Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-04-07

tial law from the Capitol building, appointing
Gen Shepley, lately Of Norfolk, military gov
ernor, and Col. Manning provost marshal.
The general has moved himself TO the late resi-
dence of Jefferson Davis, in Clay street, .
large gray succeed house, ofa majestic, though
onapidated aspect, which has the appearance
OF turning ITS back, as If ashamed ofits occu-
pant on the hne prospect from Shockoe hill,
on the verge OF which II stands. This appear
ance is due to he fact that 1t has stately
Grecian portico IN Ae rear, while the front is 8
ly with great stable and stable wall The
house has very decent garden attached, how.
ever, and was formerly the residence Of q Mrs.
lilies resident here. The Orenshaw wooden
mills were for q long time main de-
pendence of the rebel armies in the way
of clothing. and some members OF the
same family were, or are, interes ted in the
Tredegar Iron Works. The main portion OF
the important machinery from these WORKS, as
well as from all the factories used by the rebel
government, was sent away hg the Danvtlle
road, at least q fortnight ago; and there is no
doubt the rebels have been preparing the
evacuation Of their "capital'' for sone time
past. The newspapers were kept going 10
quiet the public sense, and they have suffered
accordingly.
The final evacuation, so Tar as Davis and his
government Were concerned, was, however,
sudden enough. Jefferson Davis was attend
ing divine service at st. Paul's church, ON
capitol Square, {the church in which he was
received as communicate some three wears
ago,J when he received a telegram from Gen.
Lee, stating that Petersburg and Richmond
must both be given up.
The startling dispatch sent the "President'
home; its purport was soon buZzed about and
a scene Of intense excitement followed, the
congregation being chiefly made up of ladies
OF the best families. In spite OF all signs, the
notion had become q kind OF religion In Rich
mend that the city would never be taken; and,
in a few minutes after the news had become
the church stands, and the Capitol Square,
were filled with groups OF people, mostly
women, hurrying in the widest confusion In
all directions to their homes.
President Davis, with his family, left for
Danvllle in the afternoon, carrying with Tim,
according to rumor, about three hundred
thousand dollars in specie. The archives OF
the various departments which had oc-
cupied the fine granite building of the United
States custom house in Bank street, il Is be-
Heyed, were sent away week previously.
well as the suburb Of Manchester, on the other
side of the river; but most of the heavy guns
In the Notifications are believed to have been
left unspiked and available in the cause OF the
Union. There was very general exodus on
the part Of the weathiest Inhabitants, and Of
those most identified with the rebellion; some
represented by their families; and the FAMILY
of General Lee are understood to be still in
their home on Clay street, near the Davis
mansion. The large foreign population, and
particularly the Germans, very Numerous in
Richmond, who nave all along been more than
suspected OF "CHionism," were blazing out
into demonstrations Of delight at the change
of affairs, as Were also the negroes, to whom
the recent confederate policy Of putting them
into the field was anything put palatable.
About the fine residences In Broad, Clay, and
Franklin street, there reigns q profound quiet,
and there seems to be reason to doubt that or
der will soon and easily be restored in Rich
mond, II wise measures are taken in dealing
with the remaining population.
There are excellent hotel accommodations in
the city If there were anybody there fitted to
keep hotel, and steps should at once be taken
northern visitors with the fine spring and sum-
mer weather. There will be a general and le-
gitimate desire to visit this now d-famous
capital, and wholesome stream of prosperity
under the old flag will, perhaps, more rapidly
4" cleanse the Augean stables" than any other
instrumeRtality.