Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1869-08-06

OF the ntederacy-Soenes In Rich.
mond-Ths Flight of President Davis
Evacuation of the Capitalize
Conlagration.
From Pollards Life of Jefferson
Davis, just published, we copy the
following spirited picture of the scene
which preceded tho final evacuation
Of the Confederate capital:
No sound of tho battle-not an
echo, not breath had yet reached the
doomed city. 1t was lovely Sub
bath day, and Richmond baskcd in
its beauty and enjoyed moro than
usual remission from the cares Of the
week. There were no sounds of tho
vexcd thoroughfare; the long streets
laid open, not q 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 tho
landscape. 1t was day of careless
thoughts. The usual Sunday crowd
loungcd near the post Office, exchang-
ing rumors of the war, or the latest
dcpravcd gossip of Richmond society.
Hundreds wendcd their way to the
churches, while not a few of their
"country's hope" trod the paths
beaten as sheep walks to the back en-
frances of the whiskcy shops on Main
street, and sought consolation in the
shades of "the Chickahominy," "thc
Rebel and 81 he Wilderness" Ladies'
dressed in &u fncry, in which the
fashions Of many years were mingled,
werc satisfied to make display at St.
Pauls about equal to the holiday
wardrobes in better days of the
negroes at the African Church. At
the former church worshippcd Mr.
Davis. lie now sat stiff and alone in
"the Presidents pew where no ono
outside his family had ever dared to
intrude since Mrs. Davis had ordered
the sexton to remove two ladies who
had venturcd there, and who on Turn
ing their faces to tho admonition to
leave, delivered before the whole con-
gregation, had proved, to the dismay
and we'll deserved modification of the
Presidents wife, to he the daughters
Of General Lee. Mr. Davis was an
earnest worshipper. 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 sec these three
men, on whom depended 30 many of
human hopes, keeling side by side. to
partake Of the most precious and COM
forting sacrament of the church.
Now very different scene was to be
witnessed.
In the midst Of tho services, man
walked noisily into tho 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
worshippers, and many fastened into
the street. The congregation was
soon dismissed. The rumor had al
ready gained the street that Richmond
was to boevacuatcd it was confirmed
to few who penetrated the closed
doors of, the War Department, OF
made persistent inquiries ut the telc.
graph Office; but, although the Gov.
ernment had no motive now to sup
press the sad truth, but, on the con.
trary, was in duty bound to inform the
people and prepare them for the cxi-
gcncy, it is remarkable that there was
no authentic announcement Of the in.
tended evacuation, no published order
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 con.
firmcd by the actual visible fact of the
authorities leaving the city.
a little past noon some regiments
OF Longstreet's command, on the
north Of James River, wero seer
} marching through the city, on theil
way to reinforce General Lee in the
} battle .ho was thon supposed to be
making to save or recover his lines
before Petersburg. The soldiers
moved with q slouching step; .ane
} once on their disordered march, it il
said groans were called for Jefferson
Davis. Formerly when Confederate
| soldiers had passed through Richmond
there had been. music, cheers, crowd,
, of shouting spectators, throngs o.
ladies' standing on the balconies 9th,
d principal hotels ,op Main street. K
!, waive their adisnx, perc6ancSs1 to to seat
ter flowers ON them, At least I'd bestov