Litchfield enquirer., 1869-09-02

of them were from the 'sfront"-the utter ings of hope or expectation, ,or denunciation or deprecation, and mighthave been deem ed reasonable. Such evidence had proven committal, and prudence counselled their destruction. Some of these precious mis. sives hadbeen traced by dear hands that were stiff in death; but what mattered it? Before stern necessity the heart must hush its cries, the most sacred feelings must cease their vibrations, the lips must wear a smile and the eyes must look calmly-ear alone be given to the cool promptings of Reason and Discretion. , .....s- -f
 So absorbed were my two brothers in their own peculiar and respective interests and duties that they had very little time to devote to their father and sister. Once or twice during the afternoon they called, to remain only few moments, to ask d few nameless' questions. and then to give themselves up to the consideration of their duties in the crisis. Towards midnight they came to take leave of. us. I will not attempt portrayal of my feelings As I followed them down to the door, one of them turned and asked" Are you we'll supplied with articles of food? 9Vla
 Have enoughato last three days" I re- piled. v--.s s....-..r.' '.......#
 "How much money have you?' ' '~ ea
 '' Three dollars and twenty cents in gold and silver. aA9Ef .@Aa- e53 2a d1aeG7
 He looked in my face with an expression I can never forget; and, in g voice husky with emotion, exclaimed, ~' Great God !! and have not one cent to give you!''#
 eco. C.; do your duty, and try not to think of our wretchedness, I answer ed. "God has never yet forsaken Us, and can trust him, even now!' ,s...,T .a. l. He gazed upon my face with 8 hard, dry, fearless expression, which was evi dently but the reflex of my own, drew me to him in a convulsive embrace, and whis- pering, "God help you. my dear sister. ; was gOne-gone in the darkness! gone-I knew not but (from us) forever!
 returned to my fathers room, to fud him weeping as child. comforted him with all the comfort I had to ofer-God's providential care. He bemoaned his life,a and prayed for death. did not weep; I could not. There was not single tear that rose to cool my scorching eyeballs The fountain seem exhausted or dried up.
 The night waned rapidly. There was no sleep for human eyes in Richmond. The mob had possession of the business portion of the city, and from our locality on Shockoc Hill, the noise of their shout ing surged up like the swelling of storm. At day breaK the mag g.zines wereexpioled, aud the rams in the river blown up. From tuese, the concussions were so violent that the foundations of the city shook as if stirred by an earthquake, aud the dreadful work of destruct.on had commenced. Win dows in houses in our vicinity were shat tered out fro n their castings, and upon the roofs;of the houses there was sound like a shower of haii-stones. T walked out and looked down the city: cloud of smoke hung over the districts near the river, dense of the flames beneath. The fire was even then consuming the heart of Richmond. .
 Before sunrise, though weak from sick ness, started out in guest of supplies. Confederate money was valueless, and I resolved prudently to eke out; our -scAnty. stock of provisions for day or two, until the distracted city could have time to set tie down into something like quiet or or der. was then dispatched by my father upon an important errand down Main street; at which time determined, if pos sible, to make my way to the commissary Repositories. I had proceeded but Q short distance, and convinced of the impossibil- ity of my progress, I stopped moment to contemplate the mass of human beings that filled the street-which, from the Hill. I could watch with ease-when there arose 8 boisterous shout, 8 confusion of noises, amid which l recognized the cry, "The Yankees! the Yankees!" e,
 A detachment of cavalry had entered the city, and riding directly up to the Capitol, planted upon the ancient edifce the en- sign of our captivity. My feelings were bitter beyond description, and I looked angrily on as 1t gave it's 'fo.ds to the breeze, stirred by that old, we'll remembered air that had been won't, in olden times to start all pulse in my being with patriotic thrill An! I had loved the old flag with a love passing expression; but there had been a terrible revulsion in my feelings, and The Star -Spangled Banner" fell upon my ears as the requiem of the buried hopes of a nation. -s.r.. s1 e'- ''..' fl.
 Need say any thing in apology? or are we to be held responsible for the expert Very soon after the occupation of the city by the Federal forces. several .octoge- marian friends called to ascertain aour con dition, and advised, for security, the ser, vices of a detailed guard How, this was to be pobtained, puzzled me not little, They informed me that gentlemen would not be admitted into the presence of the officials, but that ladies might secure an ,audience.ed The extremity was dire. Il could not choose My poor father was pleading; and in terror of the horrors of pilIage., Ieaccepted ythe. escort of jan old gentleman. took with me q courageous lit tie girl, and made my way to the office of CoL Ripleyato ask safeguard. sr .Ee &C., complish this Ishad to pass through the Capitol Square. I was abelted on three sides by fire. and between it and the river end, lp and down, as far as the eye could reach, red banners of flame ,leaped ;franti- cally in the air, nttering the loud, wild roar and the fearful cracking of destruction . Thousands of the inhabitants had sought the square, and crouched down in mute despair as they beheld the destruction of all their worldly possessions. With there were intermingled the soldiery, seemingly of every race and nationality upon the earth, and the white tents of the sutlers- those army cormorants--sll fringed around with tise atethered horses of the cavalry. The efigy of Washington, lowered strange lly above the. 'unwonted scene, and the bronzed image of Thomas Jefferson ,s Geo. Mason, and Patrick Henry looked graveIy x1 ,rsu.iFR s4frA.rtss I3i