The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1866-06-07
From Pollard's Southern History of the War
THE EVACUATION OF RICHMOND.

The morning. Of Sunday, the 2nd CT
April, broke calmly and pleasantly
over the city Of Richmond The usual
crowds were collected at the Post Of
fee and the War Department, asking
fori4 news, discussing eommon-places,
and idling away the irksome hours of
the Sabbath Richmond. There was
not a breath of excitement in the gen,
erali community. 1t, is remarkable
circumstance that outside Of official
circles not hall a dozen persons in
Richmond knew, on that Sunday morn
ing, of the three days fighting that
haditaken place around Petersburg, at
the distance of only few hours ride
from the capital. For months past tho
Government had been reticent of all
military news whatever; the newspa-
pers had been warned MOTTO publish
any military matters, but what should
be dictated to them from the War De.
partment, SO the public was left to inn
agine pretty much what it pleased
concerningfthe progress Of thewar.-
Indeed, the idea current in the streets
on this Sunday morning was rather
pleasant and reassuring than o,her
wise; for there was a general impres.
sion that, johnson was moving to
Richmond TO Lees lines, and that the
combined force was to take the often
sive against the enemy. Beyond this
general anticipation, the Richmond
public had, on the day referred to, not
the slightest inkling of the situation,
The news which, few hours later,
was to overwhelm them,i of the rever-
ses office and the forced evacuation Of
Richmond, was to burst upon them
like tbnnderclap from clear skies. q
The first breath of the report was
obtained in the churches. While Pres
ident Davis was seated in his pew in
St. Pauls church, the services were in
terrupted by o messenger handing him
a dispatch. 1t was from General Lee
it stated that his lines had been bro.
ken in three places, and that prepara
tions should be made to evacuate Rich.
mond by eight o'clock the ersuing
night, in the event that he should be
unable to re-establish his lines.
sThe Presidentleft tho church with g
measured, but nervous step. 1t was
the constrained calmness of despair =
No one but himself knew the exact
contents of the dispatch; but an uneasy
whisper ran through the congregation
and, as they were hastily dismissed
the ruDor was caught up in the streets
that Richmond was to be evacuated
and was soon carried to the ends of the
city.
In another of the churches, the news
was more plainly told. DR.. Hoge, the
beloved pastor of the Presbyterian
Church, than whom there was ne
brighter Christian or nobler patrio
-witbinrthe limits OF Richmond, had, a
the conclusion of his sermon, giver
ont a beautiful hymn to be sung b,
his congregation, Before they raisec
their voices, ho told them, with BIZ
own voice broken with emotion, tina
he had1sad news to communicate; tha
our army had "met with q reverse;
that without being exactly apprised o
the extent and nature of the, reverse
he was convinced that it was probabl,
that they might never again meet il
that house of God; and then he spok,
to those who had SO long known ant
loved him a tender farewell in sucf
beautiful and plaintive words tha
there was not dry eye among, al
those dismayed faces which hung up
on. his words.0 ,sT9 eISTo9 sara
Men, women and children .rushec
from the churches, passing from Iii
toslip news of the impending fall O
Richmond. And yet it was Difficult
to believe it,. To look upon the calm
beautiful sky OF the spring day, unas
saIied by one single noise Of battle, t
watch tho streets unvexed by artiler
or ti06ps, stretching away ihtoT th
ouiet. hazy atmosphere, and beliov
that the capital of the Confederacy, 8
DSa6eful, $50 apparently secure, was j
q few hours to be the prey Of the enc
my, anditobe wrappedin the inferno
copfagration.
Il @aB Tate III the afternoon Whs
the signs of eyscuation became appa
rent to the incredulous. Wagons o
the streets were being hastily loade
at the departments with boxes, trunk'
etc., akdidriVenl to the DaDvilssdepo
Those who had determined to evacu
ole With thsfHgitive GoFernment look
ed on with amasement; then convinc