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

we take the following account OF thes
rebel evacuation Of Richmond, and of
the condition in which our troops found
it, from the correspondence of Garlic
ton" of the Boston Journal
Major Stearns entered the place amid
the widest demonstrations of JOY on
the part OF the colored people and the
poor whites, They danced and shouted
and prayed and blessed the Lord and
thanked him that the Yankees had
come. Major Stevens informed me that
some of the colored people threw them
selves upon the ground and prayed and
laughed and shouted and cried for joy.
He saw several Union flags thrown out
from houses. He proceeded at once to
the capitol, assembled the roof, pulled
down the state flag which was flying
and raised the gudOns of the two COM
panies upon the building, So Massa-
chusetts was first In Richmond and in
possession of the rebel capital. Gen.
Weitzel and staff entered the city at
eight O'clock, with the whole of his
command following, bands playing,
flags waving in the bright morning sun,
the soldiers cheering and singing the
John Brown song. A delegation of the
Christian Commission accompanied
them and had the blue flag of the Com
mission waving from house before
noon, ready to minister to the wants Of
the soldiers.
THE EVACUATION OF THE CITY.
Going back now in the order of time
to Sunday forenoon, l will cndeavor to
give picture of what transpired in this
City-as / have the information from
the citizens.
On Saturday night a dispatch was re
ceived frOc.-1.en. Lee for Gen. Ewell to
send all his available troops to Peters
burg, as his lines were threatened. All
Saturday night they were passing
through the city, taking the Petersburg
Railroad. The city patrols and the gov
eminent battalion were at the same
time ordered to the trenches.
There was a jubilant feeling, for it
was stated that Johnson had given
Sherman the slip, that he was at Bell
vile, above Weldon, with thirty thou
sand men, and Hardee was on the Dan
vile road with twelve thousand, max
ing q force of forty-two thousand,
which would fall upon Grants left at
Hatcher's Run and smash him to pieces
1t was going to be Manassas over
again 1t was an execution of plan
which l discovered as possible move
ment Of Johnston in a letter written
last week. 1t was the best thing that
Johnston could do, but he was too late
The Divine Providence which let John
stOn reach Manassas on Sunday, July
81, 1851, did not let him reach HatChers
Run on Sunday, April 2, 1865.
Perhaps JEFF Davis has had some mis-
givings as to the ability Of Lee to hold
Grant in check. There is no doubt he
disposed Of his plate two weeks ago
Mrs. Davis and the children left Rich
mOnd on Thursday last, but JEFF re-
| manned. He was at church OIrSunday
morning. The minister was preaching,
! when an orderly entered and handed g
note to the President of the ConfederaCy.
| 1t was a dispatch from Lee that his
lines were broken in three places, and
that Richmond must be evacuated. 1t
was as if hand had written once more,
Meme meme, tekeI'-thOu art weighed
and found wanting thy kingdom is de
feated
He turned pale, but taking his hat he
hurriedly left the church. The hour of
twelve came, The people as they passed
| the capitol on their way home from
church saw men hurriedly bringing out
the State papers and piling them upon
the ground and setting them on fire. 1t
| was the first intimatiOn they had that
the CITY WAS to he evacuated
There was commotiOn everywhere
among the officials, among the soldiers,
among the citizens and among the wo-
men trunks were packed in hot haste
carpet bags were stuffed in a moment
| There was stampede for the Danyille
| depot. JEFF. Davis went in the first
train, leaving his house keeper in charge
of his house, important papers in his
| private room upon the table. Such hur-
| ry and confusion neyer was seen before
in Richmond. Carriages were driven
furiously to the depot. Citizens fed to-
wards Lynchburg on horseback in wag-
| ons, coaches, and on foot So passed
| the afternoon and the night. People
who could not get away did not dare to
go to bed, for the order was issued tC
withdraw all the troops at daybreak
spike the guns and blow up the gun
boats. They were afraid that the city
would be fred by General Ewell, who
swore that the Yankees should find only
heap of smoldering ruins. They were
afraid also that the rear guard woulC
give themselves up to pillage. 1t was q
horrible night--a night which tire;
nerves-which makes young men grow
old. l speak now not only Of those who
are hostile in feeling, but of those wht
longed to see the stars and stripes wave
once more in Richmond. They feared
the transition period-the hour of NJ
government
| At four o'clock, the iron-clads, on
after another, were blown up, shakin!
the city, rafting the glass from tn
windows, Earring down chimneys, ant
almost taking away the breath of mel
in the streets. At the same time tn
torch was applied to several unfinished
rams and boats on the shore also to sew
eral tobacco warehouses.
Gen. Breckenridge, the Secretary c