Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-04-13

superior, was in the city till the last
moment, He could have prevented the
act but did not. How fallen In 1856
he was Vice President of the United
States, and no man had fairer prospect
than he of honor. Four years ago he
turned his back upon his country, and
fed from the city of Louisville on a
dark and stormy night and became q
traitor a rebel, This morning he be-
came an incendiary, and tonight he, is
fleeing on horseback to avoid falling in
TO the hands of Sheridan's troopers. His
game is played. He threw honor, repu-
tation, family, name, everything into
the rebellion and against the country,
and has lost all,
But TO resume the narrative.
DESTRUCTION OF THR CITY.
When Major Stevens entered the city,
the flames were leaping from house to
house, and devouring block after block
in the centre of the town. Capt. Percy
went TO see about the arsenal, but found
it on fire, 1t contained several thou
sand shells, which began to explode,
scattering fire brands in every direction,
filling the air with iron fragments, driy-
ing the people from that section of the
city.
The poor people helped themselves to
the commissary supplies, broke open
stores, and made free with whatever
they saw. Some of the citizens rushed
to the liquor stores, and with commend
able forethought dashed in the heads Of
! several hundred barrels of whisky.
The prisoners, in the Libby prison
were removed on Saturday evening, be-
ing sent of by the Danyiile road. The
flames spread from the tobacco ware
houses to the Libby, and that prison
house is now nothing but ruins. The
flames spread towards the Penitentiary,
and the convicts were set at liberty.
The buildings We're burned, and the city
has now this class Of depraved men at
large.
On-on-from building to building
from warehouse to warehouSe-frOm
store to hotel-trom hotel to banks-tO
the newspaper Ofices-to ChurChes-all
along Main street from near the Spoots-
| wood House To the eastern end Of the
town-back to the riyer-tO the bridge
across the James-up to the large stone
fire proof building, erected by the Unit
| ed States for post office, now full of
| Confederate promises TO pay-all around
! this building, on both sides of it-up
| to the Capitol Square the flames leaped,
| licking up all the business part OF the
| city. Strange to say, the SpOttswood
! Hotel is saved | look out from my
/ window upon Il mass of ruin-of tall
| chimneys, of tOttering walls, upon
/ streets impossible from piles of brick
and stones and rubbish upon smoking
ruins. Richmond is q sea Of fire to-
| night. 1t is the most complete scene of
! devastation | ever beheld, excepting
/ Charleston There the streets echoed
only to my own footsteps and to the cry
| of buz1ards, but here look down from
my window tonight upon woe-begone
crowd of human beings, gazing at the
ruins, moving here and there, gathering
( up broken furniture. Elaborate cor
nices, marble mantes broken looking
glasses, piles of bedding, chairs, tables,
barrels and boxes, are piled in Capltol
| square. The ground IS thick with
! feathers, with broken Crockery, with
scattered books and papers-debris Of
all kinds Millions of dollars will not
cover the loss. All the banks-all the
newspaper offices except the Wing and
the EXaminer-the bridges across the
Appomattox - Dr. Reeds Presbyterian
Church-hundreds of houses and acres
of ground-the heart Of the city is eaten
out.
Four years ago on the second Sun
day in April, there was great rejoicing
in Richmond when the flames OF war
was lighted around Sumter; but what
q contrast is the scene Of to day. Men
who swung their hats and hurrahed on
that occasion, who celebrated it by
drunken orgies, who looked forward to
dominion and empire, walk these streets
tonight penniless poyerty-strcken,
broken hearted, beholding future il
lumined by no ray of hope. The flame
of war has consumed them at last
Loud and long and terrible are their ex-
eCrations of JEFF Davis and Ewell, but
they forget the part they have taken
that they urged on secession, hurrahed
for it, shouted for it, prayed for it, gave
thanks for the victory Of Manassas
They forget that Gods throne is built
on justice-justice on earth as well q:
in heaven.
When Major Stevens entered the city
the people were beholding the fire, anC
making little effort to stay its progress
He issued an order calling upon thu
! police and fire department to set abOu
extinguishing the flames. Citizens wert
pressed into the service, and thus TIN
flames are stopped at last.
My note book is full Of other events
but the mail messenger is waiting, anC
come to an abrupt close for to day.
CARLETON.
No,x ~