The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-04-04
The Capture Of Richmend.

Richmond is OF last occupied by the
Federal army The objective point of
four years strategy and hard fighting
has at last been gained, and there is re-
joicing, mingled with tears for the fallen,
all over the land. Richmond has been
the Sebastopol of our civil war, and the
tenacity of its beseigers has been almost
equa,led by the endurance of the be-
seiged. But it has fallen at last, and the
end which has been hoped for and prayed
for and fought for during four years OF
anxiety and suffering, and blood, has at
length been obtained Will it bring us
peace9
Itwould seem from the dispatches that
the city was evacuated by General LEE
when he found its defense hopeless, and
that the officers Of the rebel government
and the greater part of the army had
gone before General WErTZEL obtained
possession. What further resistance will
be made to the Federal authority, or
where LEES army will make stand for
another conflict, or whether it will break
through SHERMAN's lines and retreat
Southwark or fall upon that Generals
forces with the fierceness of despair, the
next few days will tell. The battles OF
the past four days have been severe and
in the ABSENCE of any data as to the COM
parative losses sustained, it is probable
that the number of the slain in the defen-
sive army has been surpassed by
the carnage in the ranks of those who
made the attack Many an anxious moth
er will grow pale to-day rs she reads the
thrilling news of the battle and thinks OF
her husband or son whose last letter to
her was written in the Camp near Pc
tersburg," and with livid lips and tear
full eyes she will examine the list OF kill
ed and wounded not many days hence
Even in the hour of rejoicing we cannot
forget these things and we cannot divest
our minds of the recollection that this
triumph has been purchased by the life
blood of thousands of heroes who had
tender hearts yearning for them and hap
DIV homes waiting for them somewhere
either in the Northern or Southern States
of our common country.
In so far as the capture of Richmond
will contribute to end the war and bless
the nation with peace once more, our re-
joicings are unalloyed. True, brave men
have fallen and many homes have been
made desolate, but we have now strong
reason to hope that these sacrifices will
be demanded no more and that the
bloody tide of war will now be stayed.
The disorder and demon alization and
encouragement which must prevail
throughout the Confederacy before the
rebel Government can establish itself
again, make this most cpportune mo-
ment for protfering to the Southern peo-
pie pardon and peace. There can be- no
excuse for delaying the hour. 1t was
thought by many that peace might
have been secured without this last
shedding of blood had proper
effort been made on the part OF
the general government. Be that as it
may, the battle has been fought, the re-
suit has gratified the expectations ofthe
Federal authorities, and now no argu-
ment can be adduced in favor of prolong-
ing the war another week or of shedding
another drop of blood. Will our govern
ment embrace the opportunity and full
al the hopes otImillions OF sad hearts9 In
the hour of victory let us be magnanim-
Gus. Moderation in triumph is greater
virtue than fortitude in defeat.
We join most cordially in the rejoicings
of our fellow citizens; not that hundreds
of men, be they rebel or Union soldiers
matters net, are this morning lying on
CORY beds of death; not simply because
the city of Richmond is occupied by n
Federal army; but we rejoice for what is
to come yet, and whose coming will be
fastened by the victory GRANTS army
has won. We rejoice because we believe
that soon white winged PEACE will
spread her pinions over the land now
drenched with fraternal blood, and bring
to us all, unity, happiness, prosperity and
power, in the social circle and in the
nation at large. God grant that these
results may follow soon, and from the
Aroostook to the Rio Grande, from Oregon
to Florida, bonfres and Examinations
will turn night into day, gladness and
gratitude will fill every heart, beam
from every eye, be uttered by every
tongue.
THE National Bank of Attica, in the
State of New York, has failed, and it is
rumored that the officers have decamped