Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-04-06
Last Nights Report.
From Petersburg.

FEFERsBuAGu April 3.-The Army Of the
Potomac has been in and out of Petersburg
this morning, merely making flying visit.
The rebels commenced eVscuating last
night at 10 O'Clock, and by2 O'Clock this
morning were across the river, having
burned about q million dollars worth OF
tobacco, the Southside railroad depot and
the bridge across the Appomsttox.
Our troops charged the outer line of
works at daylight, taking picket line Of
some 900 men prisoners.
me troops. on entering the city, be.
haved most admirably, not more than half
dozen stores being entered by them, and
these mostly containing tobacco, cigars.
liquors, &c. The Provost Guard soon ar.
rived and established order.
The Mayor of the town met the troops
as they entered, and handed to the officer
commanding the following commuuication
oherlng the surrender of the city:
"LteTt. y. s. Grant, commanding the DR..
mics efthe o. s., or the Major General CON-
nIaTdfng y. s. forces in front of Petersburg:
Generals The city of Petersburg having
been evacuated by the Confederate troops,
we, a Committee authorized by the Com
mon Council, do hereby surrender the city
to the United States forces, with a request
for the protection ofthe persons and prom.
erty of it's inhabitants.
We are. respectfully your ob't Serv'ts,
D. D. A w; n9T PAaa. Mayor oommts.o.
Protection was promised on the part of
the troops, and the citizens have no cause
of complaint, for certainly there is no in.
stance on record where an army after living
SO long in front of place of SO much i'm.
portance, and losing so many men in their
efforts to capture it, entered = city with
less disorder and doing less damage to
private property than in this case.
The citizens did not show themselves
during the forepart of the day, but after
discovering that our soldiers were orderly
and we'll behaved, with no disposition to
disturb or annoy any one, they began TO
make their appearance at the doors and
windows of their residences, and later in
the day even many expressed their joy
quietly, that the coufederates had gone and
hoped that the war would soon be over.
For more than month past the rebel
troops have been receiving less rations than
ever before, ouly just enough being brought
to last from day to day. The citizens say
they have suffered much, but it is we'll to
take such stories with good deal of al.
lowance.
The rebels managed to get away With all
their artillery, excepting one or two old
columbiads and a few heavy mortars
which they could not transport very read
lily. A large number of men deserted, and
when our troops entered they made their
appearance, and were taken into custody.
1t il believed that Lee retreated toward
Lyuchburgh or ''Dauville. Our army,
crowned with success, is willing to travel
at any rate and any distance to head them
off.
The city presents very cleanly and re-
spectacle appearance. Many houses in the
lower part of the city have been badly in-
jured from shot and shell thrown from our
batteries last summer, aud since that time
many of the houses located there have
been vacated.
F1vE, P. M.-Ever since morning our
troops have been passing through the city,
westward, taking the Cox and River roads
to Sutherland. 1t is on the Southside
Railroad where our headquarters are in
camp tonight. At this hour the rear
guard are passing, and the wagon trains are
following. 49,.
The railroad from City Point here is to
be put in running order.