The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-04-03
I'm 1RTIsHED AUGUST "a. 1852.
troops passed through Richmond. From
the lines north Of the James most Of them
crossed the river on the military bridges.
THE FIRE, b

As for the fire, it swept from Mayo
warehouse up 10 the Tredegar in one direc
tion and to Main street in the other. Or
Gary and the south side Of Main It ex
tended from Fourteenth to Ninth; on th,
north side OF Main from about where Ran
dolph & English's now il to the corner o
Eighth, and on Bank street from Twelitl
10 Eighth. Nearly the entire square or
which the St. James Hotel stands was de
Btroyed. The present front and columns
OF the Exchange First National) Bank
~ithstood the flames. The postottice wal
very little hurt. The Mechanics Institute
(War Department., on Ninth street, wen
down, and DR.. Reads church, at the north
west corner Of Franklin and Eighth streets
was destroyed.
Among other structures destroyed wert
the Danville and Petersburg depots, Anne.
rican and Columbian Hotels, Dispatch and
Enquirer and Examiner Offices, Mayo's
Shockoe, Public, and some other ware
houses; Mayo's, Danville, and Petersburg
bridges; Gallego Mills and the State Ar
mory. Some warehouses on Gary stree
between Twentieth and Twenty seconC
were also fired and burnt, rs were The Con
federate navy yards on both sides OF the
river at Rockets and tobacco factories BY
the dozen. E 3 Eyi'3 n
COL. EwELL's STORY.
Shortly after the capture OF Savannah
by General Shermana law was passed by
The Confederate Congress requiring mill
tary commanders to destroy all articles ol
value within their commands rather. than
let them fall into the hands Of the hostile
forces. -.-..
/ A month or two before the evacuation
of Richmond General Lee sent a notice 10
General Ewell OF this law, with directions
that steps be taken to'carry II out should 1t
become necessary to give up the city. !
1t was suggested that to prevent risk as
faras possible OF general conflagration
the city authorities be at once consulted,
and the articles to be deStroyed-tobacco,
OF which there was large quantity in the
city, and which could only be destroyed at
short notice by firing, was especially men
tioned-stored in isolated buildings.
Z General Ewell had frequent consultations
with the Mayor and other city authorities,
and with the holders OF the tobacco, which
resulted in the selection OF certain ware
houses from which the flames would not,
1t was hoped, spread, should it become
necessary to apply the torch for the purpose
OF destroying the tobacco they contained.
Every step was taken by General Ewell
to prevent disastrous resultsin the event OF
executing this order.s 1t was matter that
gave him much anxiety, and TO which he
gave much time and attention. . -
! The final orders were given on the night
OF the evacuation OF the city by the Con.
federate forces by General Ewell, he acting
under the commands OF his military su-
periors, to apply the torch, and it was done
about day break on Monday morning.
: The fire spread rapidly. Even the wind
from the southeast became brisker, and the
entire city-the flames began at the south.
east-was in imminent danger oil falling
prey to the advancing conaagration. 4
] 1t was checked about o'clock =. N. ol
Monday, principally by the exertions oi
the division Of the United States army that
belonged to the command Of General Wet.
eel, and which first entered the city.
10 the! credit OF this officer, it ought 10
be known that when bis command, con.
sisting of two diviions-one white, the
other colored troops,s the lattei being in
front-approached the city he changed the
order ofhis march, and put the white sol.
diers in front when he saw the fire, as be.
ing less likely to commit excesses, and
being more skilled and experienced in ex'
tinpuishipg fires, .- .I|I0l.. t.I