The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1869-08-06
How the Rebellion Broke Up.

|
Edward A. Pollard, in his life of JEFF
ferson Davis, just issued by the National
Publishing Company, graphically describes
the manner i'll which the news that the
cause was lost, was received by Mr.. Davis
and the people of Richmond. These are
striking passages: a | ~
At eleven o'clock in the morning, Gene
raj Lee wrote u dispatch to President Da-
Wis, at Richmond, advising him that the
army could not hold its position, and that
preparations should be made to evacuate
the capital that night He might have
added in the dispatch what he remarked
to one of his staff officers, as with embit-
tered, but lofty face, he saw his army
breaking up in the broad sunshine at
has happened as told them in Richmond;
the line has been stretched until it has
broke"
No sound of the battle-not an echo, not
a breath-had yet reached the doomed
city. 1t was q lovely Sabbath day, and
Richmond basked in its beauty and en-
joyed more than usual remission from the
cares off week. There were no sounds
as of the vexed thoroughfare the long
streets laid open, not vehicle upon them,
the murmur of the river gave tones only to
soothe the ear, and the silent pulses of the
sunshine beat slowly in the misty warm air
that laid on the landscape. 1t was day
of careless thoughts. The usual Sunday
crowd lounged near the post-office, ex-
changing rumors of the war, or the latest
depraved gossip of Richmond society,"
Hundreds wendell their way to the church
es, while not q few of ''their country's
hope" trod the paths beaten as sheep walks
to the back entrances of the whiskey
shops on Main street, and sought consola-
ton in the shades of "the Chickahominy,n
"the Rebel" and 'the Wilderness" Ladies
dressed in old tinery, in which the fashions
Of many years were mingled, were satisfied
to make display at st. Paul's about equal
to the holiday wardrobes in better days of
the negroes at the African church. At the
former church worshipped Mr.. Davis. He
now sat stiff and alone in the presidents
pew no one outside his family
had ever dared to intrude since Mrs. Davis
had ordered the sexton to remove two ladies
who had ventured there, and who, on turn
ing their faces to the admonition to leave
delivered before the whole congregation,
had proved to the dismay and we'll deser
we'd modification of the Presidents wife
to be the daughters of General Lee. Mr..
Davis was an earnest worshipcr. But
Sunday before this memorable one, he,
General Lee and Secretary Trenholm had
gone together to the communion table,
and many eyes in the congregation had
been moistened to see these three men, Oh
whom depended so many of human hopes
kneeling side by side to partake of the
most precious and comforting sacrament
of the Church. Now very different scene
was to be witnessed.
In the midst of the services man walked
noisily into the church, and handed the
President slip of paper. Mr.. Davis read
the paper, rose and walked out of the
church without agitation, but his face and
manner evidently constrained an uneasy
whisper ran through the crowd of worship
ers, and many fastened into the street.
The congregation was soon dismissed
The rumor had already gained the street
that Richmond was to be evacuated il
was confirmed to a few who penetrated
the closed doors of the War Department,
or made persistent inquiries at the tele
graph office but, although the Govern
ment had no motive now to suppress the
sad truth, but, on the contrary, was induty
bound to inform the people and prepare
them for the cxigency, it is remarkable that
there was no authentic announcement OF
the intended evacuation, no published or.
der on the subject, no official notification
OF any sort and that news in which every
mans household was involved was left to-
wander all day as vague rumor in the
streets, only to be confirmed by the actual
visible fact of the authorities leaving the
city.
What scenes ensued it is impossible tn
describe. What change fell upon this
city, palled its wanton and hitherto I'M
abashed revelry, and spread terror through
its wicked streets, like thunderbolt from
the unclouded expanse of heaven, can only
be imagined, as the comparison indicates,
in the light of some sudden wrath visited
from the skies. For four years Richmond
had lived in the easy riot of the war. Now
it appeared as if the day of judgment had
been called upon it. Now there was hur-
rying to and fro. Now the panic-stricken
city broke up, as if riven by lightning,
into black, torn crowds of maddened men,
conscience-stricken fugitives, sobered rev.
elers, blanched women and children, flee
ing wildly through the streets, over the
bridges of the river, through every avenue
of escape from the terrible day ofjudgment
the chariots of fire and wrath that were
next day to enter the doomed city. 1t was
scene never to be forgotten in the memo
ries of Richmond. The night was hoarse
with the roar of the great fight.
- The servant of an army officer one
day met crony, who inquired Of him how