Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1865-04-13
VARIOUS INCIDENTS CONCERNING
The Evacuation of Richmond.

AuC xNdCudtlVu Va 0lCuuvuus
The real battles for Richmond were
fought by Sheridan and Wright on
separate days. The former compelled
Lee to weaken his lines, and the lat
ter took advantage Of its weakness.
Lee made a grave mistake in sending
pickets so far from the defences Of Pc
tersburg. When he strengthened his
tanks, we penetrated his centre. His
army was split in two, and its sepa-
rate parts could be never wholly re.
united. This fatal error will cost him
all. So confident was Gen. Grant of
the success Of his plans that, as soon
as he discovered the position of the
pickets, that moment an assault was
determined upon the centre. Sheri-
dams cavalry and the Sd Corps were
ordered to pnsb out directly west, in
order to be nearer the line Of retreat
which the enemy must have taken.
When the result was successful, and
Petersburg ours, the entire army was
Immediately put in motion for the
same purpose, and in the same direc-
ton.
When Wright had cut his way
through the rebel lines, Lee saw tina:
he must be repealed promptly or all
was lost. So vital was this considered
that he led a brigade in person, and
narrowly escaped death by the explo-
sion of shell, which stunned him and
killed several in his vicinity.
Lee lost twenty thousand men,
whom we can account for, and nearly
an equal number was lost in addition
by assertions and stragglers. Our
losses. killed, wounded and prisoners,
will certainly not exceed five thou.
sand or six thousand men for the week.
1t is reported that Mrs. JEFF. Davis
left for Galveston on Wednesday,
March 29th. The rebel Government
had been laying hold of all the coin,
under the late act of Congress, and it
was carried off with the Government
archives. Three millions was taken
out of the city. The first destination
was Charlotte, n. q.
We have captured 500 cannon, and
but very little ammunition. There are
1000 wounded rebels in Richmond.
Breckenridge superintendent the de-
struction of the city, and directed. the
firing Of the buildings. 1t is estima.
ted that nearly 1000 buildings were
destroyed, including the principal
mills. factories. the arsenal, banks.
newspaper Offices. Government store
honses, a war department building.
three bridges over the James, and an
unfinished ram. There was much pil.
laying by negroes aud the mob. Our
soldiers assisted in staying the ravag-
es of the fire. The Wing and SENT.
mel were the only newspaper Offices
saved. The former comes out as q
Union paper.
The attempt to organize and arm
negroes was the most Imaginable and
ridiculous failure of the war, and was
SO decided by the rebels themselves.
There were never more than 500 or
ganized.
Four Of the detective officers Of the
Confederate Government, who resign
ed and remained behind when the
Government changed it's base, have
been arrested, together with Wiley,
the turnkey Of Castle Thunder, aud
Frederick Shaffer. the Confederate
bread commissary of the Union pris-
oners, and were committed to the Lib
by Prison.
The functions of the Mayor and
police have been suspended for the
present, and military law governs the
city. In time we may look for the
restoration of the municipal govern
ment upon Union foundation, and
the resumption of Legislation in all it's
departments.
The Wing gives additional particu-
lars of the evacuation, which had been
going on for a month, but the people
were blinded, and refused to believe
that the removal meant evacuation, as
all declared that the measures were
only precautionary. On Sunday morn
ing the gold and silver coin belonging
to the Louisiana banks, and recently
appropriated by the Confederate Con-
gress, was run down to the Danville
train also the specie of the Rich
mond banks. Then the programme
for the departure of the officials was
arranged. A number of trains were
to leave during the evening. Still
there was not room for all who thought
it desirable to get away. Davis was
to depart at 7P. NJ. Breckenridge
elected to 60 off on horseback with
the last of the army, on Monday morn
ing. Governor Smith ran off during
the night.
Major General Weitzel, command
ing the United States forces occupying
Richmond, has taken the mansion of
jeff Davis for his headquarters. Brig
adler General S. f. Shepley, Military
Governor of Richmond, has his quar-
tiers at the Capitol. Brigadier Gencr-
al Diven occupies the Governors
house.
President Lincoln walked NO on
Tuesday from the flag ship Malvern,
which landed at the city. amid a vast
concourse of the inhabitants, and was
welcomed by the Mayor and citizens.
Assistant Secretary Dana and Colonel
Bowers are stopping at the Spotts-
wood House. Judge Campbell. from
Tennessee, rendered his services to
President Lincoln to visit jeff. Davis
and urge him to peace. The Presi-
dent said he would receive commune
cations. but would send none. The
rumor that the President will offer a
general amnesty to the rebel rank and
file gains credence in influential oar.
ters.
1t il known that Secretary Seward
was to meet tine President at Rich
mond. on the day Of his accident. by
a summons from the latter. Grant al
80 telegraphed to the Secretary Of
War. requesting that no one be per-