that time most of the houses To-
Gated there have been vacated
Five O'Clock P. M.&Ever since morning
our troops have been passing through
the city westward. taking the Cox and
| River roads to Sutherland 1t is on
the Southside railroad where our head
quarters are IL, camp, tonight. AT tins
| liotfr the 2rearSsgnard are passing and
wagon trains are following. The rail.
road from City Point here IS to be put in
running order sc -oisSs-i 49,.
4 q NEs