The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1865-12-26
THE EVACUATION OF THE CON-
FEDERATE CAPITAL.

THE EVACUATION OF THE CON-
/ FEDERATE CAPITAL.
From E. A. Pollard's sFourth Year of the War;
The DAY OF EvAcUATIoN.-Tbe morning oi
Sunday, the I'd of April, broke calmly and pleas
antly over the city of Richmond. The iusua
crowds were collected at the Post-office and the
War Department, asking for news, discussing
common-places, and idng away the irksome
hours of the Sabbath in r; ennond There was
not breath Of excitement in the general com,
munity 1t is remarkable circumstance that,
outside of official circles, not half dozen per-
sons in Richmond knew, on that Sunday nom
ing, of the three days fighting that had taken
place around Petersburg and at the distance OF
only few hours ride from the capital For
months past the Government bad been reticent
of all military news whatever; the newspapers
had been warned not to publish any military
matters, but what should be dictated to them
from the War Department; and ;he public was
left to imagine pretty much what it pleased
concerning the progress of the war. Indeed,
the idea current in the streets on this Sunday
morning rather pleasant and -reassuring than
otherwise; for there was general impression
| that Johnston was moving to Lees lines, and
that the combined force was to take the often
sive against the enemy. Beyond this general
anticipation, the Richmond public had, on the
| day referred to, not the slightest inkling of the
situation. The news which, few hours later
was to oVerwhelm them, Of the reverse of Lee,
and the forced evacuation of Richmond, was to
burst upon them like thunder-elap from clear
skies.
THE News IN THE CHURCHES first
breath of the report was obtained in the chur-
ches While President Davis was seated in bis
pew in ST. Paul's church, the services were To-
terrupted by messenger handing him dis
patch 1t was from General Lee; it stated that
his lines had been broken in three places, and
that preparations should be made to evac1ate
Richmond by eight o'clock the ensuing night,
in the event that he should be unable to re-
| establish his lines. The President left the
church with measuredy Int nervous step. 1t
was the constrained caltakess of despair No
one but himself knew the exact contents of tho
dispatch; but uneasy whisper ran through
the congregation, and, they were hastily dis
missed, the rumor was caught up in the streets
that Richmond was to be evacuated, and was
soon carried to the ends of the city.
In another Of the churches the news was
more plainly told. Dr. Hoge, the beloved pas
tor of the Presbyteria an church, than whom there
was no brighter Christian or nobler patriot with
10 the limits of Richmond, had, at the conclu-
sion of his sermon, given out beautiful hymn
to be sung by his congregation. Before they
raised their voices, he told them, with his own
voice broken with emotion, that he had sad
news to communicate; that Our army bad ''met
with reverse that whatever might be the
nature and extent Of it, there could be no more
appropriate place for the reception of evil
tidings than the one where they were then as
sembled; that there, in the House Of God, it
became them to seek that tranquility and COM
ph,,h ooDl} ar hoyn for fbo r.
His Providence; and that if anything should
prevent their meeting there again, he com
mended them to the love and care of Him who
had sustained them in all past trials,
Then followed few parting counsels, of such
tenderness and pathos, that there was not dry
eye among all those dismayed faceswhich hung
upon his words.
The EXCITEMENT IN THE CITY.--Men,
women and children rushed from the churches,
passing from lip to lip news OF the impending
fall of Richmond. And yet, it was difficult to
believe it. To look up to the calm, beautiful
sky of the spring day, unassailed by one single
noise of battle, to watch the streets unvexed by
artillery or troops, stretching away into the
quiet, hazy atmosphere, and believe that the
capital of the Confederacy, so peaceful, so ap-
parently secure, was in few hours to be the
prey of the enemy, and to be wrapped in the in
fernal horrors Of confagration
PREPARATIONS FOR THE EvAcUAT1oN-It
was late in the afternoon when the signs of
evacuation became apparent to the incredulous
Wagons on the streets were being hastily loaded
at the Departments with boxes, trunks, etc and
driven to the Danvlle depot. Those who had
determined to evacuate with the fugitive Gov
eminent looked on with amazement; then con-
vineed of the fact, rushed to follow the Govern
ment's example Veh;cies sutIHenly rose to q
premium value that was astounding; aud ten,
fifteen, and even a hundred dollars in gold or
federal currency was offered for conveyance,
Suddenly, as if by magic, the streets became
filed with meo, walking as though for wager,
and behind them excited negroes with trucks,
bundles, and luggage Of every description. All
over the city it was the same-wasons trunks,
bandboxes and their owners, mass of burrying
fugitves, filing the streets The banks were
all open, and depositors were as busy as bees
removing their specie deposits; aud the direc
tors were equally active in getting off their bull
lion. Hundreds OF thousands of dollars of paper
money was destroyed, both State and Confeder
ate. Night came, and with it came confusion
worse confounded. There was no sleep for hu-
man eyes in Richmond that night,
DESTRUCTION OF ALL LIQUOR IN THE CITY.
The city council had met in the evening, and
resolved to destroy all the liquor n the city, TO
avoid the disorder consequent on the temptation
to drink at such time About the hour of
midnight the work commenced, under the direc
ton Of committees OF citizens in all the wards.
Hundreds of barrels of liquor were rolled into
the streets and the heads Knocked in. The gut
tiers ran with liquor freshet, and the fumes
filled aud impregnated the air. Fine cases of
liquors were tossed into the street from third !