The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-10-14
RICHMOND DURING THE WAR.
a SOUTHERN WOMARS STORY
Interesting Neutrality-suspicious. and 1n-
cidents In the Rebel Capital.


Under the title of "Richmond during the
War: Four Years of Personal Observation; by
a Richmond Lady" there has recently been
published an interesting volume which reveals
more of the inner life of Richmond from 1871
TO 1865 than any other publication tua' H"'
vet appeared The author is virginia
Woman who lived in Richmond during the
whole neriod of the war; sympathizing deeply
,v;,b tbe Rebellion. and aiding it, like the
sortbern women generally, by active service
IN the hospitals and el.,.re elso--, Her nara
ave is drawn chiefly from personal observa-
a., although for her descriptions oil
hottles she copies Pollard's history.
Her accounts of the scenes in Richmond, the
elation of the first six months of the war, the
terror which seized the people at different
periods, the suferings of the poor, the starva-
ton which stared the whole population in the
face towards the close of the contest, and the
incidents of the time, are told with con
siderable force and evident honesty.
fHThe Pawnee Sunday is celebrated in the
annals of the war in the South as the day of
the first alarm in Richmond. Our author tells
the story
THE PAwNEE SUNDAY.
On Sunday, the 2lst of April, occurred the
first of wonderful succession OF sabbath DAY
excitements. The services had proceeded until,
inst at their close in some Of the churches,
and in others during the last prayer, the pre-
monitory sound OF the bell on the Square dis
turbed the solemnity of the hour, and awoke
the people to a dread sense OF danger-trom
what source they could not tell. In an instant
all was confusion. The men, in the excite
nent. rushed pell-mell from the churches, and
tbe women. pale and trembling with alright,
clung to their sons and husbands, wherever
thew could. but getting no response to their
4ooyfnI ouestien-'FWhat is the matter! What
- tba matterY'' Hasty embraces sudden
Vgrenchings of the hand, fearful giances OF
Affection and our men rushed TO thelr arho-
ries, to prepare they knew not IoI "H9!: az: On
everv female face was the pale hue OF dlsmayi
INT mingled with it the stern, unmlstakable
imnress of heroic resolution to yield up their
hearts, most cherished idols upon the altar OF
their country, if need be-. Silently, tearfully,
Our women wended their way to their homes,
and from every closet the outpourings OF sup
plicating souls for protection to the loved
ones. went up to the ear of the Eternal. The
alarm, however, was groundless. 1t ongl-
mated in a report that the Federal sloop OF
war PaWnee which had been operating In
Norfolk harbor, was making her way up
James river, bent upon the destruction OF
Richmond. In situation entirely deienseless,
with no obstacles to prevent an easy and
rapid communication with the city, either by
land or water, it was by no means foolish to
suppose such plan possible, and even fea-
sible.
The gala days of the war in Richmond, and
the gathering of the troops in and around that
city in 1861, are described in vivid colors.
"The dire realities, the sickness, the
mutilation, the suferings, the miseries," 1"
SAYS the writer, " were yet unknown
only the glory which might accrue was sha-
dowed forth" Regiments poured into Rich
mond from all parts of the South; the women
of the city We'd with each other to clothe and
feed the soldiers; sewing societies were multi
Piled ''heavy tents of cumbrous sailcloth,
overcoats jackets, and pantaloons of stiff,
heavy material from the sewing on which
women were frequently found with stiff, swol-
len, bleeding fingers, were nevertheless per-
severingly undertaken"
The battle of Bull Run gave the South an
extravagant idea of its own power and Of the
weakness of the Federal Government; but our
author confesses, in later chapter, that the
''enemy's elasticity was not understood by us
at the South; but we were soon taught to
understand the mistake we made in our esti-
mate of the energy of the NOrthmen, operating
through a Government as determined as them
selves on the subjugation of the daring
Rebels"
The narrative of McClellan's Peninsular
campaign opens with this tatement;-"From
General Magruder himself we learned that, with
his little force of eight thousand, he so deployed
his men that he kept at bay the enemy, who
brought against him army of perhaps a
hundred thousand, until the arrival of rein
forcements from the army of General John.
ston covered the retreat from the Peninsula ,
This coufrms similar reports from other
sources.
OF Grants battles in the Wilderness a stir
ring account is given, and the following story
is told;-
THE WILDERNESS FIGHT.
Confederate officer, in speaking of one o
these battles, remarked;-'I never witnessed
such destruction of life. One day after
battle,' said he, ''my own horse being eX
OF the field a mile or two distant. On passing
company Of soldiers l asked, Are ther,
any Yankees in this direction p they replied
Yes; thousands, and in line of battle.' well
then,' rejoined, must retreat; this hors,
is borrowed one, and however little may
care for my own capture, ! do not wish my
Nr1a 4 IGHA Nc