The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-04-19
The Great COnhagratiOn in
Richmond.
From the Richmond whig, April III
81, THE, GREAT FIRE,

/
The evacuation of Richmond commenc-
ed in earnest Sunday night, closed at
daylight on Monday morning with ter
rife confagration, which was kindled by
the Confederate authorities wantonly
and recklessly applying the torch to
Shockoe warehouse and other buildings.
i'm which were stored large quantities of
tobacco. The fire spread rapidly, and it
was some time before the fire brigade
could be gotten to work. A fresh breeze
was blowing from tho south, and the fire
swept over great space in an incredible
short space of time, By neon the flames
had transformed into desert waste that
portion of the city bounded between Sew
enth and Fifteenth streets, from Main
street to the river, comprising the main
business portion. We can form no esti-
innate at this moment of the number OF
houses destroyed, but public and private,
they will certainly number 600 or 500.
&c. PLUMBER AND PILLAGE.
Drunk with the vile liquor, the soldiers
said to belong to Carey cavalry, roam
led from store to store on Main street, toll
flowed by a reckless crowd, drunk as they
With the butts of their muskets they
dashed in the plate glass of the store
,doors, and entering, made a wreck of ev-
|erything with the celebrity of magic
|Jewelry stores, clothing stores, boot and
hat stores, and confectionery stores were
.objects of special attraction to these pill.
ilagers, who, be it remembered, were moi
federal soldiers, but confederate strag
|glers.
DESTROYING THE LIQUOR.
|morning that the evacuation of Richmond
twas feregone conclusion, the City Coun.
|cil held meeting, and, in secret session
passed an order for the destruction of all
the liquor in the city. Accordingly
|about the hour of midnight the work m
'menced, under the direction ofcommittees
|of citizens in all the wards. Hundreds
|of barrels of liquor were rolled into the
street, and the heads knocked in. The
cutters ran with a liquor freshet, and the
fumes filled and impregnated9 the air.
Fine cases of bottled liquors were tossed
into the street from third story windows,
and wrecked into thousand pieces. As
the work progressed some struggling con-
fcderate soldiers, retreating through the
city, managed to get hold off quantity
of liquor. From that moment law and
order ceased to exist; chaos came, and a
Paudomonium reigned.
THE ORDER OF THE CITY -
has been excellent since the occupation
by the federalforees. We have not heard
of single complaint on sthe part of the
citizens against the soldiers; aud we are
glad to record that the soldiers have found
no reason to complain of the conduct OF
tho citizens. We trust this gratifying
state of affairs will continue -
IFron the Richmond Whig, April 81
By second survey of the burned dis
trict, we perceive that several a dditional
establishments are to be inelu-
ded among those destroyed, j. Ayres,
of the Illustrated News: the old
office of the Literary Messenger, corner
of Fifth and Band streets, the Office of
the Evening Courier, in the Dispatch
building; the Offices of the Central Pres
byterian, Southern Churchman, and Re-
ligious Herald. Mr. Ayers saved all his
type and stock, having moved them sew
eral days previous. .
INCIDENTS OF THE EVACUATION.
4 Sunday morning, April, I'd, broke
upon Richmond calmly and pleasantly