Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1867-06-13
THE FALL OF RICHMOND.
BY A VIRGINIA LADY.

" l. AS AOAO " A@AJ via ~
). ing description of the evacuation
. of Richmond, is from the pen of
lady who was an eyewitness t
5 the scene. Entirely apart from
$ the interest which surrounds
as touching account of the fal
> of the Confederate capital, it
merit in a literary point of view
: is its most noticeable FEATURE
, AS pen-picture, it is worthy of
3 place beside the finest efforts of
Bulwer:
"Well?" said I, inquiringly, a.
, on the I'd of April, 1866, my
"colored" nurse entered the room
on her return from a foraging ex
pedition throughout the city.
"There amt nothin' to be had
mistis. l offered twenty-eight
dollars for a halfpound of poor
middlin', an dey wouldn't let me
have it, no how
"Never mind" | responded en-
couragingly. "We can have
some sorghum and corn-cake for
dinner to-day, ,and for tomorrow"
| hesitated, for even | had but
little idea of where to-morrow's
dinner was to come from, or Of
what it would consist. We were
afraid, now, to 60 out in the sub
urbs to gather "wild salad" SO
near were the "Yankees" hover
ing about and closing around the
besieged town. For some days
rumors had prevailed that our
troops were about evacuating the
city, on account of having no pro-
visions; but to this no one paid
any serious attention, so improba-
bic did it appear to us that Rich
mond could ever be voluntarily
given up to the enemy, after SO
many gallant defences.
Our scanty. meal partaken of,
| stepped out to call upon friend
on the next street, and consult
about some means of procuring
provisions. They had, l knew,
ceased to issue meal in the pub
lie rations, and the supply of flour
was diminished one.half. Prices
had also, within the last two days,
risen enormously, and there was
now, l had been told, actual star
vation in the city.
AS passed along the gas-lit
streets, |! was struck by something
unusual in the aspect of things.
People passed hurriedly-groups
met for an instant at the corners,
and separated with a few hastily
spoken words. Long lines of
army-wagons wound up Main and
Broad streets; and at the ware
house buildings used for army
stores, bales and bundles of goods
were piled OH the pavement, and
being pitched out of the window,
and rapidly transferred to the
wagons in waiting. Presently
there came marching up the streets
interminable lines of infantry,
while troops of cavalry dashed
past, and wagons, ambulances,
and ammunition cars followed.
What could ii all mean?
| stood on the sidewalk as the
troops passed close to me, in the
full glare of a gas-lamp. What
was it so strange in their faces?
Had there been battle without
the city, and were our troops de-
feated? But no; there was none
of the eager excitement which
they always manifested under de-
feat. They passed with listless,
mechanical mein, and fixed and
stony look, as of men but half
alive. Some there were who
walked erect and proudly, but
with compressed lips and a stern,
resolute contraction of their pale
features, such as | had observed
in those who followed the corpse
of Stonewall Jackson. And with
this thought a terrible fear fell
upon my heart. ! turned and
unconsciously laid my hand
upon the arm of one of the Grip
pied Confederate soldiers who
was standing by.
SIS General Lee dead% | ask
ed breathlessly..
'Dcad? No, thank God!"