The New York herald., 1865-05-15
w \ - y ~ ~
Occupation Of Alabama by the
National Armies.
The Sixteenth Army Corps
In Montgomery.
GEN. ADAMS OPPOSED TO SURRENDERS.
lie Burns Ninety-seven Thousand
Bales Of Cotton.
>-.,.>>.>>~>>oo~.oo>~~~
UNION SENTIMENT OF THE PEOPLE.
Political Complexion Of Parties
I'm Alabama.
MONTGOMERY UNDER THE OLD FLAG.
OWL Movement In Favor Of tho
Union,
xe, &c., 10.
Mr.. VIM. II. wells, Despatch.

MONTGOMERY, Ala, April "a, 1905.
Accounts OF the capture OF Selma and Montgomery by
General Wilson have doubtless reached you. ew days
after the fall Of Selma General Wilson took up the line
Of march for Montgomery. Very little resistance
encountered and only few unimportant skrmshcs oc
CURED with the demorslized rebel "buttermks under
Adams and Bufod who abandoned the proud little cap
tai OF Alabama In somewhat indecent haste The
which characterized their sudden departure described
by loyal eyewtnesses as thoroughly disgracefal and
cowardy.
The city was evacuated the troops under Adams and
Buford on Wednesday the 18th of April committee
appointed from the City Council with deputation of
citizens went out about three o'clock A. NJ under flag
Of truce, TO surrender the place to the United States
thores, and to ask Of the General commanding the
Union forces protection for the combatant citizens
and private property
The committee appointed by the Council together with
the Mayor repaired TO tho headquarters of General
Adams and stated that they the representatives
Of the city 70 inquire OF him what his Intentions
with regard the city-wheher he would attempt It's
defence would retreat
Adams replied that their query based upon the
most idle curiosity, which he would not crafty. He
did not know whether he would ''mako fght' not
The committee then desired to know his design With
regard to the cotton in the city warehouses They sed
10 DtVn III ne clu COulu H
sructiou not be- managed involve the safety
Of private property and the lives Of and children
His response this reasonable and humane request was
that he determined at all hazards to burn the cotton
and private property was destroyed ho could not
help lit
General Adams In turn asked the committee why they
came TO him with these interrogatoties
Tho Mayor stated that II the city 10 be eft with
out protection II the determination OF the Council
TO out 10 meet the Union General and 10 ask a bis
hands in the event of occupation by his troops such
protection for the citizens and private property the
circumstances might admit.
General Adams retortsd that he did nd a;pvers y ,
renders Of any SORT and that he would arrest any person
attempting 70 leave the corporate limits With Gag OF
truce.
ms ooSYLAoRinor
At about nve O'Clock orders were Issued for the do
sruction Of the cotton and the smoke from JOhnson
wareware was 10 be The signal The large cotton
houses Of Lehman, Duu q Co., Gmer and others
were fred simultaneously. The scene which followed
bcggars description. Dense columns VI smoke piled
high above the city, and almost shut out the light "
the sun. Women, with arrighted oountenaucos, were
seen sunning hither and thiher, crying and wrnging
Their hsads and hundreds Of excited persons we're en-
deavorng " secure their furnuro from tho adjacent
houses The tdistress Of the innoe ent persons endan
gered by he fury Of the devastating element would have
excited Ae pity even u the desroyes, fthey mud 70
maned long enough 10 witness the execution Of their
dcspsraio order The nsmes envooped the buildings
and burned With great npidty, and before night all
these 'sge warehouses, with their contents, lay In
heaps Of smordering ruins II was q miracle thai the
city was not utterly destroyed The wind setting in
from tho east and carried the flames away from 10 sill
tho escape seemed almost provIdcntIal
Ni,xty seven Gsousand ba,es Of cotton wos burned
INCIDENTS or TUE yiRH
The city 0re companies deserve the highest commen.
dston Thcy worked with great energy and courage,
and to their Efforts perhaps tho city Is Indebted for It's
salvation Tho members OF tho negro FIRE company
especially merit great praise The bravo fellows, reok
legs OF ne and limb met tho furious fame az oeery ad
vance, and kent tho counsgrs,ion 10 check
An ipdscrlnnate plunder Of tho ware and stores
adjacent 10 ire burned district was participate by per-
sons OF every ago sex and color The 10 PIE sowded
the roofs of the houses 70 prcven, them catching nre
rEH urY svRRxspsRED
All the straggors having passed through, and the
pickle, lines having been removed, the Mayor with
depustiop ~ 9~peimen and o,.c cns weEt ouI In ths