The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1878-09-07
EoNoRs WERE EASY.
An Incident OIL the Morning Of the
Fall Of niGh:EoGt.

Toward tue last ot March GOT a
few days leave Of absence to 60 to
Richmond on business requiring my
personal attcn,iea there, vhich | was
anxious 10 arrange boforo shc anticira
ted movcm eut of the Federal army
should inaugarasc active operations in
tho open Ecll. Ny les3o Of abseEcc
expired on Sunday, tho 2ul Of april,
when it was necessary for mo. Of
course, to report ny return to camp.
Soon after brcakfaas, .hcrsfOrc, that
da3 I Jeff tho .hOEpitabic haEc Of tho
Richmond friend with whoG ! lad
been sOjOurning, and mado my way
lcisurly to the depot 10 spkc tho train
back u ts batllc-ssarrcd city Of
Petersburg. It was lo7ey morning
such as makes ono glad 10 bO alive.
A iow floating vapors, iutcrfuscd with
light, softcasd tko rays Of .Ac syn,
aud tho atmosphere, refreshed b5 20.
cent raius, vas filled with the fragrance
Of the carly flowers of spring. The
streets wero unusually silent, aud tic
city, in its " Sunday solitude, v seemed
to be rcposiug in tue holy calm Of
peaceful security. Z" There was a
Sabbath slillncss in tho qir," and
nothing 10 indicate tia. tho dreaded
day had como at last-tho uics ir~.-
which was 10 witness tho destruction
Of the doomed capital Of t4r COnfeder.
ate States.
But on reaching the dcpotit presented
quito aa animated spectacle. Tho
regular passenger cars wcrc crowded
with soldicra. There were extra troop
trains on the silings also filled TO
their rtmos! cqpqcity, and Z consider
able body Of men beside were wui,;ug
for means Of transportation, So tka,
I was no. surprised 10 learn yhcn !
had squeezed myself into qac Of the
cars, that they were then fighting
hard 10 Petersburg, aud had selt to
Richmond for rcinforccmcpts: Soon
after crossing the lames ri;cr vc ael
train Of cars containing scycral
hundred Federal prisoners, sO~c of
whom had been takcp BY Fits I.oc on
the Friday before, at Five Forks. and
others few days previous by tho
gallant Gordon in his capture of Fort
Stcadyman on IIarO's bill; Tie two
trains stopped for few mOments side
by side, ",Lo boys" in cuph Lcgaa to
chAif those in the other, good.
humorcdly, as usual, aud to their
mutual amusement.
"ol. Johnny Ecb. I'm sorry for
you, Oh. 60 qorry!" said boy in
blue, shaking bis head with mock
solemni.y.
"lts good sign, Sauk, when you
are soEty,' replied tho boy in grey,
with Ecrry lnEsh:
"For," continued tho blue, "yOa'll
got special thunder at Petersburg
thiq evening"
"Aud Joy Castle Thunder ut
Richmond, this uuvnipg," was the
grey's rcjoinder.
Say, Yank." asked another.
" how did you find it at Fivo Forks,
DAY before yesterday?
"IIos US. Johnny "
Then, Yauk, you got a fOrctastc
Of 3osr fn,aro State
81 doa't think ny state will bp
hotter than Virgiuuy is just now,
Johnny"
bye, bye! Yauk. Tell en- to
tukc care Of you at tue Hotel Libby"
ia, ia! JOhnny-same to you at
the hot ~ Petersburg"
And SO tho two trains separating,
moved Of toward their respective
iestiuuIions--oue taking its pascal.
gers to prison and the other bearing
those on board Of it to battle. When
We got near Petersburg We saw dense
columns Of smoke rising from different
parts Of the city, which indicated that
our people were burning tho cotton
and tobacco etO,ca 10 tao town md
caused US to fear that the Confcderatcs
had bud yeYcrsos which would coapcl
ua evacuation Of tho place.