The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1866-07-19

himself to some very petty Federal Off
Ger, s'most respectfully, your most obe-
dent servant" Here and there, hurry
ing up with the latest news from the
War Department, was Mayor Mayo, ex-
cited. incohcrent. chewing tobacco de-
family, but yet full Of pluck, having the
mcttle of the true Nirginian gentleman,
stern and watchful to the last in fidelity
to the city that his ancestors had assis-
ted in founding, and exhibiting, no
mattcrin what comieal aspects, cour-
aye thai no man ever doubted. When
it was finally announced by the Mayor
that those who had hoped TOT dispatch
from Gen. Lee contrary to what he had
. telegraphcd in the morning. had ceased
TO indulge such an expectatEen, aud that
the evacuation Of RichmOud was fore.
gone conclusionj it was proposed to
maintain order in the city by two regi-
mcnts Of militia; to destroy every drop
of liquor in the warehouses and stores,
and 10 establish patrol through abe
night But the militia ran through the
fingers of their officers; the patrols could
not be found after a certain hour; aud
in short while the whole ciiy was
plunged into mad confusion and indes.
cribable horrors
But the horrors of that night in the
Confederate capital we're to be studious-
" ycilcd from the eyes of the enemy
The Federal force on the North side Of
James River consisted Of three divisions
under the command Of Gen WcitEel
while Gen Ewcll covered this approach
to the capital with a force about four
thousand strong. Tho Coufcderatcs
were silently withdrawn from Wcitzel's
front, their rcar.gunrd travcrsing the
city before daybrcak Wcitzcl had
boon instructed to push on, whenever
satisfied Of his ability to enter l,ich.
moud During the wholc day that
Grant had been engaged in front Of
Petersburg. the entire lines north Of
the james were perfcctly quiet Welt
sel's command bad orders 20 make a.
great q show as possible lie fred no
gun during the day. bat ~ darkness
came On be- sc, ~ hs bands Of music
to work upon national airs The Con.
icdcfa,cs wed with the musical cutcs-
taiumcnt. for many bours Ibc night WAS
Giicd with mclodious strains. but a.
bout midnight a complete aud absolute
silence lcli upon tbs lines Il was a
dead quic, close mask 60 what was
taking plsc. SO the doomci city and
not until tie morning hours dld the
d.ulul blazou la the sky vJclaim a.
VOTED rhs, ha hour had como and
tba, Richmond was at his mercy
There Rad been hul little sleep for
ihc people Of Richmond Ia the night
which preceded their great misfortune.
Il was au extraordinary night difoT
dor pillagc. shouts. mad reyclry Of con.
fusion lu the nos dimly lighted Ciiy
could hc seen black masses nf people,
crowded around some object Of excite.
mcni bcsicgiug the cummissary stores
destroying liquor. iulcut pcrhaP- upon
pillaec. aud swayiug to and fro ia what
ever momrntary passion Potscssed them.
The CUTTERS ran with a liquor iIcahct,
aud the fumes filled the air Some Of
the Struggling soldiers passing through
the city, easily mangcd TO get hold oi
quantities Of the liquor. Confusion
became worse coufoundcd the side.
walks were cncumbcrcd with broken
glass stores were entered at pleasure
and stripped from top 20 bottom; yclls
Of drunken men, shouts Of rowing pi!la
gers, Wild cries Of distress filed the air.
aud made night lidcous
But new horror vas to appear upon
the scene aud take possession d the
community. To the rear guard of the
Confederate force on the north side Of
James River under Gen. Ewcll had
been left the duty of blowing up the
irau.clsd vessel IN the james aud dcs
troying the bridges across that river
The Richmond Virginia. aud an iron
ram were blown 10 the winds the little
shipping at the wharyes was fred aud
the three bridges that spauncd the RI
ycr were wrapped in flames as soon as
the last troops had trayersed them -
The work OF destruction might well
have ended here But Gen Ewcll,
obeyile the letter of his instructions,
had issued orders to fire the four princi-
pal tobacco warehouses of the city Que
of thcm--thc Shockoc Warehouse
situated near the centre Of the city, side
by side with the Gallcgo -four mills,
just in a position aud circumstances
from which a con6agration might cx-
tend to the whole business portion Of
Richmond In vain Mayor Mayo and
a committee of citizens had remonstra-
ted against this reckless military order
The warehouses were fired the flames !
seized ON the ncighboring buildings aud
soon involved wide and widening area;
the conGagration passed rapidly beyond
control aud in this mad fire, this wild,
unnecessary destruction of their proper
ty, the citizens of Richmond had fit |
ting soupcair of the imprudcnce and
recklessncss Of the departing Admins
tration.
Morning broke on scene never to be
forgotten. 1t was strange picture
impossible to describe-the smoke and
glare of fire mingled with the golden
beams of the rising sun. The great
warehouse on the Basin was wrapped in
flames the fire was reaching to whole
blocks of buildings; and as the smoke
rose majestically above the horizon, 1t
FURNISHED the fringe of smoke with lu-
rid and golden glory. Curious crowds
watched the fire. Its roar sounded in
the ears; it leapcd from street to street