Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-12-16


THE RUTLAND 3lkhlD
TUESDAY,. ,Ds0R1lBER n. 1850. !
nSDsslssu DscGsAs. -
s2igTsH ----s sat O. = - 80
We have received for and !. bsasll -
the Vermont Historical Society, o. Csp-
tain A. +. Leaves worth, principal d 1sw
Haven Aosdsny, sone very valuable
newspapers snd other priassd saasnau.
-oript documsnk. which give ! sSouthsrn
view Of tho Esbsllion. We shan take o.
casion and asslsss naoss particularly %
these hsreaitsr, and IN ths. present article
alluds 10 some Of the cireumstAnsss undss
which they were obtained. and In doing
~, shall speak Of the sntrancs" u our
troops into Hiohm0nd.
On tbs morning of April ID, 1850, sSsss
ths picket lins 81 the Third Division,
Twenty Fourth army corps. had advanced
bsyoud the ssbsl SortiRcstious, sight
mile. east IL Riohmond, Lieut.. Col. w.
W. BAN berger 9th Nd. Vols. ssdag DE-
vision Officer Of the Day, found himself
with force u soms three hundred Asu
about three ntlss In advance II tho main
command. As there seemed 10 bs no
pro~peot u an immsdists support fran
that direction, Col Bambsrssr rods mp to
Opt. l.. and inquired; Captain, how
many vsrmontsrs have yos with yoa1"
About one hundred and twenty, dr.
i wish you 10 taxa them aud sdvsnos ~
q line Of -skirmish, md ! viii organizs
tho remaining force into a reserve and
support yon with IT," Capt l.. turDsA "a
Capt. II. u Bargent. 18th N. II. Vols, hin
senior officer In the picket limo, and In
CURED II he desired to lead tho skisnish
line. He declined and took command a
the reserve. Col b. was aided by Capt
Warren n. Kelly, commanding the 10th
N II. Vols, as Officer Of the Day, for
the Second Brigade.
Capt l.. found his new command with
ont -ergeants, but he quickly supplied
this want from among a good number Of
veil instructed corporals
He placed First Lieut Joel G. Baker
in command of the right wing, and Second
Lieut.. Burnham Cowdry, Of the left He
then deployed and advanced about two
miles further, to the border of large
.wamPy woods extending back from the
river, through which ran we'll built
10 Hara halt 40 -
Gro A. Bruce, 18th N. II. Volunteers
Judge Advocate at Division Headquar-
ters, who represented Maj. Gen. Dsvens
On the line, and Maj. Joseph c. Brooks,
9th Vt. Volunteers, A. A. Insp. General OF
the Division, made a reconnaissance, while
the men, who had forty rounds of ammu-
milton, three days rations, overcoats and
hlankets. and had been on duty twenty
four hours with little rest, were permit
ted ~ eat, but not TO cook coffee.
Meanwhile Brig. Gen. Russell, OF the
colored troops, with his staff and com.
pany Of about sixty men, in light march
ing order, rode up, inquired Of Capt L. II
the way was clear in front, and, on 70.
ceiving favorable answer, broke through
hia iine and rode On. Rallying his men
the Captain pushed after him and ths re-
serve fell behind. Oyertaking this com
pany just a. they emerged from tho woods,
the Captain gave tho order TO oblique to
the right and double quick. He succeeded
in turning in front Of the company before
it's senior officer was aware Of his presence
or intent.
Then began race Tor sSne two miles,
but tho wearied and heavily encountered
VermoDters oane IN ahead, Capt. L.
directing thoss 81 his men that could not
keep up 10 fall back and como up az they
wero able. Overtaking the brigade the
latter tried to stop the picket force,
threatening to cashier the officers, but
Col. w. asked the Captain if he was
ready to 20 horne. eyes, sir; If going
into Richmond first is q crimew "Then
you needn't halt again" The Captain
pushed on. Meanwhile Maj. Gen. Welt
eel, with his corps staff, and two COM
panies Of cavalry, which constituted his
headquarters guard, galloped by and were
cheered heartily by the Ninth boys. Gen.
Weitzel thus entered first, followed by
the picket line of the Third division close
upon his heels.
On entering ths city, the stars and
stripes were thrast out of an upper win.
dow and were heartily cheered. The line
rested on Church Hill just past the Navy
Yard. Here Capt. Sargent and the re.
mainder of the force came up. Soon Gen.
Devens came up with his staff, compli.
mented the "boys," and directed them to
proceed into the city and perform patrol
duty, and attempt to restore order. Soon
the whole division entered the city, and
Brevet Brig. Gen. Ripley. Col. of the
Ninth Vermont, commanding the First
brigade, established his headquarters
at the Court House, and was
placed inlcommand. of all the troops do.
ing provost or guard duty in the city Of
Richmond"
Lieut.. Col. John Coughlin, 10th Reg
N. H. Vol, Provost Marshal General Of
the Department of Virginia, came up
from Fortress Monroe on the fourth, and
established his headquarters in the U. s
Custom House building, which the Con.
federacy had used for its Treasury De.
psrtment, and issued all orders relating
to the general and special duties Of the
Provost Marshals within the department
He retained the entire supervision of ali
permits and licenses for trade and for ad,
mission into Richmond, of the supplies
for the army and for destitute faaiiss
Subordinate offices were established and
placed under competent officers. for de-
tails of which reference may be had tc