The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1865-04-21
THE CAPTURED CITIES.
DETAILS AND INCIDENTS OF THE OCCUPATION OF
RICHMOND AND PETERSBURG.
E:necut,pe Manson Of Jeff Datas.


jor- General Weitzel, and the forces under bis
command, at O'Clock this morning.
| About O'Clock this morning. Gen. Shepley,
chief of staff TO Maj. Gen. Weitzel, felt con-
vinced, from the statement Of the large number
of deserters coming within our lines, confirmed
| by dispatches from Gen Hartstuff's lines on the
Bermuda front, That all the rebel works around
Richmond were being evacuated, and that Lee
and his army, and JEFF. Davis and his govern
ment, had already taken ap the only available
line Of retreat to the North Carolina boundary
and that the way was clear for the occupancy
of the rebel capital by the forces Of tie United
States, Gen. Weitzel telegraphed these conclu-
siops TO Lieut.. Gen. Grant, VINO replied Instant
~, saying that he had no doubt that General
NFeitze could oecnpy tie city without the slight
est difficulty,
On the 2d inst Gen. Weitzol, so clear mas
his mind upon the subject, despatched Mai L.
Fl. Stevens, of the 4th Massachusetts cavalry,
| and Major z. T. Graves, of his staff, with 40
cavalry, to investigate the condition of affairs on
the roads leading to the rebel works and thence
to Richmond. This party had not proceeded
far within the rebel lines when they espiad
shabby carriage approaching, the driver waving
white flag. Approaching this vehicle. it was
found 60 contain Mayor Mayo, the head Of the
Richmond city government; Judge Meredith,
OF the Supreme Court Of Richmond; Judge
Lyon, and several other worthless of the rebel
persuasion, who announced that they had conle
out to surrender the city to the competent ads
thorities. This took place within a distance of
two miles Of the city, after the Majors had found
their way through several lines Of torpedoes,
and was marked by the following conversation:
Maj. Stevens.-Who is in command Of this
Aag OF truce?
Judge MeTedith.-It is Mr. Mayo, Mayor Of
the city Of Richmond.
The Judge at the same ime Introducing the
Mayor and all Of bis associates to Majors Ste
vens and Graves.
Mayor Mayo then handed Major Stevens a
small slip Of paper upon which was written the
following:
'tIt is proposed to formally surrender to the
Federal authorities the city Of Richmond, hith-
erto capital of the Confederate States of Amer
lea, and the defences protecting it up to this
time
The document was approved Of, and Major
Stevens accepting It in behalf of his command
ing General, it was at once transmitted to Mai.
Gen. Weitzel, who had already sent out his
skirmish line, and upon the receipt of Mayor
AIayos surrender instantly moved his column
upon the evacuated city and took possession.
The Major then took charge Of the rebel flag
of truce party, and advanced upon the city.
two capable, efficient and popular officers of the
stout old Army Of the James thus being the
first, with their escort, to enter the fallen and
capituIa!ing capital Of reboIdom.
- "a II. -
ness portion of the nam street to the river was
destroyed The bridges across the river were
also destroyed. Many families remain. Mrs.
Lee remains. At Petersburg the public stores
were burned, aud few houses caught fire, but
not much damage was done to the city. The
bridges here were also destroyed. viii report
fully from Richmond. Cannot get clear idea
of our loss. The only one General killed is
Winthrop. Potter IS dangerously wounded in
the groin.
All the commercial part of the city was found
to be in flames, Gen. Early having ordered the
destruction Of the public buildings, which order
General Breckinridge, rebel Secretary of War,
stroye earnestly TO have countermarded, but
without avail.
Gen. " ethel finds much suffering and poy-
erty among the population The rich as we'll
as the poor are destitute Of food. He is about
to issue supplies 10 all who take the oath. The
inhabitants now number abou! twenty thousand
about one-half Of them Of African descent.
It is not true that jeff. Davis sold bis furni-
ture before leaving. 1t is still IN his house where
| am now writing He left at P. NJ, hy the
Danville Railroad.
All the members of Congress have escaped.
Gen. Weitzcl took here one thousand pris-
oners besides wounded These number five
thousand in nine hospitals
We captured cannon numbering at least 500
pieces. Five thousand muskets have been found
in one lot. Thirty locomotives and three hum
drej cars are found here The Petersburg Rail-
road bridge is totally destroyed; that of the
Danville Road partially, SO that connection
with Petersburg can be easily made in that way.
All the rebel vessels are destroyed, except an
unfinished ram, which has her machinery in her
project.
The Tredegar Iron Works are unharmed, and
the machinery is running here to-day under
Weitzers orders Libby Prison and Castle
Thunder have also escaped the fire. and are fill
ed with prisoners of war.
Davis left this city last night, at s o'clock by
rail for Danville, his family having been sent
out FIVE days ago. On the train he had horses
and carriages embarked, in case the road was
interrupted, in order to easily make his way by
these means. He was very much depressed in
spirits, and bore the appearance of an exceed
ingiy haggard and eare-woru man, his counte-
nance clearly betraying the loss of his cause.
He expressed himself as being yet determined
not to give up, but to put forth another effort
to redeem bis hopeless and sunken fortunes /