The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1883-04-12
Re- miniscences Of ths Surrender Of Rich
mond

A member OF the city government o
Richmond aud one OF the committee ap
pointed to surrender the city to the Uniol
soldiers has recently written his recollec
tions of the event The surrender Of tb'
city was determined upon at a late hou
Sunday evening, thou Oh most OF the peo
pie aud officers OF the Confederacy VIII,
could get away had gone South durint
that memorable Sunday. He writes
AT 8 o'clock Monday morning. April 3
| 1865 the committee, seated in hacks, start
ed from the city hall and passed dow
Governor street 10 Main, thence dow
Main street toward Rockets. After pas
sing Fourteenth street we came across
a mob composp d OF every sex and colol
who went from store door to store dool
aud with long beam or piece Of timber
handled by as many men as were necessa
~ they forced open the doors and let the
mob enter. Such hideous countenance,
| never srw before or since as the glare oil
the gaslight revealed. There was no gles
or mirth to he seen in them but sullen
and eDyenomed look controlled each face.
| bad read OF anarchy, but | never truly
realized the meaning OF the word before.
There was little noise, but a suppressed
murmur could be heard as the mob passed
from store TO store on their mission Of rob.
berry City government had ceased to eX.
list. No police were anywhere to protect.
All and everything were at the mobs mer
cy Fortunately il seemed intent only in
pilagiug for provisions, aud these when
found were wastefully scattered. should
here mention that while there was author.
ity in the city an order had been issued to
destroy all spirtuous liquors, which order
was generally obeyed. as was attested by
the odor that came from the cutters as the
liquor flowed down them, mingled with
mud and water After passing through
Rockets we commenced meeting portions
Of the Confederate army falling back from
the breastworks. and as the boys in grey
would meet and pass is. their remarks
would have excited our risibles bad 1t
been on less solemn occasion. But
johnny Reb' was cheerful even in defeat;
nor did his buoyant spirits leave him, al
though about TO experience the bnmilia.
ton Of subjugation. Arriving at the stop.
ping place about 80 o'clock we awaited
the approach OF the vanguard OF the enc
my, which did not come along until be-
tween Z and o'clock. Shortly after our
arrival Al the breastwork we were startled
hy the loud report caused by tbs explo.
sion OF the magazine, and not long after
that, when looking toward Richmond We
saw the western horizon illuminated and
we know that the ciiy was on fire. Our
feelings wers iudescribable. Meme knew
but that his own home might be furnish
ing that light. and his wife aud little ones
thereby forced houseless and homelesss in
the street. Yet there were we compelled
to stay
When the van Of the northern army I'M
der the command OF Col Stephens came
in sight. we. under flag OF truce, met
them, when Mr. Mayo then and there sur
rendered the city in proper form. We then
entered our carrirges and. preceded by
portion Of the eDemy's cavalry. returned
to the city. The officer in command went
directly 70 the Capitol. where. after hoist.
ing the United States flag, and establish.
ing his headquarters he at once turned his
earnest endeavon 10 bring order ont Of
chaos. The conduct. both OF
the officers aud the soldiers 10 their al.
tempts 10 stop the spread OF 1.-THE fire and
extlnguish the flames is worthy OF oil
praise. The sphorism, Zone spark Of M.
iure makes kindred OF MS all. was never
more fully exemplifcd than on that day,
when saw the ellie white citizen Of the
city, the recent negro slave and the Yam.
i ca officer and eald,ers yi,ipU with each