Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-04-11

TIE Richmond Hhig, Of the 9Th inst.
gives a grspbic picture Of the abundon-
ment of Richmond by the rebels. The
reader Of history at once recalls the mob
scenes in Paris in the early days of 80 =
Lee eltgrsI he'd Davis on Sunday morning
that "his liues had been pierced in many
places, snd that unless he could re-estab.
lrEh thtm Richmond must be given up that
night" Again, at IL O'Clock, he tele.
grspbed him that "all efforts to establish
his lines had been unsuccessfnl;" that 'the
men were not coming up to the worn. -
"His tone VaS. for the first hme since the tOar,
dsspOndsnt" "Then." says the Wing, "be-
gan amoug the officers in Richmond fur.
ry and panic" By mid day the panic
began to be uuiversaI-by mid-afternoon
everything was Pell nell, and as
much as a hundred dollars 10 gold
was offered for wagons in which to ship
household effects to the DanVille depot.
The rebel Officials began to open out their
store houres and ship stuff in hurry, and
the people were on hand in multitudes With
bags, baskets and boxes, 10 which to gather
up pickings and stealings. The destruction
of whisky was immense. Barrels were
knocked in and their contents emptied like |
so many Niagrss from the third stories of
the warehouses. The mob filed pitchers,
basins and cups with the fluid, and soon
were bowling drunk. Then came smash.
log in of stores, private doors, and all
manner of devilment. The scene was aw-
ful. The city was set on FIRE in several
places as the night wore on and the rebel
soldiery were in full retreat through the
city. at WAS one of the ghastliest sights
of this awful night, to see long lines OF
men, fitting like unholy shades through
the crowded streets, their forms made
bideous by the glare Of the inCendary fret
tina, already began to glow"
"All through the night crowds of men
women and children trsveTsed the streets
rushing from one store house to another
loading themselves with all kinds Of sup
plies, to be thrown away Immediately OF
something more tempting offering itself
Men could me met rolling hogsheadB o
bacon, molasses, sugar, barrels of liquor
bushels ftea and coffee; others had y heel
barrows loaded with all ~suner OF goods
Whils others n.y-iu mad gone into the plum
derir- business 10 q large way, and Wert
operating with bags, furniture wagons anC
6rays. The work went on fast and fu
I riOus until after midnight, about which
time large numbers of struggling Confed
crate soldiers made their appearance OF
the strtets, aud Immediately set about rob
biug tho principal stores ON Main street
hat fol yaNh ou =. \
been described. There Yves a regular
sack. a4.-.- a..-,--
The Wig says that the Mayor and
committee Of citizens waited on the rebe
authorities asking them to stay the burn
ing of warehouses. But they turned a dea
ear to the Mayor and his committee.
'Melton would hear nothing on the sub
JSCt, and characterized the statement thai
buFning the warehouses would destroy th,
city as A cowardly preiext on the part o
the citizens, trumped up to endeavor e
save their property for the Yankees Their
was nothing LETT but for the citi8euI
to submit. Resistance was thought
Of. butthe Confederate authorities guarded
against such an event by holding in tht
city, to execute their barbaFOus work, two
large baItaIions of Southern troops. every
man of whom hated Virginia and Virgin.
ians, aud logged for nothing more than to
see the last house in the city a ruin"
The Why concludes it's long account Of
the evacuation, sackiUg and burning thus :
"Truly, the ways of Providence are in
seFuta6le, This burning OF our goodly city
Woald seem at 6rst glance an unmitiEated
evil. But there is another view to be to
Of Ken Of il. 1t has had one certain good Of.
feet. II there fingered in the hearts of any
OF our people one spark of Election for the
q DAVIS dynasty. THE ruthless, useless, wan
ION hanaing over to the dames their fair
guished it forever" -.