The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-09-28

Life Ia the Confederate Capital During
tho War.
My. ". Euiy IN the PA7r'siphm Times.


ginning Virginia was trembling in the
balance between the Federal and Conicd-
crate Governments and this suspense
threw the community into state of great
unrest. On Saturday, the lith OF April,
news reached Richmond OF the taking Of
Fort Sumter, producing intense excite
mcnt, of which public demonstrations
were given in the shape Of firing OIL can.
non. Close on this followed Lincoln's
rcuuislion for Virginia 10 furnish her
quota of troops to put down the rebellion.
and this finally turned the scale in regard
to her secession. On Wednesday, Aprii
II, the ordinance of secession "aS passed
by the Convention which had been SIT
ting in Richmond to consider this lucs.
ton since the lllh Of February. The
decision was silently announced to the
people Of Richmond at midday by the
Confederate Nag being hoislcd on the
roof of the Capitol. The question waS,
however, afterwards referred back To The
people, ! believe who voted upon ii in
May, Their vote affirming the decision Of
the Convention On the 18th of April
the famous Baltimore mob uProse, after
which recruits from Maryland came
pouring into Richmond daily. On the
same day the blockade Of the Southern
porta was proclaimed, and on that night
we had grand illumination and torch.
light procession in Richmond. y diary
| kent at that time enables me To be nc
curatc as to all these dates and details.
"TrE rAwSEE WAR
We had IL very exciting day in ltich-
mond CO, sunday, the Dist Of April. Just
after the congregations were dismissed
from church II startling, thrilling sound
broke tie car-lhe telling of the alarm
bell, and wild ruinor spread over town
that the PlWHce, II war vessel, was coming
up to Rockets, the steamboat landing
just below Richmond, to lombard the
city. For several hours n state of con-
f,sion and excitement, prevailed and The
ren of Richmond A,ckcd to Ro:k,t's
with any kind of weapons they could lay
hands on, while the women, ail trenh to
wars alarms, were in III agitatcd anu hys-
terical state. Whilst the male populn-
ton Of the city were ilocking to Rockets
an "cnterprising burglar" seized the OPP
portunity to walk into the chamber OF
Richmond belle and take possession OF
her jowe!ry, ii TIC absence Of al her
masculine protectors. About the middle
of the afternoon the pdblic became con.
vinced that the Pdwncc rumors were to-
tally without foundation, and thus ended
the Ihwnee war.
On Thursday, the 10Th Of April, the
first detachment of South Caroiinians
reached Richmond, aud after this troops
from various sections Of the COnfederacy
poured in daily We had daily drills
and dress parudes at camp little west
ward of the city, whittier all the beauty
and fashion of Richmond icsorted every
afternoon. On Wednesday,, May %,
President Davis reached Richmond, and
on Saturday, June ], Beauregnrd -eport.
cd himself there. From this time forth
till the close Of the war Richmond was
the most prominent city on this CONT
nept, being transformed into n great mill.
tary and political centre, upon which the
eyes of the whole civilized world were
turned. During these four years it was
instinct with Intense, throbbng life; Il
beleagured city, many time within
sound of the euemy's guns, life there
despite its periods OF danger and distress,
hnd a romance, zest, an excitement full
of charm to the young. War always
generates o carelcssness Of the morrow
and keen delight in the present. the in
creased uncertainty Of life and os all
things seeming TO intensity the enjoyment
of the hour. Richmond was, in truth,
the paradise Of officers, forwhut an array
of beauty was there, what round OF
gayety especially during the winter,
when both armies were in winter quar-
ters. Mlst of the officers, and especially
those from Maryland or from the far
South, whose homes, after the early
stages Of the war; fell into the possession
of the Federals, came to Richmond to
spend their furloughs, with keen zest
for social enjoyments snutchcd between
intervals of danger and hardship.
oFFIcBls IN GAY UNIFORMS
During the winter you could not walk
on Franklin street (the fashionable prom
enade Of Richmond) without, on n:ountaring
hundreds of elcgantlooking officers,
flashing with gold laccs. BY the way,
when tho downfall Of the Conicderncy,
like the clock striking midnight in the
fairy tale of Cinderella, changed these
imposing garments into plain civilians y
clothing, l WAS surprised to find that
niany iuen whom mad regarded rs very
handsome, in their war paint and feath.
era, were extremely ordinary looking.
You awould also see during the war u
solid phalanx of officers arrayed before
st. Pau's Church every Sunday towards
the ciuss cf services, each one awaiting
his fnvorite belle.
SCENES OF SOCIAL nRILLTANCY.
Richmond had pnssessed admirable 40.
cinl elements of its own before the war
and it's being made the Capital of the
Confederacy added greatly to these.
There was, of course, some dross in the
shape os adventures, amidst the i'm.
mense floating population of Richmond
in those days, but take it all in all /
think might say without exaggeration
that it would have been difficult, If not
impossible, to have found such gay and
elegant society anywhere else on this con-
tinent from 1861 ol865. Richmond was
then the scene of social brilliancy un.
equulled either before or since. Prcsi-
dent Davis aud his Cabinet, the Confed.
crate Congress, distinguished officers and
visitors helped to give lustre and pres,
tige to society, whilst every Southern
State and city enriched the Capital with
its 'flower of chivalry and pearl Of beau.
ty." In every assemblage you would
meet brilliant and talented men, beauli-
fu. aaa elegant women from every State
ia the Coafederacy, ranging from dark
eyed Creoles, who had escapad from But
ler's dominion in Nev; Orleans, TO fair
BGltimoreans, who had 10 fee to Rich
mond on account Of their Southern sym.
pathies.
FOREIGNERS FREQUENTLY SEEN.
You would oftea meet distinguished
foreigners also in these assemblages. I
Remember especially a part! Of English.