The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1865-04-13
From Richmond, Ta.
NEw YoRK, April s

the destruction of property by the hire there
will amount to tens Of millions of dollars.
II is positively asserted that Breckenridge
gave the order to start the fire.
Mail communication with City Point was
to be established at once.
Richmond is perfectly quiet, and the con-
duct of our troops admirable.
The New York Irjbunes Richmond cor
respondent says: When Davis received
Lees dispatch in church, he arose much ag-
itated and left the church, all eyes concentra-
ted upon him When the services were con-
cluded, the minister was handed note and
he too fastened off as speedily as possible
There are seven distinct lines Of fortitica-
tons surrounding Richmond, protected by
new style of and most formidable cheuaaG
de frase. They consist of short hewn sticks
projecting like spokes from hub, so close
that they cannot be crowded through.
WASHINGTON, April, 7.
The Richmond Whig of Tuesday, appears
as a Union paper, under the management
ofIra Smith, its old proprietor before the
days of secession. 1t has the following ac-
count of the evacuation, written by an
eyewitness The evacuation, of Rich
mond commenced In earnest on Sunday
night, and closed at daylight on Monday
morning with terrific conaagration, which
was kindled by the Confederate authorities
wantonly and recklessly applying the torch
to the Shocko warehouse and other build
ings in which was large quantity of tobac-
co. The fire spread rapidly, and it was
some time before the fire brigade could be
got to work A fresh breeze was blowing
from the South, and the fire swept over a
great space in an incredible short space of
time. By noon the flames had transformed
into a waste that portion of the city be-
tween Seventh and fifteenth streets, from
Main street to the river, comprising the
main business portion. We can form no
estimate at this moment of the number of
houses destroyed; but public and private,
they will certainly number 600 to 800.
At present we cannot do more than emu
uerate some of the most prominent build
ings destroyed. These include the Bank Of
Richmond Traders Bank, Bank of the
Commonwealth, Bank of Virginia, Farm
ers' Bank, all the banking houses the
American Hotel, the Columbia Hotel; the
Enquirer building ON Thirteenth street;
che Dispatch Office and job rooms corner OF
Thirteenth and Main streets; all that block
of buildings known as BelvIn's Block; the
Examiner Office, engine and machinery
rooms; the Confederate Post Office Depart
1nent building the State Court House, a
fine old building, situated on Capitol square
at Franklin street entrance; the Mechan-
les Institute, vacated by the Confederate
States War Department. and all the build
ings on the square up to Eighth street; the
Confederate arsenal and laboratory, Seventh
street.
At sunrise on Monday morning Rich
ooIo Ahof
never to witness again. The last of the
Confederate officials had gone. The air
was lurid with smoke and flame of hun
dreds of houses weltering in sea OF lire.
The streets were crowded with furniture
and every description of wares, dashed
down to be trampled in the mud where il
Law. All the Government storehouses were
thrown open, and what could not be gotten
off by the Government was left to the PEG
pie. who, everywhere ahead of the flames,
rushed in and secured immense amounts
of bacon, clothing boots, ETC.
Next to the river the destruction Of prop
erty has been fearfully complete, including
the Danville and Petersburg Railroad depot
and the Butler building shedding attached
thereto. For the distance of half a mile
from the North side of Main street to the
river, and between Eighth and Fifteenth
Streets embracing upwards Of twenty
blocks, present one waste OF smouldering
ruins, bIackened walls and broken chin
neys. Essf
After the surrender of the city, and its
occupation by General Weitzel, about 10
o'clock vigorous efforts were set on foot to
stop the progress of the flames. The sol
diers reinforced the fire brigade, and labored
nobly and with great success The flames
east on Main street we're checked by the
blowing up of the Traders Bank. About
noon the flames gradually died out at vari-
Gus points, as material failed for them to
feed upon; but in particular localities, the
work of destruction went on until towards
three or four o'clock, when the mastery
of the flames was obtained and Richmond
was saved from utter destruction
We regret to learn that a serious loss of
life resulted from the blowing up of the
powder magazine in the suburbs, early on
Monday morning The shock was tremen-
dous, jarring every house in the city, ex-
tinguishing the gas, and breaking great
amount of glass i'll dwellings. 1t is said
that thirty or forty persons, residents of the
immediate vicinity of the magazine were
either killed or wounded; but at this writing
we have been unable to obtain particulars
or names. f
Mr.. Isaac Davenport, an old citizen, was
instantly killed by the falling of the wall
of the American Hotel. The body was re-
covered. Mr.. VIM. Rupter was seriously
wounded by the explosion of a she'll in one
of the burning buildings. 1t is believed
that several other persons were buried I'M
der falling ruins, who are as yet not
known
e., IL 4 l..
and none of any account remain We emu
merate Henry Smiths, Carey and Virginia
streets; Charles Huntyour's, Griffith's, Con-
gress Hall, the Place, the Chicamauga, and
a score Of others. The burning of the sa-
looms is very distressing, as hundreds of
people rendered homeless by the fire will be
unable to obtain food.
Ofcourse we cannot be expected at this
time to enter into an estimate of the losses
but they are immense, and will amount to
hundreds Of millions of dollars
When it was made known on Sunday
morning that the evacuation of Richmond
was toregone conclusion, the city council
held q meeting, and, in secret session, passed
an order for the destruction of all the liquor
In the city. Accordingly, about the hour
Of midnight the work commenced under
the direction Of commit ses of citizens in all
the wards. Hundreds of barrels of liquor
were rolled into the street and the heads
knocked in. The cutters ran with liquor
freshet, and the fumes filled and impregna-
ted the air. Cases of liquor were tossed in
to the street from third story windows and
knocked into thousand pieces. AS the
work progressed, some struggling Confed-
p crate soldiers, retreating through the citv.
. managed to get hold of a quantity of Id
uor. From this moment law and order
ceased to exist. Chaos came and pande-
monium reigned Drunk with vile liquor
the soldiers said to belong to Harris cav,
airy, roamed from store to store on Main
street followed by reckless crowd, drunk
tb, q