Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-01-02

THIl: t}ITY.


Try FIR.r YrAn or 1nr wAs-As rejecting per
sons usually take retrospect 81 the ciVHe OF each
year, il will not he inappropriate at this time To re-
cur to some Of the events of local interest during The
first year OF the war. "Reminiscences, which have
perhaps faded from the memory Of many, will be re-
called, and some. queer thoughts viii probably be
evolved rs the incidents immediately preceding the
war are viewed by the lights OF four years eXpe
rcnce:
The first thing to be mentioned IS the East Day
recommended by sold Buck" This took place on
the 4th Of January, and generally observed by
the community. On the l2h the Legislature -
extra session, passed the bill providing for Il State
Coitsrhtion. On the 18th the same aAly adopted
joint resolutions for "Peace Conference" and ap-
pointed the Commissioner t" represent Virginia.
On the 2sth, an excited meeting OF citi2eEs was
held at the AFRICAN Church, to dominate candidates
Cor the Convention The secession element" pre-
vailed, aud Mcssrs. George W. Randolph, john o.
Steger, and John Robertson were Nominated. AT tie
election however, which took place on tho 4th oi
February, Mcssrs. W. II. Mcfarland, Marms,ak0
johnson and Geo. W Randolph were returned
Just before the election, political excitement ian
high Tie "Douglas mem held meeting ut the
African church the lSt and the same night the
''Scces>ioniSs" assembled at the Mechanic lnsti,
tute Hail. Oratory was plentiful in those days On
the night of the I'd there was ''Union Rally" at
Metropolitan llall.
The State Convention met on the 18th of February
in the Hall of the House of Delegates and after or
ganizne, transferred its sessions t. MecIaucs Hail.
In consequence Of the expression OF some ultra
Union sentiments ia the Convention, sort OF indig
nation meeting held on the 18th, Ia front of the
Exchange Hotel. Mr.. Goodc, OF Bedford, made
stirring speech, AMI the obnoxious members Of the
Coaycntion groaned aud Kissed.
Gu the lst OF March, the members Of tie L,gisl1
ture took an excursion to Old Point and visited
Fortress Monroe On the Sth, the "ScccSston i1a'
was hoi.ted near the OH Market, with music, poeeh
rs and cheers A lew days alter, john C"cilans, oi
New York, visited Richmond, ''reeonuoia.anc',
and was sercnsled at the EscheDge Hotel the night
of the 18th.
Politics were now at fever heat and the ''Scces-
sionists" were rapidly gaining adherentS to tlcT
cause. On the 18th grand rally took place at The
African Church. large delegation came from Pc
ter.burg, headed h. Roger ~. Pryor, who addi'F..-
ed the meeting in an impassiolle speech, and gave
a decided impulse to the secession movement. The
sane night a ''Union meeting" was held at Metro
politan Hall, which addressed by Messra. Jnba
A. Early, ". 7. Wiley and other, without arars-
my much enthusiasm.
Nothing Of much interest occurred until the 2Ith
of March when lion. l.. T. Wisiali and the young
ladies OF the Richmond Female lmtitute were aui-
r nadcd hy IN enthusiastic party Who marched through
lie streets with band at their head playing Dix
les all the while.
The Unionsts vainly attempted to stem the tor
rent. On the 29h they held meeting at the even
lasting African Church, and We're addressed by Col.
j. B. Baldwin. On the ist of April another meeting
was held at the same place. The "Stu-Spal+ei
Banner" sung, with feeble elect upon the au-
diencc. This was the last Union meeting held in
Richmond.
On the 18th the news Of the surrender Of Font
Sumter was received, with great rejoicing. One hun
dre,l guns were fired on the Capitol Square. Gu tho
18TH the passage of the Ordinance OF Secession by
the Virginia Convention was made known, aud ia
people were electrified On the following night there
wac an extraordinary demonstration by the cti-
zenS. The honscs were Illuminated, honlires kinded
on the streets, aud grand procession, with music
and fireworks.
Very after the fact was realized that the wal
f,l independence had indeed commenced. On sun
dag, the 2lst, the GrIys went to Norfolk, and the
c!;y was bellicosely excited by a report that the
little steamer Pawncc coming up James river TO
shell Richmond On the 18th the Constitution ofthc
Provisional Government of the Confederate Staes
was reported by the Convention. With this eni, We
Close our retrospect of the aniccclent event 81 the
war.