Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-05-28
LAST DAY IN RICHMOND.
wight Of Terror, i'm Which Fifty
people Died of Fright.
Torporv Falr,,a,-v, ,rd AToo,

IL ,,orfect in their confidence of the ina
I;l;tv of General Grant to capture the
~ Nv began TO partake of the undefineC
ooIaI3rehension of evil which certainly ner
..Pp5od the ranks Of General Lees army
Tho Confederate authorities, however
loved heaven and earth, SO to speak. tc
,ao;ntain confidence among the citizens
md they were so far successful that NO
.','anaral exodus from the capital of the
Sonfederacy occurred. In fact, where
,Tsrp the frightened ones TO find a haven
" rest. a city of refuge? General Sher-
man was coming up from the South.
Fairly had been knocked into a cooked
hat bv Sheridan, Southwest Virginia was
being invaded, so that Richmond seemed
ss safe a place as any; and, again, to
leave the city and 90 into the stripped
and desolated country meant simply
starvation for any large number of fugi-
tives. The news Of the alleged burning
of Columbia, the capital of South Caro-
Ina. bv the army OF General Sherman.
accompanied as it was with the allega-
tions that it was in revenge for the firing
on Sumter and the passage of the first
ordinance of secession by the State, in
tensifed the feeling OF apprehension
among the people OF Richmond, for, if in
| Columbia the fiat had gone forth, T@
Tictusi what could be expected should
| the hotbed of Confederate resistance be
seized upon by the conquering Northern
legions? Nothing but well-kept diary
| nv one behind the scenes Of the Confed-
crate capital in those days would give a
definite idea OF the dismay aud terror
which prevailed. And it was not only
from the enemy that danger was feared.
There was riot and INSTRUMENTATION within
| the gates, as it were, for on several occa-
siOns mobs of thousands, headed by
WOMEN AS RECKLESS AND DANGEROUS
As the Petroleuses of the Paris COM
mune, had paraded the streets, breaking
into and ransacking the bakeries, the
provision stores and the markets, and
who we're only dispersed when a strong
force Of the military was brought to bear
upon them.
Toward the end of March, when it was
evident from the good condition of the
roads and certain ominous movements in
| the Federal lines that a general assault
was imminent on General Lees lines, the
feeling OF apprehension was intensified to
absolute dismay. Whatever braggadocio
may have been INDUCED in, no reason
able man believed for a moment that
General Lee could withstand the deter
mined assault OF his powerful adversary.
The condition Of the Confederate army,
| its disparity of force, its lack OF supplies,
| its deficiency in cavalry [the bulk of the
cavalry was with Wade Hampton oppos-
ipr IIaparo1 Shapp,n,,sc 4
patent to all
A few days ago the writer met with a
young lady-the daughter OF one OF the
mdtors OF the State-now a stately
natron and mother of children, who gave
u some points as TO the state of affairs
Richmond after the receipt of the
NEs of General Shernan's victory at
five Forks.
That Saturday night all Richmond
rent TO bed feeling gloomily assured that
he end had come. The next morning all
Ne churches were crowded with people,
n no prayed ferventiy, if they never
we'd before. st. Paul's Church was
\ 4cked and jammed, for this was the
hurch attended by President Davis and
| his family. He and his family were
promptly in their pew at the usual hour
| While the congregation were entering the
church the roar OF battle then going on
around Petersburg was distinctly audible.
When the pastor, Rev. Mr. Minnegerode,
arose 10 begin the service he scarcely
commanded the attention Of the audi
ence.
ALL EYES WERE UPON Mr.. DAVIS PEW,
Where he sat, somewhat paler than usual,
but apparently calm and collected. At
every opening OF the door of the church
the congregation nervously turned in
their seats TO view the new conner. Every
COuntenance was strained and anxious.
Before the services had proceeded far the
sexton was seen coming down the aisle,
and his countenance and gait portrayed
the excitement under which he was
aboring, and which he was vainly en-
deavOring to conceal. He approached
Mr.. Davis, touched him on the shoulder
and whispered few words in his ear. 1t
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 briefly, and, rising,
walked firmly down the aisle and out OF
The door, Mrs. Davis and her children re-
naming in their seats. When Mr.. Davis
went out the congregation, gazing fear
Mlly at each other, mutely inquired:
What does it mean? What has hap
pehed?' The pastor, although evidently
nervous himself, proceeded with the SER
wees, but when Mr. William IL. Mctar-
land, president Of one of the banks, was
vailed out by the sexton, the tension on
we minds OF the audience was too great
woe borne Several la lies tainted, and
Me congregation began to drop out in
.Ple Of the assurance OF the pastor that
Gefe Was 10 cause for alarm. The Ser
sce' We're then abruptly closed, and
~Tse Who remained were dismissed.
NOW, it had been ordered that in case
%.Serous alarm the large bell in the Cap
aoi grounds should be tangled rapidly
auu continuously. With characteristic
Yeed madam rumor had spread the news
Dun 81, Paul's Church soon after the
lesdent left, and somebody sounded the
,all1 on the bell, and soon the entire
equation OF tie city was on the street
liking news from the front Thatwas a
nv rs weary Sunday Of mental torment
' me inhabitants OF Richmond on the
'ales, for nothing but
~'oURAGNG RUMoas CAME FROM THE
M FEONT,
srefe the little army OF General Lee
Is,SAndlng up gamely in fight WHICH
h 55"as no hope OF winning. During
Ian Oa ~ there were no signs Of an evacua-
CmE,tI NE President, his Cabinet and other
r1elerate and State authorities being
yro suelr posts; but toward shutdown
ri6Sn 1;s.iB9 force OF provost guards were dis
utNoe u throughout the central portion
ernmovvIty, and, beginning with the gov
taOr ,1rt. dieepots and ending with the res
Tie siSs, they proceeded to drag out to
pour Siiuutt n knock in the heads and