The daily clarion. [volume] (Meridian, Miss.) 1863-1866, 1865-12-01
of the Cincinnati Enquirer. !

Correspondence of the Cincinnati Enquirer
The correspondent of the London
Times has recently given the world an
admirable piece of history, which he calls
''the last six days of secessia ;" but which
might, with more propriety, be styled the
last six days Of the army of Northern
Virginia. .
In the belief that a brief account of
what occurred subsequently to those SIX
DAYS would be of sumo interest tn your
readers, | respectfully tender this narra>
tive in default of better, promising
that | was but a locker on there In VIZ
emma, not initiated in the inside workings
Of the great events then Transporting, and
that can only hope to elicit interest Tor
this as description of the last journey
that will ever be made in one OF those
strange, phantom lands, whose portals are
forever closed.
The news of the fall of Petersburg was
conveyed to Jefferson Davis during COM
munion service at St. PauPs Church,
Richmond, on Sunday, the I'd of April,
and was almost simultaneously announced
from all the pulpits in the city. 1t is out
of nv provice to attemptt to describe the
scene that followed, suffice it to say the
evacuation of the city was begun at once,
and completed by eight clock next morn
| ing: the Richmond and Danville Railroad
| being used to carry off several millions OF
dollars, the property of the Virginia
banks, and probably $15O,OOO belonging
to the Confederate Government, besides
other valuable stores and the archives.
| Your narrator left the city on foot, about
one o'clock. Sunday morning. and after
threading labyrinths of Sheridan 8 active
hosts for seven days, reached Danvile on
the 9Th. where he found Mr.. Davis with
his staff. consisting of Colonies Lubbock.
Wood. Johnston and Ives, and Colonel
Harrison. his private Secretary. Benja>
min, Mallory, Reagan and George Davis
of North Carolina, the attorney general,
were also there, and the little town was
| rejoicing in its unwonted Importance. Ii
presented an active appearance. Mer'
] chants energeticaIly removing their few
remaining bales and boxes to make room
for the bureaus of the War Department
urchins tying to get peep at the GOV
eminent misses promenading with al
the airs appropriate to ladies OF the me
tropolis new corners inquiring diligently
for the whereabouts OF the Confederacy
and old 'uns of three days standing eau
tiously unfolding their intimate knowl.
edge Of 1.-The ropes - middies very mucl
out of their element, wistfully seekiri
those fsmiliar appendages, and marine
looking decidedly dubious (ifsuch thin
can bel, all combined to render the EN-
bryo capital pleasing resting place to tn
foot-sore wayfarer.
But Danville's dream of glory wa
doomed to be PREF as ''woman's love,
| for on that same day came a dispatc
, from Breekinridge, who had remained
together with some of the chiefs OF bu
reaus, to consult with Gen. Lee. Thi
dispatch was the first to clear away tn
mist and mystery that enVeloped tn
army. It was written in pencil, date
Red House, April 8, and the substanc
was that the evacuation was successful
completed on the Srd that there ha
been some fighting every day, and 81
: rious engagement at Amelia Courthous
where the Confederates acted badly; tia
fIomax had been ordered to hold Lynch
burg firmly the struggling was enoI
NOUS. and the situation very unfavorabl
tfualiy, that Lee would still endeavor
make his way to the North Carolir
line. This dispatch was not general
published, and when the news came. lii
), : .hunderbolt that Lee had surrendere'
!. the ridiculous rumor was derided. I
70 there seemed to be general impressie
2. of impending disaster. =.