Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-04-10
The Commune I'm Richmond.

The Commune I'm Richmond.
AN INCIDENT OF THE REBELLION.
Major John M. Daniel of Virginia, gives the
following graphic account of the appearance
and operations of communists in Richmond
during the rebellion, and how they were sup
pressed:
When Harper'S Ferry was captured at the
beginning of the war. all the available ma
cllnery Tor the manufacture of arms was
taken to Richmond. Hundreds of workmen
and their wives and daughters had been EN-
ployed in the arSenalS and machine shops,
and they followed the machinery to the capital
in search of employment They got it, For
time they were regularly paid i'm good money
and everything moved smoothly. But as the
The money received by the workmen would
not support their families. AS the war pro-
crossed confederate notes became almost
valueleSS. Grant had his hand on the throat
of the confederacy at Petersburg. The wages
of the workmen would not purchase food for
their families. They protested, but i'm vain
They We're too patriotic to organize a revolu-
ton. Their women, however, formed secret
society based on cOmmunistic principles They
seem to have held that their husbands were
working for the cOnfederacy and that the
cOnfederacy was the only safety of the grOcerS
and ShopkeeperS. Without clothing and pro-
visions their husbands and sons must stop
work. This would cut off necessary munitions
and supplies, the government would fall AMI
all be involved in one common ruin. To avoid
this, general division of food and clothing
must be made. The wives and daughters OF
generally Joined in the movement
While standing in Main street one morning
the major witnessed an extraordinary scene
Hundreds of women suddenly appeared. The
broad avenue was filled with them. They came
filing in from the cross streets by platoOnS,
and began to sack the stores. HOllow-eyed
and gaunt with hunger, nobody dared resist
them. A crowd of men hung upon the out
skirts, Offering no interference and express
ing no sympathy for the Shopkeepers The
woman took the stores in line, one after
the other. They proceeded Systematically.
The goods were piled upon wagons drawn
10y horses driven by female sympathizers.
done with terrible earnestness When the
mob entered grocery a certain percentage
OF them piled the goods upon the out
borne to the streets and dumped into the wag-
OnS. The women had it all their own way.
Neither soldiers nor police were in sight
heard what was going on, and focked to Main
street for share of the plumber. Not man
Joined them, and for long time no one made
an effect to stop them. At last Congressman
Baldwin OF Virginia, jumped upon dry goods
box and made an impaSsiOned appeal for law
and order. He might as we'll have talked to
the wind. No one paid the least attention to
him. The women went on with their sacking
and the bystanders drowned Baldwin'S voice
With their WhOOpS and cheers.
while / was gazing at the scene" said the
Major, Il saw Captain OF an Alabama cavaI-
ry regiment, with whom / had a slight ac-
quaintance. We were both in uniform. We
agreed that something ought to be done to re
store order and stop the robbery At bis sug-
gestiOn we stationed ourselves at the door of
store already Overrun. In few seconds
yIrago tiled to pass us. L can see her now.
Her cheeks and lips were red, but she had a
pinched. starved look, and an eye like hawk.
She carried in her arms a half dozen bars of
yellow soap. piece of dress silk a long box of
stockings, and some raisins and herrings. l
Madam, beg your pardon: but you are
will not be permitted to leave this store with
them
wild way, as though endeavOring to compre-
bend what l had said, and then went to the
counter and threw down the goods. AS she
came back she deliberately took me by the
arm and slung me from her, with such force
That went spinning around like a top, and
struck the front of the building so hard that
it took the breath out Of me. She then
GIiSs.y gathered up her load from the counter
at me and laughed, but kept his hands in his
pockets and said nothing. / told him thought
we were out Of place, and he nodded. We
concluded after that to remain simple spec
tatOlS
Meanwhile the women were approaching
the jews quarter. The Hebrews were cred.
tied with great wealth. 1t was said that they
had made barrels of money out of the confed
eracy, and the female communists went at
them without qualm of conscience. Moses
and Isaac, however, had heard what was
selves. They put up their shutters, barricaded
| their doors, ran up stairs, and watched the
proceedings from the second story windows.
But the women were not dismayed. While
some of them ran for axes, others found a
long piece of Scantling and used it as a batter
ing ram. The first door flew open amid the
sorrow from the Jews s'Oh, mine KOtt. mine
kott ish ruined. / ish ruined.' was the
cry, But they made, no further defence. In
deed, it would have been dangerous for them
atfpmDf In. la
had been hurt the crowd of husbands and
brothers would surely have avenged it.
And sO,' said the Major, 'the spoliation
continued. At last rumor ran through the
street, the Governor is coming 1t proved
true. Down the hill came Governor Letcher
accompanied by his staff and few friends.
He aseended cart, and made speech, which
had as much effect as such speeches usually
do have. The mob of women Kept steadily at
work, and the Governor pumped himself drv
wi hout producing the least effect; The crowd
on the outskirts opened respectfully for him
to pass out and the Jews moaned more pitiful
than ever. The women pitched i'm with re-
ties Of pickles. ribbons, washing soda eSda mnsins
and bags of hOminy were pitched in the
wagons at the doors Then En-, a second second rumOr
coming. This also proved true. President
Davis rode down from the Capitol, followed by
Capt. Gay, with hundred of the guards. He
[ hadsee him several times, but had az never newer
heard him speak. So forced my way within
ten feet of him and stOed spellbOund. 1t was
the most eloquent speech ever heard. Tall
and slender, ne swayed with emotion like the
willow in the wind. His words were Carefully
chosen. He spoke Of his experience in the
Mexican war, and. while expressing his deep
est sympathy with the sorrows and sufferings
OF the children OF the confederacy, sternIv
maintained the necessity of law and order"
Inc Major heard that many Of the women
stopped pillaging, and gathered at distance
listening to the words that they could catch.
At the close of the speech the President took
out his watch and gazed at ii long and earn
eStly. q.
"Captain Gay said he, order your men to
load with ball cartridges"
The order was obeyed, and the ringing of
ramrods was heard. The crowd began to give
way.
"iCaptaln Cay said the President, still
looking at his watch, If this street is not clear
ed within five minutes, order your men to fire
down Main street until it is cleared"
"Mr Davis rode away. Within three min
utes there was not soul in sight but the
Guards. The mob funneled itself into the side
sfreefs. Those nearest the President oaye fine