The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1869-09-07
Evacuation Day in Richmond.

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 daybreak the magazines were exploded
and the rams in the river blown up.
From these the conclusion were so violent
that the foundations of the city shook as
if stirred by an earthquake and the dread
ful work Of destruction had commenced.
Windows in houses in our vicinity were
shattered out from their casings,a and upon
the roofs of the houses there was sound
like shower of hail-stones' | walked
out and looked down the city cloud of
smoke hung over the districts near the
river, dense and black, lighted only by
the lurid glare of the flames beneath.
The fire was even then consuming the
heart of Richmond
Before sunrise, though 80 weak from
Ckness, | started out in quest of supplies.
cronfederate money was valueless, and |
resolved prudently to exc out our scanty
stock of provision for a day or two, until
the distracted city could have time to set
tie down into something like quite or or
der was then dispatched by my father
upon an important errand down Main
street at which time | determined. if
possible, to make my way to the commis-
sary repositories. had proceeded but
short distance, and convinced of the
impossiblity of my progress, | stopped a
moment to contemplate the mass of hui
man beings filling the strect--which, from
the Hill, could watch with ease-when
there arose boisterous shout, confu-
sion of noises, amid which | recognized
the cry, "The Yankees the Yankees !"
A detachment of cavalry had entered
the city, and riding directly up to the
Capitol, planted upon the ancient edifce
the ensign of our captivity. My feelings
were bitter beyond description, and
looked angrily on as it gave its folds to
the breeze, stirred by that old, well re.
membcrcd air that had been wont, in old
en- times to start every pulse in my being
with patriotic thrill All! had loved
the old flag with a love passing express
sion but there had been terrible revul-
sion in my feelings, and "The Star Span
gled Banner" fell upon my ears as the
requiem of the buried hopes of ma
tion.
Need say anything in apology or
are we to be held responsible for expert
enccs of the heart?
Very soon after the occupation Of the
city by the Federal forces several octo-
genarian friends called to ascertain our
condition, and advised, for security, the
services of "A detailed guard How this
was to be obtained puzzled me not a lit
tie. They informed me that gentlemen
would not be admitted into the presence
of the officials, but that ladies might Sc
cure an audience. The extremity was
dire. could not choose. My poor fa-
ther was pleading and in terror of the
horrors Of pillage, | expected the escort
of an old gentleman, took with me cour-
ageous little girl, and made my way to
the Office of Col. Ripley, to ask safe
guard. To accomplish this | had to pass
through the Capitol Square. 1t was belt
ed on three sides by fire, and between it
and the river end, up and down, a, far as
the eye could reach, red banners of fame
leaped frantically in the air uttering the
loud, wild roar and the fearful cracking
of destruction. Thousands of inhabitants
had sought the square, and crouched
down in mute despair as they beheld the
destruction of all their worldly possessions.
With these were intermingled the sold
iery, seemingly of every race and nation
ality upon the earth, and the white tents
of the sutlers-those army cormorants-
all fringed around with the tethered
horses of the cavalry. The efiigy OF
Washington lowered strangely above the
unwonted scene, and the bronzed images
of Thomas jefferson, George Mason and
Patrick Henry looked gravely down.
When | arrived at Col Ripley's Office
it was crowded with lady applicants for
protection ahead of me but soon secur-
ing the desired order for a guard, | was
escorted from the Office by soldier, who
carefully selected man and ordered him
to do his trappings and follow me, If
were to detail this soldiers conversation
with me, as | conducted him to our resi-
dence, he might be thought traitor. and
| forebear enough that his kindness and
careful attention won me for his friend
and nv thankfulness to him, when he wa,
relieved from duty for us, was expressed
in no stinted terms. He extended hi,
hand to me in parting ,with big tears il
his eyes, and he said, MADAM, | am sor
ry for YOU
He was an humble private in the ranks
from Connecticut he had served from tn,
beginning of the war, and, | trow,w a
brave as he was generous.
A few days sufhced to exhaust our lit
tie stock of edibles and money then act
ual starvation stared us in the face
am usually fruitful in expedients, but wa
then totally at a loss to know where t'
turn for assistance-when my providen
cook came in, and reading the story il
my face, with kindly laugh besough
me not to be "down hearted" that sh,
had already engaged washing for iou
officers" and could "get work enough t.
feed us all for while !" and this she di,
! (although she had two children and
sick brother to care for, who in few
7 days died of consumption until wa
forced to accept the provision made b,
the Government for the relief of the des
J titute. The bitter humiliation of thi
emergency can only be imagined by thos
who experienced it but the cruel choic
was between acceptance and starvation
For more than month We lived upo
this provision, with few delicacies sen
to us now and then from the Christia
Commissary Commissions, for which W
could not feel wholly ungrateful, thoug
comming from the stores ofthe conquerol
Fortunately, this necessity was of con
, paratively short duration. My father
: health improved rapidly, and I had tn
benefit of his advice, if not assistance an