The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-04-07

Eighth. and on Bank street from
Twelfth to Eighth Nearly the en-
tire square on which the st. James
Hotel stands was destroyed. The
present front and columns of the Ex-
change First NationaD Bank with.
stood the flames. The postoffice was
very little hurt. The Mechanics In
stitute WAR Department., on Ninth
street. went down, and DIR. Reads
church, at the northwest corner of
Franklin and Eighth streets, was des-
troyed.
Among other structures destroyed
were the Danville and Petersburg
depots, American and Columbian
Hotels, Dispatch, Enquirer and E1-
dneiaer offices, Mayors, ShOckoe, Pub
lie, and some other warehouses; Gal
lego Mills, and the State Armory.
Some warehouses on Cary street be-
tween Twentieth and Twenty-second
were also fred and burnt. as were
the Confederate navy yard on both
sides of the river at Rockets, and to-
bacco factories by the dozen.
Shortly after the capture of SaYan-
nah by General Sherman a law was
passed by the Confederate Congress
requiring military commanders to
destroy all articles of value within
their commands rather than let them
fall into the hands of the hostile
forces.
A month or two before the evacua-
ton of Richmond General Lee sent
a notice to Gen. Ewell of this law,
with directions that steps he taken to
carry it out should it become ne@es-
sary to give up the city.
1t was suggested that to prevent
risk as far as possible of a general
contiagration the city authorities be
at once consulted, and the articles to
be destroy ed-tobacco, of which there
was large quantity in the city. and
which could only be destroyed at
short notice by firing, was especially
Northumberland in isolated build
ings.
General EWell had frequent consul
tations with the Mayor and other
city authorities, and with the hold
ers of the tobacco, which resulted in
the selection of certain warehouses
from which the flames would not, it
was hoped, spread, should it become
necessary to apply the torch for the
purpose ofdestroying the tobacco they
contained.
Every step was taken by General
Ewell to prevent disastrous results in
the event of executing the order. 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 Confederate forces by General
Ewell, he acting under the commands
of lis military superiors, to apply tht
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 southeast-was
in imminent danger of falling a prey
to the advancing cohflagration.
1t was checked about O'Clock P.
NJ, of Monday, principally by the eX-
ertions of the division of the United
States army that belonged to the
command of General Wetzel, and
which first entered the city.
To the credit ofthis officer, it ought
to be known that when his command
consisting Of two divisions-one
white, the other colored troops, the
latter being in tront-approached the
city he changed the order of his
march, and put the white soldiers in
front when he saw the fire, as being
less likely to commit excuses, and
being more skilled and expert 1nced
in extinguishing fires.