Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1865-04-05
81 ELE RAP
ARuY or Tin foromAc.

The ourronder Of PefoFeburH by the
ard assi oeSaas9 q Our Troops.
[corstpoaasncs o. the Assooiaisd Prsssl
PnfnRsBuna, April B The Army Of the
Potomac has been in aud out Of Petersburg
this morning, making flying visit. .s@i
The rebels commenced evscuatlng last
night at 10 O'Clock, and BY . q. m. this
morning were across the river, having
burned about a million dollars worth Of
tobacco, the southside railroad depot, and
the bridges across the AppomattoK. Our
troops charged. the inner line Of works at
daylight, taking picket line Of some 500
men prisoners. ....... ..H
The troops on entering the city, be-
haved most admirably, not moro than half
dozen stores being entered BY them, and
these mostly containing tobacco, segArs,
liquors, &c. Tho provost guard soon ar
rived and established order. w"
Tho Mayor OF the town met the troops
- they entered and handed 10 the officer
commanding the following commuuica.
ton, offering the surrender Of the cltyt
To Lisuf. Gen Grant, o. Emanding ne ATmt soJ
the United States, or fhe Moi. Gen. Cofanand-
hg United SfafeS J0TcsS IN Front or PefsTsburq
GENERAL; The city Of Petersburg having
been evacuated BY the confederate troops,
we, COMMITTEES authorized by the Com.
mon Council, do hereby surrender the city
to the United States forces, with q request
for the protection OF the persons and prop
erty Of Its iuhnbitsnts.
We are, respectfully, your obedient ser
wants, W. W. TowNEs, Mayor.
D'ARCI PAUL,
CmAs. Y. CoLLIKRs.
Protection was promised on part OF the
troops, and the citizens have no cause for
complaint, for certainly there is no In
stance on record where an army, after lying
so long 10 front Of place OF so much i'm
portance and losing so many men In the
effort to capture II, entered acting with
less disorder and doing less damage to
private property than In this case. f.
The citizens did not show themselves
during the fore part Of the day, but after
discovering that our soldiers were orderly
and well behaved, with no disposition to
disturb any one, they began to make their
appearance at the doors aud windows OF
their residences, and later In the day even
entering famlliarly into conversation,
many. OF them expressing their Joy quietly
that the eonfeds had gone, and hoping that
the war would soon DO over.
For more than . month past rebel troops
have been receiving less ratlons than ever
before, only just enough being brought In
to last from day 10 day. The citizens say
they have suffered much, but II Is we'll 70
take such stories with q good deal Of al
lowance. The rebels managed TO get away
all their artillery, excepting one or two old
ColumbiadS and q few heavy mortars,
which they could not transport readily.
A large number OF men deserted aud hid
away in town until our troops entered,
when they made their appearance and were
taken into custody.
II is believed they retreated toward
Lynchburg or DanVille, but they will have
to make good time II they elude the pursuit
Of our army, now flushed with victory and
willing TO travel at any rate and distance
10 head them OF.
The city presents very cleanly and re-
spectacle appearance, and there are many
residences here that would do no dlscredit
10 Fifth avenue, New York.
Many OF the houses In the lower part Of
the city have been badly injured by the
shot and shell thrown from our batteries
last summer, and since that time most OF
tho houses located there have been vacant.
5p. m Ever since morning ourtroops
have been passing through the city, west
ward, taking the Cor and River roads 10
Sutherland station, on the Southside rail-
road, where headquarters are 10 camp TO-
night. At this hour, the rear guard, in
charge Of Colonel Taylor, Sd Maryland,
are passing, and the wagon trains are to
follow.
The railroad from City Point here is to
be put in running order Immediately, and
although 1t Is not expected that q perma-
nent base win be established here, yet 1t
will be held as depot TO deliver supplies
TO the army as long aB IL Is within reach.
All the rolling stock OF the railroads was
run of toward Richmond, but In this de-
pertment they must have been very def
cient or they would not have burned so
much tobacco.
A courier arrived from Sheridan stating
that the two divisions which were cut of,
and which II was expected would be either
badly whipped or captured, had crossed
the Appomsttox some eight or ten miles
above Petersburg, but he was following,
skirmishlng with their rear guard, and eI-
pecting to have an engagement to day.
Troops are rapidly pushing on 70 his as
sistance.
The report Of A. P. HIPS death Is con-
flrmed by the citizens, some OF whom saw
his body. -... ....... .