Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-02-02
GRAND ARMY LEcrUREs-Post Rob

GRAND ARMY LECTUREs-Post Rob-
erts of the Grand Army of the Republic
having assigned various subjects pertain
ing to the events and incidents to several
of the comrades of the Post, from which
to present lecture, assembled last even
ing to listen to the first eff the series, by
Gen. Edward II. Ripley, on the Fall OF
Richmond" A good audience of the
comrades and invited CUES Is were present.
Col. Wheelock G. Veazey presided.
Gen. Ripley's lecture WIS brief but full
of interest and incident. He gave a rap
id review of the two armies before Rich
mond, with Grant pounSi ng away at the
very gates with sledge hammer blows.
He narrated the various e, )vements of the
troops until the final attack and capture
of Richmond. The movements of the
enemy were mysterious, hut the hour
finally arrived which sound the Confeder-
ate Davis a fugitive. "On to Richmond
was the cry, The army were as under a
spell, but soon forward movement was
made.
The passage Of Laurel Hill-the works
of the en- envy the march up the New
Market Road the arrival at the river in
the suburbs, of the city-th9 explosion of
the three Rebel Iron-olads-and the mer-
ciful pro- ;ection of the troops as it were
by the broad hand of Providence, SO that
not even man was injured by the flying
missiles. The feeling of pride and the
entrance of the city under the final order
of march were all wildly described.
Allusion was made to the first sight
| that met their gaze, the non-descript
Ur.ion fags waved by fair hands-the
egroes on the street Offering prayer and
| thanksgiving for their deliverance-the
arrival at the Capital, and while standing
their saluting the Commanding General,
Weitzel - the terrific explosion - the
flames that arose, aud quelling of the con-
fagration-the seizure of the Mayor-the
rush of the prin tiers of the Union forces
to the newspaper offices-the hastily
written editorials, and issuing of them in
the morning editions of the Richmond
papers-the appearance OF the ladies at
headquarters-an their descriptions OF
their poverty and starving condition,
having had only for sust enance for four
weeks bean soup.
The release of Union prisoners, and i'm
prisonment of Confederates in Libby
Prison, upon whom the tables had been
turned. A description was given OF the
evidences of Gen. Ewells purpose, orders
and aim to fire the city. The Wis it Of
President Lincoln to Richmond and hii
solitary wanderiugs in the midst Of
danger, and his belief that no huma 4
being would modest him, even after the
most positive evidence of the plan of the
Torpedo brigade, for his capture, with an
expression of the belief that had he listen
ed to the warnings then given he would
have escaped the terrible fate he finally
met at the hand of Booth. An interest
ing narration was given of the opening Of
the churches for religious services on the
Sabbath. Several interesting relics were
exhi bited and explained, one of which
was an internal machine in form of q
lump of coal, yet carrying in it the ele-
men Is of destruction and death. The lee
ture was one of thrilling interest, deliver
ed i'm an easy and plain manner, observing
much more elaborate abstract than we
are able to give thislmorniDg. 1t was q
rare opportunity to learn from the lips
of an actor, who had access to all the facts
and incidents pertaining to the fall of the
rebel capitol.
"A native and present resident of Rut-