Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-04-10
INCIDENTS OF THE OCCUPATION OF H-
TERSBURG.

| The special correspondent of the Tribune, und,r
date of 4th inst, writes as follows:
In my letter of Saturday lack of time eompell'
me to omit several items which may prove interel
ing TO the Tribune reader.
As The writer rode through our lines toward II
city, at daybreak, the troops were all astir kna
sacks were being slung, blankets rolled, and eve
preparation male for an immediate advance.
Portions Of our troops had, as has been akeac
stated, occupied the town two hours before, BIT
the majority were denied the enviable pleasure "
sting in the Cockade City. A genera
fusiade sounding along our whole line, an,
as if it were impossible to indulge sufficiently y
other noisy demonstrations, muskets were emptiel
of their charges to add to the universal din.
Bands were playing "Hail Columbia" "Yank
DOODLE" "Kingdom COMM" ''We'll all Drir
Stone Blind" "Lanigan'y Ball." polkas, waltze
in fact almost everything of a patriotic an
livening character. 1t seemed as it OrpheuS hI
self had gone mad, aud was trying to EsS1.
all of his creations OF lighter music a grand, til
umphant and HeayUn-swelling chorus in honor of
tho occasion. Amid this torrent Of meliauoas
sounds arose from one OF the hands that or and id
refrain,
"Praise God from whom all blessing fow,
Praise him ye people here beow;"
indicating that some at least believed it but list
and proper to blend thanksgiving with the genial
ubaton. And thus did the noble old Army of he
Potomac and its brethren from above the JaEes
celebrate the victory won by their long yearsof
persevering toll.
But few evidences were discovered, on enteIngl
the town. of great destruction of life on the Reel
side. They had rem )vel their 'ai aud woundd,
to hide from the eye Of our victorious armyh he
full extent of their disaster. Along the BoyLn
Road leading to Petersburg, l noticed but ne
poor fellow (yes, poor fellow, although Reb y
sac rifced to the devilish ambition of his mItc-
able masters Davis and Lee. He was dead tut
Al Io- Inv alD laI To-
believe, until he touched his cold and pulScss
hand, that life still fingered in his emacissed If
clad body. He lay in ditch or gully alOnghe
highway, with the water from pure, pereiial
spring above trickng musically beneath him his
blanket was neatlytroed and sung across his sul- I
der his head was resting upon his arm as if ire
pose but the death glaze upon his eyes told nat !
he slept the sleep which knows No waking. A
hdeous orifce in the side OF the head, surromed
by clotted gore, showed where fragment of lell I
had saved him from living to see the overwheing
shame and disgrace which awaits the Icin<Sy5s1f'
lowers of his former leaders.
The city presented the appearance usual no.
ticeable in every Rebel town falling into ou pos
session Doors were closed and window blinds hut
but, if / mistake not, | saw many curious ee in
tently peering into the street. True, the nrnber
of contrabands of all ages and sizes copgregad on
street corners legion, and OF ancient and
crippled whites not few but the falrer sexkeptv
close within DOORS dsdaning to exhibit their eer
less charms to our m n in blue. Well, the lnior
boys took il philosophicalIy enough, SCENIC h |
care but little for Confederate calico fnsey aud
went marching along as if only intent on thecap
ture or dispersion Of Lees defeated army. III
Stoppnq at the Jarratt House, on Wsshigonl
street we requested breakfast for our party and
wsre referred by the guard to colored native VIII
seemed TO be. from his department, both propieto
and chief steward Of the establishment. Ate
considerable hesitation, and on being fully assure
| that we intended to remlnerste him liberalt
| The entertainment, he set to work and soor pi
| duced a repast, consisting only of bread of ter
! cious tendency, and scraps of bacon of touhnd
! and elasticity which defed the persistent at'mp
of cuspids and mOlars to accomplish its necssar
| maslication