Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-05-04
The Richmond Commune.

Major John ". Daniel, 10 n letter 10 the
| Piedmont Naws 10 rcfereuca to the lately pub
| lshad account Of tie R!cbmood Commune,
purpored to have been narrated by hmsslf,
| says:-
Ii obaucad that whiIa passing from one por
ton of the army to another | vas in Richmond
fer some three days in tho spring Of 1863
During that time the Bread Riot" as it was
termed, occurred, and was an eye witness OF
its turbulent sceuc5.
1t also ohauced that while on ihe Chetapeake
and OHIO train last month, returning home
from Richmond, | related the main incidents
to my friends, Measrs. Moffett and Paul, OF the
Virginia Senate, and | had no idea that l hni
other auditors than they. Some reporter, it
seems, unkuown to me, aud as yet even ia
euessed, oecrheara the conversation, aud made
my narrative the basis Of a letter TO the New
York Sun. While mainly correct, it Was dress
cd up and c,Iorad in his owa language With
freedom, and ln come particulars Is calculated
to produce false impressions.
will Say that there was nothing in my rela-
ton 10 bIacksn aud stain the character Of
virginia" The riot was 600 OF those fearful
ebulitions, which all great revolutions bIiGg
about, and which happened in New York as
we'll as in Rich mond by extreme want
and unavoidable by Government strained to
its uttermoat to keep soul aud body" ct It's
soldiers III the field together.
The bystsndeI3-my amongst them -
were called upoa TO defend property ir5m pill!
age as far az p5a3!bli, b? guarding doors and
preventing irgrrss and cgrcss OF the rioters
That attempted. with the impulse OF every Ian
loving man, who did Dot WISH to see the streets
run blood; that | did this, is 90 cause Of regret
And if submitted 10 the rough handling OF an
erraged woman, rather than engage vi ct arms
is to resist, will Tot, imagine. be matter OF de
nupciation from people who regard the sex
with ptculiar respect. aud who teach that mons
would strike woman but brute and a COW
ard. OAe smas at the ridiculous crisis brought
about, but the brayast would consider | think
that discretion in such an emergency were the
better part Of yalor.
Soma five or six squares 0t stores had boou
sacked when President Davis came upon tha
scene, followed by tho Pablo Guard under
Captain Gay It had been discovered By tha,
time that, iatcr!uinplcd with the women, were
many MEN, atlired 10 Womeu's clothes. Iha
pillage aud destruction Of property had beeu
great. Immense throngS had gathered tro'u
the ovelhowing population CT Richmond, hiI.
Jog ell a. accnt streets, and the scene OF hup'
DuD ana cOnlISlOG, duu tne Hllu ucillluW ~
excitement that perVaded tho mass, would put
the pen Of Thlcrs TO its best metal. 1t was
then, after txhortation frequently repeated had
failed Of aoy effect, that the riot act was read
(f | remember Alright, though as to this am
not ccrtaiD) and it was annouucod that the
soldiers would toroibly suppress the riot bS
bayouet or bullet. The announcement sue
ceecGd, and under President DAylse eye. aod
cool, solditrIy direction, quiet was soon restored
No order vas given to fire on either men or
womca. 1t was simply announced that the
troops Gou;d fire unless the mob gaYc way
No sane man would believe that such a char
actcr az Jnif4rs>n Davis posscs5ed-and be
never appeared more the brave, true man that
he is, lhaa Lheo-would uod,r any circum
stances ac; SAY, with digoity aad ehivalrous
regard for women.