Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-05-04
me FALL OF RICHMOND.
From the london Times, April II.

The first act OF the American War has closed with a
tremendous FINALE For three days together the great
Confederate General maintained himself in fierce and
even doubtful battle against the combined forces of his
adversare but at last he succumbed TO numbers and
signed TO the enemy the strongholds which he has de-
Tended so long. Richmond and Petersburg are in the
hands OF the North and though Lee in these des
perate straits has retired in good order with the remnant
of his army it impossible TO anticipate that his ress-
lance can be eectuay prolonged. The South retained
but one great army and that has been half destroyed
The loss of Richmond might in itself have been perhaps
sustained but coupled with the defeat of Lee IL repre-
sents a verable catastrophe.
The event has been anticipated, not only in America
but in this country for some time past and yet il did
in conformity with the prevalent speculations
Farragut had part in it, nor Sherman either. There
was no fOtilla, no bombardment no combined attack
bv land and water II is due TO Gen. Grant that his
military abilities should be recognized and his success
acknowledged. 1t was his army in the end which cap.
tured Richmond. He did flight II out on that line as
he had pledged himself TO do not only all through the
Summer but through the Winter and through the fol.
lowing Spring. Often and often was he repulsed with
dreadful loss IS but he chung with uncomfortable tenac-
ity 10 his work and relaxed the grip which
he had obtained. lie forced his adversary into Rich
mond and down before its ramparts with the
luton which he has well maintained that Ia
ter the city should be his.
II true that he had the assistance of Sheridan and
that without that cooperation the final assault would
probably not have been attempted The hardest Of the
lighting indeed fell to Sheridan's share and he
10 have displayed much of that genius which won him
so remarkable a victory in the Shenandoah Valley
But the whole work. substantially, the work Of
Grant and il was the work for which he had waited
in patience and confidence through nearly u months Of
dscouragement He the first General OF the Norih
who refused 10 recognize defeat and he reward Of for
titude Is his at last.
After paving however, this tribute TO the conqueror
we are bound to give due honor to the nqushed and
the task will not be difficult. Gen. Lee has forfeited
none of tn. renown which gives him so distinguished
commander could do under extreme difficulties he has
valianty done He did not decemp from his position,
nor try to cut his way out still less did he resign
was prognostcated all hope of resistance. He waited
in his lines, received the great assault with extraori
nary ntre dty and fought TO the last Then he with
drew deliberately from the field evacuatng his strong.
holds and carrying of what remained of his army II
we mar accept as unexaggerated the estimate of his
losses he can have but slender force left reckon.
ing OF 5000 prisoners and 1000 killed and wounded
will account for the greater part Of what not nu
merous army 10 begin with. The Southern General Is
retiring it supposed upon Lynchburg, but Fede.
eral force has recently been advancing that town
from the vest and the road may be no longer open to
For months past indeed the Northern forces have been
closing grimy around the single army Of the South and
Il il to this combination Of foes that Lee at Length has
yielded. He had upon him a. once the Grand Army OF
the Potomac under Grant the Army Of the Shenandoah
Valley under Sheridan and the Army of Tennessee IN
der Sherman. They shut him in every side. Though
sherman was not present at the last engagement he
at so short distance and fomidably posted that
Lee was compelled TO detach troops to keep him in
check Then upon his weakened force fell Grant and
Sheridan together, the former with his old stubborn
strategy the latter with hisimpetuous and brilliant
lor The Federas had troops enough TO fight and watch
together 10 engage the COnfederaes every point and
10 take advantage Of the slightest opportuni y Sud
denly after three days fighting Richmond and Peters
burg were discovered 10 be empty, and the Northern
Generals seized their prize.
We must now wait for what nothing but time car
teach ushe solution Of the great problem of secession
Has this terrible been simply war is it re-
vouton If il is war, the end must be near-if in
deed il has not been reached aeady-for beyond the
feeble force under Johnston at Raleigh and the
of tine Richmond garrison under Lee the South has nc
organized armies in the field is it probable that any
can be raised This stage Of the great struggle has been
accomplished. The North, by its determined WILL and
lately il should be added by the excellence Of its gen
erals has overcome the South has defeated its armies
and occupied its principal towns II has had far greater
difficulty in doing than was anticipated and il ap
peared indeed at times even this portion of the
work could never be accomplished at all But if the ex
hauson consequent this prOracted strus gle should
terminate the resistance of the South altogether
he fortunate for the North that Richmond not esp
tured till the fifth year Of the war.
When President Davis declared that il Richmond were
taken the could be prolonged for twenty years il
Virginia alone. he specializing, perhaps resour
ces which five desperate cam paigns may have fatally
reduced The COnfederacy which for five years has
proved so Unexpectedly strong aud resolute, may
prove Unexpectedly powerless md desp ndng. In tina
event the work of the North will be easy but If have
now arrived at the end not Of war but Of the frs
stage of political revolution, the real troubles of the
North are but just beginning few more months vii
disclose the scene and would be useless TO anticipate
the spectacle by conjecture prediction. We car
only admire the herosm Of the cOmbatants while de
pore the carnage but what dreadful strife may III
timatey bring forth it is impossible TO imagine.