The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-05-08

AAo SVhIespOnu6ut Ol the WOftU glV0S an
interesting account of Richmond, that city
which for four years has been as difficult to
get access to as Mecca. .re4 sr.fsas.s9 sts..I I.
So THE CAPITOL SQUARE AND REBEL OFFICES.
First among these is the Capitol Square,
just over the way from my windows. 1his is
an enclosure Of about the size, / should say, Of
Boston Common. It is in fact q hill, for
Richmond, like Rome, is 'strong" in hills, and
some pains. were sisiblyr taken TO lay the
grouncs out in an agreeable and engaging
manner. They have run to seed sadly in
these evil times, but are still pleasant enough.
In the center, on the highest ground, stands
the Capitol OF Virginia, pretentious building,
modelled, on asuggestion of Thomas Jefferson,
after the famous MGison Cdrree of Nismes.
Ii it were like the model, and built of marble,
it would, no doubt, be beautiful. AS it Is
neither like the model nor built OF marble and
has suffered a good deallately, it has rather
what the French call a a"degradedn look. The
halls so lately vocal with the elOquence Of
rebel Senators now echo to the tread OF the
negro sentinels who pace the corridors, and
Massachusetts, officers were this morning
rummaging over the books in the state libra
ry, or whas remains of them, with q commend
able literary zeal. .sH bpttaa gag1J
TWO STANDARD BEARERS OF THE UNION.
From the roof Of this building floats the
standard sheet Of the Union, and in the hand
of CrawIord's noble statue of Washington,
which rises on a stately pedestal In the square,
little way TO the right of the grand flight Of
the 'Capitol steps, another ensign Of the stars
and stripes fntters to the breeze, placed there
by some patriotic soldier of WeitzeI's force.
%wSThe statue OF Henry Clay, which stands by
itself-in queer little sort of guard house with
cupols roof, to- the left of the Capitol, has
also beeIlS decorated with a cavalry guidon
Who will dare displace. it? No rebel that
wears boots, ] venture TO say ~ ese,,r., a
In the rear of the Capitol, in one corner of
the square, and, as have already said, near
my own headquarters, is the Governors
House." the executive mansion Of Virginia,
hastily vacated by Governor Smith and
tenanted now by General Devens, who win
keep 1t warm for the next loyal governor Of
thd Old Dominion. They tell me that In
Letcher's time its cellars were filled with
prime Bourbon; but that's matter of history
or tradition Its safe to tell you that General
Devens has put more into tho commissariat OF
the Governors House" already than he found
in it. The house is gray stone house, neat,
but not magniacentnor very large. The EN-
sign of the Union waves now from its flagstaff
also. q 20 sH s~ efst EaE
- THE "HUBn OF THE REBELLIoN.
The headquarters of rebeIdom were concenl
traied all around this. quare and it is astrking
fact that The first object which met the eyes oil
Jefferson Davis when he came out OF SC. Paul'S
church on Sunday, April 2 1865, with news
from Lee that all was lost, and he must leave
Richmond, was the statue of Washington, UNI
der which he had been inaugurated as Presi
dent OF the Confederate States, February %,
1852. ss8 :. q.as.ahAsiis1 Yi tsaa4 q gsl3s !
CAPITOL SQUARE AND VICINITY.
st. Paul's church, on Ninth street, was the
church OF President Davis, who is regarded
here as sincerely devout member Of the
Episcopal communion. Ii is large and come
ly structure, the congregation. made up OF the
'.best society" OF Richmonds and the rector q
German by birth, but long resident here. A
good many notable funeral ceremonies have
taken place in this church, including that OF
President Tyler, but sthe most notable Of all
in history will be the hasty carrying out, feet
foremost" Of the Southern Confederacya' by
Jefferson Davis, on Sunday afternoon, April
2, 1861 qas 1850 gepssf
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.. sssl #
Beyoud StaPaul's on Ninth street, and near
Bank street, which forms the western bound
ary of the Capitol square, stood handsome
brick building, now In smoking ruins, which
was known before the war as Mechanics Hall
and has since been occupied as the rebel war
department. The treasury offices were In the
immediate neighborhood, and have also been
and running through to Main street, the
Richmond Broadway" the stately granite
building of the Quilted States custom-house
still rears its majestic proportions. This is the
finest building in Richmond, was complete
just before the war broke out, and was approI
priated by the rebel government, soon after
they came to Richmond, to the various depart
ments Of their administration. The war and
the treasury departments eventually outgrew
their lodgings here, and they were established,
under Mr.. Reagan, in large building Just be-
low the custom-house, on Bank street, which
has So fallen prey to the flames. sad sfsa {
DAvIs's OFFICE. go go, 81
In the custom house, however, Davis and
Benjamin, and Mallory held their court till
the end. The confederate PRESIDENT occu-
pied modest suite OF rooms up two flights of
stairs in wing of the building. They are
not yet open to public inspection, a sable
guard standing in the ante room at the head
OF the stairs with strict orders, polite but per-
emptory, to keep watch over all they may
perhaps contain. This will not however
amount to much, for the general tentimony is
that all the important archives of the rebels
were sent away several weeks ago, either to
Lynchburg or to Danvilie. The probabilities
are that Danville was their destination.
The rebel cabinet ministers" seem to have
been comfortable in their way Of living. Ben
iamin, the Secretary Of State, who has left an
enormous amount of unpopulafify behind him
Il can't exactly make out Why-had fine
has escaped the confagration. Mallory lived
at hotel, but passed most Of his time with a
"tigerY who had a splendid den on Main street
much resorted to by the leaders of the sseces-
sion" party. find nobody who speaks de-
Gently of him. AsaY via
TRENHoLM-HIGH LIFE IN REBELDoM.
Trenholm. of the treasury, reputed immense.
lyrich In gold invested with the house Of Fra
ger & Co., ia England, had a fine house on
Grace street, and, am told, gave brilliant
party only about two months ago to South
Carolinian celebrity, not long since married to
Richmond belle, at which party the toiiettes
ofthe ladies were as splendid as anything
seen In Washington or New York. At the
supper champagne and pates de JoseS grds
we're served, brought IN by the blockade run
ners. So you see all the aconfederates" die
not go about In home-epun or live on hominy
for the benefit of their ''army in the field"
6 THE REBEL "wHIrE HOUSE." s
f Jefferson Davis house, a. have already
said, is now the abode of Gen. Weitzel. II
stands on the brow of Shockoe hill, at the foot
OF Twelfth street and Clay, and is in good
condition, though rather shabby as to the ex-
terror. The shutters are broken, and the
gates of the garden swing all kinds of ways
The stables, too, are planted directly beside
the front doorway, which detracts yei'v much
from the appearance and style Of the man
sion; and although 1t would be thought de-
cent genueman's house anywhere, il is bv no
means to be compared even with many of the
honses In Richmond and Its immediate yicini-
ty. "a ,fIe4 \. ~ sds Az ei
zssgo GEN. LEES RESIDENCE.
General Robert Lees residence is still more