Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1865-04-13

the near prospect of delivorance, and as soon
as our troops entered crowded around them
with the most extravagant demonstrations
of delight and satisfaction. The city pre-.
sents u sad contrast to the Richmond offour
ycarsag and many portions of it are scarce
ly recognizable.
THE BATTLE OF SUNDAY,
now turn to the events of Sunday, which
decided the fate Of Petersburg, and led to
the prompt evacuation of the rebel capital
Sheridan on this day had cut longstreet' .
corps in two with the assistance of the Fifth
and Second corps, and the portion which
was cut off succeeded in ctecting a retreat
to the southwark, on the line of the South
side road, and between there aud the APP
pomattox. The closing in ofShcridan upon
that road, and the Importance Of his move
ment, gave him no opportunity to pursue
the retreatng forces, and | conjecture that
they made good their escape This decisive
action, it will be borne in mind, was early
on Sunday morning.
THE INDICATIONS OF THE EVACUATION OF
PETERSBURG
were manifested during Sunday afternoon.
Heavy columns of smoke began to ascend
from various portions ofthe city. The rebels
were almost silent in their works, and moth
ing but very faint skirmsh fire and an oc-
casional cannonade had been kept up from
| their lines and batteries since ! | clock. -
! We had this afternoon advanced our lines
so that each wing rested upon the Apo
mattox, and our center occupied command
| ing positions within the enemy entrenchcd
! lines. In fact the main battle Of Sunday
may be said to have ceased at ii o'clock,
for after that time nothing but the mos
ftful and desultary fighting was to be per
ceived From the left of our line a pontoor
bridge had been thrown across the Apo
to the opposite side and well advanced til,
rebels in the garrison of Petersburg would
doubtless have been surrounded and every
one of them captured. Why it was moi
done, or why the center and right were moi
vigorously pressed, do not pretend to say
j As the night fell the firing became less anc
less vigorous, and the flames in the city in
creased in volume, lighting up the sky will
Il lurid glare. About | OF clock i'll the morn
ing of Monday, all firing ceased, and the
stiffness Of the grave rested upon the seen,
which days before had been noisy with tht
strife Of contending armies.
THE EVACUATION.
About 81 clock on Monday morning,
, rebel descrter entered General Birney'
camp, and announced that the enemy spicke
line had been withdrawn. and that the cit
was evacuated General Birney Immediate
, ly advanced skirmish line, and found tina
the deserter's story was correct, and tha
; the rebels had departed. The city was oc
cupied by our troops about 4 o clock
, General Birney, commanding the colore
| division Of the Twenty fourth corps, assert
| that he entered first \ brigade Of the Sixt
| corps also claims to have had the honor
but Col. Ralph Ely, commanding the Sec
G ond brigade of the First division the Mint
corps, having been made provost-marshi
of the city, indicates that his troops were tn
first to enter Petersburg. 1t was toun
< < that about fifteen hundred hogsheadS Of tC
i bacco, and about $ll 900 worth of cottOr
, had been destroyed and one of the bridge
+ was burning, but this structure was soon ca
9 tinguished. An important railroad bridg
was left untouched.
I APPEARANCE OF THE CITY.
Our troops were welcomed by the inhab
o tants, especially by the negro portion, and
= large number of ladies hocked to the window
and entrances of their dwellings, wavin
u handkerchieis. &c., in token of welcome.
At first there was some dlsordcrly condu'
y on the part of our troops, but it was 500
y checked and order was restored. The cit
has been comparatively uniniurod by o,
shells. Here and there is IA building whlC
r, bears evidence of an unceremonious visit
h ton, but the residents say that very few liv,
!. have been lost. Myself and Bohemian
r friend entered Jarrat's hotel for the purpo
i of obtaining breakfast We found postt
e up in the barber's shop a bill setting fort
r the following list Of prices:
n Shaving and shampooing............... l.
Cold bath q
e Washing, soap furnished.
" The barber, who was genuine Africa
le remarked that it was thehappiest day of'l
Is life, and that he could now go down the sire
G. smoking a cigar, which act would have &C
N him fifteen lashes the day before. Duril
he the day, crowds of negroes could be Sc
of about the street corners enjoying the luxu
~ of smoking cigars, Of which they had be
he deprived by the black code of Petersburg
of ITheirdcliverers, especially the negro soldier
to were the objects of the utmost liberality
he the part Of these negroes, who shared WI
be them whatever they possessed.
r. GENERAL LEE IN PETERSBURG.
g. General Lee was in Petersburg on Satl
" day and Sunday until the evacuation, n
appeared very much agitated and frett
and evidently dcspondent at the untavora
in condition Of affairs The fighting was ma
MS ly under the personal directiono of Longstre
be In Ambrose Z. Hill, who was killed in
pit action of Saturday, he lost valuable liz
es tenant, which aided materially in depressi
u his spirits.
ms THE LINE OF LEE RETREAT.
lty 1t must not be supposed that Lee 5 arm
raj although defeated, is demoralized to Il
mt extent which will ruin it for further acti'
m Neither is it so greatly scattered us wo
re, seem. 1t is reduced probably to less Il
ch forty thousand men; nearly one half
on original strength. 1t is generally suppo
he that it is retreating in three columns, U
ere under Longstrect, has, it is understo
to taken the turnpike road, running para
ire with the Appomattox, which will lead /
vas to point on the Danville road near j
ing nings station, fifty miles from Richmond
Another column is moving on line para
with the Appomattox, on the north side
inc that stream, by road which will lead t
.he point near Powhattan station, twenty-'
nv miles from Richmond The third colu
@ ,ns is advancing upon the line of the Dany
ut, road, and employing all the available tra
ust portation.
tcb GENERAL GRANTS PURSUIT
eloI | understand to be in three columns, c
-'' directed against the rebel lines of retreat
Grant, Sheridan, and Meade are upon