Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-04-10

CIrY PofS1, Va. April 4.
am enabled, by singular good fortune, TO
forward 70 you some particulars Of the closing
scenes aroUpd Petersburg and Richmond. which
! feared | would be unsble 70 do by the ordinary
means Of transmitting Information.
THE EvAcUATIoS OF KfcuNOSD.
The hrsl indication that the troops under Gen.
Weitzel had OF tire evacuation OF Richmond was
the explosions early on Monday morning in the
river above, which we're very heavy and gave
the assurance that something extraordinary was
Transporting. General Weitzel immediately ad-
vanced bis picket line. snd soon after the 9th
corps was formed ard ordered forward cautious
ly. The rebel picket line was found evacuated
and Immediately the Whole corps followed With
tho widest enthusiasm. The works were OF the
most formidable character. aud could no, have
been carried by assault. except at q fearful loss
Of life. They consisted of ~esrthworks construct
Ell ia the most skillful manner. and protected by
srtfully planned sbatis and bitches. The forts
mounted in ell about three hundred guns, many
Of them Of very heavy caliber, and TO a great OK
tent uninjured. On every hand there were iDdi-
cations that the retreat bad been hssty, almost
beyond precedent, and the interior or the forts
and the roads approaching Richmond were
s,rewn wish the debris of the re,reating army.
rHE ADVANCE INTO II
Was led by General Ripley, commanding the ID
brigade OF the "a army corps, General Weltzel
and staff accompanying il. When near the city
q detachment of the 4th Massachusetts, cavalry
was sent in with ademand upon Mayor Mayo for
It's surrender, which was az once complied with.
As the column entered the city Il was greeted
with the mos. enthusiastic demonstrations of Joy
especially on the part Of the negro population,
who hailed with the most eItrsvsgaDt jubilation
the appearance of their sable brethren in arms.
OCCUPATION OF THE CITY.
The 9th army corps then took poss ession of
the city, and General Weiizel established his
headquarters. temporarily, at the Virginia house
of deleg ates in Capitol square. he Issued an
order proclaming martial law, and assuring the
people that he had come to restore the blessings
under the dag of the union. He requested them
10 remain in their homes and avoid all assem-
blsge in the streets. He appointed General
Shepley who was military governor Of New Or
leans under General Benjamin Butler military
governor, and Colonel Frederick S. Manning,
formerly provost marshal of the army of the
James. provost marshal of the city.
GENERAL sHKPLEY's ORDER.
On taking command as military governor,
General Shipley issued an order. 10 which he said
that the armies of the rebellion, having abandon
ed all efforts TO enslaVe Virginia, and having
attempted TO fire the capital, which they could
no longer hold by force Of arms, it would be the
first duty Of our armies 10 ~extinguish the flames,
and save toe city. lie ordered Colonel Manning
TO detail a force under the provost guard to use
the utmost efforts to stay the ravages of the
flames, which had already destroyed nearly forty
blocks of houses. He also ordered the prompt
punishment OF every man who was found pillag
ing or forsging on his own account; be also
declared that no citizen should be iusultcd, and
at the came time cautioned citizens against the
utterance Of the slightes. reasonable sentiments
or doing any act which would tend TO q breach OF
the peace. For an exposition of the rights oil
citizens under military rule, he referred to the
presidents various prOclamations. The order
directed that due respect should be paid to Col
Manning, the provost marshal. and that citizens
should promptly report 20 him the existence oil
any property belonging to the rebel government
THE REBEL RETREAT.
The evacuation of Richmond has been in prog
ress for some weeks, and the citizens generally
understood that the city was to be ri ven up. bat
at what time no one except General Lee knew
The public archives were removed to Lynchburg,
| aud the valuable effects of the banks and private
citizens also took their flight for q place of secu-
| rity about the SHINE time. IA soon as Genera
Grants movement from the immediate front oil
Petersburg became Clearly defined, prominent cit
liens prepared for q basty departure. feeling con
fdent that the city could not much longer be held
by the army of Lee. Upon the departure of the
army on Sunday the cotton, tobacco and commits
sary stores were set on fire by the rebel troops
but owing to the e~xertions Of Colonel Mannir
the fire was extinguished, and the entire city wal
saved from being left a mass of ruins.
JEFF. DAVIS
| Left on Sunday noon with his family, taking the
Danville road. He had removed the most valu.
able portion of his furniture many days previous
and | am informed by citizens that he manifested
by bis manner the utmost detection during all OF
last week. Just before he lett he received q ci
| pher dispatch from General Lee which, doubtless
accelerated his departure.
ToEPEEoEs, ETc.
The rebels, as is characteristic of them, plant
ed topedoes upon all the avenues Of approach tC
the city. especially, in Fort Gilman, opposit,
Fort Harrison, or Burnham. The James river il
also understood TO be full of these engines o.
destruction TO such an extent that It is deemed
unsafe for vessels 20 attempt the passage up tC
Richmond from here.
CONDITION OF Tux CITY.
Our troops. as they entered, behaved very well
The citizens cor planned OF a scarcity Of food, anc
at the Ballard House, which was the only hote
in active operation, the bill of fare promised only
Il OAGO1 aAo 1OAA AZ n G1hC A1o0C "a "a
meal as q substitute for bread. The scenes a..
tending the evacuation on Sunday sre described
10 Us ss exciting In the extreme The move
ment of troops towards The Danville depot wa:
rapid aud disorderly. Every one seemed to car.
only for himself, and il was only by the mos, Sc.
we're measures on the part of the provost guard
that anything like organization or discipline
could be preserved. The citizens. especially tn,
women and children, were in a terrible state Of
excitement, ana seemed almost frantic with feAs
The expression was frequently made that the
cause of The confedeTacy was lost beyond recove
~. and that Lees army was hopelessly defeated
Those of the citizens who had no hopes OF e.
cape resigned themselves 10 their fate, while
those who had means with which TO purchase
passage, paid almost fabulous sums for the privi
lege Of moving with the fragments Of the army
| The negroes, on the contrary, were almost mac
with JOY az the near prospect OF deliyerance, anG
as soon as our troops entered crowded arount
them with the most extravsgant demonstration
OF delight and satisfaction. The city presents
sad contrast to the Richmond of four years ago
and many portions Of it are scarcely recognize
bic
THE BATTLE or SUNDAY.
now turn 20 the events OF Sunday, which de
ciied the fate Of Petersburg, and led 10 tn
prompt evacuation OF the rebel capital. Sheridan
on this day had cut Longsreet's corps IN two
wish the assistance of the 18th AID second corps
and the portion which Sss cut OF succeeded il