New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-07-16


end of the year Sherman presented savannah Us
Cbristmaa Gift to the nation, and marched unop-
noead toward Richmond to cooperate with Grant III
Tho closing movements of the war And the nno
army which had been taken away from JONI
ston dyindled uselessly away until alVer 10
wanderings the remnant appears III Noi'n
Carolina only 1900 strong a.
Uioro matter of surprise that disasters such as
tbese should have created popular sentiment oil ans
affection toward Mr.. Davis which needed notnins
hut the inspiration of spirited leadership 10 ris9 "
the dignity Of revolution. The conscrlptloh i"
had now reached an Oppressiyeness which "ouiu
have been absolutely ntolerable had 1t not pee o
pered by habitual evasion taxes had become SO
ous that the whole financial system mnst have newt
ably collapsed in the course of the next few mons
had not the victories of Grant opportuney swept inc
Confederate government out of existence; inc cur
rency had reached such point of depreciation asto
be we'll nigh worthless-a calamity preclpiUteu
by the Secretary of War, Mr. seldom, "ho
while impressing the grain Of the NHglhla FARMERS
at nominal prices, had sold his own crop Oh wheat !"
| the government at forty dollars pushe 'non 'ho
aonvalent Of two dollars In gold, and had thereby
deprecated the currency from ~ Tor 10 ~ LOT
But fortunately or unfortunately Tor MI Davis,
there was no one in the Confederacy VINO possessed
onon0b of the popular esteem 10 become the leader
Lee il was felt would not lend himself to the
scheme The most the malcOntents could do was to
propose in Congress the separation of the military
from the civil power, and the consolda-
tion of all the forces of tho Contederacy
under Lees command. 1t was too late, now
ever even had this plan been carried out 10 save
the falling State But it never was carried out
Some time before the final evacuation OF Richmond
Lee sent word to Mr. Davis that the fall OF the city
was inevitable and urged him TO take the necessary
measures to provide for the disaster The only reply
was request for the detachment OF a number OF
men from Lees command TO strengthen the unlm-
| portant garrison Of Charleston
The last scene IN Richmond is painted by MI. FOL
lard with great spirit, and, as specimen ol hs oes'
! STYLE we reproduce it: ..... ..
At II o'clock IN the morning General Lee wrote DIS
match TO President Davis at Richmond advsnE MN Ia
the army could hold it's position, aud that prepar
ons sh9uld be made 10 eyaeate the capital that night
He night have added in the dispatch what ne IS,h ~,
10 one OF his staff officers as with embtered Out lofty
face he saw his army breaking up I'm the broad suhsne
ut has happened as told them in Richmond; tue hno
| has been stretched uEti it has broke" . -,
No sound OF the battle an echo not 6reathhaS
yet reached the doomed city ~ was io'eB d ed
more than usual remission from the cares OF te Week
There we're sounds OF the veNed thorougare; nc
long streets laid open vehicle upon them; the muir
muir OF the gave tones only TO s0otbe the ear ana
warm air that laid on the landscape II was day OF
| careless thoughts The usual Sunday crowd ioulgeu
nr The latest depraved gossip of Richmond society.
Hundreds wendell their way to the churches, Enn ,
en- as sheep walks TO the back entrances OF the WHISKY
shops on Man ana sS1 Ea nnd the Wider
ness Ladies dressed in old fnery In which te fashions
DISPLAY at ST. Paul's about equal to the holiday ward
robes in better days OF the negroes AT the AFRICAN
Davis He now sat stun aud alone the Presidents
to pTae nS nee Mrs Davis Rad ordered the sexton
to remove two ladies who had yentnTed thee, and Wo'
on turning their faces TO the admoniton TO leave dev
cred before the whole congregation had proved TO the
distnay aud weldeserved modification OF the Presidents
an earnest wOrshippeT But Sunday before this mem
orabe one, he, General Lee and secretary trenholm
many eyes IN the congregation had been moist,
ened to see these three men, on Whoh dePGnufo go
partake OF the most precious and comforting sacrament
Of the church Now very different scene was to be wit
In the midst Of the services walked nolsily into
ys prsd IN" rose and walked out Of he church
without agitation, but his face aud manner evidently
constrained an uneasy whisper ran throngh the crown
Of worshippers aud many fastened into the street Inc
aready gained the street that Richmond
10 be evacuated; II was confirmed To- Few who
made persistent Inquiries at the telegraph Office but, al
though the Government had no motive now 20 suppress
inform the people and prepare them for the eNgcncy 10
is remarkable that there was no authentic announce
ment the intended eyacutiOn. published order on
the subject official notification OF any sort and that
in which every mans household was involved was
left 20 wander all daY rumOr Ia tho streets,
only 10 be confirmed by the actual visible fact Of the
little past noon some regiments Of Longsrcets com
mand, tho north Of James River were seen marching
through the city. their way TO reinforce Gen. Lee In
the battle he then supposed 10 De making Ia save
recover lines before Petersburg The soldiers moved
with slOuehing step and, once on their disoriered
march, II is said groans were called for Jefferson Davis
Formerly when Confederate soldiers had passed through
Richmond had music cheers crowds OF shout
ing spectators throngs OF ladies standing the bacO
their adeux perchance TO scatter flowers them, at
least to bestow upon them sweet aud Inspiring c9nnte
/ As
only few spectators looked on sadly or cyulcallyi no
marching sadly ana YEARLY to Death few blank faces
appeared at the windows, and on the balcony OF the
American Hotel only two or three ladies' stood lt was
melancholy TO one Of them Imply wave single hand
keTohief IN hesitatlng way, aud then stop pale aud
wounded as not single soldier cheered or recognized
| the compliment.
driven To tho doors OF inc ana 70 tue Pubic
| storehOuses-many Of them branded as Government
the Danylo depot. The accumulation OF stores there,
aud tckoed boxes, left doubt that the city was
longer driven In order, tore through the streets
seemed suddenly possessed with mania to TO their
houses snatch from them some hasty baggage and to
rush to the nearest exit from the CITY. In less
trains the streets, the whole population Of Richmond
| was involved IN panic
| What scenes ensued It is impossible 70 describe What
| change fell upon this city, paed It's wanton and
hitherto unabasaed reyery and spread terror through
its wicked streets like thunderbot from the uncondcd
eXpanse Of heaven, can only be imagined, the
paTson igdicates III the light o. some sudden wrath
| had lived in the easy riot OF the war: Now II
appeared as IL the day OF judgment had been called
| upon It. Now there hurrying 20 and fro. Now
the panic-strcken city broke up riven by lightning
INTO black, crowds OF maddened men, conscience
stricken fugtyes, sObered jewellers, blanched wOmeA
and children fleeing wildly through the streets, over
bridges Of the through every escape
from the terrible day Of judgmenthe charots OF fre
and wrath that were next day 70 enter the doomed
| city. IL was scene never - be forgot
was hoarse with the Of the great fight
The reporter Of the Associated Press, who aware
that o'clock had been designated by Gen Lee as the
hour for evacuation unless meantime he succeeded
|
again, attended the of Gen. Breckenridge at that
/ nd was He oan viii "a faco