The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1866-07-19
IFfom he ". Y Day Book.1 ]
The Evacuation Of Richmond.


From the Advance Sheets Off. 4. Pollard
new work, "1'hc Lost Cause,
A small slip of paper, sent up from
the war Department TO President Davis
az he was seated in his pew in 81 Paul's
Church, contained the news of the most
momcntous event of the war.
1t is a most remarkable circumstance
that the people Of Richmond had re-
ma;ncd ia profound ignorance Of The
fighting which had been taking place
for three days on Gen, Lees lines ---
There was not rnmor of II IN the mir.
Not a newspaper office in the city bad
any iukling of what was going on. In
deed for the pas, few day. there had
! been visible reinsurance IN the Contcd
crate capital there were rumors that
! Johnston was moving to l,Ccs lines aud
! a general idea that the combined force
would take the offensive against the
enemy. But q day before Grant had
commenced his heavy movement Gu.
rious excitement bad taken place 10
Richmond The morning traiu had
brought from Petersburg the wonderful
rumor that Gen Lee had made a night
attack 10 which he bad crushed the
cucmy along ~, whole line John "
Daniel, the editor u9 the Richmond ES.
asunr. died the same day under the
dolu lon that such a victory had been
won aud John Mitchell who wrote his
obituary ia the morning papcm, express.
cd tho regret that the great NireIuiau
bad passed away just as dcg'siyc vic.
tory va. likely to give tho turning point
to the success of thc Suuthcru Cyuicie-
raey The circumstance shows how
/ lt,tlc prepared the people Of Richmond
were On The bright sabbath momiu. of
the "a Of April for the news that islI
/ upon them like . thuuicrrmp FROM
clear kics and fmo,c the ear of tho
community O. a kucll Of death.
The report Of great mifioriung soou
/ traverse. q cts without the aii az priu.
ted bulletins. Bat that If the ,yacua.
ton of Richmond fen upon mapy incrcd.
ulous cars. Ono could sec the quiet
streets stretching away, uumolDsicd by
one single sign Of war; across the james
the landscape clistcned IN the sun I,
everything which met The eye spoke Of
peace. aud made ii impossible 10 picture
n imagination the scene which was to
cusue. There were but few people in
the streets; 40 vehicles disturbed tie
quiet Of the Sabbath, IA sound Of the
church going bells rose into the cloud.
less sky. aud foated on the blue tide Of
the beautiful day How was it possible
10 imagine that the next twenty four
hours war. with its train Of horrors. was
TO cutcr the scene; that this peaceful
city. secure possession for four years.
was at last to succumb; that il was tob
a great couAarratiou, and that al the
hopes Of the Southern Couieleracy were
to be consumed in one day, as a scroll
ia the fire
As the day wore on, clattcr aud bus,
tie iu the streets denoted the progress
OF the evacuation, aud convinced those
who had been incrcdulous Of t. reality.
The disorder increased each hour The
streets were throngcd with fugitiycs
making their way to the railroud dcpois;
pale women and little shoeless children
struggled in the crowd; oaths aud bias.
phemous shouts smote the ear. Wagons
were being hastily loaded at the De
partmcnt with boxes, trunks, etc, aud
driven to the Danyille depot la the
afternoon special train carried from
Richmond President Davis aud some Of
his Cabinet At the Departments all
was confusion; there was no system;
there was no answer to inquiries; imp0r-
tant officers were invisible, aud every
one felt like taking care OF himself
Outside the mass Of hurrying fugityes,
there were collected here and there
mean-visaged crowds, generally around
the commissary dcpots; they had already
scented prey; they were of that brutal
and riotous element that rcyengcs itself
on all communities in tiiuo Of great
public misfortune.
The only couyocation, the only scene
of council that marked the fall OF Rich
mond, took place in dingy room in a
corner of the upper story Of the Capitol
Building. In this obscure chamber as
sombled the City Council of Richmond,
to consult on the emergency, and to
take measures TO secure what of order
was possible in the scenes about to en-
sue. 1t appeared to represent all that
was left Of delberaton in the Confcde-
rate capital. 1t was a painful contrast
to look in upon this scene; to traverse
the now almost silent Capitol House, SO
often vocal with oratory, and crowded
with the busy scene of legislation; to
hear the echo of the footstep; and at
last to climb to the dismal show Of coun-
cilmen in the remote room where half
dozen men sat at rude table, and not
so many vacant idlers listened to their
proceedings. AT the head of the board
sat an illiteratc grocer of the name Of