The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-04-21
SCENES IN RICHMOND.
"CarletOn's "AccOunt in the Journal.

naleQ, QeSplSeQ. TlulCulcu, lllc Dlutc, TIT
beast. the baboon of the Yankee nation
as the Richmond editors have named him
is here. in the house from which Jeff. Da
Wis fed in haste and terror on Sunday
last The thought sets ones brain in =;
whirl, and yet it is my business to write
coolly OF the great events now transpirine
in this city.
APPEARANCE OF THE CITY.
Language fails me in any attempt te
describe correctly the appearance of the
city as lpassed through the streets thi.
morning q! an early hour. The ruin:
were still smoking The fire was still
flaming furiously in several places. The
pavement was hot to my feet, so intense
had been the flames. Granite columns,
iron pillars, marble facings broken into
thousands of pieces, with cart loads OF
bricks, blocked the streets. The firemen
were still at work. One of the engineers
stated that nearly thousand buildings OF
all kinds had been burned.
The Libby Prison was not burned. II
still stands a monument of rebel cruelty
and lnhumanity. In vain were the pro.
tests OF the citizens to Gen. Ewell: he
detailed men to set the fires When tho
rebel authorities fired Charleston negro
troops from Massachusetts saved the city
from utter destruction; and here Massa-
chusetts, in common with other soldiers OF
the North, white and negro alike. threw
down their CUPS and did what they could
to save the city. Gen. Devens' division
was the first to enter the city after Major
Stevens with the cavalry detachment. lie
detailed soldiers to battle with the flames.
Some mounted the roof of the Capitol,
and Others the Governors Mansion and
extinguished the flames, which were kin
died again and again.
eff it had not been for the soldiers the
whole city would have been destroved,' ~
was the remark of a Richmond citizen to-
day. 50 the deSpised Yankees. the
greasy mechanics and mudsiIs, became the
saviors of their fond old city. which the
leaders of the rebellion, who claim to be
cavaliers, set on fire in their impotent
rage. What cared they even if they
made their best friends houSeless and
homeless and pcnniless? jeff: Davis. Sec
retary Breckinridge, Gen. Lee and Gen
Ewell have been teasted by many families
who to-day are poverty stricken, who
have lost property, houses, lands, and all
those who are mourning for loved ones
who have fallen on the battlefield.
through the insane ambition and malig-
nant hate of those in whom they blindly
trusted
When the rebel rear guard left the city
they broke open the stores; panes of win
dow glass, which cost hundreds of dollars,
were smashed without conjunction; dry
goods, boots, shoes, jewelry, everything
was taken that pleased their fancy. Why
should they not plunder after the exampl,
set them by their leaders?
The rebel soldiers are to be Judged leni.
emily. They have suffered privation ant
hardship, but their leaders have reveled il
luxury, have had places Of power, have
plundered and robbed the nation, and Will
prOvident forethought have hundreds OF
thousands of dollars in London and Paris
ARRIVAL OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN.
| was standing upon the bank of the
river, viewing the scene of desolation,
when boat, pulled by twelve sailors
came up stream. 1t contained President
Lincoln and his son, Admiral Porter
Capt Penrose Of the army, Capt. A. H.
Adams Of the navy, Lieut.. w. w. Clem
ems OF the signal corps. Somehow the
negroes on the oank of the river ascertain
ed that the tall man wearing black hat
was President Lincoln. There was sud
den shout An officer who had Just pick
ed up fifty negroes to do work on thu
dock, found himself alone They lef
work and crowded round the President
AS he approached l said to a colored wo
man:
"There is the man who made yor
free"
What massa
"That is President Lincoln"
"Dat President Linkum -
"Yes."
She gazed at him moment, clappeC
her hands and jumped straight up ant
down, shouting ''GIory, glory, glory!
till her voice was lost in the universe
cheer.
There was no carriage near, so tn
President, leading his son, walked three
quarters Of mile up to Gen. Weitzel'
headquarters-Jef. Davis mansion
What a spectacle it was! Such hurly
burly-such wild indescribable ecstati
JOY never witnessed. A coIored maj
acted as guide. Six sailors, wearing thei
round blue caps and short jackets an'
bagging pants, with navy carbines, wa
the advance guard. Then came the Pres
ldent and Admiral Porter, tlanked by tn
officers accompanying him and the CORES
pondent of the Journal, then six NOR
sailors with carbines-twenty Of us al
told-amid surging mass of men, wo
men and children, black, white and vel
low, running shouting, dancing, swingin
their caps, bonnets and handkerchiets.- -
The soldiers saw him and swelled tn
crowd, cheering in wild enthusiasm. Al