Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-06-25
DYING FROM SHEER FRIGHT.
Episodes During the War Panic In
Richmond in 1865

Richmond IN 1855.
There is no more interesting era 10
American history than that which
deals with the late civil war. Every
incident that is recalled, after the
Lapse OF twenty years, comes back
with freshness and vivid reality to
the reader.
! During January, February and
March, 1865, the people o. Richmond,
(says a writer in the Washington
Republican, who had erst been 50 de-
liant IN their bearing, and so perfect
III their confidence of the inability of
General Grant to capture the city,
began to partake of the underlined APP
Hrehension Of evil which certainly
pervaded the ranks of General Lees
army. The Confederate, authorities,
however, moved Heaven and earth,
SO to speak, 20 maintain confidence
among the citizens, and they were SO
far successful that no general exodus
from the capitol of tho Confederacy
occurred.
And 1t was not only from the
enemy that danger was feared. There
was riot and INSTRUMENTATION within
the gates, as it were. for on several
occasions mobs Of thousands, headed
by women as reckless ana dangerous
as the petroleuses of the Paris COM
mune, had paraded the streets, break
ing into and ransacking the bakeries
the provision stores and the markets,
and who were only dispersed when a
strong force of the military was
brought to bear upon them.
To bn o,,I of RTorob Tubn,,
was evident from the good condition
.of the roads and certain ominous
movements Ia the Federal Lives that
general assault was imminent on Gen.
eral Lees lines, the feeling Of appre
hension was intensified to absolute
dismay.
A few days ago the writer met a
young lady-the daughter of one of
the auditors of the state-now a state
ly matron and mother of children,
who gave me some points as to the
state of affairs in Richmond after the
receipt Of the news of General Sheri-
dams victory at Five Forks
| That Saturday night all Richmond
went to bed feeling gloomily. assured
that the end lad come. The next
morning all the churches were crowd
ed with people, who prayed fervently,
if they never prayed before. ST. Psurs
Church was packed and jammed, for
this was the church attended by Presi-
dent Davis and his family. He and
his family were promptly in their pew
at the usual hour. While the congre-
cation were entering the caurch the
roar of battle then going on around
Petersburg was distinctly audible.
When the pastor, Rev. Minnegerode,
arose to begin the services he scarcely
commanded the attention of the audi-
ence- All eyes were turned upon Mr..
Davis pew, where ne sat, somewhat
paler than usual, but apparently cool
and collected. At every opening
of the door of the church
the congregation nervodsly turn
| ed around in their seats to view
the newcomer. Every cOun tenance
was strained and anxious. Before
| the services had proceeded far the
| sexton was seen coming Gown the
aisle, and his countenance and gait
portrayed the excitement under which
he was laboring, and which he was
vainly endeavoring to conceal. He
approached Mr.. Davis, touched him
on the shoulder, and whispered ia his
ear. It should be explained here that
! the officer with General Lees dispatch
| was waiting at the door. Mr.. Davis
turned to his wife, spoke to her brief
ly, and rising, walked firnly down
the aisle ant out of the door, Mrs.
Davis and her children remaining IN
their seats. When Mr.. Davis went
out the congregation, gazing fearfnlly
at each other, mutely' asked: What
does it mean? What has happened?
The pastor, although evidently ner-
vous himself, proceeded with the SER
vices, but when William II. McFa ar
land, President of one of the banks
was called out by the sexton, the
tension on the minds Of
the audience was too great to be
borne. Several ladies tainted, aud
the congregation began to drop out In
spite of the assurance of the pastor
that there was no cause for alarm.
The services were thea abruptly
closed, and those who remained dis
missed.
Now, it had been ordered that in
case Of serious alarm the large bell IN
the Capitol grounds should be jangl-
cd rapidly and continuously. With
characteristic speed madam rumor
had spread the news from st. Pauls
Church soon after the President left
and somebody sounded the alarm on
the bell, and soon the entire popula-
ton of the city was on the street seek
ing news from the front. That was
long, weary Sunday of mental tor
ture for the Inhabitants of Richmond
on the James, for nothing but dis
couraging rumors came from the
front, where the little army Of Gener-
al Lee was standing up gamely in a
fight which there was no hope of
winning. During the day there were
no signs of an evacuation, the Presi-
dent, his Cabinet and the other Con-
federate and State authorities being
at their posts; but toward shutdown
strong force of provost guards were
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