Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-04-14
Vol So: No. Is

ty-fourth Corps Our line was within mile
and a half Of the city, and our left rested west
OF 1t, on the Appomattox.
The headquarters of Gems. Grant and Meade
at night were established at the Ritchie
House, on the Boydtown Road, three miles
from the town, and within easy Smelling
range of the enemy's batteries. But the enc
my was content to rest quietly in his works,
sending over a shell occasionally to remind
US that he was still there. As before stated,
the battle ended at about ii a. m. From noon
until nightfall the enemy exhibited unusual
inactivity, and many began making inquiries
as to what it BODIED. Some, with wise look,
believed that Lee was only rnaneuyering, in
order to attack us in some unexpected quar-
ter. Every one said, .'This lull means some.
thing! Most assuredly it did mean some-
thing, and that something the retreat Of the
major part of Lees forces across the river
north Of the town. All the afternoon three
or four dense columns of smoke were seen
ascending from the city, and it was evident
that extensive fires were raging.
AT dusk a pontoon train, under the gui-
dance of Major Paine of the Typographical
Engineers, at Gen. Meades headquarters,
was sent out to span the Appomattox for the
crossing of troops to the west and northwest
OF the city during the night, from which the
Inference may reasonably be drawn that
Grant knew ofthe retreat of Lee, or that, not
aware of il, he was drawing circle about
them from which it would be impossible to
escape. At any rate the city was virtually in
our possession, and, should Lee fail in all of
his assaults to break our lines, the retreat of
his army would inevitably follow. And then
arose the question, 'iWhere will he go?'' Of
fio;ers high in authority said to Richmond, and
o n referring to that pointas no longer tenable,
admitted Lees inability to hold it over few
days at most, but stated that now that he had
been thoroughly defeated, he would fight only
for effect; that the rebel authorities would en-
.deayor to make known to the world the fact
that they were battling in holy and right
eous cause, and that should they fail, they
you'll with their expiring breath, announce
the intention OF the coming generation to ac.
eomplish the work which they had left un-
done.
NIGHT.
Night came, and with it our troops reposed
IN their laurels. Bright columns of light rose
from the Cockade City. and until one O. clock
on Sunday morning occasional shots were In
terchanged between ours and the Rebel line.
From that time until morning silence reigned
over both lines. At 44 O'Clock on the morn
ing of Monday four reports of cavalry from
Birpeys front were heard, and four shells
following one another in rapid succession
sped, with hollow, rushing sound, towards
Petersburg. The renorts awakened our wea-
ry men, and after an interval of perhaps a
minute, loud and prolonged cheers were heard
from one end of the line to the other, bands
commenced playing patriotic airs, and every
one was wide awake and sensible of the fact
that Petersburg had been evacuated.
Col. Ralph Ely, commanding the Second
Brigade of the First Division of the Ninth
Corps, is credited with the honor of being the
first to enter the city. There are several 9TH
er claimants to- the honor, among them a
Brigade of the Sixth Corps and the colored
Division of Gen. Birney of the Twenty fifth.
The latter claims that at an early hour on the
morning of Monday Rebel deserter came
into our lines and reported that the Rebel
picket-line had just been withdrawn; that he
advanced his skirmish-line,
which entered the town at daybreak, meeting
with no opposition; and that Lieut.. West of
his staff was the first to set free 400 prisoners,
white and colored, from the city jail
Be this az it may, Col. Ely of the Ninth
Corps has the official credit of being the first
to enter the town, and has therefor received
its Provost Marshalship.
When / entered the town at daylight men
in blue were clambering up public buildings
to display their respective flags, and the city
with the tramp of armed men in
every direction. l rsa
The coming Of the colored troops was the
signal for the greatest enthusiasm among the
native black population of the city. All sorts
1f demonstrations of pleasure were indulged
n, and, when regiment of blacks advanced
up Washington st. singing,
"Say, darkies, hab you seen de massa
Wild de mufstash on his face,
Go down de road some time dis mernin'
Like he gwine to leab de place."
their delight knew no bounds, and they gave
vent to their feeling in all kinds OF actionsand
words.
But the most noticeable Of their move
nents was their congregation in large squads
On the street corners, where score or more
seemed absorbed in lighting Confederate ci-
gars. This was subsequently explained by
my colored barber in this wise: Last week,"
said he amy colored man found smoking on
he street was punished with fifteen es,
and now dat you all hab come, me can smoke
IS much as me please"
Atthe Court House, Col. Ely's Headquar
ers, crowds Of native graybacks were throng-
ng with requests for 'tge-ards, which were
udiciously posted in every part of the city.
DESTRUCTION OF PUBLIC PROPERTY.
On entering the town the tobacco and cot
,on warehouses were found smouldering heaps
Of ruins. They had been fred soon after we
gained the Southside Road OH Sunday, and it
was this confagration which was observable
IN the afternoon of that day. About S11, 600
worth of cotton and 1900 hogsheads of tobac-
o were destroyed by the fire kindled by Lee
IN his exit from the city. Nevertheless, in
Vulnerable bales of tobacco were found in the
lifferent stores and were appropriated by our
oldiers, to whom that article has become as