Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1865-07-19
WEDNEsDAY::::;;:::;::;;:::JULY 10, 1865
MATTERS AND THINGS IN RICH
MOND.
An Interesting Letter from Miss Mary
L. Thropp.

Celebration Of the Fourth im Capitol Square
The Declaration Of Independence Road
Itrioe- Whittier's poem " Barbara Frit-
che" Read By Mr.. CAUSE.-THE Nev Free
Schools Of Richmond Interesting ReRit-
mtsccnees Of Tie Rebeiiiom-N Nineteen
Thousand Dollars U.ttheiA from. or
Prisoners Unearthed by General MuL.
JOrd-Latest Rebel Sentiment, etc.
Having been permitted to sec letter Of
Miss Mary E. ThrOpp's, (now in Richmond }
to her father ut Valley Forge, we take the
liberty of publishing it:
RICHMOND, Va, July IL
MY DEAR FATHER: You wish to know how !
spcnt tho Fourth in Richmond. Rather late,
certainly, but In manner peculiar enough to
be not uninteresting, perhaps. The dawn, clear
and beautiful was ushered in by salute Of 36
deafening guns from Capitol Square, whittier we
repaired later in the day to spend our Fourth at
Mr.. Chase's tent. This spot merits descrip.
tOn. 1t is u triple tent, or rather two tents,
probably twelve feet Square, connected by an
open sided one between, situated in the very
centre Of Capitol Square, under magnificent
canopy Of trees. To tho left OF the entrance
stands the delicate mimosa, and from the tall
trees overhead, forming a graceful curtain in
front, floats, fair and bright, with its crimson
bars and golden stars, the dearest nag ever
saw, in magnificent proportions.
From the door Of the tent looking north ward
stands the stately Capitol, the crown OF Rich 4.
mond. Eastward couple Of hundred yards the
grey walls Of tho burned court house, over
which the ane old trees droop their graceful
branches, golden and green, making picture Of
mournful beauty. To the west, about the same
distance, stands the watch tower, and to the
south-oh, what view In the foreground the
Custom house beyond, right and left stretch the
ruins beyond them the shining river winds Its
solitary way afar of and beyond 1t the fair green
fields and sunny uplands Of the beautiful South
stretch away far as eye can see to the blue hor =
zon. For this tent has been selected decidedly
the fsircst spot in Richmond, and whyH Pro
bono lubtfcO. 1t is the headquarters Of the
American Union Commission. From this spot in
quiet unostentatiOus beneyolence have gone out
means for two large free schools for the children
OF the poor whites, a soup society, hundreds OF
barrels Of -four, seeds for planting, farming i'm.
plements, religious books aud papers, etc, to the
poor whites and the colOred people OF Richmond
But to return to the celebration: About ten
o'clock a crowd, composed Of citizens, soldiers,
and colored people, gathered round the Capitol tc
Loar Mrs. Dr. Walker, u lady surgeon in the Union
der--read the Declaration Of Independence from
the steps Of the Capitol. | regret that the fem,
inine voice could not make itself heard by tn,
audience, and should like to have had 1t sound
ed clearly into every ear In Richmond. At noon,
another tremendous salute, and the people re
tired for time. In the afternoon large crowd,
composed mainly OF soldiers, cOntr4bsuds, and
children-most Of them benehciaries-sprung VI
md Mr. n AzPi Z fanf uh han h.
went out and read to them our own WHITTIER
touching and beautiful poem, barbara Frict'
chie," which was published some time ago.
This was followed by three cheers for the dOal
old nag, as hearty and genuine as any even
heard in my life, while many an eye,moved even
to tears, turned lovingly to the beautiful symbol
floating in peaceful beauty above us. All! we
had our patriotism all right In our heads before
this war-we have 1t IN our hedTtS ROtO, sacred
and dear as the altars Of our God.
Mr.. Chase was then called on to Rad the De-
claratiOn Of Independence, which Ite did and
this time It was heard, and listened 10 well by
even the children. Then followed a general dis
tributiOn OF religious papers The child's paper,
for which hundreds Of little black aud white
hands reached out impatiently, had picture Of
Mr. Lincoln and his son Tad In il. asked one
little cOlOred girl II she knew what Mr. Lincoln
had done for herr "oh, yes, she replied, and
her eyes grew radiant, ~ was a slave and he sei
me free. " Hath he not his rewardf
At sunset another salute was fired, after which
the band played 4 long time in the upper part Of
A. square, though most Of the people had gone
NJ iheir homes. Later the full mo IN rose In uh .
|Hled sPlendOr, and shining down over that
tonpe Of fountains, trees and solemn ruins,
UAltlne sweet music 10ated, fingered and died